Steam Summer Sales Begins - (June 19-30)

[Shelldrake]

Really? I checked on my phone and AoWIII looks like it is part of a group that will be updated in about an hour...maybe I read it wrong.

I think the daily deals last for the next day...but I could be wrong. Maybe safer to pull the trigger now.

[sandman2575]

Still master of my own domain.  Haven't purchased zilch.  Arma III remains tempting but I think I can hold out.

Maybe just me, but Steam's seasonal sales feel like they have become pretty "meh" affairs...  Just not getting the "Not sure I'll ever play, but can't pass it up at this price" experiences I used to.

[Rayfer]

What's the word on Endless Space Emperor Edition on sale today for $7.49.  I like Galactic Civ 2, Distant Worlds and Armada 2526 but did not like Sword of the Stars 2 EE or Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity. How does this stack up to those? Knowing that, what are the chances of enjoying Endless Space?

[PanzersEast]

What's the word on Endless Space Emperor Edition on sale today for $7.49.  I like Galactic Civ 2, Distant Worlds and Armada 2526 but did not like Sword of the Stars 2 EE or Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity. How does this stack up to those? Knowing that, what are the chances of enjoying Endless Space?

I would have to say pass on it.  I have played several games and while there was some appeal there, Distant Worlds crushed the game for me.  ES has a very clean and nice interface, however the ship spamming and end game just was not fun.

PE

[Huw the Poo]

What's the word on Endless Space Emperor Edition on sale today for $7.49.  I like Galactic Civ 2, Distant Worlds and Armada 2526 but did not like Sword of the Stars 2 EE or Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity. How does this stack up to those? Knowing that, what are the chances of enjoying Endless Space?

Heh, well, I love GalCiv2 and Sins, and I hate Distant Worlds and never really got into Armada, so take that as you will. :)  For what it's worth, I really like Endless Space.  For a start it has the best interface I've ever seen in a game and makes playing it an absolute dream.  Everything's just there, whenever you need it, and you almost flow between menus.  PanzersEast has a point about the endgame but it didn't bother me because the game's so much fun to play.  If anything, my only criticism would be the AI...I'm rarely beaten by the AI in these games but I have a really hard time of it in ES.  Great for multiplayer though.

It's also quite a beautiful game, both visually and sonically.  The soundtrack is gorgeous.  For $7.50 I'd say it's a no-brainer.

[Martok]

Really? I checked on my phone and AoWIII looks like it is part of a group that will be updated in about an hour...maybe I read it wrong.

I'm showing there's still 23 hours left.  No hurry, Gus.  :) 

What's the word on Endless Space Emperor Edition on sale today for $7.49.  I like Galactic Civ 2, Distant Worlds and Armada 2526 but did not like Sword of the Stars 2 EE or Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity. How does this stack up to those? Knowing that, what are the chances of enjoying Endless Space?

Hard to say.  I'm not a big fan of ES myself -- I just can't get past the combat system, and I've always found the maps to be disappointingly small -- but quite a few folks here seem to enjoy it, and it's a polished game with solid support. 

On the other hand, my feelings about the above games (mentioned in your post) match yours almost exactly.  So given that I don't care much for Endless Space, you might not either.  :P 

[Rayfer]

Really? I checked on my phone and AoWIII looks like it is part of a group that will be updated in about an hour...maybe I read it wrong.

I'm showing there's still 23 hours left.  No hurry, Gus.  :) 

What's the word on Endless Space Emperor Edition on sale today for $7.49.  I like Galactic Civ 2, Distant Worlds and Armada 2526 but did not like Sword of the Stars 2 EE or Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity. How does this stack up to those? Knowing that, what are the chances of enjoying Endless Space?

Hard to say.  I'm not a big fan of ES myself -- I just can't get past the combat system, and I've always found the maps to be disappointingly small -- but quite a few folks here seem to enjoy it, and it's a polished game with solid support. 

On the other hand, my feelings about the above games (mentioned in your post) match yours almost exactly.  So given that I don't care much for Endless Space, you might not either.  :P

Thanks for the various replies. I decided to pass.  Distant Worlds is still my go to game in this genre.

[Gusington]

23 hours left...giggity. Thanks guys. Of course if I do get AoWIII I then have an age old conundrum: what to break open first - Fallen Enchantress, Endless Legend or AoWIII??

[bbmike]

Looks like I'm in the minority but $7.49 is a good price for Endless Space Emperor Edition. Sure the combat is odd but I enjoy the overall game. That said, I agree it's no Distant Worlds or even Armada.

[Toonces]

If you already have Fallen Enchantress and Endless Legend sitting there unplayed, maybe you should just wait dude.  Xmas sale is only 6 short months away.

[RooksBailey]

I've been having a blast with my purchase of Shadow Run + Dragonfall.  This game alone has made the Steam summer sale a success for me.   :)  It really is a fantastic setting - up there with 40K as far as I am concerned (and I know that is saying a lot!) - and the writing for the campaign is very good (I am talking about the first campaign - I haven't tried Dragonfall yet).  The only complaint I have is that the game is too easy on the default difficulty setting.  My runner has been chewing up the AI, even when outmatched 4:1.  I really hope that the "hard" difficulty setting is more challenging without being too frustrating.   :-\

Anyhoo, as I worked my way through Shadowrun, my mind kept drifting back to another cyberpunk-themed game that was truly excellent: Frozen Synapse.  Like Shadowrun, it has an excellent (51 mission!) SP campaign that features some great writing (it's also not too derivative, which is a rarity for video games these days).  But unlike Shadowrun's campaign, it actually has a lot more replayability because the SP missions are partially randomized (the core terrain remains unchanged for objective reasons, but the surrounding terrain varies each time).  What is more, once you finish the campaign, you have an infinite number of random skirmish missions you can play against the AI, or even other players via a WEGO-based MP system (the game even notifies you when your partner has submitted the next turn).  The game is two years old at this point (not including the more recent "Red" DLC - another 15 campaign missions, plus 10 SP challenge missions), but the community is still active based on all the challenges I receive when I log onto the MP system (FS has recently been ported over to the tablets, so that added a nice influx of new players).   Lastly, Frozen Synapse has THE BEST game soundtrack I have ever heard.  Example:

In some ways, I wish Shadowfall had the tactical combat heart of Frozen Synapse....

So why do I bring this up?  Because Frozen Synapse is 60% at $9.99!  Mind you, that gets you TWO copies of the game (one for you and a friend).  I urge anybody who likes WEGO games of tactics, or cyberpunk games, to pick up this title that would place in my Top 10 PC Games of All Time list.  It really is a fantastic game with a lifetime of randomly generated content for very little money. 

Just FYI  ;)

BTW: Here is an example of a recent campaign mission I just ran (I guess there are "runners" in the world of FS, too).  My job: eliminate the red soldiers who are attacking a Panache Collective (long story).  I get off to a good start, but wind up losing almost my entire team.  Fortunately, my RPG guy manages to nail the last two red soldiers with a solid rocket shot:

The AI is very good, largely because the player has to play by the same Chess-like rules as the AI.  Outcomes are not random but determined by a number of "rock, paper, scissor" comparisons done behind the scenes (such factors as who is moving, who has cover, who has the range advantage, etc). Also, there are no health packs or special abilities that the human player always works to his advantage. 

[Grim.Reaper]

Still simply stunned with myself....not a single purchases yet....the last days of the sale better produce some good games or I am not sure how I can live with myself by not purchasing a single game during a sale:(

[Barthheart]

No purchases here yet either.... But I've been in Vegas for the last 5 days so there's still time.... 

[Shelldrake]

If you already have Fallen Enchantress and Endless Legend sitting there unplayed, maybe you should just wait dude.  Xmas sale is only 6 short months away.

Good advice Toonces. I was debating on whether or not to pull the trigger on AOW3 this morning but will wait for the next big sale since I also have too many unplayed games. Waiting a few more months will also allow another patch or two to be released.

[bbmike]

↑ That's true. Also, Christmas is only 6 months away!?  :o