SandyMan
VIP
(id: ES_Sandyman)
posted 10-19-09 01:52 PM EDT (US)
the latest incarnation of Ask Sandy. All questions are possible.
1) Who is Sandy?
A) Sandy Petersen, a designer at former Ensemble Studios. He was design lead on Rise of Rome, The Conquerors, and the Warchiefs. He was part of the design team on Age of Emipres II and Age of Empires III. He has worked on numerous other games, and has been in the digital game industry since 1988.
2) What is Sandy doing now?
A) He teaches game design at The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University.
3) What are Robot / Bonfire up to?
A) Sandy will not answer ANY questions about Robot or Bonfire's plans -- he knows and likes the people who work there, and wishes them well. They deserve the right to make their own press releases.
SandyMan
VIP
(id: ES_Sandyman)
posted 02-22-10 02:44 PM
EDT (US)
211 / 238
1)One thing I really love about TAD is the artwork and visual style of the game. As I understand it, BHG was in charge of most of the game development and programming, but ES was in charge of most of the artwork. And one thing I really liked was the Indian flag. Where did the inspiration for the Indian flag come from? What were some other flag designs you guys drew up? What does each part of it represent? What made you decide on not using a flag like the Mughal crescent?
A)Actually my understanding is that BHG did most of the art too, though we were allowed to vet their art and critique it. (I could be wrong.)
2)What are the three most momentous turning points in history?
A)The Invention of Fire; domestication of animals; invention of agriculture.
3)hat variety of questions do you prefer to be asked?
A)“Mr. Petersen, shall I send you $100 in singles, or twenty-dollar bills?”
4)which color is best?
A)Bright green.
5)how would the existence of superheroes affect large scale conflicts such as wars?
A)It all depends on how super they were, and whether or not the superheroes got script immunity. For instance, I think it’s pretty clear that if there really was a Spiderman, he’d have trouble dealing with a German machine-gun nest. Superman, on the other hand, could have won the battle of Tarawa by himself.
6)Even though social biases and economic biases in American politics seems to have little to link them, social conservatives tend to be fiscal conservatives and social liberals tend to be fiscal liberals. Why? For example, if one is pro-life, he or she is also more likely to be for less regulation and smaller government. The opposite is true: someone who is pro-abortion is likelier to applaud big government and higher taxes. This seems to be a strange phenomenon. Why aren't social biases and economic biases more independent of each other?
A)I think they are more independent than they seem. For random historical reasons, both parties have tried to own certain positions, and it’s an artificial distinction. For instance, I consider myself a fiscal conservative, but in common with many people who were raised out west, I am also a strong environmentalist. It’s the same basis on which our society tries to divide us and categorize us in other ways, like TV shows and restaurants. And I say it’s spinach and I say the hell with it. Fight against this trend with all vigor.
7)Whats the funniest joke you have ever heard?
A)One of my favorites is about the physicist, the biologist, and the mathematician who are all watching a building. Two people walk into the building, then three people come out. The physicist says, “Our initial measurement (of 2 people) was incorrect.” The biologist says “They reproduced.” The mathematician says “If now one person walks back into the building there will be exactly zero people there.”
8)Do you have a copy of 'every' ensemlbe studios game?
A)Yes, of course.
9)What do you hope for in a game if robot/bonfire realease one?
A)Innovation, balance, and humor
SandyMan
VIP
(id: ES_Sandyman)
posted 03-03-10 11:01 AM
EDT (US)
215 / 238
Q) Of which age of empire civ do you know the most general information about (non-aoe). What is the most interesting fact you found out about the civ
A)I spent a lot of time learning about a lot of civs. I am more of a generalist than a specialist for certain. One thing I learned is that the history I learned in American schools is way too pro-British (up till the American revolution). I also learned that Russia basically came out of nowhere into becoming a world power during the Great Northern War of 1700-1721.
Q) would you ever consider something like experience rather than grades in your classroom?
A) I’m not sure what you mean. I don’t delude myself that grades matter in the end – but they are a useful tool for me to use in gauging whether a student is learning the material.
Q) Did anyone who formerly worked on RoN work on AoE III?
A) no, unless you count working on TAD, because the same company did both. Brian Reynolds, head of BigHugeGames is a huge fan of AoE and a personal friend of mind. So naturally RoN had similarities to our games.
Marpolo
Skirmisher
posted 05-24-10 05:39 PM
EDT (US)
221 / 238
In your opinion, what part of AOE3 should be changed? As in, civilizations, maps, revolutions, etc.
NHAP_DonNasty
Skirmisher
posted 06-18-10 05:18 AM
EDT (US)
223 / 238
Q: Will it be a new AGE game?
Q: Who have the rights to the AGE series, since it is no more Ensamble Studios, Is it Microsoft?