MOO4 - Let us hope for Tactical Combat

Once you start colonizing planets, the way that you choose to grow and expand your race is up to you. If you get embroiled in war with another culture at some point, which you will, then there is an option of either simulated combat – which still lets you make attack decisions if needed – or tactical combat, which is much more hands-on. The tactical mode wasn’t shown in my demonstration, but it was clearly on option on the screen that they weren’t ready to talk about yet.

http://thekoalition.com/2015/master-of-orion-preview-the-remake-we-deserve

SimTex team involved!

[We went] back and contacted the original [SimTex] team. We brought in several of them as consultants. Their job is to make sure that we stay on point. We got the original producer, original art director, the original composer is doing the music for the new game, a couple of designers as well. So yeah, we've got people onboard that are very relevant to the process." Many of the old SimTex developers were stunned when Keeling tracked them down with consultancy offers for a new Master of Orion game. Some of them took him on a field trip to the old SimTex offices, which are on the same street as Wargaming's Austin location. The cradle of Master of Orion, it turns out, is now a mall restaurant.

http://www.pcgamer.com/wargaming-on-master-of-orion-this-is-a-passion-for-us/

Master of Orion Announcement Trailer

Masters of Orion Reboot Coming From World of Tanks Dev

Key members of original game's team are working on the reboot.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/masters-of-orion-reboot-coming-from-world-of-tanks/1100-6427911/?utm_source=daily_updates_registered&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Master+of+Orion

Total Annihilation and Master of Orion are strategy game classics

"Total Annihilation and Master of Orion are strategy game classics," said Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. "Although it's too soon to disclose any details, we are more than willing to give a new lease of life to these games most of us grew up playing. It's exactly where our major focus will be."
(http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/2/4582218/wargaming-net-acquires-total-annihilation-master-of-orion)

Woot! Master of Orion IPs sold off at Atari auction

"Interesting to see Planetary Annihilation makers Uber go for Total Annihilation, and that Stardock bid on Master of Orion. Both are definitely in their respective areas of interest, but you’re in for a hard time if you’re bidding against Wargaming right now. Stardock didn’t go away empty handed, though – having taken hold of Star Control."

http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/07/22/total-annihilation-franchise-bought-by-wargaming-the-owners-of-gas-powered-games/

...and the winner is:
Master of Orion Franchise
Successful Bidder: Wargaming World Limited

Back-Up Bidder: Stardock Systems, Inc (hehe, they did hate tactical combat...so this seems good news for MOO2 fans...)

Master of Onion

IE PC game designer Interview: Steve Barcia (Simtex, Circa 1994)

The youtube video description states:

Freshly after releasing Master of Magic, the now Defunct Interactive Entertainment CD Mag (magazine entirely on a CD) obtained an exclusive interview with the now legendary game designer and SimTex founder, Steve Barcia. They talk about what inspired him, how he works and a few questions specifically about SimTex and Master of Orion. Overall, a good interview process. Steve has since moved on to Retro Studios, heading Metroid Prime... then on to Electronic Arts. His profile picture on IGN shows that it looks like he's lost weight since 1994. [...]

He probably refers to this profile: http://games.ign.com/top-100-game-creators/88.html

Streaming Games On Ustream!

Hey, everyone, Gor here! You may know me from the IRC chat; and if not, I am often hanging around in there, so you'll probably see me some time. I am posting here to say that I am going to start streaming my games between myself and my friends, and possibly some members of the IRC if they are into it. I'll be posting an embedded player here, so that anyone stopping by can watch the games, and I'll try to keep everyone up to date on any scheduled streams. Hopefully this will give us all some fun content to enrich the community with. :) (Edit: Switching to Ustream)



Replay archive can be found here: http://www.ustream.tv/user/UniquelyDefined/videos