Topic: Taldren Appreciation Thread

[FPF_TraceyG]

Hello everyone,
       I'd just like to say that for some weeks now, I've been giving myself a crash course in mission scripting for SFC2 (which is going quite well by the way). More importantly though, I have come to appreciate just how much of a gargantuan effort it has been to write a computer program that does everything that any of the SFC series games do. Taking a board game like Star Fleet Battles in all of its complexity and doing your best to recreate that on your desktops is no trivial effort.
      Anyone familiar with Object Oriented Programming and has had a look at the Taldren API for either SFC2 or SFC3 will know what I mean. There is a huge amount of coding that has been done here just to set things up in order to even approach any of the things that might be expected from a SFC game.
     Furthermore,  the sheer complexity of the source code (which the API gives you some insight into) shows that undertaking such a task was not taken lightly and many man hours have been invested into its creation. Despite the criticisms you may read about on these boards, the coding foundation that Taldren have created is very solid and works. I can't help but think that for some of the criticism I have read here, it reminds me of someone buying a brand new car and looking it over. Yes, it has a nice big engine, ergonomically designed interior, state of the art sound system, etc. but wait.. the car seat covers are the wrong color... its a piece of crap.
    I take my hat off to the programmers at Taldren for all the blood, sweat, tears and sleepless nights away from loved ones that have been spent in creating what in my opinion is 'the' best Star Trek game to hit the market, if not the best game of its genre. The dedicated following (us, the players) it has, is testament to that and in a way, if this game didn't have the appeal it does, we wouldn't bother making any comments, good or bad about it.

P.S. I'm having quite a lot of fun with all the goodies in the mission scripting API <snicker>...

Thankyou Taldren.

[KRolling]

Yes, Tracey, it's about time someone explained all of that from the inside.

Thank you, Taldren!

 

[James Bond]

Yes I think Taldren have taken enough stick over these past few weeks, especially from people from certain other boards who don't even own or play the game.

Thanks Taldren.

 I hope you get all the bugs sorted, I can't play the game just now untill I can get a new CD Rom.

[NJAntman]

Well put. Its good to see a positive amongst all our complaints.

I nominate Greenough MWR Officer  . Any seconding motion?  

[NCC2012]

As a person who has frequented these forums for a while now, I've always been pro-Taldren when it came down to the arguments against them. Yeah, we'd all like to have a game that works perfectly right out of the box, but they don't make Atari 2600 games anymore.    It's not like David and Erik and the others are sitting around saying, "Okay, how can we purposely screw up this time to piss off our best customers?"  Stuff happens that isn't always foreseen, plus you're bound by contacts and such that just make things all the more complicated for a team trying to put out the best they can under the circumstances.  I think they have done a tremendous job and should be commended, not blasted apart whenever someone finds a fault with their work.  Sometimes people just have to remember to be civilized, I guess.  

I had my own 12th annual Trek party just last weekend. For 10 years the gang engaged in combat using the FASA Starship Tactical Combat Simulator.  Then last year we took a giant step and got a network up to play OP.  This year it was SFC3.  We hardly ran into any bugs at all (for 6 different  peoples' systems, I'd say that was pretty good!), and people were so impressed that they commented that they never care to go back to the FASA game again after the enjoyment they had with SFC3.  That says a lot about Taldren and what they have given us.  From everyone at the party, thanks Taldren!      

[LongTooth]

Hats off to taldren for SFC1,2'OP and 3

[Komodo]

Here here!

It's made the last 3 years of my life interesting, educational, and has allowed me to meet many people I wouldn't have otherwise. Thanks!!!!  

[DiggityDank]

<Gives Taldren a hearty slap on the back>

[Karnak]

Being a professional software developer myself, I know a few programmers that work in the S/W gaming industry. It can be a very risky enterprise filled with long hours of programming toil, tight deadlines, and no sure way of knowing if your company will survive the next game release.  Sometimes, the tight deadline requires a early release of the game because that is the reality of the gaming industry, today.

I could say a lot of nice things mixed in with some constructive criticism to Taldren, but I will probably say what they most want to hear:

I bought SFC2:EAW and SFC3 and I am a happy customer (ie. I will buy the next SFC title produced for the series, and I am still interested enough in your Co. to monitor these forums).

If I was not a happy customer, I would never have seen this post because I would not have been monitoring the Taldren forums.  

BTW, since the forums have moved into the era of signature file poster ADs here one for everyone that sincerely appreciates Taldren for the S/W products they produced, with which we would not all be conversing on this forum:

Thanks Taldren for a Great Game.

If you feel the same sentiments, feel free to post in your signature file.

[ChamadaIV]

Quote:
Being a professional software developer myself, I know a few programmers that work in the S/W gaming industry. It can be a very risky enterprise filled with long hours of programming toil, tight deadlines, and no sure way of knowing if your company will survive the next game release.  Sometimes, the tight deadline requires a early release of the game because that is the reality of the gaming industry, today.

I used to live in Tempe, AZ none too long ago near the now defunct Cinematix buliding on Mill Ave. (makers of the PC game Revenant). Their fall was an all too common example of the uncertainty that exists in the game industry. Some of the people I met from there had bright minds and amazing creative talents. Sadly, lack of funding brought them down. Regrettable since they had two more upcoming, very original and promising PC games in the works...

Quote:

I bought SFC2:EAW and SFC3 and I am a happy customer (ie. I will buy the next SFC title produced for the series, and I am still interested enough in your Co. to monitor these forums).

If I was not a happy customer, I would never have seen this post because I would not have been monitoring the Taldren forums.

Ditto on that for me. I wished I had picked up SFC1 went it was out but was uncertain at that time. But since EAW, I too have been happy ever since. Great job Taldren! We're behind you all the way!  

P.S. On a side note, speculation leads me to believe that Taldren had no choice to jump ship over to Activision since Interplay (now under ownership of Titus of France) was unwilling to publish another SFC due to financial problems. The same reason goes for why Bioware jumped ship to Infogrames/Atari becasue Interplay couldn't publish  Neverwinter Nights....  

[Karnak]

b

[Mentat Jon]

hey,wait women play trek games! ?



Hey il Liked the game!!  

[Dash Jones]

WOW!  cool picture...

I'm male...I'm stupid...sorry.

Anyways, on topic.  Love the Taldren Games.  They rank as my favorite games ever currently.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Quote:
...Taking a board game like Star Fleet Battles in all of its complexity and doing your best to recreate that on your desktops is no trivial effort.

Yes indeed, StarFleet CommandŽ Volume II : Empires at War(TM), really is quite an incredible game.

Three cheers for Taldren! (and KhoroMag too!)  

[KATChuutRitt]

While I do object to the non-reinstatement of certain individuals to the Taldren forums, I do not see this as preventing me from giving Taldren a big thumbs up for SFC II, which I have enjoyed more than any other computer game ever.

So in this particular respect, a big thumbs up to Taldren.

I'd also like to add an additional thumbs up to the non-Taldren script writers and admins and modelers who have gone even further in making this game even better.

[warsears]

Quote:
While I do object to the non-reinstatement of certain individuals to the Taldren forums, I do not see this as preventing me from giving Taldren a big thumbs up for SFC II, which I have enjoyed more than any other computer game ever.

So in this particular respect, a big thumbs up to Taldren.

I'd also like to add an additional thumbs up to the non-Taldren script writers and admins and modelers who have gone even further in making this game even better. [/quot

What Chuut said  

[wilfbrim]

I have all of the games, but OP (as I have yet to ever finish SFC2 or 3, meaning my game time is very short, and thus valuable). I have enjoyed all of them, and never felt they were less than well executed endeavors. There are some games I have that have gone to the bit heap, Klingon Academy (which promised so much but irrtated me in the first scenario when I kept ketting kicked back the Kangs office and dismissed, and I could never find out why)being the cornerstone of the pile......

Taldren, keep it up guys! I have faith that any of your SFC products will be playable, enjoyable, fun, and worth the investment, and I do play them for years at a time (along with, yes, Wing Commander Prophecy!).  

[Scipio_66]

It absolutely amazes me that two years later I still spend so much time playing and/or working on dyna campaigns for SFCII: EAW.  I guess it shouldn't amaze me, however, as it was a great basis for a game and Taldren did a great job of making it come to life for us.

Yes, SFC3 leaves me cold.  But it doesn't leave me cold about Taldren.  Because I enjoy EAW so much, any game from Taldren will always get a close look from me.  (And GAW will get my cash ) Nice job guys.  Well done.  I'm sure I'll always be pro-Taldren.

-S'Cipio

[Daew Anahos]

Thanks for starting a positive thread. Tracey!

Three cheers to Taldren!

I'll never forget seeing Starfleet Command being adverstisted in Star Trek: Communicator and flipping out!

As already said, taking all those forty billion rules and translating them to a fantastic game, awesome!

Thanks for SFC 1, EAW, OP & 3!  

Here's hoping for SFC3 expansions and GAW!  

[Lono]

 Taldren - you rock !!!

 Thanks for years of awesome, involving, gaming and here's to many more to come !!

 Mucho gracias seniors !

    - Lono