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If they decide to do a beta with forum people, this is what usually (that means as far as I can remember on these boards) happens: Paradox will ask for people to register for the beta and then pick a certain number of applicants. It'll be announced here on the forums, so just keep your eyes on it! 
Usually, these things will also be propagated via facebook, etc.
Usually, these things will also be propagated via facebook, etc.
Note, I am just a volunteer mod on these forums, I do not have any inside information whatsoever.
I wouldn't mind taking a gander at this one. Master's of Magic was totally awesome. I'm sitting here trying to explain it to my girlfriend and I'm reminded of just how complex the game was, the level of variety, replayability, the remarkable amount of balance between races... Suffice it to say that the game was WAY ahead of its time. That there really has been no other game that has come close to its level of complexity, or fun level or that the game has never been remade remains a mystery. The game plainly has a huge following. Its consistently rated one of the best strategy games of all time, yet nobody wants to try to come out with a modern version. Paradox never has been one to shy away from complex games, so I'm thinking that perhaps there is some hope here.
I wouldn't go so far to calling the races of MoM well-balanced, but it was indeed a fantastic game with lots of replayability.
I think the races were generally balanced, as long as you keep in mind that they're intended to be used differently. There are some races that are mediocre until fully developed, but will provide a great advantage in the lategame. There are some that are powerful early on, but will run out of steam fairly early and then only be useful for trade goods or high-end cannon fodder. And then there are some that fit in between, with a relatively early peak but still having the opportunity to develop further.
Around the early 2000s, Infogrames - then owner of MicroProse - decided that they'd relaunch the Master of Orion series... and if that went well, they'd consider making a sequel to Master of Magic as well. None of the original design team being still around (a lot of Microprose's core staff left or were fired while Microprose was being sold around in the late 90s, usually being downsized each time), it experienced Third Party Developer Syndrome to an extreme degree and basically tanked as a result (I picked it up to give it a go, and grew bored before completing a single game. By contrast, I still play Master of Magic occasionally today). Because of this, Master of Magic 2 never left the drawing board (if it ever got there) but Infogrames has steadfastly refused any offer by anyone else to buy the IP. Possibly because they realised they couldn't make a worthy successor themselves, but if they sold the rights and someone else did, it might compete with their other games. Right now, it's not even clear who has the rights - Microprose has been onsold again, but it's not clear whether the IP was part of the package or just the brand.
All in all, though, it's one example of a case where I think IP should have a 'Use it within X years or lose it' clause.
(I would recommend the Age of Wonders series, though, if you haven't tried it. It has a different set of complexities (city management is a lot simpler and individual maps are smaller in scope, but on the other hand racial relations are much more important than in Master of Magic) but it's possibly the closest of what's been released, especially Shadow Magic.)
It's no mystery, and more than one company has expressed interest in making a sequel if only they could get their hands on the IP.
Around the early 2000s, Infogrames - then owner of MicroProse - decided that they'd relaunch the Master of Orion series... and if that went well, they'd consider making a sequel to Master of Magic as well. None of the original design team being still around (a lot of Microprose's core staff left or were fired while Microprose was being sold around in the late 90s, usually being downsized each time), it experienced Third Party Developer Syndrome to an extreme degree and basically tanked as a result (I picked it up to give it a go, and grew bored before completing a single game. By contrast, I still play Master of Magic occasionally today). Because of this, Master of Magic 2 never left the drawing board (if it ever got there) but Infogrames has steadfastly refused any offer by anyone else to buy the IP. Possibly because they realised they couldn't make a worthy successor themselves, but if they sold the rights and someone else did, it might compete with their other games. Right now, it's not even clear who has the rights - Microprose has been onsold again, but it's not clear whether the IP was part of the package or just the brand.
All in all, though, it's one example of a case where I think IP should have a 'Use it within X years or lose it' clause.
(I would recommend the Age of Wonders series, though, if you haven't tried it. It has a different set of complexities (city management is a lot simpler and individual maps are smaller in scope, but on the other hand racial relations are much more important than in Master of Magic) but it's possibly the closest of what's been released, especially Shadow Magic.)
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They could still make a spiritual successor, like W:MotA is/will be. Or Elemental was. Somehow, this never really worked.
There are a few others floating around. The aforementioned Age of Wonders, dating between 1999 and 2003. Dominions, released from 2002 to 2007, is another. Of those, I've only played Age of Wonders, and from what I've read AoW:SM seems the closest.
This, incidentally, includes what we've seen so far of Warlock. That's not to say Warlock won't be a good game in its own right, but so far it appears to have one unit per hex, no tactical battle map, and cities that have their improvements constructed in an expanding sprawl on the strategic map - all very different to how MoM did things.
This, incidentally, includes what we've seen so far of Warlock. That's not to say Warlock won't be a good game in its own right, but so far it appears to have one unit per hex, no tactical battle map, and cities that have their improvements constructed in an expanding sprawl on the strategic map - all very different to how MoM did things.
I've played and loved AoW 1 and 2, but I wouldn't call it a successor of MoM. It was far more story-driven, and had campaigns to complete.
Not to the level of being a Master of Magic 2, certainly, but Shadow Magic especially has more in common with MoM than anything else I've come across seems to. Towers, item creation, mix of recruited and summoned creatures, multiple map levels, direct control on a tactical battle map, a random map creator if you prefer empire-building over story, large number of races - the main fundamental differences I can think of is that Age of Wonders maps don't encompass entire worlds, the concept of domain, has much simpler city management, lacks the concept of multifigure units, and has more meaningful race relations. There are probably other differences one can think of, but there are more differences regarding any of the others.
At one basic 'take that' level, neither Elemental nor Warlock has, or is going to have, even close to the 14 races Master of Magic had.
At one basic 'take that' level, neither Elemental nor Warlock has, or is going to have, even close to the 14 races Master of Magic had.
True, AoW was a great game, and had many things MoM also had. But I always saw them as a continuation of the Warlords: Battlecry series, not of MoM.
Also true about the races, but I'd be happy if we get all the Warlock races balanced. Quality over quantity
Also true about the races, but I'd be happy if we get all the Warlock races balanced. Quality over quantity
Oh, I'm not saying a smaller number of races doesn't have it's advantages. But it does change the vibe. Games with lots of races like Master of magic and Age of Wonders tend to be based on the assumption that you'll have multiple races under your control by midgame - you and an opponent may each have 3-4 races among your respective empires with none in common, and it doesn't really matter if a race isn't perfectly balanced with other races as long as it brings something to the table without being obviously the best race to pick. With three races, on the other hand, if you and your opponent each have 3 races you'll have them all in common.
Like I said, this isn't to say there aren't advantages to having fewer races (allowing more attention to be focussed on each one, for a start). But when comparing to Master of Magic, it's a difference, and I would consider it a large one.
EDIT: I should point out, though, that 'different to Master of Magic' does not mean bad.
Like I said, this isn't to say there aren't advantages to having fewer races (allowing more attention to be focussed on each one, for a start). But when comparing to Master of Magic, it's a difference, and I would consider it a large one.
EDIT: I should point out, though, that 'different to Master of Magic' does not mean bad.
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Not at all. In fact, from the few screenshots and the single teaser we've seen so far, I'm fairly optimistic that this will become a nice game!