We now have an official release date for the first release, Allies and Confederates of Paradox:
July 4th.
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE. OR YOU COULD BE THERE LATER IF YOU WANT. THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THE INTERNET. IT STAYS THERE FOR YOU. BUT BE THERE AT SOME POINT.
Obviously, this is later than our previously stated release date of "Late May" - as much as we hate breaking promises, the fact is that we just recently learned that each infantry unit needs something on the order of 160 animations. That means we'll probably have at least 2000 animations to complete for this release. Sketch is doing his best to find people who can animate/learn to animate, but even then, it seems like 2 weeks is a little bit of a small window for that.
With the whole focus on America this release, and with July 4th coming soon, and with the requirement for a beta still remaining, we decided that would be a good target to aim for. That means that if you want the full mod, you'll unfortunately have to wait another while... but ALL of the Allied units are finished (except infantry animations) and almost all of the Confederate units are finished. As they go in we'll be posting videos, possibly showing off either fun combinations we've thought of or different unit abilities.
Oh, and as for the beta... it will (unfortunately for a lot of people) be a closed beta. Even though we know a lot of people would be glad to play it in an unfinished state, we feel like it would cheapen the final product... but we do want to make sure people can bugtest it before release. We've got a list of people who we'll offer beta entry to and we might change it over time based on a variety of factors, so if you think there's any chance you'd get a shoutout from a Paradox team member for any reason, watch your PM inbox and your wiki page (if applicable)! Pre-emptive warning: Do not ask us for beta entry. We will be upset and you will probably lose any chance you may have had at beta entry otherwise. But of course that's just a general rule, so if we offered you beta entry before and forgot you could always just remind us or something.
Unfortunately, we will be cancelling Minimod 3.0 for a variety of reasons (technical issues, etc) but the Auto Go and possibly the Myeche will be present in Release 1 alongside the Allied and Confederate additions. It just doesn't seem fair that Allied air superiority gets such a massive boost while Japan still lacks proper T1 anti-air.
Sorry that it's still going to be so long before you guys finally get your hands on this stuff... but it's just another month and a half! The wait will pass before you know it.
If I remember I'll try to post updates on features we'll have in the release in addition to just the units. We've been testing the Assassination game mode and it should be ready by the time Release 1 comes out.
Again, sorry to make you guys wait! Hopefully the wiki, forum, podcasts, screenshots and videos will help pass the time.
One last thing: we are still in need of mapmakers! In the past we have been a little slack in the search for people who can make proper maps (for example... umm, forgetting to respond to PMs. Sorry if I did that to any of you...) but now that the release date is getting nearer and we've got some special game modes, the search will begin in earnest. Shoot us a PM if you want to make maps for us, or if you have a map already that you'd like to submit! I can't speak for the rest of the team, but I promise I'll respond this time. :/
eeeeee! wana see confederats!
I look forward to see your release to finally make Red Alert 3 what it should be. As I said before, you will get EA's attention. Now that could be a good plus, maybe a job offer? :P I've been following this mod since it was announced as a web page in my Opera speed dial.
Ok, looking forward to 4th July =)
... and if you think, you'll not finish it until this date, take your time ;-)
If any of you are disappointed that the Beta will be closed, please look at my blog on my profile site. It was too long to post here.
Curious date :)
I've got a new summer present!
Sum its up pretty well.
Best realese date! For Ackerman!
Alrighty then. Will be there. XD
4th July? Was there some symbolism with the Confed's when this date was chosen?
You can always share some skeletons between infantry, since most infantry can walk the same. Unless you are looking for that much diversity, I would recommend sharing some skeletons between infantry to preserve work. And not to mention it makes it easier to debug some units since they share the skeletons so their codes will be alike, and if a problem comes up that is shared by a few infantry, there would only be one or two skeletons to fix because they share animations/skeletons.
That sounds like a good idea.
My birthday is July 3rd.
are all the factions ready?
All the 2 factions and IntInc that are coming in this release are almost ready, yes.
Wait for the other releases mate - they'll come. It's supposed to be Talon and Soviet's next if I recall.
Nope, Soviets and Empire, because A) this reduces waiting time between package 1 and 2 and B) if the Empire would come in the third package probably no one would play them for a long time. Package 3 are the Talon and China, and package 4 are the Protectorate and (finally) the Syndicate.
I just noticed, it seems the schedule has changed slightly since I last checked ^_^
And are you sure the Syndicate are the last package? It seems they're almost a fully developed faction - they were the second new faction (the first being Confeds if memory serves) to have their units list completely filled in.
Actually, the Syndicate was either the LAST faction or the 2nd last (before Talon) to be completely filled in - China and the Protectorate have remained more or less unchanged since their inception (with minor exceptions, like modules) and the Talon got a huge revamp somewhere along the line, but we were putting off the Syndicate for a long, long time.
So yeah, KamuiK's summary is accurate.
=D
That´s a good new!
Hey hey, at least it's commin'! I would help ya, but I don't have any talents in programing/modeling/etc. It will be an excellent "School's out!" toy to play with.
I concur
(also when you say all allied infantry, does that include the heavy defender?)
I'll actually be the one animating (trying to animate) the Heavy Defender, so yes.
Nice idea for a release date! I hope everything goes well for you guys!
Wish I was a beta tester. :(
Read my blog on my Moddb profile, Darky.
Did. I think the same way,I want to help the guys out.
This makes me feel guilty for suggesting the Tsukumogami.
(Under a different, not nearly as good name.)
Wait- then again I suggested it as a Mecha- so so much for that.
Anyway, it will be done when it is done- anything else is silly.
Well, it's an android infantry. The problem are the many, many, MANY weapon grafics which will have to be done, but it's accepted, so yeah ^^
For July 4th, is Paradox Independence Day.
Wow. Independance Day. Oh yeah and 160 ANIMATIONS PER UNIT!?