Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Games
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- Island Dog
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Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Games
The first game from Civ IV lead designer Soren Johnson’s Mohawk Games is official: Offworld Trading Company. Ars Technica wrote a great piece introducing it.
No military units exist in this sci-fi RTS, but the constant changes in the player-driven marketplace require truly adaptive strategy to come out on top of the cutthroat corporate warfare that shapes Mars in the near future.
There's more info about the game in a blog post by Soren Johnson here.
No military units exist in this sci-fi RTS, but the constant changes in the player-driven marketplace require truly adaptive strategy to come out on top of the cutthroat corporate warfare that shapes Mars in the near future.
There's more info about the game in a blog post by Soren Johnson here.
- jztemple2
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Soren Johnson? OK, I'm interested; just not enough to plop down money right now.
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
The RTS route worked so well for Brian Reynolds, didn't it? One moderately successful release, followed by a turd in the swimming pool sequel, followed by years of being The Can in a game of corporate kick-the-can, to...well, I hear he's working on another Rise of Nations/Age of Empires RTS Civ-like game, again.
I like trading games, but I like trading games that give me time to think and that I can play for minutes at a time like, say, Civ 5. I don't have an hour to focus on a RTS game, so I likely will skip this.
I like trading games, but I like trading games that give me time to think and that I can play for minutes at a time like, say, Civ 5. I don't have an hour to focus on a RTS game, so I likely will skip this.
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- Island Dog
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Just a note that the Founder's edition will be discontinued this week, so it won't be available for purchase again until it hits Steam.
- baelthazar
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Can you say anything about proposed time for the beta to open?Island Dog wrote:Just a note that the Founder's edition will be discontinued this week, so it won't be available for purchase again until it hits Steam.
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- Island Dog
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Not yet.....baelthazar wrote:Can you say anything about proposed time for the beta to open?Island Dog wrote:Just a note that the Founder's edition will be discontinued this week, so it won't be available for purchase again until it hits Steam.
- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I was given a gift code that dropped the founder's price down to $20, so I grabbed it while I could still get it for cheap. Normally this would be a wait-and-see, but I have faith in Soren.
I don't understand everything that's going on, but I can see that there's a skeleton of a really good game here. I plan to read the alpha build stater guide later.
Other than a request not to publish photos or videos, there's doesn't seem to be an NDA, so if anyone has questions, fire away.
[edit]Gift codes drop the price of the Founders Edition from $80 to $20. If anyone else wants to grab it before the beta comes out and the price goes up again, there's a whole slew of people handing them out like candy over at Qt3.
I don't understand everything that's going on, but I can see that there's a skeleton of a really good game here. I plan to read the alpha build stater guide later.
Other than a request not to publish photos or videos, there's doesn't seem to be an NDA, so if anyone has questions, fire away.
[edit]Gift codes drop the price of the Founders Edition from $80 to $20. If anyone else wants to grab it before the beta comes out and the price goes up again, there's a whole slew of people handing them out like candy over at Qt3.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
In fairness, there's a difference between trying to fit a square peg in a round hole (real-time Civ) and making a real-time "spiritual successor" to a game that was real-time to begin with (M.U.L.E.).Jeff V wrote:The RTS route worked so well for Brian Reynolds, didn't it?
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- Island Dog
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
The "official" reveal was today and we finally have screenshots and a video available for Offworld Trading Company. It's also coming to Early Access on Steam on February 12.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsayg87_Y2s
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsayg87_Y2s
- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Soren? Over here Soren. No, the audience is here. This way. Soren??? SOREN!!!
Pro tip: Cue cards go behind the camera, not off to the side.
Pro tip: Cue cards go behind the camera, not off to the side.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- jztemple2
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I note in their FAQ that they plan on an official release in 2016. So maybe I'll wait a bit beyond February 12th.
My father said that anything is interesting if you bother to read about it - Michael C. Harrold
- killbot737
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Sounds a bit MULE-ish, with even more realtime than the original.
There is no hug button. Sad!
- LordMortis
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I'm interested in a good resource trading game but too old, slow, and stupid for RTS anymore. If someone gets in describe the pace and how much control you have over it.
Though I'm not sure this is the avenue I like for "the market"
Though I'm not sure this is the avenue I like for "the market"
Stock Purchases
Buying up your competitors' stock is the ultimate win condition in Offworld Trading Company. Be careful, though; money put into stock purchases doesn't help you make more money until you fully buy out a rival – at which point you take ownership of all their assets.
- jztemple2
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I'm looking for two things in the features. One would be a fun long term single player experience (I don't usually do MP anymore) and also that it has to be pausible real-time.
My father said that anything is interesting if you bother to read about it - Michael C. Harrold
- LordMortis
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
No good single player for me would make any game a non starter.
- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
If you don't have the game, or, like me, have it but don't quite grok it yet, this may help. It's Soren playing an actual single-player campaign, and I find it goes a long way towards clarifying the core concepts:
Twitch feed
Twitch feed
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- jztemple2
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Looked a bit at the feed. Good that the game is pausible, but sheesh, I really would have been jumping all over this if it was turned based. As it it... I'll wait and see.
My father said that anything is interesting if you bother to read about it - Michael C. Harrold
- dbemont
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
From what I have played, the game speed can be moved up or down (or paused) and single player seemed good.
On the whole, I had a positive vibe, but some things were going on that I could not understand (not sure if that tutorial wasn't done, or whether it's just very weak). Also, I am taking a wait-and-see attitude towards the way the economic sim and the sabotage/black market sim fit together. From what I have seen to this point, the sabotage game becomes the more important half of the game, and given that defense against sabotage seems to be extremely limited by design it felt a lot like kids gleefully wrecking each others' sand castles... which is fine, but jarring if you thought you were playing an in-depth economic sim.
On the other hand, you can turn that part of the game off... and I may have been experiencing things before they were balanced... and I may have been missing things.
Doubts aside, though, I am very much looking forward to the final product.
On the whole, I had a positive vibe, but some things were going on that I could not understand (not sure if that tutorial wasn't done, or whether it's just very weak). Also, I am taking a wait-and-see attitude towards the way the economic sim and the sabotage/black market sim fit together. From what I have seen to this point, the sabotage game becomes the more important half of the game, and given that defense against sabotage seems to be extremely limited by design it felt a lot like kids gleefully wrecking each others' sand castles... which is fine, but jarring if you thought you were playing an in-depth economic sim.
On the other hand, you can turn that part of the game off... and I may have been experiencing things before they were balanced... and I may have been missing things.
Doubts aside, though, I am very much looking forward to the final product.
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- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I played a couple of the tutorials, and was able to keep up at normal speed and even win. Then again, these were tutorials so the AI was extremely passive.
I'm a bit more perturbed that, once again, you can't save in the middle of a game. Yes, I know a game doesn't take more than half and hour or so, yadda yadda, but some times I don't even have that much free time.
I'm a bit more perturbed that, once again, you can't save in the middle of a game. Yes, I know a game doesn't take more than half and hour or so, yadda yadda, but some times I don't even have that much free time.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- jztemple2
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Wow, that's a no-sale for me. I'll keep following this topic in case this situation changes, but if it's not, then I won't be getting it.tgb wrote:I'm a bit more perturbed that, once again, you can't save in the middle of a game. Yes, I know a game doesn't take more than half and hour or so, yadda yadda, but some times I don't even have that much free time.
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Same here. With a baby, I have to be able to leave the game without notice and sometimes not get back to it for days.jztemple2 wrote:Wow, that's a no-sale for me. I'll keep following this topic in case this situation changes, but if it's not, then I won't be getting it.tgb wrote:I'm a bit more perturbed that, once again, you can't save in the middle of a game. Yes, I know a game doesn't take more than half and hour or so, yadda yadda, but some times I don't even have that much free time.
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- Island Dog
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I'll have to ask about the game saving, not sure what the plan going forward is for that.
But speaking of single-player, Soren has a game up on YouTube to check out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_LTR5m3yiU
But speaking of single-player, Soren has a game up on YouTube to check out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_LTR5m3yiU
- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Soren is active over at Qt3, and I posted this morning asking if his arm could be twisted into adding mid-game saves, or even a single save slot when quitting. Here is his response:
So yay. And JeffV I thought you weren't interested in the game anyway since it's real time.we're working on that today, in fact!
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I could possibly be suckered into it like I was with Rise of Nations, but no save would be an absolute deal-killer. As it is, it's very much a wait-and-see.
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- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I've been slowly working my way through the tutorials, and like the fact that they take a learning by doing/failing approach rather than the more conventional "Build this here, Dummy".
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- Island Dog
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Soren has been putting up a bunch of OTC tutorials on their YouTube page this past week.
- Lorini
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
And it's on Steam! If you pre-ordered, go to your stardock account, get your Steam key and install! Installing now, can't wait!!
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- Lorini
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Pre-order price of $35.99 only good through Feb 19. So far the game is very board gamey and very brain burnery.
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- Island Dog
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I like your description.Lorini wrote:Pre-order price of $35.99 only good through Feb 19. So far the game is very board gamey and very brain burnery.
- Sepiche
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I went back and forth on this one before I picked it up as I wasn't sure I'd like it that much, but it's been surprisingly more fun than I expected. Definitely needs a lot of balancing and UI cleanup, and I've had a few crashes, but the game itself is enjoyable.
- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I thought the real-time aspect would be a problem for me, but I find the pacing at normal speed to be just right. Of course, I'm still exploring the tutorials, so that probably makes a difference.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- baelthazar
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I was all onboard with this, but then I saw the release date was set for NEXT YEAR and now I am wondering if waiting might be smarter. Soren even basically said that the Early Access was only to be an active part in the development and people wanting balance and fun should wait until later.
Still, it looks like a great concept and the type of game I love.
Still, it looks like a great concept and the type of game I love.
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- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I don't know when he said that but the game is pretty complete now. Even Tom has good things to say.baelthazar wrote:I was all onboard with this, but then I saw the release date was set for NEXT YEAR and now I am wondering if waiting might be smarter. Soren even basically said that the Early Access was only to be an active part in the development and people wanting balance and fun should wait until later.
Still, it looks like a great concept and the type of game I love.
I just wish he would get the promised in-game save system working, since last night was a perfect example of why the game needs one - the match was going on and on until I finally had to get ready to take the wife out for VD and had to just quit.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- hepcat
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Couldn't you have just given her that at home?tgb wrote: the match was going on and on until I finally had to get ready to take the wife out for VD and had to just quit.
He won. Period.
- tgb
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I suppose. I used to have the distributorship for California, Nevada, and Arizona.hepcat wrote:Couldn't you have just given her that at home?tgb wrote: the match was going on and on until I finally had to get ready to take the wife out for VD and had to just quit.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
- baelthazar
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Alright... I'll bite. But I'm after you if this is a disaster!tgb wrote:I don't know when he said that but the game is pretty complete now. Even Tom has good things to say.baelthazar wrote:I was all onboard with this, but then I saw the release date was set for NEXT YEAR and now I am wondering if waiting might be smarter. Soren even basically said that the Early Access was only to be an active part in the development and people wanting balance and fun should wait until later.
Still, it looks like a great concept and the type of game I love.
I just wish he would get the promised in-game save system working, since last night was a perfect example of why the game needs one - the match was going on and on until I finally had to get ready to take the wife out for VD and had to just quit.
And at least you weren't taking another guy's wife out for VD...
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- Lorini
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Baelthazar, you can be mad at me as well, I love the game, just gotta post some of my suggestions on their forum. For one, I'd like to see a purely timed mode without the stock buying and the First World Consortium.
Also be sure to watch Mohawk Games Tutorials on Youtube first to get an understanding of how to play.
Also be sure to watch Mohawk Games Tutorials on Youtube first to get an understanding of how to play.
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- dbemont
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I tried the game a few build back and thought is was promising, but one thing troubled me. The stock game and the building game seemed subtle and detailed, but the black market stuff seemed to overwhelm the game... easy offense, little defense. It was kind of like playing chess with a special rule that you could throw rocks at the playing board.
For those playing now, does the (offensive uses of the) black market seem balanced?
For those playing now, does the (offensive uses of the) black market seem balanced?
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- Lorini
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
Frankly I barely notice it, but that's because I go for redundancy, and don't build critical stuff right next to each other. In fact I think one of the UI changes they are going to make is to make the attacks more noticeable. In at least the early difficulties there's enough stuff to change over to some other resource if someone's bombed you out of a resource. I haven't seen where there's a resource without which you'll die.dbemont wrote:I tried the game a few build back and thought is was promising, but one thing troubled me. The stock game and the building game seemed subtle and detailed, but the black market stuff seemed to overwhelm the game... easy offense, little defense. It was kind of like playing chess with a special rule that you could throw rocks at the playing board.
For those playing now, does the (offensive uses of the) black market seem balanced?
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- baelthazar
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Re: Offworld Trading Company from Soren Johnson's Mohawk Gam
I managed to get this on Greenmangaming with a 20% off coupon, so that was a reasonable price. Thanks for the tip about the Youtube tutorials, I will go there first thing!Lorini wrote:Baelthazar, you can be mad at me as well, I love the game, just gotta post some of my suggestions on their forum. For one, I'd like to see a purely timed mode without the stock buying and the First World Consortium.
Also be sure to watch Mohawk Games Tutorials on Youtube first to get an understanding of how to play.
Impression to follow at some point.
My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CythUulu/videos