Here is part 1 of what I anticipate will be a multi-part series. I'm running Moo3 with patch version 1.2.5 and what I believe is the last version of the Tropical Mod.
I'm really just giving an overview of the game and trying to explain why I like it so much, and why it has completely captured my imagination. I simply love it and think it is one of the best 4x games of all time.
I once again apologize for the poor audio. I really need to stop being so cheap and spend some money on some real movie making software.
Cool! O0
What software do you use to record?
Shadowplay. It's native to the GeForce Experience.
Thanks O0
Windows MovieMaker (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/movie-maker) is free. I haven't used it yet so I don't know if it's any good or not.
Although I'm not sure MovieMaker will record on-screen stuff. I have and recommend Snagit. It isn't free but it does a good job.
Moviemaker doesn't capture as far as I know. I do use it to edit, though. Sometimes I capture and then record the commentary with WMM.
JH I do believe there is a setting under Shadow Play that you can use to adjust the volume of your microphone. I haven't tried it yet because I'm too chicken to record my voice onto my gaming videos but I know it's there.
Cool vid -- (just need to get the volume balance right -- hard to hear what you're saying over the game's ambient sound -- but you know this)
I deleted MOO3 from my HD a long time ago -- this is making me think I should reinstall (although getting Tropical up and running is kind of a headache IIRC)
JH, I don't have the graphic glitches you have. Maybe it's a setting somewhere?
Quote from: bbmike on February 20, 2016, 08:12:50 PM
JH, I don't have the graphic glitches you have. Maybe it's a setting somewhere?
Dunno...I've experienced them on my last 2 or 3 rigs. They are pretty minor.
Quote from: sandman2575 on February 20, 2016, 07:48:54 PM
Cool vid -- (just need to get the volume balance right -- hard to hear what you're saying over the game's ambient sound -- but you know this)
I deleted MOO3 from my HD a long time ago -- this is making me think I should reinstall (although getting Tropical up and running is kind of a headache IIRC)
The mod is extremely easy to install. Just unzip it into the game directory, ensure you have the moo.dll file and run the moo patcher program.
Well, on You home planet Yaddith IV planetary AI is building tons of infantry, but on the NEWLY colonized Yaddith III it started to build system colony ship, with time of completion of 90 turns (31:13 - https://youtu.be/Qq0XI8RAe9Q?t=1874) :uglystupid2:
I've played MoOIII few times and I REALLY, really wanted to like this game, but either You are sinking in the micromanagement quagmire or You're you are doomed to face idiotic decisions of planetary AI... And, imho, space combat is not good enough to make up for it...
Quote from: PAK on February 21, 2016, 04:53:22 AM
Well, on You home planet Yaddith IV planetary AI is building tons of infantry, but on the NEWLY colonized Yaddith III it started to build system colony ship, with time of completion of 90 turns (31:13 - https://youtu.be/Qq0XI8RAe9Q?t=1874) :uglystupid2:
I've played MoOIII few times and I REALLY, really wanted to like this game, but either You are sinking in the micromanagement quagmire or You're you are doomed to face idiotic decisions of planetary AI... And, imho, space combat is not good enough to make up for it...
I don't think that is a fair critique. The planetary AI only has two options of what to build at this point in the game in its military build slots. Infantry, or colony ships. That's all. So it's going to pick what there is a need for out of the 2, and if I don't like it, or I want to build something specific, I can intervene and order exactly what I want. I don't see the beef. I suppose it could prioritize it's build management based on what is cheapest and fastest to build, but I think building what is more needed is a reasonable approach, even if it leads to a long build time. Again, everything can be changed and directly managed by the player.
Yes, it's still an AI, so it's not going to be perfect, but compared to other games, it's at least on par.
FWIW, Distant Worlds: Universe uses the same species/race subdivision. Different species types have different diplomatic reactions to other species types, which makes for interesting "factions" in the game.
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on February 21, 2016, 11:21:00 PM
FWIW, Distant Worlds: Universe uses the same species/race subdivision. Different species types have different diplomatic reactions to other species types, which makes for interesting "factions" in the game.
That's true, but MOO did it first, and it deserves credit for that. It's a really innovative concept.
Part 2...
I figure I'll make these in 50 turn packs. That seems long enough for a good amount of events to happen, while keeping it short enough so each video is not too long. Still in the early part of the game here, just expanding, researching and building infrastructure.
Not to threadjack or anything but did anyone ever game MOO? I figured out at a very young age that if I took the psilons and dumped a ton of money into weapons research I could get graviton beams pretty quick.
After that I'd have to get some construction levels to reduce size but I could fit the gravitons into fighters. If I could do that and build up my fleet quickly enough it was usually game over.
Graviton beams used right were ridiculously overpowered when used right due to the carry over damage
Nice 2nd video. You really are doing a great job explaining gameflow for this game. Definitely going to pay attention to this series.
Thanks, W8. Glad a few people are interested in following this.
Thank You for Your effort Jarhead. I'm quite critical of the MoO3 but You managed to stir my interest in this game once again. I think I will try it once more. You play with Tropical mod, yes?
BTW, is patching the MoO3 with the patch version 1.2.5 required in case of the GOG version?
Quote from: PAK on March 02, 2016, 03:17:30 AM
BTW, is patching the MoO3 with the patch version 1.2.5 is required in case of the GOG version?
No. GOG's edition is already patched to 1.2.5. ;)
I just reinstalled this on my new pc with the GOG version and latest Tropical and on their site it has a step by step install here http://www.gog.com/forum/master_of_orion_series/tutorial_master_of_orion_3_tropical_mod_patched_confirmed_windows_7_x64/page1 (http://www.gog.com/forum/master_of_orion_series/tutorial_master_of_orion_3_tropical_mod_patched_confirmed_windows_7_x64/page1), which specifically says use the GOG .exe, not the one in the Tropical mod. However, when you do this the Bhruic MMO3 patcher only patches some of the mods into the game, some of them failing with 'code is not present'. What gives?
Interesting. I don't think I'm experiencing that problem. Is that an error message you are getting in a pop-up, or is it just a line of text from within the patcher?
Quote from: PAK on March 02, 2016, 02:25:50 AM
Thank You for Your effort Jarhead. I'm quite critical of the MoO3 but You managed to stir my interest in this game once again. I think I will try it once more. You play with Tropical mod, yes?
Nice! Glad you're giving it another shot. Yes, I use the tropical mod. I find it offers the most complete experience of the three major moo modding efforts. It not only contains all of the critical patches which are necessary to make the game playable, but has the most additional content, such as expanded tech trees, etc.
Let us know how you like it.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 02, 2016, 07:10:49 AM
Interesting. I don't think I'm experiencing that problem. Is that an error message you are getting in a pop-up, or is it just a line of text from within the patcher?
Popup.
I will, so far I was playing with vanilla and strawberry. From Your movies I see there are differences, for example You started without any ship construction and with only lancer hull available. IIRC in vanilla and strawberry at the start You have lancer, cutter and frigate available with corresponding shipbuilding infrastructure.
The main problem with MoO3 is fighting the urge to control everything, as the player is accustomed by other titles. The game was clearly not designed with micromanagement in mind, both in terms of interface layout and general idea. My failures with MoO3 stemmed from the fact that I could not stop myself from micromanaging my empire, lets see what happens if I will take Your path. 8)
Ok, I'm an idiot. I forgot to press this to patch the main .exe:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig01.deviantart.net%2Fb4e7%2Ff%2F2016%2F062%2F8%2Fb%2Fghutfgvt_by_jack_o_tales-d9trl5v.jpg&hash=fff11e4fee2c89e5d63df5c594f517bf957fcb34)
Quote from: PAK on March 02, 2016, 07:51:06 AM
The main problem with MoO3 is fighting the urge to control everything, as the player is accustomed by other titles. The game was clearly not designed with micromanagement in mind, both in terms of interface layout and general idea. My failures with MoO3 stemmed from the fact that I could not stop myself from micromanaging my empire, lets see what happens if I will take Your path. 8)
Yes, this was a major critique of the game upon its release. However, not unlike with Distant Worlds, I personally enjoy leaving most things up to the AI and taking direct control only when there is something specific I want to accomplish. I try to set various strategic goals and then intervene only to the extent necessary to accomplish them. For instance, lets say there is an alien colony on a planet I desire for my empire. I will intervene and take direct control of the situation by building the ships necessary to capture the system, forming the fleets that I want in my task force, building the ground forces that will be required to invade and hold the planet, and then creating the ground force OOB. I will then take control of the diplomatic situation by declaring war at the appropriate time, and take tactical control of the military forces by directly moving them into the target system and launching the invasion. Meanwhile, the AI is still left in charge of managing the empire, in terms of planetary development, research, taxation, etc.
For those who can tolerate this approach, MOO3 still tends to be one of the greatest 4x games ever made.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 02, 2016, 10:01:31 AM
For those who can tolerate this approach, MOO3 still tends to be one of the greatest 4x games ever made.
100% agree. There's something completely solid and immersive about this game.
Jarhead, do you have the official Prima guide?
Quote from: Ian C on March 02, 2016, 10:18:08 AM
Jarhead, do you have the official Prima guide?
No! does one actually exist!?!
Is this one? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761535101?ref_=nav_signin
Reviews are negative
I think you're going to see a lot of instinctive hate about anything MOO 3 related posted on the internet. Most people gave up before the patches, or simply don't get it. Their response as fans of the MOO series is to lash out bitterly.
Their loss.
A lot of the hate results from the fact that MOO3 isn't a remake of MOO2. The same thing is happening with MOO4. People hating on it because it isn't simply an upgraded MOO2. This stuff reminds me of when Rome 2 came out. Everyone hated the new city mechanic and provinces. They preferred the Rome1 model. I'm convinced the model in Rome 2 is better but some just like the original. That however, does not make the game "suck". The fact that MOO 3 and MOO4 are not simply MOO2 redux doesn't make those 2 games suck either
So, Mikeck, you're saying it's not derivative?
;D ;D ;D ;D
It's not Moo2 with updates for sure. It has real time combat and space lanes which send Moo2 fans into free-fall spaz mode. It's a new game. Just like MOO3 is to MOO2. But people claiming "this isn't Moo" and such is as ridiculous as claiming that Rome2 isn't total war because it's so different from medieval TW1. Games evolve. The game may end up sucking for all I know, but it won't be because it's not a game from 1999 with upgraded graphics. I just think people would enjoy gaming more if they took games for what they are instead of complaining tab they aren't like something else. My 2 cents.
That said. In one of the ones that liked Moo3 better than 2. I really don't care for turn based combat. I also like the idea of star lanes because it allows for chokepoints
Part 3...I can smell it. War is in the air...or should I say, vacuum.
The Arahraqa (Evon) ships look the same as yours because that species is also humanoid. Ship silhouettes on the starmap are species-type dependent.
Quote from: PAK on March 07, 2016, 02:44:40 AM
The Arahraqa (Evon) ships look the same as yours because that species is also humanoid. Ship silhouettes on the starmap are species-type dependent.
Thanks. That's silly. Different races should ideally have different ship graphics. The little colored arrow/carrot is not obvious for quick recognition.
Yeah...it was a cheap excuse to justify the fact that they didn't have enough money to design ships for every faction....it's a miracle the game came out at all and in the end, it was in a better shape than Sword of the Stars II (whose team was still mocking MOO3 a few months before they released their own unfinished product ::) ).
Anyway...nice Let's play...look forward how you do in this war. O0