Why don't just tell us the truth? You don't want to give us the good stuff!

Give me my fix!

The main issue is to get an idea of the features and gameplay. Not that we don't hope and expect for great things from the 'close up' graphics engine later on.

Bear in mind many of the people here come from a background of 'Master of Magic' - a civ clone played in old fashioned VGA. (I seem to recall it was 320 x 200 - 256 colours). Likewise Dominions 3 is played mostly on the cloth map.

I just want to play ... please put me in Beta 0.

Would the beta have the unit customisation options ... ? That would probably be a major strategic issue.

I also Volunteer my services. Sign me up.

Haha, that's a cool idea. If it means players/testers will get more involved with the actual development

I hope it works out, good luck!

I would kill to get in on that LOL! The game is probably better in it's primitve state than anything else out right now....except for GalCiv 2 of course

It sounds very reasonable to roll out beta code chunks in major phases--I can't quickly think of a better way to keep volunteer feedback focused on the code chunk you want to hear from them about.

I also heartily endorse the idea of carrying on the GalCiv tradition of insanely good support for old/weak/scoffed-at systems. I had tons of fun with GC2 long before I ran it on hardware that actually met the formal sys reqs.

I REALLY like this idea, but people would have to know about it first.  This would also allow me to play the game on my fancy-ass laptop at home, while having it playable fully at work.  If Elemental draws a lot of new people in, they're going to know about the early idea, and view it as "the game is out now", and they might end up disappointed.

The gameplay is what needs to be focused on first, since a LOT can go wrong with that, due to some of the ambitious ideas you have.   It's a lot easier to improve graphics down the road like you did with GC2.  I'm probably more worried then most about this, but I think that's due to my expectations being insane, which Stardock has earned.

That means beta before June, right? Right? In this moment, the only game that could make me leave DoW2 would be this one (or Demigod if i could ever make it work ).

In any case... NEW PIC!!! YAY???!!! And i'm fine starting with only the cloth map. It'll be quite interesting and the best way to make sure it gets properly tested.

I couldn't agree more. Graphics enhance a game but they won't make a crappy game good. In the past I've played and enjoyed text only MUDs and roguelikes so a game with "only" a cloth map wouldn't bother me one bit. Of course, that isn't to say that I won't appreciate the extra graphics that will be present.

I'm down with that.  I agree, it should be fun from the cloth map.   In fact, I don't see what you couldn't do from the cloth map anyway, I mean its a TBS game!  besides, I think the cloth map looks like 'good graphics'.   Just because its 2D doesn't mean the graphics are bad.  It still in a high resolution and at 60 fps right?   That's good in my book.

 So... what is this I hear about Alphas?   Do we get to see something in action before June?  *leans closer*

Frogboy... you said in the demigod forums that you would make the beta for Elemental 'not fun'... I don't think just making it all on a cloth map rather than in full 3D is making it not fun.   I play "Master of Magic" for crying out load.   Surely its not going to be a step down from those graphics.

*added note: in case you didn't know.  Master of Magic is not 3D but is still VERY fun.  Better than most modern game's I'd say*

I think we are in the minority when we say that we would be more than happy to test the game using the cloth map, but then again how many people actually join betas?  I hope that this beta process is as great as GalCiv2's.  Elemental is the only game that is forcing me to keep windows as a dual boot option.  I'm sure this game will play great!

now this is a line i have wanted to hear from a game dev for many, many years
if we can join in on this beta 0 sign me right up! 

Sounds like a good idea! I for one want all the cool concepts tested and not just the leetle details

Yeah, forget the graphics! I mean, the beta testing is to figure out what is wrong with the gameplay anyways, right? If you get the gameplay figured out than you can always add graphics later!

(My comment might be slightly biased because my computer is almost as bad as a netbook!)

I want eye candy.So bad idea.