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GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #8 - The Supernova Crisis

Published on Friday, March 31, 2023 By Brad Wardell In GalCiv IV Dev Journals

In the year 2245, the Terran Alliance and their coalition had emerged victorious in a battle against the Drengin Empire, thanks to the recovery of a mysterious Precursor weapon.

The Thalans, an advanced civilization that claimed to be from a nightmare future where humans were responsible for the destruction of the entire Milky Way galaxy, persuaded the humans to send the Precursor weapon back into the void of the pocket dimension it had been previously sent to. Shortly after, the Thalan Empire disappeared, never to be seen again, despite having been part of the galactic scene for almost a century.

The peace enforced upon the Drengin Empire was harsh. Its once-mighty military was stripped and was only allowed a handful of scientific exploration vessels. Its companion world, Kona, was occupied by the United Planets, now dominated by the humans of the Terran Alliance.

This time became known as the Long Peace. For half a century, the galaxy had virtually no conflict, and the Drengin seemed content with their much-diminished position in the known galaxy.

However, the Drengin Empire was not idle during that time. In fact, they had found a crashed mapping ship of a species known as the Navigators. These beings had developed technology to discover and navigate the subspace streams that connected the sectors of the galaxy together. These subspace streams allowed them to quickly visit the other sectors.

The Drengin, armed with the ability to visit other sectors, used this to secretly rebuild and re-arm themselves. While Drengi Prime and its occupied sister world of Kona appeared docile and unarmed, the Drengin had found and conquered another world in the Vela Sector and used it as a launchpad to acquire the resources needed to rebuild their military might.

The peace the galaxy had enjoyed came to a sudden end in 2307 when the Drengin Empire arrived at Kona with a substantial military force and ejected the occupying force from the United Planets. While the Drengin Empire's military power was a shadow of its former self, it was still formidable because the other civilizations, including the Terran Alliance, had dramatically reduced their militaries in this new era of peace.

The breakdown of peace and stability also resulted in the disbanding of the United Planets itself. It did not take long for the other worlds to figure out how the Drengin had accomplished their sudden growth. Moreover, the Navigators, now aware of the threat, were able to use their technology to make the subspace stream entrances invisible to all but themselves. However, this would be a temporary measure as it would only be a matter of time before the Drengin and the other civilizations developed technology to overcome this obstacle.

Worse, the Drengin colony, now cut off from the rest of the galaxy, encountered another civilization known as the Prisimari, a crystal-based species that uses a technology that causes stars to go supernova. The Prisimari do not use their technology as a weapon but as a way to harvest stars for rare resources. However, the Drengin saw it as a way to develop Terror Stars, massive starbases that can destroy the stars of enemies.

This brings us to the year 2317 and a new space race. The powers of the Orion sector such as the Terrans, Arceans, Altarians, Torians, Iconians, Krynn, and Yor are about to encounter a host of new civilizations. The civilizations that develop the ability to detect and utilize Subspace Streaming will find themselves able to travel to vastly distant areas of the galaxy. Those who fail or are slow to achieve this ability will be left behind in a galaxy that will soon have civilizations that can cause the stars of their enemies to go supernova.

The emergence of the Prisimari and their technology has added a new level of complexity and danger to this space race. The Prisimari are a formidable opponent with their crystal-based bodies and advanced technology. The potential weaponization of their technology, known as Terror Stars, has caused great concern across the galaxy, and negotiations are ongoing to prevent its spread.

The situation is delicate, and any misstep could have catastrophic consequences. There are growing concerns that the technology may fall into the wrong hands and lead to an era of conflict and turmoil in the galaxy. Some have even suggested a preemptive strike to eliminate the threat before it becomes too great. However, others argue that this would only serve to escalate the conflict and potentially lead to catastrophic consequences.

As the age of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova begins, the future of the galaxy is uncertain. The potential for conflict looms large, but there is also the possibility of peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Only time will tell what lies ahead for the Orion sector and the galaxy as a whole. 

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Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Dev Journals

The AI Prisoner's Dilemma: Why Pausing AI Development Isn't the Answer

Published on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 By Brad Wardell In Artificial Intelligence

A recent open letter signed by tech giants, including Elon Musk, has called for a halt in AI development, citing "profound risks to society and humanity." But could this pause lead to a more dangerous outcome? The AI landscape resembles the classic Prisoner's Dilemma, where cooperation yields the best results, but betrayal tempts players to seek personal gain.

If OpenAI pauses work on ChatGPT, will others follow, or will they capitalize on the opportunity to surpass OpenAI? This is particularly worrisome given the strategic importance of AI in global affairs and the potential for less transparent actors to monopolize AI advancements.

Instead of halting development, OpenAI should continue its work while advocating for responsible and ethical AI practices. By acting as a role model, implementing safety measures, and collaborating with the global AI community to establish ethical guidelines, OpenAI can help ensure that AI technology benefits humanity rather than becoming a tool for exploitation and harm.

The solution to AI's challenges is not a simple halt in research efforts. A nuanced approach involving continued progress, collaboration, and the establishment of ethical and safety protocols is essential to making AI work for everyone.

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #5 - The Planets are Liars

Published on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 By Brad Wardell In GalCiv IV Dev Journals

As you know, in GalCiv IV core worlds are the backbone of your civilization.  But not all planets are created equal. This is communicated in two ways:

First, by the raw planetary inputs (minerals, tech, food, wealth, culture) and

Second, by the types of tiles that the planet has on it.

Unfortunately, in GalCiv IV, the two don't reflect on each other.  They're disconnected.  What I mean is that you could have a planet with a high tech raw resource input and have no tiles that promote research related improvements.

Worse, you could have a planet with very little in mineral inputs that has a host of tile perks that give a percentage boost to manufacturing.

This system is frustrating and maddening.  

In an upcoming update to GalCiv IV, as part of our work on "GalCiv IV: Supernova," we are revisiting the whole thing.

With our new system, the input resources are tied more closely to the types of tiles that are on a planet. This means that players will have a clearer understanding of the benefits and limitations of each planet, allowing them to make more informed decisions about how to develop them. For example, if a planet has a large number of mineral-rich tiles, then investing in mineral improvements will yield a much greater benefit than investing in research improvements.  A planet filled with manufacturing bonus will always have a reasonable number of mineral inputs.

We have also put a great deal of effort into ensuring that the new system is both balanced and nuanced. While we want players to have a clearer understanding of the benefits and limitations of each planet, we also want to ensure that there is still room for creativity and experimentation. This means that while certain improvements will be more effective on certain types of tiles, there will still be opportunities for players to find unique and effective solutions.

Another key benefit of the new system is that it will help to create more distinct and varied planets. With the input resources more closely tied to the types of tiles, each planet will have its own unique strengths and weaknesses. This means that players will need to think carefully about how they develop each planet, rather than simply applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

With any luck, we'll have this change available this spring.

 

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Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Dev Journals

ChatGPT vs. Bing AI: Wine selections

Published on Friday, February 24, 2023 By Brad Wardell In Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT

Bing AI

I really love red cabernet wine. Please recommend 15 bottles of this priced between $50 and $100 that are very high quality.

 

  1. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon - This Napa Valley wine is known for its rich flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, and espresso. It is priced around $60 and is highly rated by wine experts.
  2. Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is often described as rich and bold, with notes of black cherry, vanilla, and spice. It is priced around $80 and is highly regarded by wine enthusiasts.
  3. Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon - This Napa Valley wine is known for its complex flavor profile, which includes notes of black currant, chocolate, and cedar. It is priced around $60 and is highly rated by wine critics.
  4. Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is often described as intense and full-bodied, with flavors of blackberry, chocolate, and espresso. It is priced around $80 and has received numerous awards and accolades.
  5. Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is highly regarded for its velvety texture and complex flavors, which include blackberry, vanilla, and spice. It is priced around $100 and is consistently highly rated by wine experts.
  6. Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - This Napa Valley wine is known for its rich, full-bodied flavor and smooth finish. It is priced around $100 and is highly regarded by wine critics.
  7. Dominus Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is often described as elegant and complex, with notes of black cherry, cassis, and tobacco. It is priced around $100 and is highly rated by wine experts.
  8. Silverado Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is known for its bold, structured flavors of black cherry, mocha, and spice. It is priced around $75 and has received numerous awards and accolades.
  9. Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is often described as complex and balanced, with flavors of blackberry, cassis, and vanilla. It is priced around $85 and is highly regarded by wine enthusiasts.
  10. Faust Cabernet Sauvignon - This Napa Valley wine is known for its rich, layered flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, and espresso. It is priced around $50 and has received numerous awards and high ratings.
  11. Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is often described as full-bodied and complex, with notes of black currant, mocha, and spice. It is priced around $60 and is highly rated by wine critics.
  12. Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is known for its smooth, balanced flavors of blackberry, cherry, and vanilla. It is priced around $60 and is highly regarded by wine enthusiasts.
  13. Rodney Strong Alexander's Crown Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is often described as rich and intense, with flavors of blackberry, black currant, and dark chocolate. It is priced around $75 and has received numerous awards and high ratings.
  14. Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - This Napa Valley wine is known for its complex, layered flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and vanilla. It is priced around $85 and is highly regarded by wine experts.
  15. Trefethen Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - This wine is often described as elegant and balanced, with notes of black cherry, cassis, and chocolate. It is priced around $60 and has received numerous awards and high ratings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really love red cabernet wine. Please recommend 15 bottles of this priced between $50 and $100 that are very high quality.

 

Twitter now limits tweets!

Published on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 By Brad Wardell In Personal Computing

So the new Twitter limits the # of tweets you can make per day.  You'd think this might be a big number but it's not.  It's something like 10 PER DAY.  

 

UPDATE: This was a temporary bug and is now fixed apparently.

GalCiv IV - A Brave New Galaxy

Published on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 By Brad Wardell In GalCiv IV AARs

This is a GalCiv IV After Action Report (AAR).  The goal here is to play the game thoroughly and then share thoughts on what things we can make better, what AI changes we might want to do and share with players some insider knowledge on how we go about iterating on gameplay.

Part 1: The Setup

For this I'm going to create my own civilization.

And now we begin...

 

Stay tuned...

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Galactic Civilizations IV Dev Journals

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