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What to expect
Posted by Data in Cortex Command - November 20th, 2007

After the last post hyping things up a little, it’s time to dish out a counter to keep expectations in check with reality regarding the next release.

As some may have gleaned by now, the next version of Cortex Command will be the first one you can buy a license for. The plan is to release something that can be downloaded and played for free, but to get access to all the features you’ll need to buy a license key and unlock your installed copy with it.

We will have more details about how to buy and use the keys in a later post. Rest assured that we are trying hard to make it as flexible, affordable, and as little hassle to you as possible — while still ensuring that the seven years of work we’ve put into the project will pay off enough to allow us to keep working on it and future Data Realms games.

As for what will actually be in the version due out soon, please note that it is not going to have a complete campaign right off the bat. Currently there is only one complete mission, and half of it is a tutorial. There may be another mission done by time we put out the release, but it’s iffy.

This may or may not be a mission outline

Since the game won’t nearly be complete by the next release, the licenses are at first going to be heavily discounted from what they will eventually cost when the full campaign is done. If you buy a license at this early point, it will also unlock all future versions and updates up till where the full first campaign is complete and included.

Additional campaigns or expansion packs thereafter may have to be bought separately, but we haven’t planned that far ahead yet.

This is not to say that there isn’t tons of new stuff due for the next release – including editors and everything else hinted at in previous posts. Just don’t expect a full-blown campaign and metagame right away.

We will be rapidly adding missions shortly thereafter though, and working up to the point where there is a full campaign to play through. It will be up to you whether you want to play the missions on their own as they come out, or wait for the metagame mode we have planned (more details later).

Note that you will pay less the earlier you buy the license, since we going to gradually decrease the discount as the campaign nears completion and the game matures into the complete package we envision.

We hope this makes sense and isn’t too confusing. I’ll try to answer any questions you have in the comments below.

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244 Responses to “What to expect”

  1. tison345 - # November 27th, 2007 at 10:01 am

    200th post!

    And, what is oil for?

  2. tison345 - # November 27th, 2007 at 10:02 am

    Sorry, just saw Data’s post. Darn, I was hoping we’d get oil

  3. Mooseral - # November 27th, 2007 at 10:15 am

    Some thoughts on distribution:

    Steam along with other, mac-friendly forms of distribution might not be a bad idea at all… Steam has a large user base, and more pirate protection than key activation; It could prove a very helpful tool to get CC out.

    All of the problems discussed with Steam would be fairly nullified if combined with other distribution routes, also. Personally, I prefer non-steam games as they are more flexible, but hey, same thing as above; If a keyed or other type of version were available, very few gripes about steam could be found.

    Also, about the taking 50% of profit: Garry Newman is distributing on steam, and only gets 5$ a pop for Gmod; But he also seems to be a millionaire now. Doesn’t sound like so bad a deal.

    So, steam+other routes makes the doodz and the data the happies.

  4. XDevil - # November 27th, 2007 at 2:09 pm

    …*waiting

  5. Hiro - # November 27th, 2007 at 2:32 pm

    Thanks for the update XDevil, that was really helpful!

    Oh maaaan.
    No mac port on release day? That sucks. I’m getting tired of beating call of duty 1 for the fourth time.

  6. XDevil - # November 27th, 2007 at 3:53 pm

    Hey u play cod? IM TOO!!.. have some one ICQ?!??!!… ups..is this “realy Helpfull”? xDDD l8r
    ****more waiting..-__^

  7. XDevil - # November 27th, 2007 at 3:53 pm

    ARGH! 😛 IT WAS “HIRO”! O.o .. kk^^

  8. -E-S- - # November 27th, 2007 at 3:57 pm

    No mac version?…… aww…….. *eats cupcakes to ease the pain*

  9. Afroded - # November 27th, 2007 at 4:00 pm

    I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I think I really should…

    I don’t think CC is as amazing as anyone says it is.

    Please don’t get angry, but I bet not to many people play this every day, huh? I’m not sure but I’m quite sure there are people that agree with me.

    ANYWAYS! I think it IS starting to look good. And steam probably is a good idea, though it should take some time to get on Mac. I hope this game turns out well when it comes out.

    PS. Please don’t get down, Data. Keep working on it, I’m still a fan.

  10. AGENT15 - # November 27th, 2007 at 6:27 pm

    Why would any sensible person get angry?

    It’s just your opinion. You aren’t flaming it or anything.

    Only XDevil and the other retards will get all pissy, since a lot of people do over hype Cortex Command.

  11. Hiro - # November 27th, 2007 at 7:17 pm

    Why is everyone saying porting it to mac is gonna take forever? THE WHOLE GAME IS TEXT X_X

  12. Grif - # November 27th, 2007 at 8:50 pm

    Wow the devlogs have gone to shit, or at least the comments.

    Anyways.

    “Also, about the taking 50% of profit: Garry Newman is distributing on steam, and only gets 5$ a pop for Gmod; But he also seems to be a millionaire now. Doesn’t sound like so bad a deal.”

    I imagine Garry’s status as a millionare has something more to do with his practice of charging forum users 1000 dollars for…basically no benefit. And yet people payed.

    Hiro:
    “Why is everyone saying porting it to mac is gonna take forever? THE WHOLE GAME IS TEXT X_X”

    Perchance Data doesn’t have a mac that he can get on long enough to download the source code and compile the game on yet?

  13. AGENT15 - # November 28th, 2007 at 12:05 am

    The entire game isn’t text. (As far as I know.) And I’m pretty sure Data uses some game development tools, and since Macs use different file types (extensions, etc) it would take work to port, rather than a simple copy and paste. At least, that’s as far as I can tell.

  14. RESOLUT - # November 28th, 2007 at 2:51 am

    HMmm…I’ll better wait full version playing TeamFortress:2.

  15. XDevil - # November 28th, 2007 at 7:09 am

    *notspammingandwaitng4ever… hiro… how old r u??

  16. TheKnife - # November 28th, 2007 at 9:40 am

    GRIF:
    One stupid kid sent 1000 dollars to Garry and Garry immediately sent it back.
    So no.

  17. XDevil - # November 28th, 2007 at 10:57 am

    xD… where´s the build ? O.o
    [IMG]http://www.thestylemachine.com/smileys/lloro.gif[/IMG]

  18. Drone - # November 28th, 2007 at 11:08 am

    Grif:

    a: last time I checked there was no more gold membership because there were too many idiots joining them spamming and acting like they owned the place.
    b: that was only 10$ anyway, although some stupid retard child (Who had access to his PARENTS PAYPAL ACCOUNT, which had THEIR MONTHS RENT IN IT) clicked the “Gold membership” button which garry had set to 1000$ for a joke, (note, all the boxes and stuff CLEARLY stated 1000$, he was just too goddamn retarded and was egged on in an OIFY thread about it)
    c: He’s basically a millionaire because he made a good game, not becuase he “Charges forum users for basically nothing”. If anything, that’d be Lowtax from SA because on SA you actaully have to pay for Avatars and stuff. Although so many people post there that the bandwidth bills are huge so that’s okay tbh.

  19. -E-S- - # November 28th, 2007 at 5:47 pm

    ohhh my god! data has spoken quit it wih steam!

  20. RESOLUT - # November 29th, 2007 at 2:20 am

    I don’t know what to say

  21. XDevil - # November 29th, 2007 at 9:13 am

    “I don’t know what to say ” 2… DAMN!!!…-_-

  22. AGENT15 - # November 29th, 2007 at 11:55 am

    Is the November release still on, or is the release date being pushed back into December?

    I’m going to assume December.

  23. -E-S- - # November 29th, 2007 at 2:52 pm

    dont assume, pray its not!

  24. XDevil - # November 29th, 2007 at 4:54 pm

    Hey data… made a X-Mas pressent 4 us!… but what ever u want 2 do!… HURRY>_

  25. XDevil - # November 29th, 2007 at 4:54 pm

    .. ey… i wasnt ready…

    EDIT:

    🙂 🙂 🙂

  26. MrX - # November 29th, 2007 at 6:31 pm

    it’s due tommorow. yay

  27. AGENT15 - # November 29th, 2007 at 6:52 pm

    Don’t expect Data to release it tomorrow. I’m not doubting Data, it’s just that it doesn’t seem likely, and you don’t want to be disappointed if Data releases it sometime in December.

    Sorry to doubt you Data, but something this awesome can’t be released on time, it violates the fourth law of thermodynamics.

  28. robolee - # November 29th, 2007 at 7:17 pm

    I somewhat lack faith that it will be out for tomorrow…

  29. Tendrop - # November 30th, 2007 at 5:54 am

    I hope the november release is still on…

  30. XDevil - # November 30th, 2007 at 6:15 am

    Huh? U mean Dezember!… November is today OVER!… 🙂
    DATA HURRY!

  31. whitty2 - # November 30th, 2007 at 6:36 am

    today is the 30th… tomorrow is the 31st… then december…

    duh.

  32. XDevil - # November 30th, 2007 at 7:50 am

    o.O u r right… i thougt, today is the 29th… xD blubb

  33. robolee - # November 30th, 2007 at 9:33 am

    I very much so lack faith that it will not be release before 12 o clock tonight, as you are wrong last say of November is the 30th not the 31st on Saturday it is 1st December

  34. brinlarden - # November 30th, 2007 at 10:15 am

    aww i really expected to see an update today 🙁 i dont care about the game i just was a damn update 🙁

    ohwell, DONT GIVE UP DRL TEAM WE LOVE YOU.
    but just give us a release date PLEEEEAAASSEEEE

  35. AJenbo - # November 30th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    This is #1 on my gift to self xmas present 😀

  36. Tendrop - # November 30th, 2007 at 1:52 pm

    6 hours later, still no new build…

  37. XDevil - # November 30th, 2007 at 1:57 pm

    2:57 Hours l8r…, still no new build…-_-

  38. Fippe - # November 30th, 2007 at 2:17 pm

    Please, post it. ='(

  39. Charlie Wood - # November 30th, 2007 at 2:52 pm

    Late in responding here, but as a Brit I really hope that Data Realms will take PayPal payments for Cortex Command. If not paypal, at least take Switch/Solo/Maestro. Too many american shops are anal about accepting british bank cards (Cafepress being one perpetrator), and tend to be MasterCard/Visa/AmEx only.

    Plus, I have never experienced anything bad with paypal to date, and I’ve been using it for a year now.

  40. TFSR - # November 30th, 2007 at 3:20 pm

    Data, don’t worry about the November deadline. I’d rather see b19/rc1 on Dec. 14th or something than on Nov. 31 and have it be as glitchy as B15.

  41. TFSR - # November 30th, 2007 at 3:21 pm

    “future Data Realms games”
    I just noticed that now. Holy fuckstick.

  42. Pieman280 - # November 30th, 2007 at 4:06 pm

    I knew I couldn’t trust that release date!

    this happens to all the games. they say they’ll have it released on a date and then on that very day, you’re so hyped up on playing with awsome things and they push it back a week and then on that day they push it back again. 🙁

  43. Ringwall - # December 4th, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    Well, did you see what happened to Tribes 2 when they made them release it on their first planned release date? Maybe not even heard of; the game is so unpopular due to it’s Unhandled Exceptions. Push a game when it’s not done = f**ked up game that won’t work half the time.

  44. turkey guns - # July 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 am

    turkey guns…

    How does the rss feed work so I can get updated on your blog?…