Stefan 2004 Interview

On May 14, 2004, Earth_Mover and Lizzy hosted a live Q&A session in which they directed player questions about the state of the game to Stefan. The topics covered were:

• Server Transition
• Imperial Conflict 3
• Misc Questions

This is the summarized version. The raw, full transcript can be found here.

Server Transition

[13:04] <Earth_Mover> Why a new server in a different country?
[13:06] <stefan> me and a friend are starting a little dedicated server hosting firm, and so it is more convenient to host Imperial at th same place

[13:07] <Earth_Mover> What were the specifications of the old server, and what are the specifications/advantages of the new one?
[13:08] <stefan> old, current, is a P4 at 1.7ghz, new one is a P4 at 2.8ghz with dual S-ATA drives
[13:10] <stefan> also, old server has a rather old OS installed, which is difficult to upgrade remotely

[13:09] <Earth_Mover> What type of connection it will be on
[13:10] <stefan> 1gbit connection, good connectivity

[13:10] <Earth_Mover> will your friend be contributing anything to IC?
[13:10] <stefan> No

[13:11] <Earth_Mover> How long will it take till the new server is up?
[13:11] <stefan> rather longer than I expected, but most likely within a week

[13:11] <Earth_Mover> will there be downtime?
[13:12] <stefan> yes, but not more than an hour or two

[13:12] <Earth_Mover> Any idea when this is expected to take place?
[13:13] <stefan> as of now, no

Imperial Conflict 3

[13:13] <Earth_Mover>  Why IC3? Where is IC2 and how far did that get? How long have you been working on IC3?
[13:14] <stefan> IC2 did not get very far. It was a completely new game and I lost interest after a while.
[13:15] <stefan> I have been working on IC3 for a couple of months, though very sporadically due to massive amount of non-IC work

[13:15] <Earth_Mover> What is the ETA for IC3? And will there be alpha/beta testing before, how can people join those?
[13:16] <stefan> there should be a beta version in place in a month or so. Running concurrently with IC1, public or not I can't say atm, and then it will replace IC1.

[13:17] <Earth_Mover> Will IC3 be PHP again or something else? And if PHP, why the preference for PHP?
[13:18] <stefan> it is made in PHP, mostly because of convenience. IC3 is not a radical departure from IC1 and much will be similar.

[13:19] <Earth_Mover> What changes are already planned to make it different?
[13:19] <stefan> New units! ;)

[13:20] <Earth_Mover> any details?
[13:21] <stefan> one of the main things with IC3 is customizability. Mods will be able set up rounds that are quite dissimilar.

[13:21] <Earth_Mover> At the start, will whole fams get transferred to this new game, or does everyone start in Virgo again and will histories/tag points be resetted?
[13:23] <stefan> I have not thought about how to transfer rounds - we will probably let the current rounds end before moving those players. Histories will be retained. Tag points probably. I say probably because we will make use of another forum.

[13:24] <Earth_Mover> will IC3 also be family based? or will some galaxies be individual?
[13:25] <stefan> IC3 is family-based atm, individual galaxies may also make it

[13:25] <Earth_Mover> Will Virgo remain the same, with the same tutors etc? Will tutor accounts be linked to normal accounts?
[13:27] <stefan> no change in Virgo is planned. Tutor accounts will be integrated better so that tutors do not have to register two accounts.

[13:27] <Earth_Mover> Will IC3 be P2P or still free with the possibility of VIP accounts?
[13:28] <stefan> IC3 will still be free, with VIP accounts for added features

[13:28] <Earth_Mover> Will the rules regarding multying/sitting/drafting etc stay the same or will for example multiple accounts be allowed?
[13:31] * stefan has quit IRC (Ping timeout)

[13:33] * stefan has joined #interview
[13:34] <Earth_Mover> Will VIP accounts be transfered?
[13:34] <stefan> VIP accounts will be transferred, yes

[13:35] <Earth_Mover> Will the rules regarding multying/sitting/drafting etc stay the same or will for example multiple accounts be allowed?
[13:35] <stefan> no change there

[13:36] <Earth_Mover> Will there still be a 1 minute lock up during the tick? And will ticks last the same time?
[13:36] <stefan> ticks should be smoother, both due to tick improvement and of course the faster server

[13:37] <Earth_Mover> will there still be the gap between ticks? or back to the old days where u could play through the tick?
[13:38] <stefan> I am not sure yet. The gap is there to conserve energy for the tick. It may not be needed anymore.

[13:38] <Earth_Mover> Will IC3 be fully customizable? (In terms of design)?
[13:38] <stefan> yes

[13:39] <Earth_Mover> Will there be new galaxies in IC3 or different galaxies?
[13:40] <stefan> not decided yet. Galaxies will not be as similar as they are today though. Units available will differ, for example.

[13:40] <Earth_Mover> Will there be changes in the forum or will they get transfered completely?
[13:41] <stefan> the current forums will be replaced with punbb, www.punbb.org. Smartys has made a skin that looks Imperial-ish.

[13:42] <Earth_Mover> Regarding the fully custoisable design, will this give each account the possibilty of its own design, or set designs that can be mixed?
[13:44] <stefan> set designs that the either the player can choose from, as sidebar is chosen now, or perhaps a set design for each galaxy. Nothing decided on yet.
[13:44] <stefan> -the

[13:45] <Earth_Mover> Will the VIP features remain the same? and will some of the options that give an advantage to game play be removed?
[13:46] <stefan> as of now there are no changes

[13:47] <Earth_Mover> What is the reason for a move to a different forum server? Will the Family forums be independt of that or will they be tied to the same tihng as well (in reference to pnubb.org server move)
[13:49] <stefan> main reason is that the current forums suck. Yes, they truly do. Like much of IC, it was once a good thing, but over the years it has been patched into Swiss cheese.

[13:49] <Earth_Mover> so this will include fam forums moving over as well?
[13:50] <stefan> yes

[13:50] <Earth_Mover> Will we ever get our beloved race pictures back?
[13:50] <Earth_Mover> and race descriptions to
[13:51] <stefan> actually, in IC3 there will not be any custom races. (crowd explodes in rage)

[13:51] <Earth_Mover> Will this lead to more pre made races?
[13:52] <stefan> 5-6 or should do. Custom races will be replaced by the ability to customize the policies of your empire. If you have played Europa Universalis you know what I mean.
[13:52] <Earth_Mover> and if we havent? can you explain
[13:53] <stefan> It's a cheap game, go play it ;)
[13:54] <Earth_Mover> this is cheaper, and it would be quicker for you to explain than play it
[13:54] <stefan> basically it's the same thing, only you do not simply choose your empire's charcteristics once and then that's it, but you can change them as the game plays out.
[13:54] <Earth_Mover> whats the website for this ? (loads of people are ready to leave)
[13:56] <stefan> <http>//www.paradoxplaza.com/

[13:56] <Earth_Mover> Will be new rules/formulas/etc. which might effect current strats ?
[13:57] <stefan> yes. But as I said, it will not be a radical change from IC1, since people do seem to enjoy the current game..

[13:58] <Earth_Mover> ask him if science planets will remain, and if they do, will they be changed to have more effect later on the round? now they only have meaning in the beginning
[13:59] <stefan> they will be changed. Currently they are a bit silly...
[13:59] <Earth_Mover> along with morale planets? because they only really help the top families.
[13:59] <stefan> right

[14:01] <Earth_Mover> Will there be more mods needed to run IC3, or will the present staff be ample?
[14:01] <stefan> mods will have more options in IC3, so more mods may be needed

[14:02] <Earth_Mover> Will there be more profesionality?
[14:02] <stefan> define professionality first
[14:03] <Lizzy> Its a question by Jinx, who cant be here at this time...
[14:03] <Lizzy> So it might be hard for EM to define it :)

[14:04] <Earth_Mover>  will this new system make it easyer for people with lesser people in the fam to be more equal to the fams that are full
[14:06] <stefan> not as of yet
[14:07] <Earth_Mover> So nothing like applying empire overbuild costs to the whole family?
[14:07] <stefan> no, nothing like that atm

[14:08] <Earth_Mover>  will you update our current irc server when upgrading to ic3 / new server
[14:09] <stefan> it is already decently up-to-date, but I will surely re-compile it

[14:10] <Earth_Mover> Which version of PHP will IC3 use and will it use zend optimizer ?
[14:12] <stefan> PHP 5.0 most likely, and yes. It will also use the Smarty template engine, and a PHP cache thingy.

[14:13] <Earth_Mover> Why isnt IC3 called IC2, since IC2 was never implimented?
[14:14] <stefan> no particular reason

[14:14] <Earth_Mover> Will any of the current resources change, will there be more? and will octarine become more important?
[14:16] <stefan> as of now the resources are the same
[14:17] <stefan> more than 4-5 resources are not likely, as it would not really serve any purpose other than confusing new players

[14:59] <Earth_Mover> Will IC3 be as prone to hackers as DT did lately?
[15:00] <stefan> no, unlike IC1, IC3 is made with security in mind

Misc Questions

[14:17] <Earth_Mover> Now time for the community to learn more about you, hope you dont mind some personal questions :D
[14:17] <Earth_Mover> How are you?
[14:17] <stefan> I am well

[14:17] <Earth_Mover> What is your job?
[14:18] <stefan> I am a system developer, currently mostly working with IP telephony

[14:18] <Earth_Mover> Why did you make IC?
[14:19] <stefan> I was, at the time, an Utopia addict grown bored with that game, and so figured it would be fun to make one myself

[14:20] <Earth_Mover> Are you an IC addict? and do you play, and will you play IC3?
[14:20] <stefan> I am definately not an IC addict, or any other addict for that matter, though some perhaps would contest that
[14:20] <stefan> I may very well play IC3, yes
[14:21] <Lizzy> *StarTrek cough cough*

[14:21] <Earth_Mover> My Question: Can i draft you when you play IC3?
[14:22] <stefan> no, I'd be undercover
[14:23] <Earth_Mover> :(

[14:23] <Earth_Mover> why are you never active in the forums? Do you ever read them?
[14:24] <stefan> I do read, mostly mod forum and Ideas. I'm less active because that gives me more time for other things.
[14:25] <Earth_Mover> liek watching star trek?
[14:25] <stefan> I'm still hoping to make a guest appearance in Enterprise

[14:25] <Earth_Mover> Why make a game and then withdraw from public appearances almost completely? (making it seem as you stopped caring)
[14:28] <stefan> well, I, along with Mike, made this game 4 years ago. It's difficult to remain enthusiastic about something for such a long time. Rather than try, I chose to distance myself and let the community in the form of the mods run the game, with me around for development. It is working quite well for me.

[14:29] <Earth_Mover> Do you get any fan mail? or would you like some?
[14:30] <stefan> I do get fan email, or got, rather, before that was spammed out. In many of the VIP donations I receive by email people praise the game, which is fun.

[14:31] <Earth_Mover> Whats your all time favourite female character in Star Trek?
[14:34] <stefan> difficult question... I'd have to say the female half Klingon, half human that Word had a fling with. Forgot the name.
[14:34] <stefan> Worf!
[14:34] <Earth_Mover> ur not a true addict then! you cant forget names
[14:58] <stefan> K'Ehleyr is the name of the Klingon chick, thank you Olorin

[14:34] <Earth_Mover> How gay are you?
[14:36] <stefan> Not at all. If you refer to the post by Liz, discount it; Lizzy, or Helmud Mit Dem Grossen Bratwurst as she was known as before the operation, is just jealous of my girlfriend.

[14:36] <Earth_Mover> Any more details on what you think of lizzy?
[14:38] <stefan> I think she is great, as are the rest of the mod team

[14:39] <Earth_Mover> someone wants a picture of you? any avaliable?
[14:39] <stefan> none

[14:40] <Earth_Mover> Are you really evading taxes?
[14:40] <stefan> nope

[14:40] <Earth_Mover> How long did you serve jail?
[14:41] <stefan> I have never been in jail

[14:42] <Earth_Mover> Boxers or briefs?
[14:42] <stefan> boxers

[14:42] <Earth_Mover> Leather or lace?
[14:42] <stefan> why choose?
[14:42] <Earth_Mover> cos you have to!
[14:43] <stefan> OK, then leather

[14:43] <Earth_Mover> Do you get bored of all the whineing that alot of the IC community does?
[14:44] <stefan> after a couple of years you get used to it
[14:44] <stefan> you can't please everyone, and that's all there is to it

[14:45] <Earth_Mover> Have you ever considered how many IC players educations you have ruined with IC?
[14:45] <stefan> yes. (muahaha)

[14:46] <Earth_Mover> Have you ever fanticised about squiralls?
[14:46] <stefan> no, but I think they are cute

[14:46] <Earth_Mover> Boobs, Arse or Legs ( on a woman of course)
[14:47] <Lizzy> Or man :p
[14:47] <stefan> boobs, arse, and legs

[14:48] <Earth_Mover> what do you have to say about ara's comments when he left the mod team? (did you read them?)
[14:49] <stefan> I fail to recollect them right now, so I guess they were not that memorable
[14:49] <Earth_Mover> It was about you not caring and such for the mod team etc, but if you dont want to answer, its fine
[14:50] <stefan> oh. Then again, you can't please everyone.

[14:50] <Earth_Mover> Does honour have a place in IC, or would you prefer no honour?
[14:51] <stefan> in general, people are honourable. Less so when they play games, as it is very competitive. To maintain honour the game must be set up so as to reward honour. We will attmpt to adress this in IC3.

[14:53] <Earth_Mover> What type of music do you like?
[14:54] <stefan> all sorts. From Outkast to Sarah Brightmann.

[14:54] <Earth_Mover> Will the custom games return?
[14:55] <stefan> not likely

[14:55] <Earth_Mover> Will the newsletter return/finally appear?
[14:56] <stefan> I don't know

[14:56] <Earth_Mover> What (roughly) is the income and expenditure for/from IC in a year?
[14:58] <stefan> it generates a healthy profit, but not enough for me to have that pointy ears operation

[14:58] <Earth_Mover> Rock, Paper, Scissors ever returning?
[14:59] <stefan> no, it will not return
[14:59] <Earth_Mover> :(

[15:00] <Earth_Mover> Could you draw us a firetruck like Mike did years ago and post it in announcements?
[15:01] <Earth_Mover> And is it true, you have mike hidden in your basement?
[15:01] <stefan> no, my firetruck-drawing skills are not yet complete
[15:01] <stefan> Mike and I live quite near and are still good friends

[15:02] <Earth_Mover> thanks for today, more to come hopefully, im sure most have enjoyed
[15:02] <stefan> thank you