<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> Thank you everyone who has submitted questions ahead of time for this online chat with Sierra and Relic.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> We are overwhelmed with the positive support you, the fans, have provided to Homeworld and us over the years and happy to see 155 of you online right

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> now

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> I am Genevieve Ostergard; director of public relations for Sierra Entertainment, with me is Alex Garden, CEO of Relic Entertainment.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> Alex and I have worked together since 1998 when our companies joined together as a team to bring you all Homeworld.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> As you know, Homeworld was shipped in the fall of 1999 to critical acclaim, including Game of the Year from many respected gaming publications.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> But, we couldn’t have made it this far without you, the fans.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> It is humbling to know there are still so many loyal fans to our game around the world. I want to allow Alex to expand on that as Homeworld was his baby from concept to implementation, it was why Relic Entertainment was founded, and how Relic has been able to become the hottest game studio in our industry. Alex is telling me I am boring so he can jump in anytime.

<AlexG> I second that Genevieve! The incredible support that you all have dedicated to Homeworld is what made it so great and we can't wait to pay you back with by making Homeworld2 even better!

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> For me, it’s personally and professionally rewarding to be working on this game, and speaking on behalf of my company, Sierra is THRILLED to be publishing the sequel to the game of the year. We’ve seen the concept of a 3-D RTS come to fruition, and have worked with some of the best talent in the industry in the folks over at Relic.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> This afternoon’s chat is our chance to address some of your questions about the sequel, HOMEWORLD2. In the interest of time, please bear with us, as we won’t be able to take all of your questions, and some of the questions we aren’t ready to answer just yet, but I assure you you’ll like what we’ve got in store.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> I promise, this is the last note I will say and we'll get your questions...We’ll probably only be able to get to the top 10-12 questions, but we hope this will give you enough to stay tuned for more.

<AlexG> HIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRREEEEEE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKK! :)

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> So the #1 question is When is HOMEWORLD2 coming out?

<AlexG> Okay... You're going to hear this for the first time here today...

<AlexG> Homeworld2 is on track and going strong...

<AlexG> And is going to be be released in 2003...

<AlexG> We're not going to get more specific about the exact date yet, but we will more information for you as we get closer.

<Pike> Eiden (on the RN forums asked) : How is the interface being improved?

<AlexG> Okay...

<AlexG> There's a ton of improvements that we're going to be making to Homeworld2.

<AlexG> Some of them are designed to address concerns we had with the interface in Homeworld, and some of them are designed to allow us to create new gameplay features that weren't possible in Homeworld1...

<AlexG> Some examples of this are: A streamlined movement mechanism that included the ability to click on objects in the world to move directly to them...

<AlexG> ... very intelligent right click menus that will give you the ability to order your ships around much faster...

<AlexG> ... we're doing a total revamp on the menu system, the research system, the construction system, the flight dynamics... There's too much to list all here, but more will be coming in time...

<Pike> Delphy asked (forums):1. Judging by the iC engine, Relic seems to have made big strides in terms of the modability of it's games. Will this apply to Homeworld 2 as well?

<AlexG> Homeworld2 and IC are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we would like to start providing the community for the extension of our games...

<Pike> Guys, please message only mecha, guywelch and myself with questions....

<AlexG> Homeworld had one of the most active MOD communities in the RTS world if not the most active, and as you all know, we didn't do a great job of providing tools and support to enable you to make the changes that you wanted...

<AlexG> With Homeworld2, we plan to leverage all the things we learned working on Homeworld, IC, and RDN, which is a new initiative that we are really excited about...

<Pike> Langy (forums) asks: Why couldn't you release any information until now?

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> Alex will finish that question and I will answer this one

<AlexG> RDN is the Relic Developer Network and it will be launching closer to the release of IC. RDN is an initiative that we have started to provide tools and support for community in an effort to let you extend the game engines that we have been building in all the ways that you have dreamed of.

<AlexG> You will have access to all the same tools that we do. You will have documentation. In some cases you will even have developer support and we are totally committed through RDN to give you the tools that you need to make world-class MODS.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> As for why it's taken so long to get new information out there, we re-worked the design and this resulted in a longer schedule, but ultimately a better game. We're very happy with it, and we are really enjoying working with Relic on such a hot franchise.

<Pike> Next question: <Tombo1> can we get info on beta testing/demo release dates? will there be beta testers and if so how do we apply?

<AlexG> Okay... beta questions...

<AlexG> I can't talk about the demo, but yes there will be a beta test in Spring 2003 and you can still participate...

<AlexG> The details of the beta test will be released as we get closer...

<AlexG> If you're interested in beta testing Homeworld2, be sure to check www.homeworld2.com for more information and sign up for the Homeworld2 newsletter.

<Pike> Realfrenchguy (from the forums):Why HW2 wont be show at E3 ?

<AlexG> E3 2002 is really about 2002 titles and Homeworld2 is a 2003 title. If there is anything that you guys have taught us it is that we should focus on the game and not on the PR. We want to stay focused until we're really ready to blow you all away. Hang in there!

<Pike> alliance666 (forums): im in israel and i woul like to know htese things: then will i be at hed artzi or who ever is selling it here?

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> I'll address that one...

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> HOMEWORLD2 will be a worldwide simultaneous ship and will be available at your local software retailer.

<Pike> WARRAVEN (forums): Will there be MotherShips?

<AlexG> Pike is typing slooooooowly...

<AlexG> Okay... regarding Motherships...

<AlexG> There will be a playable mothership in Homeworld2 single player, and a playable mothership for each race in multiplayer...

<AlexG> There's a couple of things you should know about this though...

<AlexG> First off, the motherships will be distinctively different based upon the strength of the race...

<AlexG> After the game ships, we have some exciting things planned but we're not ready to talk about them yet...

<sierra-guywelch> From the forums -- Do units carry across single player missions?

<AlexG> Yes, Homeworld2 uses a progressive fleet system and scalable AI for the computer opponent. We're taking the approach we defined in Homeworld1, but to the next level so to speak.

<Pike> Realfrenchguy (forums): what will the 3D engine be ? an existing one or a completely new one ?

<AlexG> Okay, the 3D engine...

<AlexG> Homeworld was able to totally redefine the space combat RTS genre look and feel with it's graphics engine...

<AlexG> Homeworld2 is taking that mindset to new heights...

<AlexG> Homeworld2 will feature a brand new, built-from-scratch 3D engine that has been totally designed to bring out the best features of all the new 3D cards...

<AlexG> Homeworld2 is going to once again totally redefine the 3D space combat RTS genre's graphical expectations...

<AlexG> It will also feature (as will most of the game) a scalable, and MODable architecture that you will be able to extend.

<sierra-guywelch> <seraphim> Will YES have any part in Homeworld 2?

<AlexG> Although it was super-cool working with YES, we don't currently have anything planned with them for Homeworld2. The great thing about the Homeworld franchise is that anything is possible so stay tuned... ;)

<Pike> <Earth> When will the HW2 site be updated with Screen Shots?

<AlexG> www.Homeworld2.com will start to get updated in 2003... the first looks will come from the newsletter to our dedicated fans. I really wish I could let you check it out sooner, but as I said before we're keeping our cards pretty close to the vest for the time being so that we can focus on the game.

<Pike> Brettman (forum): Is it a sequel to Homeworld?

<AlexG> Homeworld2 is not just -a- sequel to Hopeworld, it is THE sequel to Homeworld. That means graphically, spiritually, game-play wise, through the story, through the multi-player and in every other way. Period.

<Pike> <Kayosoni> Will the HW2 mutliplayer include different types of maps that directly affect gameplay?

<AlexG> Okay... there is two components to this question. One is Multiplayer and the other is the maps themselves. I would like to address these seperately...

<AlexG> First...

<AlexG> Multiplayer will be online 6 player. We are going to be significantly extending the multi-player experience in the core game and since we're making the game so MODable, you are going to be able to extend it even further this time...

<AlexG> Secondly...

<AlexG> To address the maps question...

<AlexG> The maps in Homeworld2 are a huge leap forward from the "void maps" of Homeworld. I can't give too much away just yet, but I can say that you're no longer working exclusively in the void... :) Trust me... It totally rocks, and you're going to love it!

<sierra-guywelch> <Indec> I just loved the music for the Homeworld titles. Can we expect the same goodness for our ears in HW2?

<AlexG> No you can't...

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> He's kidding

<AlexG> You can expect a lot better! The soundtrack is being done by the same team that did the soundtrack for Homeworld and they have a ton of ideas that they are going to use to take music and sound to the next level in the spirit of a true sequel.

<AlexG> I never kid. ever.

<AlexG> ouch! Gen is whacking me.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> I was asked to do that :-)

<AlexG> Hey, quit it! Once was enough!

<AlexG> Okay guys...

<AlexG> It looks like the guys in the black nomex jumpsuits are going to come through the roof on zip-lines and make me wrap this up pretty soon... I'm VERY GLAD that we can finally start to bring you all into the loop on this amazing game. I would like to personally thank every one of you for sticking with us while we are slaving away to get Homeworld2 to the world-class level that it needs to be. You are the best group of gamers in the indust

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> Thanks from our part of the world too. I can't stress it enough that we are so greatful for your support.

<Sierra-GenevieveOstergard> HOMEWORLD2 2003!!!!

<AlexG> Take care everyone and we'll talk to you soon... Now, back to the game!!!! :)