Quantum Legacy (computer game)
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This article or section contains information about an unreleased computer or video game. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as more information becomes available. |
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| Quantum Legacy (Initial Tactics and Price of Justice) |
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| Developer(s) | Four Thirty One Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | N/A |
| Engine | Shockwave |
| Latest version | 0.2.26 |
| Release date(s) | November 18, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Strategy game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | N/A |
| Platform(s) | See Requirements Section |
| Media | Online or Download |
| System requirements | See Requirements Section |
| Input | Keyboard and Mouse |
Quantum Legacy: Initial Tactics and Quantum Legacy: Price of Justice are 3D Online Browser or Downloadable Client based Multiplayer Shockwave driven games created by Four Thirty One Interactive. They are playable in any Shockwave enabled browser (which means multi-platform if the player can get shockwave working), or available as a download and install for a Windows operating system, which makes the games run faster because it has to download less data each time you play.
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[edit] Initial Tactics
Initial Tactics is the first game in the Quantum Legacy series and is the prequel to the second title's single player storyline, Price of Justice. It will introduce players to the multiplayer world of Quantum Legacy and all its features. It is free to play and the current pre-beta version is available for testing from http://www.quantumlegacy.net/ in 5 different resolutions from 640x480 (fastest gameplay) to the full screen version (Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox).
Initial Tactics will set the stage for all other Quantum Legacy products. The game will feature a single player campaign mode and standard deathmatch type multiplayer modes. It will also feature a multi-sector style of gameplay.
The final version will account for roughly 15%^ of the overall storyline and gameplay within the Quantum Legacy universe. It will also debut the cross-platform "Gen2" engine featured in all Quantum Legacy products.
[edit] Initial Tactics Key Features
- A game of cross-browser capablity
- Gen2: a 3D RTS engine created exclusively for the Quantum Legacy series
- Regular and "multi-sector" style of RTS gameplay
- A single player campaign mode experience
- TCP/IP multiplayer support for up to 4 players in various gameplay modes
^ Early predictions. Final statistics will be available in the upcoming months.
[edit] Price of Justice
Price of Justice is the next game in the Quantum Legacy series. It is currently in the planning stage, and when released, will be pay to play, except for those who have been testing Initial Tactics from its early days.
The game starts off where Initial Tactics left off. At the dawn of the Quantum War, the player joins Col. Seth Blair in what will be the final years of the planet Saltus.
Featuring a single player experience, as well as classic multiplayer options such as deathmatch, Quantum Legacy: Price of Justice will use the "Gen2" engine featured in all of the Quantum Legacy titles. The goal is to change how real-time strategy is perceived by adding an ever needed "new feel" to this tried and true genre.
This game title is not being actively developed yet (as the focus has switched to finishing off Initial Tactics), and as such, little information is known about it, apart from the fact that it will include over double the amount of Single Player levels Initial Tactics will have when it is complete [1], and the features listed below.
[edit] Price of Justice Key Features
- A game of cross-browser capablity
- Gen2: a 3D RTS engine created exclusively for the Quantum Legacy series
- Complex single player campaign mode
- "multi-sector" and "multi-time": a never before seen style of RTS gameplay
- TCP/IP multiplayer support for up to 8^ players in various gameplay modes
- Over 40^ playable units
- Support for creation, distribution, and installation of game modifications and total conversions
- Advanced level and terrain editor
^ Early predictions. Final statistics will be available in the upcoming months.
[edit] Quantum Legacy Gameplay
[edit] Single Player Mode
Quantum Legacy has a large number of Single Player maps that the user can play offline. There are several maps that involve doing missions and have other computer characters that the player interacts with. These are campaigns, and set the main theme for the Quantum Legacy series. Each new part is released in a game update about once a month by the developer of the game, Miles, along with any bug fixes and/or "other" maps made.
The "other" maps are various ones made by people with access the Software Developer Kit. These usually have some type of dialog, maybe a plot, and a few objectives to complete before you win and move onto a new map. These are used mainly for practice.
[edit] Multiplayer Mode and Chat system
Quantum Legacy supports up to four person internet gameplay on any multiplayer equipped maps in the game. The game has two options. A player can either join a pre-existing game (join someone who is hosting a game), or host a game themself, both options dependant on the correct configuring of any routers that the host, whoever he/she be, has.
Unfortunately, due to the size of the information packets it has to send during the game and the old Gen 1 engine used in Multiplayer, most games result in timeouts (getting booted out of the game because the host hangs or quits) or desyncs (the game becames so laggy, the players attack an enemy but they never die) causing unfair or unfinished gameplay. As time goes on, the developer has said that the old Gen 1 engine will be replaced with a newer one which should eliminate some problems [2]; however, until then, it is advised, if a person intends on hosting more than two players, that they have a very fast connection.
Quantum Legacy also has a built in Chat system where players can talk to others online in the game and co-ordinate multiplayer games. To chat, players type their message in the box and hit enter. There is however a delay between people joining, the chat system saying they have joined and updating the online list so players may constantly see people come in and then go out straight after.
The usernames system is as follows; If a username is colored yellow, the player is a mod in the game and the forum. If it is colored red, the player is an admin in the game and the forum. Any other color means that person is a normal player, with no special abilities.
[edit] Settings
Because Quantum Legacy is run using Shockwave, it can be very resource intense.
[edit] Quantum Legacy Ladder
Each time a player wins or loses a multiplayer battle, their results are recorded and are available for viewing at the Quantum Legacy ladder. But because the game is still in development, several entries in the ladder are very off (such as ones person having their last MP match some time in the future). Also, the ladder will not always record a win or loss. This is generally attributed to game slowdowns causing the individual players to "desync" from the server. When Quantum Legacy: Initial Tactics is released, there is a good chance that the ladder will either be pruned or wiped completely, meaning all players will get a fresh chance at getting in the top scores chart.
[edit] Alliances
Quantum Legacy supports alliances, teams with different units that give advantages and disadvantages over other teams. The chosen alliance in settings will determine who the player will play as. There are three known aliances in Quantum Legacy: Initial Tactics.
[edit] Free Trade Alliance (FTA)
This alliance is the main one in the Quantum Legacy series. It is available to all players no matter what rank, is the only alliance playable in the single player campaigns and Globex map, and is capable of building the strongest superweapon in the game (the Apostle Missile Silo). However, at the present time the Apostle Silo is only available to registered beta testers.
[edit] Globex Corporation (GC)
This alliance is the alernative army to play as. It is only playable by official beta testers, which people can become by posting their ingame user (not password) in the beta testing thread. It is more powerful than the FTA and many players prefer it in multi player matches because a player can get their base established a lot quicker. Its dropship is also unique, with the ability to shoot in order to defend itself unlike the FTA dropship (this can be done when in the deployed and undeployed state).
[edit] Saltus Defence Force (SDF)
This alliance is not playable by anyone except mods and admins. It is the strongest force, capable of wiping out all teams fairly easily. Because it isn't like other alliances where a player lands and makes a base, it is intended to be used for putting a stop to any unruly behavior in multi-player matches. For this reason, and to prevent abuse by player-moderators, the SDF has two units: the Scout, and the Destroyer. The Scout is effectively the SDF's "Dropship", but it cannot construct anything. If it get's destroyed, however, the Destroyer comes onto the scene, and it is easily capable of clearing the map once arrived.
[edit] Software Developer Kit
Up until the end of June, the developer had decided that anyone who bought a copy of Price Of Justice could also have access to the SDK. However, the developer has decided that a limited few can have access to it [3] and that while there is no deadline, he predicts the applications will be stopped sometime after the Summer of 2006 [4].
The SDK is intergrated into the game's core (named QCore) and is available to any one who has been an official beta tester for two or more weeks and is able to pass the "test". The "test" consists of a basic file with the code from one of the playable maps in the game. All a player has to do is tell the developer, Miles, what the code does. If they have done any other programming experience such as C, C++, or PHP, the syntax is very easy to learn.
If and when access is granted, the player will be able to access the SDK button in the game. The SDK is basically a text editor where the player can save code, run it, and test what they have made. Using this, levels can be made easily. However, the lack of experienced users in the community at the moment means that new levels are very rarely made and those that are are not at their full potential. This is due to the rules of the Software Developer Kit that state that any level with multi-sectors or original content like graphics or units are classified as Price of Justice levels and can't be released to the public, only amongst other Software Developer Kit users until such time as Price of Justice is released. However, as more people join the game, the number of higher quality levels available for playing is expected to grow.
A sample of the QCore code (the one that Miles uses as the test) may be found for viewing at http://quantumlegacy.net/devteam/sdk_test01.txt. The details about getting the SDK can be found at http://www.quantumlegacy.net/forum/thread.php?threadid=870
[edit] In-game Screenshots
 Checkpoints are used to mark locations |
 The loading screen of Broken Pact 2.1 |
 A fully established base ready for use |
 A turbine and transporter are exploding |
 Multiple LRM's heading for the transporter |
 A BC-45 Cloak Detector on the lookout |
 One FTA dropship surrounded by Globex |
 Two Agomenmon Cloaking units |
[edit] Quantum Legacy Requirements
To make sure a computer can run Quantum Legacy smoothly, it is recommended it has the following requirmenets:
Minimum: A shockwave capable operating system (Windows 98/ME/2000/XP), 1.4 GHZ Pentium III or equivalent, 256 MB of RAM, 32 MB 3D video card, DirectX 8.1 or higher, 250 MB HD space, 56K Modem Internet Connection, Shockwave 8.5 or higher.
Recommended: A shockwave capable operating system (Windows 2000/XP), 1.9 GHZ Pentium III or equivalent, 512 MB of RAM, 128 MB 3D video card, DirectX 8.1 or higher, 250 MB HD space, 256K Broadband Connection, Shockwave 8.5 or higher.
A fast moniter, 2-10ms response time, might also come in handy to prevent any lag.
[edit] Community Forum
Quantum Legacy has a supporting community that can be found at http://www.quantumlegacy.net/forum/. A player can get all sorts of help like the best strategies and what units are best. There are lots of polls, clans, and a newly found guild to participate in. Not to mention an Open Discussion are where someone can talk about whatever suits them. Just be sure to follow any rules, specifically with the Beta Testing application and SDK application threads.
