Galactic Civilizations III trailer!!

[FlickJax]

i still might have to go for it; I have bought a few early access games now but i tend to take a peak and then wait for full release before playing though.

[tgb]

Yeah. Last few years it seems like the definition of "Beta" had changed. Didn't it used to mean a game that was featured complete but needed to be bug and play tested?  Now games are marketed as beta versions that have l half the planned content

According to the developer's playthrough I just watched, the next build is supposed to have everything but the campaign (which I never play anyway) and new combat animation.  They are shooting for October.  I think I'll wait for that one.

[Shelldrake]

Yeah. Last few years it seems like the definition of "Beta" had changed. Didn't it used to mean a game that was featured complete but needed to be bug and play tested?  Now games are marketed as beta versions that have l half the planned content

According to the developer's playthrough I just watched, the next build is supposed to have everything but the campaign (which I never play anyway) and new combat animation.  They are shooting for October.  I think I'll wait for that one.

Me too!

[Jarhead0331]

Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

http://steamcommunity.com/app/226860/discussions/1/35221031522303124/

In my opinion, with two major content updates incoming through December 2014, GCIII is not in beta state presently. I think its bad form for the devs to claim this is in beta state.

[sandman2575]

I'm also surprised at just how much this still looks like its predecessor, Gal Civ II.  Honestly, if I had just seen those screenshots on Steam without any label, I would absolutely have assumed it was Gal Civ II.  The Gal Civ III trailer seems to promise much bigger, much more impressive changes from the former game, but even if this is still in (pre)Beta, I just don't see how III is going to be much of an advance/improvement over II... -- ?

[sandman2575]

Yeah. Last few years it seems like the definition of "Beta" had changed. Didn't it used to mean a game that was featured complete but needed to be bug and play tested?  Now games are marketed as beta versions that have l half the planned content

Agree.  I don't think Jarhead is barking up the wrong tree in his Steam thread.  The criteria of "Beta" used to be pretty standardized.  But it seems the rise of "Early Access" is blurring these distinctions.  Who knows, maybe in a few years devs won't even speak of "alpha" or "beta" stage anymore. They are clearly making their own decisions about what constitutes 'sufficient content' for "Early Access" these days, and those decisions vary pretty widely --

[Huw the Poo]

I'm also surprised at just how much this still looks like its predecessor, Gal Civ II.  Honestly, if I had just seen those screenshots on Steam without any label, I would absolutely have assumed it was Gal Civ II.  The Gal Civ III trailer seems to promise much bigger, much more impressive changes from the former game, but even if this is still in (pre)Beta, I just don't see how III is going to be much of an advance/improvement over II... -- ?

Christ, you're not wrong!  I just had a quick look and it does look like GalCiv 2 doesn't it?

Along with the fact that this will almost certainly not be available on Linux, I'm probably not going to buy it after all now.

[Anguille]

At this point, i am still very underwehlmed by what i see... :(

[Jarhead0331]

At this point, i am still very underwehlmed by what i see... :(

That says a lot coming from you.

[BanzaiCat]

I have GCII: Ultimate Edition and it's a pretty decent game, but no way in hell I'm buying GCIII if it looks and plays just like II. Hopefully those features/updated they intend to implement later this year come to fruition and change that perspective.

I'm not usually one to buy 'early access' games, though I do on very rare occasion. This won't be one of them. As was mentioned, the trailer sure promises a lot, but so far, the game itself doesn't seem to be living up to those expectations. The input in this thread seems to be corroborating that.

If that trailer is the end-all goal, then pffft, hell yes I'll buy it. But only when it is at that level. I'd rather play it complete than something that has missing parts, like getting an Aston Martin without an engine, or wheels, or seats, or windows. Fie and pox on that.

Perceptions out there do seem to vary widely on what a beta is, exactly, despite the actual definition of it. I'm grammar geek enough to get uncomfortable when people use words the way they aren't defined, or intended.

[Martok]

At this point, i am still very underwehlmed by what i see... :(

I have to admit that I too have been singularly unimpressed with what I've seen of GalCiv3 so far. 

With the exception of switching from tiles to hexes, the game looks identical to its predecessor.  Nor do any of the new features or gameplay changes/additions appear to significantly alter and/or improve upon the previous iteration in any meaningful way. 



I think I'm just gonna stop announcing new 4x titles.  Almost every time I do, I end up jinxing them...  :-[ 

Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

http://steamcommunity.com/app/226860/discussions/1/35221031522303124/

In my opinion, with two major content updates incoming through December 2014, GCIII is not in beta state presently. I think its bad form for the devs to claim this is in beta state.

No, I'm right with you on that, Jarhead.  GC3 is still in an alpha state, not a beta.  A very playable alpha, perhaps (although I can't vouch for that), but an alpha nonetheless. 

[Bison]

Brave man Jarhead.  I find the community interaction on Steam game forums to generally falls into two types of posters: the perpetual hate everything crowd or the unswayable "there's nothing to see here" fanboys.

If I'm not mistaken this early release follows the same type of schedule as Fallen Enchantress where there was an extended pay to participate "Beta" that really should be called an "Alpha" phase.

As far as the game is concerned, I'll buy it eventually.  Turn based, 4X game; it's one of my favorite genres.

[RooksBailey]

Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

http://steamcommunity.com/app/226860/discussions/1/35221031522303124/

In my opinion, with two major content updates incoming through December 2014, GCIII is not in beta state presently. I think its bad form for the devs to claim this is in beta state.

I read your posts and you deserve a pat on the back for making a stand on the isssue.  You are exactly right.  I even recall Mr. Wardell himself explaining that alpha was feature uncomplete, while beta is feature complete.  So it is a bit disappointing to see even Stardock jumping on the "hype beta" bandwagon.   

Eh, as I've said elsewhere, gaming just seems to becoming increasingly disreputable.  Nothing is what it seems anymore, and even the industry professionals are throwing all standards out the window as fast as possible.  This isn't going to end well, of course.  I have cut back on purchases quite a bit, and of those I do buy, I usually wait more than a few months for some worthwhile sale before grabbing it.  I know others are doing the same.  I just have very little trust in the industry anymore.  Hence, I am not willing to risk my money by taking that blind leap into the unknown with a Day 1 purchase (or an "early access" title, for that matter).  And even if the game is tolerably good,  I am now so down on the industry that I can't bring myself to reward a dev with a 100% price point (in general - there are some exceptions, of course).  :(  I guess I am voting with my wallet these days.

As for GalCiv III:  I loved II of course, so I will definitely be getting III sooner or later (probably during the last minute beta as you do save a few bucks, assuming the beta buzz in universally positive).  Haven't really been paying attention to the dev cycle for this one though because, again, "early access" has never been my thing.   But I agree: so far I haven't really seen anything that makes me jump out of my seat.  It just looks like a refined II.  However, knowing Stardock, the real magic will happen with the expansions. 

[Nefaro]

Don't have the time to to beta-testing...

No time for love, Doctor Jones!

[Nefaro]

Brave man Jarhead.  I find the community interaction on Steam game forums to generally falls into two types of posters: the perpetual hate everything crowd or the unswayable "there's nothing to see here" fanboys.

I dunno.  It used to be that way but I've been seeing an upswing in stable, reasoned posts for some of Steam game forums I've visited recently.

Sure, there is still some choad dropping a turd in many of the larger threads but the ratio is smaller than I recall from even six months ago.  Perhaps I'm just visiting the right ones for that.  Since I generally don't play shooters, platformers and 'twitch' stuff much, that could well be the case.