...but when I do I prefer space battles with big honkin' capital ships and lots of dog fighting between groups of fighters. I enjoy both strategy and tactical based games, customization, ship building and Elite type games, and even the rare game that gives players the opportinity to both command and pilot.
Of the space sims and strategy games of the last five years, what do you guys recommend the most highly? A combination of both strategy and a sim would be perfect, if is exists.
Thanks all!
Pure turn-based Sci-Fi grand strategy 4X game that I enjoyed during the holidays and that was recommended by a fellow developer, battles are abstracted though with battle cards, but good looking, the strength is in the smooth UI, fun 4X and overall balance.
It definitely has this addictive one-more-turn factor, easy to get into but hard to master and a lot of replay value:
Endless Space
http://endless-space.amplitude-studios.com/
Quote from: Gusington on January 18, 2013, 10:29:45 AM
...but when I do I prefer space battles with big honkin' capital ships and lots of dog fighting between groups of fighters. I enjoy both strategy and tactical based games, customization, ship building and Elite type games, and even the rare game that gives players the opportinity to both command and pilot.
Of the space sims and strategy games of the last five years, what do you guys recommend the most highly? A combination of both strategy and a sim would be perfect, if is exists.
Thanks all!
homeworld II with one of them there fancy mods?
Quote from: Gusington on January 18, 2013, 10:29:45 AM
...but when I do I prefer space battles with big honkin' capital ships and lots of dog fighting between groups of fighters. I enjoy both strategy and tactical based games, customization, ship building and Elite type games, and even the rare game that gives players the opportinity to both command and pilot.
Of the space sims and strategy games of the last five years, what do you guys recommend the most highly? A combination of both strategy and a sim would be perfect, if is exists.
Thanks all!
I have heard good things about Star Wars: Empires at War - Forces of Corruption modded with Imperial Civil War v2
Well Gus, of you are looking for an Elite type game, I am finding Evochron Mercenary to be very deep. Massive universe, procedural, landing on planets, trade, combat, the usual. Of course, if you're looking for capital ship fights and building, go for Homeworld 2 or Sins
Ah...I own Endless Space and was going to give it a try this weekend. I have been curious about the Evochron games too and much to my shame I have never played Homeworld.
You know what game I really liked circa 1998? Colony Wars. On the Playstation no less. Good variety of ships and missions, good campaign and good story. That is what I am looking for.
X series of games (a new one is coming in 2013). Build. Think. Fight. Trade. :P
Lots of dogfights. You can raise your own army. You can build you own facilities. Lots of different ships, carriers included. You can board other ships to take them over.
You can go the more relaxed route of trade and industry.
A real nice sandbox.
The story is crap though.
Quote from: Gusington on January 18, 2013, 11:32:19 AM
You know what game I really liked circa 1998? Colony Wars. On the Playstation no less. Good variety of ships and missions, good campaign and good story. That is what I am looking for.
Colony Wars? I have the game but never managed to run it (even on my 1995 old desktop).
About your request, here are my suggestions:
-
Sins of solar empire: Rebellion: one of the best looking strategy games out there. Big ships....big battles. Imho, it's the game you need.
Edit: the game i mean is
Colony Wars 2492 which is a different game.
-
Star Ruler: Customisation is almost unlimited for ships.
-
Armada 2526 (with Supernova): classic 4x game with tactical battles where you have lots of ships.
If you want strategy mixed with space sim, the X series is perfect for you. Good luck getting started though...
From what you've said Gus, I'd second both Anguille's recommendation of SoaSE (either the older Trinity or newer Rebellion) and Huw's mention of the X series.
I played SoSE when it was first released and I really wanted a campaign...does the newesr version of the game have one? Star Ruler sounds pretty sweet too.
I have had the X series from the ten or whatever many it was CD issue but never played for lack of any manual. Is there some adequate explanation
of at least how to drive your ship? Maybe I will start Endless Space I ave Flatspace 2 as well but never fired it up.
maybe Nexus The Jupiter Incident (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhhnRXdNXCw)? I picked this one up during the recent holiday sales. Might have to fire it up myself...
Quote from: Gusington on January 18, 2013, 02:49:06 PM
Star Ruler sounds pretty sweet too.
Space Sector has a pretty good review of the most current version of Star Ruler.
http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2011/09/star-ruler-gold-review/ (http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2011/09/star-ruler-gold-review/)
Of, if you can appreciate an online variant, Vendetta Online. A cute project by just 4 guys which already runs since 2002.
The grahics are dated, as in many Indie offerings, but the gameplay is pretty good with building, trading and fighting (cool physics to boot!).
It has a smallish but loyal community and the trial runs for 8 hours before you need to sub.
Quote from: Gusington on January 18, 2013, 10:29:45 AM
...but when I do I prefer space battles with big honkin' capital ships and lots of dog fighting between groups of fighters. I enjoy both strategy and tactical based games, customization, ship building and Elite type games, and even the rare game that gives players the opportinity to both command and pilot.
Of the space sims and strategy games of the last five years, what do you guys recommend the most highly? A combination of both strategy and a sim would be perfect, if is exists.
Thanks all!
For space strategy, I cannot recommend Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion enough. It is a fantastic sci-fi, fleet-based, real time 4X strategy game. Best of all, it looks and runs great on even older rigs. And unlike a lot of 4X game, it is real easy to play.
For a space sim: unfortunately, there aren't a lot to recommend at the moment. Eve Online is probably king, but the game is a P2P MMO...with all that implies. X3 from Egosoft has some interesting elements, but it is a nightmarishly difficult game to get into. And then there is Evochron Mercenary: this is an amazing one man effort. However, being a one man effort, it doesn't have as much content as I would like, so it can get "more of the same" after awhile.
But definitely try Sins: Rebellion. It is a modern classic in the space strategy genre.
In addition to the recommendations above, you might be interested in Starshatter: the Gathering Storm. Used to be a commercial game from Matrix but now is open source. You can download it from the Space Sim Central. There are some good videos of game play on YouTube. You can fly individual fighters in the other space and planetary missions, or you can command an entire task force of the capital ships in multi-ship battles. If you don't want to deal with the complex economic Sim of the X series, Starshatter is a nice alternative.
+1 for Nexus the Jupiter Incident as well. Excellent tactical space combat and an interesting campaign.
For a 4X game right now I'm big on Sword of the Stars 2. It still needs some AI polish, but has really become a fun game.
Thanks for all of the above guys. I am checking out Star Ruler and the Sins:Rebellion. RooksBailey had me at 'easy to get into.'
How about EVE online?
EVE Online is a very deep and rewarding game with a great community.
You can pretty much do anything you like in it, but it takes a considerable amount of time and people.
It's combat is a little hands-off as well, some even refer to EVE as 'spreadsheets online'.
I find it my choice of online sci-fi and have been playing it for years on and off.
It is a sandbox game with a real sense of danger.
I think there are trials for it, so you can always try, but be warned that the new player experience is still very much a work in progress and the game in general is hard to get into.
The community, however, is top notch! And lots of help is gotten from it.
Check out E-Uni for example (http://www.eveuniversity.org/), a Corp completely dedicated to educating new players in the ways of EVE. Very extensive.
Quote from: Gusington on January 19, 2013, 10:03:15 AM
....How about EVE online?
As Yskonyn touched on,
EVE Online (http://www.eveonline.com/) is an excellent game. There is a subscription fee, but you can try it out for free. Skill training is done in real time and only one character per account can train at a time, so although you can have up to three characters, there isn't much point in having more than one. It has a steep learning curve. The PvP can be very nasty and I've seen corporations infiltrated and destroyed by griefers. Some people may like it, but I cancelled my
EVE subscription because there are other, more enjoyable games out there that don't get my blood pressure up.
Quote from: Greybriar on January 19, 2013, 10:46:36 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 19, 2013, 10:03:15 AM
....How about EVE online?
As Yskonyn touched on, EVE Online (http://www.eveonline.com/) is an excellent game. There is a subscription fee, but you can try it out for free. Skill training is done in real time and only one character per account can train at a time, so although you can have up to three characters, there isn't much point in having more than one. It has a steep learning curve. The PvP can be very nasty and I've seen corporations infiltrated and destroyed by griefers. Some people may like it, but I cancelled my EVE subscription because there are other, more enjoyable games out there that don't get my blood pressure up.
Griefers can ruin a game. I've never had a serious run in with one, but I don't play MMOs much.
I found Eve steadily becoming very repetitive, even for an MMO, after a few days of playing. Everyone says, "join a Corp" but there are a bazillion of them and what little time I did spend in a couple wasn't that much more fun.
It's interesting for a few days, but it quickly gets rather stale for me. :'(
Thanks guys.
Quote from: Gusington on January 19, 2013, 01:02:54 PM
Thanks guys.
watching some lets play rebellion on youtube - it looks pretty cool, it means very little but i like how the capital ships turn sideways to deliver massive broadsides
Quote from: Nefaro on January 19, 2013, 12:24:33 PM
Everyone says, "join a Corp" but there are a bazillion of them and what little time I did spend in a couple wasn't that much more fun.
To be fair, everyone is right. Joining a corp is a requirement for Eve Online unless you're an extremely powerful individual, and it transforms the game. Sounds like you had bad luck with the corps you joined; if you join a decent corp the game is phenomenal. It requires a heavier time investment than any other MMORPG I've played though, and definitely doesn't lend itself to casual play, which is why I ultimately stopped playing.
I really liked Eve but it took too much time and Corporations get too much like family
after a while. It was fun but I had other things to do.
That's the rub - I like to play MMOs casually these days. There are a lot of people (and guilds/corps/whatevah) who take them wayyy too seriously and I avoid the emotionally invested ones like the VD.
Quotewatching some lets play rebellion on youtube - it looks pretty cool, it means very little but i like how the capital ships turn sideways to deliver massive broadsides
I'm shallow, that means a lot to me :) Link?
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 19, 2013, 01:17:24 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 19, 2013, 01:02:54 PM
Thanks guys.
watching some lets play rebellion on youtube - it looks pretty cool, it means very little but i like how the capital ships turn sideways to deliver massive broadsides
Just wait until you see a titan in action. 8)
Quote from: Nefaro on January 19, 2013, 06:20:33 PM
That's the rub - I like to play MMOs casually these days.
Have you tried Guild Wars 2? It's one of the most casual-friendly MMORPGs I've ever played.
Quote from: Gusington on January 19, 2013, 07:51:11 PM
Quotewatching some lets play rebellion on youtube - it looks pretty cool, it means very little but i like how the capital ships turn sideways to deliver massive broadsides
I'm shallow, that means a lot to me :) Link?
Lol will do tonight - sat in a van driving to London at mo
I can echo the others about Eve online. The corp makes the game, and it requires lots and lots of time commitment.
Eve Online is easily the most amazing MMO I've ever played...but unfortunately it is the game for people who can devote many hours to playing. I think I started playing in early 2004. Recently married to an understanding (or maybe patient) wife I sunk hour upon hour into the game. Later on as a kiddo came along, I just could't (wouldn't) play more than an hour or so a day...and for Eve that isn't enough to do much of anything.
Eve is a game of real life subterfuge and intrigue. If you have the time...its amazing. I just don't have the time. If its still around in 18 years when my youngest is moved out...I'll sign back up. :)
Gus, have you played Space Rangers 2?
Quote from: Huw the Poo on January 20, 2013, 03:51:47 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on January 19, 2013, 06:20:33 PM
That's the rub - I like to play MMOs casually these days.
Have you tried Guild Wars 2? It's one of the most casual-friendly MMORPGs I've ever played.
Yes, but I had a few issues with it:
1) My old guild was located on one of the original release servers. When those got filled up, and they had to start up more servers, they absolutely would not let me transfer to it as my guild's server had been permanently listed as "full" every time I tried. A CS ticket asking if there's something that could be done resulted in an e-mail that basically told me, "tough shit". I coughed up the $60 to play with my guild, and cannot do so.
2) I came back to check it out later on and the earl-to-mid levels were a ghost town. Looks like other people sidled away from it too.
3) Overly restrictive player slots. I can't even create a character for each class. I tend to be rather alt-tastic because I enjoy changed the gameplay style up on a regular basis but they're obviously trying to get me to buy one or two more copies of the game to do so. I suppose it's nice having a (mostly) fully-featured MMO with no extra fees or money unlocks, but they're also essentially asking for over a hundred bucks to use all the classes.
4) The art style doesn't always sit well with me, for some reason. I see some Japanese MMO art style influence in places, and I don't like that crap. Luckily it's not all-pervasive.
I'll check it out again, sometime. But between being separated from my guild from the start, and some of the other annoyances, my original run left me with a bad taste.
Have not played Space Rangers 2.
Right now I am considering Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion or Endless Space. I actually own Endless Space.
And honestly I bought the first Sins game too but just couldn't get past the fact that there was no campaign. There is a campaign mode now right?
Quote from: Gusington on January 20, 2013, 11:28:32 AM
Have not played Space Rangers 2.
Right now I am considering Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion or Endless Space. I actually own Endless Space.
And honestly I bought the first Sins game too but just couldn't get past the fact that there was no campaign. There is a campaign mode now right?
No campaign.
ORB has a campaign
Quote from: Huw the Poo on January 20, 2013, 09:35:47 AM
Gus, have you played Space Rangers 2?
My caveat on Space Rangers 2 is that an HD version should be out in the near future, all updated and shiny. So I would wait until that release. It is a
great game!
Evochron is an interesting game, if you like fighter pilot sims. No carrier control, however. X3 is the best in that regard but too complex and it takes way too long to do anything in the game.
I really like Distant Worlds as well, but it might it might not be what you are looking for at the moment. I could never get into Star Ruler, but I hear it is well worth a try at this stage of updates.
SR2 is a great game, but it's more of a Space Strategy RPG than a 4X Space Strategy game. I love the variety of missions ("I need you to file these forms in triplicate at the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Labor Relations, and the Bureau of Land & Labor Cooperation, and I'll give you 2,000 Credits..." gives you a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as you realize you'll be dealing with difficult bureaucrats on this mission...). I love the campaign story.
BUT, I hear reports of a High-Def version of the game that'll be coming out on GOG sometime soon. Maybe you should wait for that, and wait until you're in more of a Space RPG mood. One where you end up riding wild beasts of burden or arguing with insolent bike messengers as often as shooting at alien bad guys in the depths of space!
I further enjoyed Space Rangers 2 because it is turn-based! So I don't have to worry about being in a click-fest hurry. But it's also not a slow TBS-RPG, either, because you can just let it run until something happens, so you don't have to spam 'End Turn' either. :D
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on January 20, 2013, 12:08:59 PM
BUT, I hear reports of a High-Def version of the game that'll be coming out on GOG sometime soon. Maybe you should wait for that, and wait until you're in more of a Space RPG mood. One where you end up riding wild beasts of burden or arguing with insolent bike messengers as often as shooting at alien bad guys in the depths of space!
Ahem... read my post above yours... :P
I did do some digging and they are reporting a Q1 2013 release for the HD version. I will by buying it again, because the only thing that holds be back from playing SR2 is the low resolution. They are also re-translating some of the odd translations for this new version, which is good. I always played the game with the idea that my Universal Translator was on the blink, as the Russian-to-English errors made it sound like the aliens had funny ways of speaking.
Also, the game is set against the backdrop of a gigantic war against these AI-driven robots. I actually managed to win the war, which took massive effort and time (but was very rewarding). I was not crazy about the black-hole mini game, but I eventually became so powerful that it did not matter.
^Interesting, thanks all. I can't believe there's STILL not campaign in Sins...inconceivable.
Quote from: Gusington on January 20, 2013, 05:30:54 PM
^Interesting, thanks all. I can't believe there's STILL not campaign in Sins...inconceivable.
You really don't need a campaign in Sins. The sandbox play is so engrossing that I find myself agreeing with the devs: a campaign wouldn't really add much to the core gameplay. I'd rather tell my own story, anyway. :)
Quote from: son_of_montfort on January 20, 2013, 02:13:07 PM
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on January 20, 2013, 12:08:59 PM
BUT, I hear reports of a High-Def version of the game that'll be coming out on GOG sometime soon. Maybe you should wait for that, and wait until you're in more of a Space RPG mood. One where you end up riding wild beasts of burden or arguing with insolent bike messengers as often as shooting at alien bad guys in the depths of space!
Ahem... read my post above yours... :P
I did do some digging and they are reporting a Q1 2013 release for the HD version. I will by buying it again, because the only thing that holds be back from playing SR2 is the low resolution. They are also re-translating some of the odd translations for this new version, which is good. I always played the game with the idea that my Universal Translator was on the blink, as the Russian-to-English errors made it sound like the aliens had funny ways of speaking.
Also, the game is set against the backdrop of a gigantic war against these AI-driven robots. I actually managed to win the war, which took massive effort and time (but was very rewarding). I was not crazy about the black-hole mini game, but I eventually became so powerful that it did not matter.
I didn't like the 'Black Hole' minigame either. It's real-time clickfest was such a stark contrast to the calculating strategy of it's main turn-based game. Another odd part was getting tossed in prison for being caught smuggling contraband onto a planet that had banned it (IIRC). I thought, "Oh cool - this is a Choose Your Own Adventure style text mini-game!" and it was fun for a bit... until you realize how long, hard, and punishing the life of an intergalactic inmate becomes. One appropriate RPG result of my incarceration -- the G-Men aren't taking me alive, next time! I'm not goin' back to the slammer! ;D
Good to hear it's getting a new updated release soon.
OK RooksBailey...so is the sandbox play of the newest SoSE better than the original game? I am almost sold :) I will however wait for a price drop. Least expensive I can find Rebellion for is 40.00.
Quote from: Gusington on January 20, 2013, 07:41:21 PM
OK RooksBailey...so is the sandbox play of the newest SoSE better than the original game? I am almost sold :) I will however wait for a price drop. Least expensive I can find Rebellion for is 40.00.
Well, it's better in the sense that you get more toys to play with. The original Sins just gave you capital ships, then Entrenchment brought huge starbases, Diplomacy brought...not much ;D, but Rebellion brought mammoth Titan warships, each having unique abilities. So, Rebellion is now the compete Sins 1 package. The core gameplay is largely the same, but now it has all come together in a nicely packed star system filled with exploding space ships. Remember:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi226.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fdd70%2FCrusaderScott%2F399428_10150516436764394_17614129393_8433421_973417979_n_zps097ba564.jpg&hash=b962adc02653e09e03eebd9993e51898213c3a57)
;D
^ LOL. Good pic, RB!
I can't argue with that at all, it's true.
Quote from: Gusington on January 19, 2013, 07:51:11 PM
Quotewatching some lets play rebellion on youtube - it looks pretty cool, it means very little but i like how the capital ships turn sideways to deliver massive broadsides
I'm shallow, that means a lot to me :) Link?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTrXgd4lCdk
just for you
^I love you.
Quote from: Gusington on January 21, 2013, 05:41:33 PM
^I love you.
lol, you too gus
you chosen which space opera to play yet?
Looking at Endless Space first. Then if I am feeling adventurous Sins: Rebellion. In between I will be firing up that Wing Commander Saga mod for some dog fighting. Also checked out Strike Suit Zero on Steam and it looks kinda cool.
Quote from: Gusington on January 21, 2013, 06:22:20 PM
Looking at Endless Space first. Then if I am feeling adventurous Sins: Rebellion.
Endless Space is an excellent choice, but you don't need to be trepidatious about Sins. Although there's always plenty to do, it plays at a very stately pace. It's as if the Anno games were wargames (and set in space).
Come to think of it, you're doing it in the right order. Get Endless Space out of your system first, because Sins will sink its claws into you. It's insanely addictive.
^You make it sound so...naughty.
Quote from: Huw the Poo on January 21, 2013, 06:25:40 PM
Get Endless Space out of your system first, because Sins will sink its claws into you. It's insanely addictive.
;D That's about right. It is one of those great games that just sweeps you along because it is so easy to play.
Endless Space on the other hand....Some people like it, but I barely played two games before I shelved it. I DO believe this game has the seeds of greatness within it, but I think it is going to need one or two full expansions before it comes into its own (no surprise - this was the case for both GalCiv 2 and Sins). The base game is just a little barebones for me at the moment, especially in light of Sins. But in another year or so, it could be formidable.
Cool. I have no problem trying each, in that order.
havent read the thread and dont need to.
Homeworld 2 with the PDS mod.
play it and youll let me sleep with your wife.
In an alternate universe star runs a games company and it says that on all the game boxes and headed paper
Homeworld 2 is definitely on my short list. Does it run on Wondows 7? That's my only concern. And what is the PDS mod?
I'll tell The Wife to wear the little red number I got her for the holidays.
Get Conquest: Frontier Wars...it's fresh on GOG.
I run Homeworld on windows 7....
It begins...will Deep Space Industries, Inc. (http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/01/22/asteroid-mining-project-aims-for-deep-space-colonies/) be the first solar empire? :P
Wow that is awesome...and thanks Anguille now I have no fear in in picking up Homeworld 2.
I'd like to to say a few things about EVE online just because it stands alone in its genre of space based sandbox games. It definately is no simulator, I would consider myself more of a captain of a ship, determining the variable loadout, and coordinating with my squadron and fleet rather than taking care of the hands on things such as piloting and firing weapons. As such, belonging to a group of pilots is a must because just like any wet navy any one ship no matter how powerful can't stand alone in battle. One aspect of the game that stands out and increases immersion immensely is that everything is destroyable. All of that time I spent accumulating enough wealth to purchase and fit out a ship is literally a true investment. If that ship is destroyed in a battle it truly is gone. So to say the least the adrenalin does flow, more so that any other game I've ever played, and the coresponding frustration can be high. Because ships are destructatble there is a thriving economy, nearly everything is player built. That shows the other side of the game, a true economy where you extract resources, build, transport, and sell things.
You can see how much of a time sink this game can be. Unfortunately I just don't have the time any longer to properly invest in the game. It fills a niche for players that can put in at least 30 hours a week. I tend to have a couple hours a day more or less so play games that I can "save" and leave for the next day.
Sparhawk
One of the great things about Eve Online is that anyone can fill a role no matter how new to the game they are. There's room for frigates in any engagement.
Thanks Sparhawk. And Huw that last comment is quoteworthy right there.
Quote from: Gusington on January 22, 2013, 08:29:50 AM
Homeworld 2 is definitely on my short list. Does it run on Wondows 7? That's my only concern. And what is the PDS mod?
I'll tell The Wife to wear the little red number I got her for the holidays.
because our love knows no bounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-IPZhoM664
I'll have to access later. I love when you bring me gifts!
Incidentally, I read (here at Grogheads somewhere maybe?) that the Ur-Quan Lords unofficial remake of Star Control 2 will be getting a spiffy HD upgrade soon.
Quote from: Gusington on January 22, 2013, 10:57:33 AM
Wow that is awesome...and thanks Anguille now I have no fear in in picking up Homeworld 2.
the PDS mod adds all kinds of modules and ships and it increases the point defence fire of all ships making fights last longer and giving the player time to be a wargamer. dont think in 2 dimensions and use every upgrade and tool to kick ass. its a visual treat! that AA fire from BSG... childs play for PDS.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 23, 2013, 12:25:23 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 22, 2013, 10:57:33 AM
Wow that is awesome...and thanks Anguille now I have no fear in in picking up Homeworld 2.
the PDS mod adds all kinds of modules and ships and it increases the point defence fire of all ships making fights last longer and giving the player time to be a wargamer. dont think in 2 dimensions and use every upgrade and tool to kick ass. its a visual treat! that AA fire from BSG... childs play for PDS.
does HWII work ok on Win 7 64?
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 24, 2013, 03:03:01 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 23, 2013, 12:25:23 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 22, 2013, 10:57:33 AM
Wow that is awesome...and thanks Anguille now I have no fear in in picking up Homeworld 2.
the PDS mod adds all kinds of modules and ships and it increases the point defence fire of all ships making fights last longer and giving the player time to be a wargamer. dont think in 2 dimensions and use every upgrade and tool to kick ass. its a visual treat! that AA fire from BSG... childs play for PDS.
does HWII work ok on Win 7 64?
It works for me.
"I don't often play space based games. But when I do, I play Dos Eques."
X2, the space based game of choice for The Most Interesting Man In The World.
Quote from: Kushan on January 24, 2013, 03:07:31 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 24, 2013, 03:03:01 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 23, 2013, 12:25:23 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 22, 2013, 10:57:33 AM
Wow that is awesome...and thanks Anguille now I have no fear in in picking up Homeworld 2.
the PDS mod adds all kinds of modules and ships and it increases the point defence fire of all ships making fights last longer and giving the player time to be a wargamer. dont think in 2 dimensions and use every upgrade and tool to kick ass. its a visual treat! that AA fire from BSG... childs play for PDS.
does HWII work ok on Win 7 64?
It works for me.
i think ive talked myself into HWII and some PDS mod this weekend
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Geek let me know how your install goes, I want to get HWII this weekend too.
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 24, 2013, 06:44:53 PM
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Marty, I just started a HOI2 Doomsday as Italy. If you ever want to MP, let me know. And I could use some EU tips, too when you have the time.
Quote from: MetalDog on January 24, 2013, 07:13:16 PM
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 24, 2013, 06:44:53 PM
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Marty, I just started a HOI2 Doomsday as Italy. If you ever want to MP, let me know. And I could use some EU tips, too when you have the time.
I haven't played them in years. I had HOI and EU2. I got rid of the discs a during one of my clean up phases. Is HOI2 any good?
I never played the first one, but, from what I have read, it's quite a departure from the first HOI. As for 2, it's the game I would have invented as a teenager, if I could invent stuff like that.
Starfury...what is the most current version of PDS? beta8? Thanks.
version 11 beta 8
looking for a valid dl link.
http://www.moddb.com/mods/point-defense-systems/downloads
this is where all the mods are listed:
http://forums.relicnews.com/forumdisplay.php?72-Homeworld-2-Tanis-Shipyards
^thanks dude.
enjoy not sleeping ;)
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 24, 2013, 06:44:53 PM
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Yes, because things move rather slowly and you can issue commands while paused.
Quote from: Huw the Poo on January 25, 2013, 01:39:36 AM
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 24, 2013, 06:44:53 PM
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Yes, because things move rather slowly and you can issue commands while paused.
Thanks. I really hate the click fest games but I can deal with a slow paced real time game.
@Marty: Just bear in mind that Sins is more combat-oriented, with some light 4x elements thrown in for flavor. It's not as deep as a Paradox game, but the combat is beautiful to watch.
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 24, 2013, 06:44:53 PM
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Marty Distant Worlds would be more comparible to those games then Sins of the Solar Empire IMHO. Sins is a great game an very easy to manage but it's not as a deep a game as the ones you listed on a political/economic level.
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 01:31:58 PM
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 24, 2013, 06:44:53 PM
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Marty Distant Worlds would be more comparible to those games then Sins of the Solar Empire IMHO. Sins is a great game an very easy to manage but it's not as a deep a game as the ones you listed on a political/economic level.
That one looks like something up my alley. It reminds me a little of Space Empires IV.
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 01:36:24 PM
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 01:31:58 PM
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 24, 2013, 06:44:53 PM
Sins of the Solar Empire sounds interesting. I'm not a big real time fan but I did like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Is Sins similiar to those as far as the real time goes?
Marty Distant Worlds would be more comparible to those games then Sins of the Solar Empire IMHO. Sins is a great game an very easy to manage but it's not as a deep a game as the ones you listed on a political/economic level.
That one looks like something up my alley. It reminds me a little of Space Empires IV.
I really enjoy DW. It can get quit addictive to build and manage your empire. The real plus is that you can make the game as micro or macro level of management as you want it to be depending on which aspects of the game you find most enjoyable.
The downside to DW is Matrix's refusal to bundle the damn game and expansion for new customers. Although when the next expansion is released there should be a discount for new purchasers of the base game and expansions.
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 02:01:56 PM
The downside to DW is Matrix's refusal to bundle the damn game and expansion for new customers. Although when the next expansion is released there should be a discount for new purchasers of the base game and expansions.
Are there a lot of expansions? Are they any good?
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 02:06:04 PM
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 02:01:56 PM
The downside to DW is Matrix's refusal to bundle the damn game and expansion for new customers. Although when the next expansion is released there should be a discount for new purchasers of the base game and expansions.
Are there a lot of expansions? Are they any good?
So far there are two expansions and yes they add a lot to the game. You can play without them but honestly it plays much better with them.
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 02:18:01 PM
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 02:06:04 PM
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 02:01:56 PM
The downside to DW is Matrix's refusal to bundle the damn game and expansion for new customers. Although when the next expansion is released there should be a discount for new purchasers of the base game and expansions.
Are there a lot of expansions? Are they any good?
So far there are two expansions and yes they add a lot to the game. You can play without them but honestly it plays much better with them.
$90 for all of them plus the game. Damn they are pricey for expansions.
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 02:29:17 PM
$90 for all of them plus the game. Damn they are pricey for expansions.
You do get a 20% discount if you buy them all at the same time but yeah it's an expensive game to purchase it all.
I strongly second everything
Bison has said about
Distant Worlds. Of all the space 4x games I've ever played, it easily makes my top three. It's a fantastic experience.
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 02:29:17 PM
$90 for all of them plus the game. Damn they are pricey for expansions.
Unfortunately, they are. That, combined with the lack of a demo, is one of the game's biggest detractions.
As
Bison pointed out, though, the price for the original game and the current expansions (
Return of the Shakturi and
Legends) should come down a bit when the third expansion (
Shadows) gets released, which should happen in the fairly near future. If you can stand to wait til then, the hit to your wallet -- while admittedly still rather steep -- won't be quite so painful.
Yeah Marty, Distant Worlds is probably up your alley. I really like it and it plays very similarly to a HoI or EU type game.
Then it's settled. If the Ravens win the SB and my bets pay off it's DW for me. If they lose then it's either wait till Fathers Day or beg my wife to let me go overbudget :D
GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 03:09:21 PM
Then it's settled. If the Ravens win the SB and my bets pay off it's DW for me. If they lose then it's either wait till Fathers Day or beg my wife to let me go overbudget :D
GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Putting your gaming future in the hands of Flacco. Brave man.
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 03:13:38 PM
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 03:09:21 PM
Then it's settled. If the Ravens win the SB and my bets pay off it's DW for me. If they lose then it's either wait till Fathers Day or beg my wife to let me go overbudget :D
GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Putting your gaming future in the hands of Flacco. Brave man.
He hasn't disappointed yet this post season. Joe's da man!
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 03:40:21 PM
Quote from: Bison on January 25, 2013, 03:13:38 PM
Quote from: Marty Ward on January 25, 2013, 03:09:21 PM
Then it's settled. If the Ravens win the SB and my bets pay off it's DW for me. If they lose then it's either wait till Fathers Day or beg my wife to let me go overbudget :D
GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Putting your gaming future in the hands of Flacco. Brave man.
He hasn't disappointed yet this post season. Joe's da man!
That just means he's due. :D
Got the DW stuff at Xmas. Haven't played yet due to a glut of 4X spacers.
Set all other space 4x to the side if you've got DW and haven't played yet. As posted it isn't cheap to buy the game and expansions but well worth it. It's easy to begin if you leave everything automated. I would take over one aspect of the game at a time as I became aware of what I prefered to control. I'm finally beginning to explore designing ships and the different directions I can go arming them. Lots of fun.
I hate it when games get rave reviews but don't offer a demo or any kind of discount off the sticker price. There are too many crappy games masquerading as good games these days to warrant spending that kind of money.
But maybe I'll see if I can't find some DW AARs and reviews. That is, of course, after I finish X-Com, play a lot more FTL, check out the latest pateches for Warlock: Master of the Arcane, and I buy and play Fallen Enchantress. Plus, the most anticipated game in a long time, Eador: Master of the Broken World (which is racing our new baby to make it into the world).
So, on second thought, maybe I'll see if I can just plan on checking out DW sometime in 2014?
You guys got me playing Distant Worlds (and its current 2 expansions) again :P
Like I didn't have enough games waiting for me to actually finish them already :D
Would XCOM fall into the Space Game category or is that a stretch?
Quote from: Gusington on January 26, 2013, 07:55:39 PM
Would XCOM fall into the Space Game category or is that a stretch?
You're killing aliens on earth. It's a stretch, despite shooting down spaceships inside the atmosphere. ;D
HwII on its may from amazon - PDS downloaded, I waiting
Screenshots soon hopefully
Quote from: Longdan on January 25, 2013, 03:49:23 PM
Got the DW stuff at Xmas. Haven't played yet
You really oughtta get crackin' on that. You're seriously missing out!
Quote from: Longdan on January 25, 2013, 03:49:23 PM
due to a glut of 4X spacers.
Didn't realize you were a 4x guy! So what are you playing then?
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on January 26, 2013, 04:33:23 PM
I hate it when games get rave reviews but don't offer a demo or any kind of discount off the sticker price. There are too many crappy games masquerading as good games these days to warrant spending that kind of money.
All too true, sadly.
I definitely don't blame you for being reluctant to pick up
Distant Worlds. Given its price (especially with the expansions), it's pretty amazing it's as popular as it is. That, in and of itself, says a lot (mostly good) about its "fun factor", but there's no denying it's asking an awful lot for players to please purchase this expensive game for which there's not even a demo.
I think if Matrix did release a demo for DW, it would make a world of difference. Then folks could see for themselves that as pricey as the game is, it *is* truly worth paying.
Quote from: FarAway Sooner on January 26, 2013, 04:33:23 PM
So, on second thought, maybe I'll see if I can just plan on checking out DW sometime in 2014?
Hey, why not? At that point, maybe they'll finally have a single bundle package with all three expansions...at which point, they'll probably announce
Distant Worlds 2: The Search for More Money. :P
Quote from: Tpek on January 26, 2013, 04:37:25 PM
You guys got me playing Distant Worlds (and its current 2 expansions) again :P
Like I didn't have enough games waiting for me to actually finish them already :D
;D
Geek how much did you get HWII for?
Quote from: Gusington on January 27, 2013, 06:31:10 PM
Geek how much did you get HWII for?
£9 including next day delivery
Next day eh...fancy.
You got ripped off then?
im sure therell be a good reason ::)
You think you have it bad, Geek? The council haven't emptied my blue bin since 2012! We have recyclables piling up everywhere! Lazy bastards.
same thing here in the village where i live - massive gale this morning - **** all over the place as the bins blew over
HWII has arrived - install time
Bah! You two don't know when you're well off. We're too poor to be able to afford rubbish - and we live in a recycle wheelie-bin.
LOL Bob!
The council told me last Monday that the collector's lifting gear kept freezing in the snow so they didn't bother to collect from my area. I wouldn't have even known that much if I hadn't pestered them on Twitter. So they said leave it out and they'll be by during the week. Nothing.
They'll still happily take my council tax though!
Quote from: Huw the Poo on January 28, 2013, 04:13:27 PM
LOL Bob!
The council told me last Monday that the collector's lifting gear kept freezing in the snow so they didn't bother to collect from my area. I wouldn't have even known that much if I hadn't pestered them on Twitter. So they said leave it out and they'll be by during the week. Nothing.
They'll still happily take my council tax though!
at least we get two months off!!
What's all this 'council' stuff?
I pay some local yokels 24 greenbacks a month and once a week some guy named Sebbie drives by my house with a claw truck that happily scarfs up my garbage. Every other week some other guy named Dimitri drives by with a different truck that does the same for my recyclables. I do have to remember to lug the receptacle down to the end of my driveway, not really a biggie since my iPhone reminds me at 7pm the night before. The only other thing that's a bit odd is that the name on the side of the truck seems to vary quite a bit from week to week. What is consistent in that it never matches the name of the folks I write the check to so I'm sure it's all good.
Some are collecting some are shopping.
Did you not know that in England villages are ruled by the local Council of Druids?
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 28, 2013, 03:04:34 PM
same thing here in the village where i live - massive gale this morning - **** all over the place as the bins blew over
HWII has arrived - install time
I await your opinions.
Quote from: Staggerwing on January 28, 2013, 07:37:12 PM
What's all this 'council' stuff?
I pay some local yokels 24 greenbacks a month and once a week some guy named Sebbie drives by my house with a claw truck that happily scarfs up my garbage. Every other week some other guy named Dimitri drives by with a different truck that does the same for my recyclables. I do have to remember to lug the receptacle down to the end of my driveway, not really a biggie since my iPhone reminds me at 7pm the night before. The only other thing that's a bit odd is that the name on the side of the truck seems to vary quite a bit from week to week. What is consistent in that it never matches the name of the folks I write the check to so I'm sure it's all good.
Think of it as a microcosm of the United States. Apart from our central government, we have district and town councils with elected representatives (some from the main political parties, many independent). These councils are responsible for local government, i.e. things like schools, waste collection, libraries etc. We pay a council tax to cover the cost of local services, in exchange for which the council pretends to be constantly improving those services. Councils differ significantly in their effectiveness (and popularity).
I thought you were referring to the Council of Watchers, headed by Rupert Giles/Antony Stewart Head :P
In a thread about Space Games, the word "The Council" sound a lot cooler. I was thinking that Huw had some intergalactic governing body in charge of picking up his recyclables. But why did they need them? It seems benign, but for what nefarious purpose are The Council collecting Terran rubbish?!
Advance archaeology so they will know what we were like before they built the bypass.
Hahaha, you bunch of weirdos! :D
The bin was finally emptied today. Tomorrow is the scheduled collection day, and ours will be full again. And our house will finally be free of recyclable waste. \o/
Well, I put mine out tonight, as its our collection day tomorrow. Then I had to chase the bloody thing down the street because its blowing a gale now. Me and half-a-dozen other idiots all chasing wheelie-bins. Total madness.
I can almost hear the running commentary from spectators.....'and its number 14 by a short lid, with number 22 making good time on the curve.......'
I Don't Often Play Space Based Games...
to bin collection and council tax
...........like a group of old women!! :o ;D
You know - I have Distant Worlds and the expansions. They are truly great games in terms of depth and gameplay - but - and here's the rub - I always feel over-awed by it.
Worse still - the automated options. Leaving them as is, I'm kind of unsure what the hell I'm left with doing and end up just watching and wondering if there is something I should be doing. The automation is most likely a godsend in the end - but starting out - it kind of leaves you in a "movie" type game and makes you baffled - because you're sure there should be something you should be doing - but all the ships are going their own ways, all the exploration is being done, you "think" all the shipyards, ships and colonies will be grabbed - I'm just left feeling really baffled at what I should do.
And yet the automation is "meant" to ease you in...confused.com
I do want to love the game - but I'm lost. :o
The only thing that kills Distant Worlds for me are the battles...horrible...pew pew pew
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 29, 2013, 05:01:42 PM
I Don't Often Play Space Based Games...
to bin collection and council tax
...........like a group of old women!! :o ;D
Derailed, in the best Grog tradition!
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 28, 2013, 11:18:36 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 28, 2013, 03:04:34 PM
same thing here in the village where i live - massive gale this morning - **** all over the place as the bins blew over
HWII has arrived - install time
I await your opinions.
still at the getting it to work stage - bombs out as soon as the mission loads - im trying various compatability options
You're not STILL on about wheelie-bins are you?
curse my crashing wheelie bins!!
im now sorted on both options - there is a wheelie bin untipped and full of crap and a working HWII without issue, PDS added, given it a spin - complete with spooky atmospheric soundtrack its almost BSG but with more awesome - screenies later - ive been up 20 hours!
How easy was the mod to install?
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 29, 2013, 06:58:18 PM
curse my crashing wheelie bins!!
im now sorted on both options - there is a wheelie bin untipped and full of crap and a working HWII without issue, PDS added, given it a spin - complete with spooky atmospheric soundtrack its almost BSG but with more awesome - screenies later - ive been up 20 hours!
I'm a big fan of the original (although not so much that I ever got around to playing the expansion/sequel, much less HW2, although I've heard the "Cataclysm" intraquel was significantly better than the first game).
So I'm looking forward to seeing how the PDS mod affects the game. All I ever heard about HW2 amounted to "stay the hell away", but I do want it to be good.
Quote from: Gusington on January 30, 2013, 08:20:02 AM
How easy was the mod to install?
the mods easy as pie - installing 8 creates a new data folder - this just gets dropped in the existing HW2 folder and updates what it needs to
then add a line to the 'target' in the shortcut box -overridebigfile - dunno what it does but it does it
then for me also added -w 1600 h 900 to play on my screen
and that was it
solved the crashing problem by not trying to play a duel! the manual says play a duel between 2 ships so you can see what theyre good at and how they work - great idea, cant get it to work!
just playing in skirmish mode as it suggests and royally getting my ass kicked - totally forgotten how to play - screenies later
I have seen a lot of posts of peeps saying that unmodded HW2 is hellishly difficult, so there's that.
Quote from: Gusington on January 30, 2013, 11:23:04 AM
I have seen a lot of posts of peeps saying that unmodded HW2 is hellishly difficult, so there's that.
and PDS makes it harder - beautiful to watch - it does say use skirmish tactics which i think ive forgetten - having watched youtube and experienced the 'scouting' method i think it might be - build big fleet and point it at the baddies - this is my next plan!!
Now I have a post xmas glut. What to play? What to play first? I have DW entire. I have Endless Space, Star Ruler, Sins and based on JH's
enthusiasm Sword 2, some others. I have dabbled in Sins and it was good. The other are untouched. Which one get broken out this
afternoon? I am open to suggestions from this savvy crowd. I like battle but not twitch. I like complex economies..
I have Homeworld, played thru years ago with no mods. I have Cataclysm but not HW2. What to do?
Quote from: JudgeDredd on January 29, 2013, 05:05:18 PM
You know - I have Distant Worlds and the expansions. They are truly great games in terms of depth and gameplay - but - and here's the rub - I always feel over-awed by it.
Worse still - the automated options. Leaving them as is, I'm kind of unsure what the hell I'm left with doing and end up just watching and wondering if there is something I should be doing. The automation is most likely a godsend in the end - but starting out - it kind of leaves you in a "movie" type game and makes you baffled - because you're sure there should be something you should be doing - but all the ships are going their own ways, all the exploration is being done, you "think" all the shipyards, ships and colonies will be grabbed - I'm just left feeling really baffled at what I should do.
And yet the automation is "meant" to ease you in...confused.com
I do want to love the game - but I'm lost. :o
I think that's a common reaction
JD -- one I myself have experienced (and admittedly still do to a degree) -- so you needn't feel bad about it.
As commonplace -- and perhaps even trite -- as this particular piece of advice has become, I genuinely feel it's one of the most useful: Just start with manually controlling 1-2 aspects of the game, and let the rest of it run on auto.
What do you particularly like to do and/or focus on in 4x games? Exploration? Colonization? Designing ships? Diplomacy? Research? Military operations? Whatever it is, just play around with a part of the game you enjoy, and don't worry about the rest. Seriously.
I think a lot of folks (again, including
moi) feel a certain pressure to try and do everything at once, when that's not what
Distant Worlds is about at all. It admittedly can take a while to truly get used to the notion, but eventually I realized one of the game's major attractions is that it lets you spend time on whichever aspects of 4x titles you like while not having to bother with the stuff you don't care for as much. Even now -- over two years after the original DW was first released -- I still run it with around half the stuff automated...and I love it.
There's absolutely no reason one should feel obligated to control everything -- so I don't. And neither should you. :)
Quote from: Longdan on January 30, 2013, 11:28:07 AM
Now I have a post xmas glut. What to play? What to play first? I have DW entire. I have Endless Space, Star Ruler, Sins and based on JH's
enthusiasm Sword 2, some others. I have dabbled in Sins and it was good. The other are untouched. Which one get broken out this
afternoon? I am open to suggestions from this savvy crowd. I like battle but not twitch. I like complex economies..
I have Homeworld, played thru years ago with no mods. I have Cataclysm but not HW2. What to do?
If you enjoy non-twitchy combat, then
Endless Space is pretty good for that. I don't have
SotS2, but if the combat is anything like its predecessor, battles are probably reasonably paced. I haven't really played
Star Ruler nor heard much about its combat system, so I can't comment on it.
If you like complex economies, then
Distant Worlds is definitely the way to go.
Thanks Martok
I'm not a huge 4x player - in fact I doubt I've played ANY 4x games in the past apart from maybe dabbling (I only recently foun out what 4x stood for - or at least I'd forgotton)
I wouldn't say I feel obligated to control everything - I think my problem is I seem to be controlling nothing - the game is just going on and every now and again I get a popup to deal with (one thing I hate about games (like HoI and EUI) - popups to deal with that make you "think" you're playing a game!)
But your advice about what aspect I would like to control and take control of that is a good one - so I'll have a think about that. I know I'm not interested in diplomacy.
A quick question on diplomacy as AI controlled - if I have a short tempered race as my race and I leave diplomacy to the AI, I presume they'll likely rub other races up the wrong way?
Thanks Martok. Maybe DW today....maybe not!
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 30, 2013, 11:24:31 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 30, 2013, 11:23:04 AM
I have seen a lot of posts of peeps saying that unmodded HW2 is hellishly difficult, so there's that.
and PDS makes it harder - beautiful to watch - it does say use skirmish tactics which i think ive forgetten - having watched youtube and experienced the 'scouting' method i think it might be - build big fleet and point it at the baddies - this is my next plan!!
big fleets are nice but strike groups get the job done early and mid game. dont forget you can target specific modules on shipyards and capital ships. 50/50 split force of fights and bombers with a cover of corvettes and you can effective remove capital ship construction from the opfor mothership/shipyard and buy some time. use secondary groups of corvettes to go after resource collectors.
in solo play dont forget to use the pause key to take a look around and issue orders. also grouping ships into hotkeys helps tons.
oh... and the best thing about, and the hardest thing to remember is that it is a true 3d game. dont fight on a single plane.
Quote from: Martok on January 30, 2013, 11:33:43 AMWhat do you particularly like to do and/or focus on in 4x games? Exploration? Colonization? Designing ships? Diplomacy? Research? Military operations? Whatever it is, just play around with a part of the game you enjoy, and don't worry about the rest. Seriously.
Sounds similar to advice for trying to play
War In The Pacific (Admiral's Edition or otherwise).
Not that I consider the comparison a bad thing. :)
Quote from: JudgeDredd on January 30, 2013, 11:43:56 AM
I wouldn't say I feel obligated to control everything - I think my problem is I seem to be controlling nothing - the game is just going on and every now and again I get a popup to deal with (one thing I hate about games (like HoI and EUI) - popups to deal with that make you "think" you're playing a game!)
But your advice about what aspect I would like to control and take control of that is a good one - so I'll have a think about that. I know I'm not interested in diplomacy.
Fair enough. :)
Another piece of advice: If you've not already been doing so, I absolutely recommend taking advantage of the fact that most the empire management stuff has three settings -- Manual, Suggest, and Auto -- and figuring out which setting works best with the various areas of empire management.
"Suggest" is useful for when you want to keep a light hand on certain aspects of running your empire, but don't want to micromanage it (although this will mean more of those popup messages you dislike). On the other hand, "Auto" is great for the stuff you don't want to bother with at all, *and* you won't be pestered with said popup messages.
Quote from: JudgeDredd on January 30, 2013, 11:43:56 AM
A quick question on diplomacy as AI controlled - if I have a short tempered race as my race and I leave diplomacy to the AI, I presume they'll likely rub other races up the wrong way?
Honestly, I'm not sure, as diplomacy is usually one of the things I control myself. However, I do know the...less friendly races are generally more aggressive when controlled by the AI, so I would not be at all surprised if it behaves similarly if you let it be in charge of dealing with other factions (assuming you're playing as one of the aforementioned unfriendly races).
Quote from: Longdan on January 30, 2013, 11:57:00 AM
Thanks Martok. Maybe DW today....maybe not!
Well if you do, I'm always happy to talk shop! I'm actually only a very mediocre player, so I'm not the best one for advice/input (aside from very basic stuff like what I've already mentioned to
JudgeDredd), but I do enjoy discussing the game.
Quote from: JasonPratt on January 30, 2013, 01:47:10 PM
Quote from: Martok on January 30, 2013, 11:33:43 AMWhat do you particularly like to do and/or focus on in 4x games? Exploration? Colonization? Designing ships? Diplomacy? Research? Military operations? Whatever it is, just play around with a part of the game you enjoy, and don't worry about the rest. Seriously.
Sounds similar to advice for trying to play War In The Pacific (Admiral's Edition or otherwise).
Not that I consider the comparison a bad thing. :)
The funny thing is it's not the first time those two games have compared to each other (and it probably won't be the last!).
The main difference seems to be depth/complexity: While DW undeniably scores high in this area (although the automation and macro-management tools mercifully allow the player to grasp it), I get the impression WITP/WITP:AE is even more so, probably by an entire order of magnitude. (That game still intimidates the hell out of me!)
Ok. So all this talk about HW 2 got me in the mood.
Can anyone explain how to get this working on windows 7. Seen about 8 posts on other sites that have me disabling crap and entering the guys of windows to alter other crap....no way, if its that tough, screw it. I know you have to type something after the shortcut but spacing must be perfect so if that is it, can you type it so I can cut and paste?
I would like to buy it.
Quote from: mikeck on January 30, 2013, 05:53:55 PM
Ok. So all this talk about HW 2 got me in the mood.
Can anyone explain how to get this working on windows 7. Seen about 8 posts on other sites that have me disabling crap and entering the guys of windows to alter other crap....no way, if its that tough, screw it. I know you have to type something after the shortcut but spacing must be perfect so if that is it, can you type it so I can cut and paste?
try running in compatibility mode for XP or NT
vanilla HW2 installed on mine just fine, then i changed the screen resolution with this:-
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Sierra\Homeworld2\Bin\Release\Homeworld2.exe" -w 1600 -h 900
Says it's not a valid target. Installed 1.1. When I click on shortcut or run exe as admin, I get the "hold on I'm doing something" windows icon for 1 second them nothing
Im still digging around the Relic forums looking for a work around.
Quote from: mikeck on January 30, 2013, 06:37:40 PM
Says it's not a valid target. Installed 1.1. When I click on shortcut or run exe as admin, I get the "hold on I'm doing something" windows icon for 1 second them nothing
Are you using win7? I had the same problem as you because the forum had posted a XP URL
Im still using XP. the command line in my icon properties reads:
"C:\Program Files\Sierra\Homeworld2\Bin\Release\Homeworld2.exe" -w 1680 -h 1050
don't you have to have "-overridebigfile" in there in order to play PDS?
one solution Im reading is to make sure the Vsync is checked in you video options.
kinda hard to get to if you cant load up the game though :o
ah ha... there are also several people who seem to have had success installing the whole folder outside of program files. seems there are some restrictions with Win7 while inside the program files umbrella.
Ill contiinue to look.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 02, 2013, 10:04:57 AM
don't you have to have "-overridebigfile" in there in order to play PDS?
yeah but Im just trying to get the mans game working first.
baby steps and all that :)
I'll be honest...I quit trying. I don't feel like wasting so much time trying to get it to run on windows 7. BUT I did pick up Sins of a Solar Empire trinity. What I always disliked was that it moved too fast. I mean, I'm trying to build an economy and next thing I know, there are 12 enemy ships attacking...plus the whole "12 planets around one star and three races"
BUT, I downloaded "galaxyforge" which allows players to create their own maps. I set up 12 stars each with about 5 planets and some asteroids. Planets are far apart so it takes about 2 minutes of real time for phase jumping. Most important...one race around a given star. So in order to go find Vasari, either they or I need to research the drive allowing travel between stars!!
Quote from: Yskonyn on January 18, 2013, 11:32:25 AM
X series of games (a new one is coming in 2013). Build. Think. Fight. Trade. :P
I second this. I've been playing the X series for a long time and the support from both the company and community is amazing. The games are very immersive, with great graphics. If you want to micromanage your economy, set up as a pirate and dogfight, become a fleet admiral or whatever, this game is flexible enough to tick any or all of the boxes. You are given lots of freedom and it's entirely up to you how you play the game. You can even dip in and out of whatever role you feel like. The number of mods available is staggering. Brilliant :)
No, I'm not employed by Egosoft ;)
I've given up wondering when X4 will release. They sort of went dark on all the development for that, and they missed every proposed release date given. I hope I am pleasantly surprised and it just appears one day, because those games are all sorts of deep deep fun!
Well I am not sure where you are looking, SoM, but to be sure: X4 is going to be called X:rebirth.
They have been all but silent about it, provided you get their newsletter?
Rebirth will feature only one player controlled ship, but it is going to be able to be modified extensively and should give players a much better feel of being a commander of a starship rather than a player moving a hud.
All core elements of the X series are still there. Beta (closed) is in full swing. Their projected releasedate of around Xmas first and Q1 later has not been met indeed, but a 2013 release os still on track, so they claim.
Being the commander of a starship sounds fantastic. That is the game I want, if I don't need an engineering degree to play it.
Quote from: Yskonyn on February 03, 2013, 02:10:20 PM
Well I am not sure where you are looking, SoM, but to be sure: X4 is going to be called X:rebirth.
They have been all but silent about it, provided you get their newsletter?
Rebirth will feature only one player controlled ship, but it is going to be able to be modified extensively and should give players a much better feel of being a commander of a starship rather than a player moving a hud.
All core elements of the X series are still there. Beta (closed) is in full swing. Their projected releasedate of around Xmas first and Q1 later has not been met indeed, but a 2013 release os still on track, so they claim.
I forgot the new name! Still, the website was quiet and I don't get the newsletter. Any thought on a quarter for this year?
Quote from: Gusington on February 03, 2013, 04:10:38 PM
Being the commander of a starship sounds fantastic. That is the game I want, if I don't need an engineering degree to play it.
Not so much an engineering or a physics degree, but rather an economics degree and a TON of time. At least with the previous versions. I think, although people were very angry with this, moving to only one ship will help tremendously - even if said ship can be upgraded and become a carrier (and thus command smaller ships). One of the things with X3 was that you could fly all sorts of ships and simultaneously command a ton more. As long as they keep the ability to build space stations/factories and be a giant mega-space conglomerate, I'll be happy.
I bought X3 many yarens ago when it came on about 12 disks and had no tutorial or book.
It was pretty but i almost threw it away in disgust. You fired it up and there you were in the cockpit.....
and the rest was figure it out for yourself...absolutely nothing else. I still have it somewhere and I
am sure there is much available out there now...but first impressions - it was like asking a beautiful girl to dance
and having her, without a word or a look, just kick you right in the nuts.
Quote from: jim_h on February 02, 2013, 02:34:51 PM
Quote from: Yskonyn on January 18, 2013, 11:32:25 AM
X series of games (a new one is coming in 2013). Build. Think. Fight. Trade. :P
I second this. I've been playing the X series for a long time and the support from both the company and community is amazing. The games are very immersive, with great graphics. If you want to micromanage your economy, set up as a pirate and dogfight, become a fleet admiral or whatever, this game is flexible enough to tick any or all of the boxes. You are given lots of freedom and it's entirely up to you how you play the game. You can even dip in and out of whatever role you feel like. The number of mods available is staggering. Brilliant :)
No, I'm not employed by Egosoft ;)
To repeat my silly joke from earlier upthread: "I don't often play space based games. But when I do, I play Dos Equis." -- The Most Interesting Man In The World.
(Although I guess that would be Tres Equis now. :) )
Quote from: son_of_montfort on February 03, 2013, 06:35:44 PM
I forgot the new name! Still, the website was quiet and I don't get the newsletter. Any thought on a quarter for this year?
I think they don't dare giving one for now.
It may have been brought up in one of the newsletters, but I can't remember.
The discussions I see about a possible release date pretty much boil down to 'when its ready' or 'soon(tm)'. :D
After having to push the game to 2013 instead of an X-Mas 2012 release and then pushing it out of Q1 2013 again have made them bite their tongues.
This is from the latest newsletter:
Postponement of the X Rebirth release date
As many of you have already noticed, we've now had to push the release date for X Rebirth into 2013. Believe me, we would have loved to release the game earlier, but it's just not ready for prime-time yet.
We are very excited about X Rebirth; it's beautiful, it's big and everything in it is new. But it turns out that you don't simply reinvent space games overnight! ;)
We have now been working for more than five years on this huge project, and right now everything is finally clicking together. Everybody on the team is looking forward immensely to the release, but we can't yet give you an exact date. We can only beg our fans to please be patient for a little while longer. - BerndNote that they don't talk about Q1 or Q2 or whatever Q. But I recall on the forums that they have stated Q1 is very unlikely.
After it comes a nice Q&A about the game. For the full coverage follow this link. (http://www.egosoft.com/x/xnews/201212_1_44News.html)
I reinstalled X3 Terran Conflict last night and was very happy to see my very, very small empire there still.
I think it's be my space game for the time being. I've tried SotSII and didn't really "get it"...which I realise is a strange thing to say about what appears to be a relatively straight forward game. I also tried Armada 2526 and it didn't grab me and Distant Worlds is amazing - but I am totally lost..."I see a planet/star producing Calzon and I know I need that for fuel - erm...but what to do now?"
X3 Terran Conflict you can jump in and out of the story and build your wee empire. And it looks sexy to boot. So I think that's be my space fix for the moment (though I did fire it up last night and think "ok - I am docked - and I have other ships distributing energy - what do I do now?"
So....maybe I'm just not into space sims - but that doesn't make any sense either because I LOVED Supremacy from the old Atari days and UFO - the one where you built ships and took planets and fought off other races.
Confused.com!
I picked up X3:Terran Conflict & the Albion Prelude add-on last year, on the cheap. It certainly has an improved interface over X3:Reunion but some facets of the whole series can be a bit frustrating when starting off so I've not delved much into it at all.
lol - confusion reigns with all the different ways and places to get games and add-ons. I totally forgot about Albion Prelude. I KNOW I bought it, but I don't know where or how (disk or download)
I think it was Steam - but I can't be sure. I may even have re-bought X3-Terran Conflict through Steam to have the game and the addon in the same place!
Oh dear!
I was rather pissed off last night that X3 TC wanted the disk in the drive - until I installed the latest patch.
Reading this thread made me think of a game from 20 or so years ago called Rules of Engagement by Omnitrend. You commanded your ship and sometimes a fleet on different kinds of missions. It was like capital ships in space, so kind of slow moving if I remember correctly. I don't think I appreciated it then like I would now. Are there any games similar to that available now? I was looking at Independence War 1 & 2 over at GOG, what do you think of those?
Thanks.
I have Rules of Engagement and RoE2. I loved those games.
Is Independence War similar to RoE?
I have no experience with RoE, but I have played both IWar games. Very good story and the spaceship mechanics were super cool and fun.
Quote from: Gusington on February 05, 2013, 12:48:51 PM
Is Independence War similar to RoE?
I never played Independence War (although I did buy it on GOG recently :-[) but I'll tell you this, Gus me old china: Independence War 2 is the best space sim
ever!
Don't do this to me...
Why don't I just paste something I wrote about I-War 2 on another forum a while back? :D
QuoteI-War 2 remains my favourite space sim of all time. As said, it's quite freeform and closer to the X series. You play the role of a guy who has inherited the base/ship/etc from his once-infamous-but-now-dead pirate grandmother, and with a bunch of chums you set off to avenge the murder of your father.
The game is just beautiful, even today. The designers really made space look very attractive without ever going cartoony or whatever, and coupled with the best soundtrack I have ever heard in a game along with some nice effects like the creaking and groaning of your ship's hull when you're floating in space, I-War 2 is incredibly atmospheric.
Unusually good cut-scenes for a game. Characters you care about (although there isn't much interaction with them). Lots and lots of weapons and components with which to upgrade your ship. A bartering system. A number of huge systems through which to zoom and hassle corporation shipping. Multiple factions (although, admittedly, factions just boil down to names, there's not much else different between them).
Like the X series, you can zip through the story as quickly or slowly as you like, and also like the X series, there are some points that are better than others at which you'll want to put the story on hold while you get down to some serious freeform piracy. You get wingmen eventually too, though I'll not say too much about that because it's really well implemented in the game and a nice surprise.
Combat is bloody excellent. When you start out in the game proper, the little ship you have is drastically under-armed and under-powered, and battles can be extremely challenging. As I've said before on either this board or GG, it's very exciting when you're involved in a pitched battle, chasing transports while dodging escorts, missiles that - quite literally - scream past you. There's little else more satisfying than chasing a fat transport at faster-than-light, shooting off a missile that forces it back to sub-light speeds, and robbing the bugger before its escorts and friends arrive. Then there's the joy of hunting at a jump point, fighting for half an hour against hordes of transports and fighters, then surveying the carnage afterwards, picking out what cargo you want to keep and what you will have to do without.
Then there's the panic when you're out of missiles, have hardly any ammo in your projectile-based cannons and have only low-powered lasers, and this happens: you set a course for home, jump out of the system, and lean back with a grateful sigh........when out of the blue, an inhibitor missile hits you up the arse and forces you to sub-light, to face a large and heavily-armed gang of fighters who've been sent to get revenge for all the havoc you'd just been wreaking. Panic!!!
I could talk forever about this game. If you have even a passing interest in space sims, you must try it out!
^You are a tempting minx.
Quote from: RedArgo on February 05, 2013, 11:23:37 AM
Reading this thread made me think of a game from 20 or so years ago called Rules of Engagement by Omnitrend. You commanded your ship and sometimes a fleet on different kinds of missions. It was like capital ships in space, so kind of slow moving if I remember correctly. I don't think I appreciated it then like I would now. Are there any games similar to that available now? I was looking at Independence War 1 & 2 over at GOG, what do you think of those?
Thanks.
Rules of Engagement was one of my first "sims." I spent more time making aliens in that game than anything, but it was still cool. You could also connect it with another game and have X-Com like TBS boarding missions. Such a cool idea!
I wonder if GOG would ever pick up ROE2 and Breach 3?
Quote from: son_of_montfort on February 05, 2013, 08:38:54 PM
Quote from: RedArgo on February 05, 2013, 11:23:37 AM
Reading this thread made me think of a game from 20 or so years ago called Rules of Engagement by Omnitrend. You commanded your ship and sometimes a fleet on different kinds of missions. It was like capital ships in space, so kind of slow moving if I remember correctly. I don't think I appreciated it then like I would now. Are there any games similar to that available now? I was looking at Independence War 1 & 2 over at GOG, what do you think of those?
Thanks.
Rules of Engagement was one of my first "sims." I spent more time making aliens in that game than anything, but it was still cool. You could also connect it with another game and have X-Com like TBS boarding missions. Such a cool idea!
Does anyone have a manual for RoE2? By the way, the other game was called Breach 3.
I guess this is legit, but I don't know for sure.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/120682761/Rules-of-Engagement-2 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/120682761/Rules-of-Engagement-2)
The pdf works and seems to be virus free. I hope.
Interestingly, or not maybe, Omnitrend is actually still in business, they just don't make games anymore.
Quote from: RedArgo on February 05, 2013, 10:26:59 PM
I guess this is legit, but I don't know for sure.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/120682761/Rules-of-Engagement-2 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/120682761/Rules-of-Engagement-2)
The pdf works and seems to be virus free. I hope.
Interestingly, or not maybe, Omnitrend is actually still in business, they just don't make games anymore.
Wow! Thanks man!
I owned the first Rules of Engagement. Actually, I still own the first Rules of Engagement... original box, floppies, and book! I think that one connected to Breach 2, IIRC, but don't hold me to that. I never got Breach 2, which was to my great chagrin (because it was probably more my style at the time). I was young enough to have no clue what I was doing, but I certainly like lining up a ship (usually allied, no doubt) and firing every weapon I had until it blew up! Also, the alien designer was so so so much fun!
Quote from: Gusington on February 05, 2013, 08:22:55 PM
^You are a tempting minx.
Look, it's only six bucks (http://www.gog.com/gamecard/independence_war_2) on GOG!
And you get the lush soundtrack with it! :D
I know I have it up on my browser right now, beckoning.
IW2 is one of the many games on my GOG shelf that I have yet to try. :P
Soon to be with me too :)
Quote from: Huw the Poo on February 05, 2013, 02:02:47 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 05, 2013, 12:48:51 PM
Is Independence War similar to RoE?
I never played Independence War (although I did buy it on GOG recently :-[) but I'll tell you this, Gus me old china: Independence War 2 is the best space sim ever!
Hum. I liked IW1 enough to finish it, but thought its execution fell annoyingly short of its grasp, so I never even tried IW2.
Edited to add: the Poo's description later, though, sounds amazing!
I lied slightly earlier; I have played a little of I-War, enough to know that the two games are quite different.
I really can't emphasise enough how good I-War 2 is. It's atmospheric as hell. Sometimes you can be "parked" in a junkyard, waiting for some prey to unwittingly wander by. Your systems are on low power to reduce emissions, you're holding steady and silent, you hear the occasional creaking of a hull. Ships wander to and fro.
Or you might be in a frantic firefight! Missiles flying everywhere, making a very characteristic screaming sound as they barely miss you. Gunfire peppers your ship and you list, losing control for a few seconds, desperately trying to right yourself and turn to face the enemy. The pseudo-Newtonian model makes for fantastically enjoyable gunfights...you kick in the engines and race at high speed toward a pack of enemy ships, using lateral thrust to dodge incoming fire, switching off your engine and pivoting as you fly past, trying to hold your target in your sights for as long as possible before zooming out of range.
Or you might be in desperate need of a blueprint for a certain type of weapon. Your man Jafs has located someone who's selling, but he'll only accept medical supplies in trade. So you pick the nearest hospital station on your map, set course, and kick in the LDS drive to quickly carry you there. Sure enough, a hospital convoy launches from the station, loaded with exactly what you need. You wait outside the perimeter of the station until they activate their LDS drives and you follow, launching an LDS missile at them and forcing them back to sub-light speed. Immediately they realise they're under attack. The freight ships desperately try to escape the LDS-I bubble you've created, while their escorts peel away and come about, guns blazing.
And I haven't even touched on the story part of the game, which is brilliant in itself. There's a great mixture of mission types; you're not just shooting stuff. You get to do all kinds of things. I-War 2 isn't afraid to mix things up to create a compelling experience. The characters are splendidly realised and often amusing, and the cutscenes are so good that I actually watch them!
All the while, the fantastic soundtrack switches from moody to ambient through to frantic as the gameplay changes.
Oh god, I'm going to have to install it again. What a game. Better than X-Wing, better than Freespace, certainly better than bloody Freelancer. :)
Ok ok I'll buy it! Stop it with your coy come ons!
Quote from: Gusington on February 06, 2013, 02:18:04 PM
Ok ok I'll buy it! Stop it with your coy come ons!
Yay! You won't regret it.
You'll need a couple of mods. Go here (http://i-war2.com/downloads.htm) and grab the multimod, then also the location finder. It's basically a map overlay that really should have come with the game, but Particle Systems released it afterwards. There's a load of other mods there too, but I never used 'em.
Better than X3?
Thanks Huw.
how are I-war and I-war2 different?
cause I dont remember enjoying I-war that much.
Quote from: JudgeDredd on February 06, 2013, 03:18:14 PM
Better than X3?
It's brilliant in its own way, but you don't get moments in it like those I described up-thread. I-War 2 is one of the most accomplished games I've played in any genre.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on February 06, 2013, 04:26:06 PM
how are I-war and I-war2 different?
cause I dont remember enjoying I-war that much.
I'll have to play some I-War at some point. As I recall, I-War is more of a starship simulation. I-War 2 is more arcadey, I think.
Definately. I-War 1 focussed on the ship itself more. It was indeed more of a simulation or perhaps a tech demo even.
I War 2 was loose on the simulation part (at least in relation to the first game), but much more a movie-like experience.
rrrrr Me have both unplayed....which?
It looked like from a you tube video I watched that you are in a small ship, maybe fighter like in IW2. Is that right? Is it possible to control capital ships? Is this different in IW1 vs IW2?
Thanks.
Its the same ship. :) AFAIR you do not change ships in either game.
It's hard to discuss without giving away story spoilers, but let's just say the Storm Petrel is definitely not the only ship you fly in I-War 2.
I recall preferring I-War over I-War 2. This may be because in the original title, you're actually in the Navy commanding a cruiser. In the second one, you're some spoiled brat pirate.
But does the spoiled brat pilot get laid?
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 06, 2013, 05:49:39 PM
In the second one, you're some spoiled brat pirate.
Spoiled? Heh, I think you might be misremembering the storyline. ;)
Sorry, late to the party. I agree that I-War 2 is flipping brilliant. Loved the inertial physics that allowed you to set a thrust vector in one direction and rotate your ship to fire in another and even make slight alterations with positional thrusters. It sounds complicated but the brilliantly designed HUD vector lines made it very intuitive.
There are also some great mods out there for it.
I like the Particle systems mod and the quality ships mod. (now I'm going to see if I can find my old CDs somewhere. )
Just FYI evochron mercenary has inertial movement just like that...where you can hit afterburners and turn sideways while you continue to zoom along through the seamless universe. Updated graphics as well with 2.0
I have Evochron as well. Do they compare?
Dunno...never played independence war. In evochron, you can fly all sorts of fighter type craft. You can fly with inertial mode on, meaning like a fighter plane...or off and you just go straight until I thrust in another direction. Since your craft burns fuel and the universe is big, you will use the latter alot. It's a decent "elite" type clone. Nothing spectacular but combat is fun with all of the tactics inertial flight brings.
Best this is that the univers is seamless. Meaning that unlike x3, you can actually just hit the gas and cruise to any planet without "jumping". It might take you 3 weeks to get there buy you can.
I have had it for a while but only drove around and cleaned some arrays.
So many games so little time left.
Does I War 2 support joyticks?
Yup. And if you have a force feedback joystick, it's got some of the best FFB inputs ever.
That's amazing considering how old the game is. Good show.
Wow, you can also run IW2 at 1920x1080 with a little tweaking. I have way too many games though, but I never did finish this one back in the day. Still, I really don't need more for the backlog. I still have to delve into Startopia again!
Lend me your strength! Show me the way to freedom! How do you even say those words?
I have Startopia in the pile too.
QuoteI still have to delve into Startopia again!
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED IN MY PANTS!
Evochron Mercenaries also has seamless transitions to atmospheric flight. Diving toward a planetary city through pouring rain is quite an experience. Brilliantly, it also supports multiplayer and maintains your status as you switch between multiplayer and single player.
Gus, I'd say a joystick is a must for I-War 2. Using your hat switch to interact with the HUD (the way the game was designed to be played) is cool. :)
I remapped the hat switch to control the directional thrusters. Made for very precise control and gives you a huge advantage in dogfights.
Fair enough, SDR. So did you use the arrow keys for the HUD? That seemed most intuitive to me when I tried playing without a joystick.
whos in for a HW2 online game? for all the games mentioned so far it seems the easiest to get into, its cheap and it doesnt take a ton of time.