It's Kickstarter goal was surpassed and the game will be released in June 2014.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonshafer/jon-shafers-at-the-gates?ref=email (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonshafer/jon-shafers-at-the-gates?ref=email)
Looks very interesting. One I'll follow.
Crap! I meant to KS it! I will be content with getting it like everyone else. That is a LONG time away.
Always good to see more Ancients stuff. ;D
a Spacesector interview (http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2013/08/interview-with-conifer-games-on-at-the-gates/) with Conifer Games on At the Gates.
I didn't get in on the Kickstarter, but am looking forward to this one.
Nice to see games like this can make it with kickstarter.
That does look like a good game. I'm intrigued with campaigning ferociously before winter sets in. Plus, not that this matters, the team working on this project look cool.
To add icing to the cake, Jon Shafer posted (http://forums.stardock.com/440041/page/3/#3324583): "AtG will be available DRM-free from our website. We're hoping to release on Steam, but the game won't require it in any way."
I am very much looking forward to At the Gates.
ATG release pushed into 2015
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/12/02/at-the-gates-delayed-still-far-away-from-the-gates/
Well its been some time since I've heard anything about this one, but a long Lets Play video covering the first year of game time has been released. He says in the video its still in alpha, so I don't expect we'll be seeing this one anytime soon.
Interesting looking game. The video is over an hour long....does anyone actually watch it from start to finish? I tend to click along the line at the bottom watching a minute or so here and there, maybe 5 to 10 minutes total. Just curious.
unless i got it wrong the map area seems to be the same size at the start as it does at the end - so it could be a long involved game
Why have I not yet squeed this game yet??
(squee)
Incidentally, I got a bit of a Balor of the Evil Eye vibe from this game. Anyone else remember that?
Quote from: Rayfer on October 17, 2014, 09:37:30 AM
Interesting looking game. The video is over an hour long....does anyone actually watch it from start to finish? I tend to click along the line at the bottom watching a minute or so here and there, maybe 5 to 10 minutes total. Just curious.
I actually did watch the whole video and really liked what I saw...wishing I'd backed the Kickstarter now, but will definitively be picking this one up when it comes out. Some interesting features: changing seasons reflected on the map, less movement penalty to cross a frozen river vs unfrozen, you can/will eventually be required to pack up your encampment and move when you deplete nearby resources. I also really liked the water color-type graphics...
Quote from: Rayfer on October 17, 2014, 09:37:30 AM
Interesting looking game. The video is over an hour long....does anyone actually watch it from start to finish? I tend to click along the line at the bottom watching a minute or so here and there, maybe 5 to 10 minutes total. Just curious.
I wasn't going to, but I ended up watching the whole video. I liked what I saw and am happy that I was one of its Kickstarter supporters.
According to this (http://www.atthegatesgame.com/), "Early access versions are now available for all PC platforms!" An Early Access Bundle is priced at $50 U.S. (http://www.atthegatesgame.com/purchase/earlyaccess)
^As tempted as I might be, I think I'm going to wait for release and get it for $30 rather than spending $50 now.
...a recent update (http://www.atthegatesgame.com/node/35) about ATG from Mr Shafer...and a new almost 2 hour Lets Play video.
I check in on
At the Gates every once in a while in the hopes that its getting closer to release.
Doesn't look like it'll be released anytime soon...if ever. :( The situation sounds somewhat similar to the
Limit Theory debacle...a developer getting in over his head. I pledged for
Limit Theory, glad I decided to wait on
At the Gates. Still hoping both make it, but...
Quote
Jon Shafer Creator on May 13
Hey all, apologies for the lengthy radio silence. I've been dealing with some health issues the past few months and had to take some time off. I'm back in the saddle as of today though, so no need to worry about whether the game will be finished or not - you should start seeing updates to the game again next week!
- Jon
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonshafer/jon-shafers-at-the-gates/comments
Sounds like the backers are still waiting for any updates 3 months later.
Yikes...from his last Kickstarter update last November. He's either very determined to see it through, crazy or both.
Quote
...
As noted in a previous section, I'm actually the only full-time developer on AtG, which certainly makes things a whole lot easier that it could be. Everyone else is either a part-timer with some other full-time source of income or a contractor paid for specific work we've known about in advance since the Kickstarter campaign and comes in at a total of $25k, 99% which has already been paid for. Even so, our once-fat sack o' Kickstarter loot has indeed been exhausted, resulting in a initial budget shortfall of around $150k. We've done better with direct pre-orders than I'd actually expected and cut the deficit by $23k. The remaining gap has been filled by proceeds from selling my house, car, and retirement account.
...
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonshafer/jon-shafers-at-the-gates/posts/1424574
Too bad, I was looking forward to that one. Like you, glad I didn't KS though. Hopefully he will get it finished though.
Sounds to my like Jon has had some serious health issues this year that prevented him from working on the game or staying in contact with the community. Good for him for putting his health before finishing some stupid video game. I hope the game makes it out and I'm sure it will be worth the wait, but I'd hardly categorize this as "getting in over his head".
Quote from: tgb on August 19, 2016, 09:18:06 AM
Sounds to my like Jon has had some serious health issues this year that prevented him from working on the game or staying in contact with the community. Good for him for putting his health before finishing some stupid video game. I hope the game makes it out and I'm sure it will be worth the wait, but I'd hardly categorize this as "getting in over his head".
Agreed. Still hopeful this comes out, but not at the expense of him getting over whatever health issues he's been dealing with.
Sounds like Jon is back at work, tough year for him. I guess a new update was released to backers too.
http://www.atthegatesgame.com/node/38 (http://www.atthegatesgame.com/node/38)
At the Gates now has a release date (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonshafer/jon-shafers-at-the-gates/posts/2366935)...January 23, 2019, a "proper" Steam page (https://store.steampowered.com/app/241000/Jon_Shafers_At_the_Gates/) and a preview (https://www.pcgamer.com/the-new-game-from-civ-5s-designer-is-all-about-conquering-rome/)! :clap:
Wish Bismarck was around to see it... :'(
Ok so this is a actual full release...not an early access release, right?
I love the time period but the graphics are making my eyes bleed.
[alarmbells] Hmm, this fell into a black hole and now it pops up for a release next month? (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aarcentral.com%2Femoti%2Fhm.gif&hash=b521f9d3bed723276e08088a5e7c4d23e0c314b7)
I've realized that, in most strategy games, the quality of graphics has almost nothing to do with the enjoyment that I receive from it. Eye candy in a game can be nice, but I've sunk 100+ hours into plenty of games with horrific graphics (Eador: Genesis, AI Wars, various Dominions titles, the list goes on and on).
I'll be curious to hear what people think of this one.
Me too. I've just got used to my Pike and Shot, and Field of Glory, and the Total War campaign map, and Order of Battle, and other titles. I now know that wargames don't have to look like 1977 anymore.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 11, 2018, 12:06:50 PM
Wish Bismarck was around to see it... :'(
Agree. Sad to know he is gone.
I saw something about Shafer was going to make an announcement I think it was on reddit last night (?); however, I am glad to hear it he's finally finishing it.
Saw this link to Jon Schaffer's blog on Qto3.
https://jonshaferondesign.com/2019/01/09/how-at-the-gates-took-7-years-of-my-life-and-nearly-the-rest/ (https://jonshaferondesign.com/2019/01/09/how-at-the-gates-took-7-years-of-my-life-and-nearly-the-rest/)
Looks like he had some tough times, hopefully coming out stronger at the end.
I'm hard-pressed to find the excitement in this one...it doesn't look all that impressive when compared to the paradox titles, or even to the Civ games. It seems to incorporate a few neat ideas, but I don't see these being implemented across the game system and they almost come across as gimmicky to me.
I hope its really good because we can never have too many 4x options, but there is just little I have seen about this one that excites me...
I know I should keep my mouth shut on this, but I'm also finding it hard to be sympathetic about the whole development struggle. I mean, Shafer beat his drug addiction and I'm really happy for him about that. I'm also happy that he is living a healthier balanced life style now. However, something about blaming the stress of game development on leading to a very long development cycle and an unhealthy, dangerous lifestyle/drug addiction rubs me the wrong way. I'll leave it at that for now.
Anyway, I hope the game is successful and that we are able to see more from Shafer in the future.
Yeah, best of luck to Shafer and I hope his future blossoms, but this game looked more way more exciting to me back in 2013.
Quote from: Steelgrave on January 14, 2019, 10:40:28 AM
Yeah, best of luck to Shafer and I hope his future blossoms, but this game looked more way more exciting to me back in 2013.
My thoughts exactly.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on January 14, 2019, 09:58:44 AM
I'm hard-pressed to find the excitement in this one...it doesn't look all that impressive when compared to the paradox titles, or even to the Civ games. It seems to incorporate a few neat ideas, but I don't see these being implemented across the game system and they almost come across as gimmicky to me.
I hope its really good because we can never have too many 4x options, but there is just little I have seen about this one that excites me...
I know I should keep my mouth shut on this, but I'm also finding it hard to be sympathetic about the whole development struggle. I mean, Shafer beat his drug addiction and I'm really happy for him about that. I'm also happy that he is living a healthier balanced life style now. However, something about blaming the stress of game development on leading to a very long development cycle and an unhealthy, dangerous lifestyle/drug addiction rubs me the wrong way. I'll leave it at that for now.
Anyway, I hope the game is successful and that we are able to see more from Shafer in the future.
Similar feelings as myself. I absolutely wish him the best and glad to see he worked himself out of dark places. But I would be lying if I said his history didn't worry me. If I were to buy the game, I would be concerned about his long term commitment, ability to get out timely patches, and provide future expansions. Certainly a game not buying at first, will wait to see reviews and actual commitment....plus, how much plans to charge for it.
The game is out on Steam.
Has anyone here tried it already?
Release asking price is $27.
I'm a sucker for games like this, but I'll be waiting until I've played some other things in my stable first.
I will need to see reviews first and commitment to the support. Does intrigue me though.
Found a review via the Steam forum:
Found this as well...
https://the4xplorer.net/2019/01/23/jon-shafers-at-the-gates-review/
its also reviewed at RPS. No homosexual undertones or gender/sex identity issues in game though, so the review is lukewarm.
You mean you can't have an empire of fat genderfluid women with pink and blue hair?! RPS must hate it!
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on January 23, 2019, 05:55:25 PM
its also reviewed at RPS. No homosexual undertones or gender/sex identity issues in game though, so the review is lukewarm.
I think "lukewarm" is an optimistic assessment: they think it's boring.
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/23/jon-shafers-at-the-gates-review/
Although, to tell the truth, "slow pace" is typically not an issue with me, so long as it has a pace.
Watched parts of a few reviews, not really impressed enough to bite the bullet on it right now.
With no mention of blue hair, a slow pace, etc...I will probably love it.
Quill started a run
https://www.invidio.us/watch?v=aIctKEDJh24
My review is available on Strategy Gamer if anyone's inclined to go read it.
It's got some great ideas and from my own experience what's there is incredibly polished - like I'd be surprised if you found any technical issues or bugs that can commonly plague indie/small dev team games. The biggest problem is simply there's not much there to begin with.
I love the early game, kick-starting your barter economy and trying to make an efficient web of jobs with your clans + migration and dealing with hostile roaming bandits... but the mid/end game lacks engagement. Diplomacy, AI etc... are virtually non-existent.
^I would hope the game will be relatively bug free after a 7 year development cycle.
No diplomacy? You really can tell he designed Civ5. ::)
That alone will keep me from buying it.
Historicalgamer's day1 look. Not sure if this has been posted yet...?
Quote from: JasonPratt on January 24, 2019, 08:29:22 AM
Historicalgamer's day1 look. Not sure if this has been posted yet...?
Very interesting video...I am liking a lot of what was covered in the first 15 minutes. Haven't watched the rest yet. It's a very different take on the Civ/4X formula.