[DeedPatmeda]

Remove "4x space strategy" and "decent" and it's still a good question

[medifastwoman]

Emperor of the fading Suns?



It runs on XP, it runs on 2k, maybe it even runs on Vista

[sportbos]

spaceward ho! ?

[brorwargy]

I wish Firaxis would become interested in making a 4x space game. Alpha Centauri as nice as it is, is still bound to the one planet.

I really had harbored hopes that Big Huge Games might fill the vacuum that MoO3 had left, but that wasn't to be.

I loved MoO2, but it is just too stale for me now. I liked Imperium Galactica, but I can't get it to run on XP. I haven't even tried MoO3. I don't like Galactic Civilizations - feels like more of a board game than an empire building game.

[ELURNSERB]

I've heard people say Space Empires V isn't as good as III or IV.

[alenbarbaf]

Originally posted by Sn00py
See what happens when you buy a Mac? What? I get to play PC games and use an non-Windows operating system I enjoy.



Anyways, I didn't even get the Space Empires V demo to work. After looking at reviews, the consensus seems to agree with Straybow, that V isn't as good as IV or III. A lot of reviews complain about numerous bugs and lack of balance.

So I turned to Space Empires IV demo and after playing a few turns, I'm pleased with what I see. I don't mind not actually controlling combat, although it would be a nice feature, but what really catches my attention are the shear possibilities for everything ranging from ship building to research to solar system variability. There are just so many options and gameplay features that I need to find a guide to help me understand everything.

I may try Galactic Civilizations I and II demos next. How similar is the GalCiv franchise to Star Empires? I had one friend describe it as civilization 2 in space.

[epPtsDno]

Originally posted by Riesstiu IV
...

I may try Galactic Civilizations I and II demos next. How similar is the GalCiv franchise to Star Empires? I had one friend describe it as civilization 2 in space. I don´t know about Space Epires,
but GalCiv (you should best skip part 1 and start with part 2 from the beginning on)
IMHO could be described as a mix between master of Orion and Civiilization.

Like in MOO you have planets that yu ca cevelope by building buldings into a limited numbr of sectors. And just like in MOO you can develope your own ships according to the technologis you research.

Like Civ (and unlike MOO) it plays on a 2D-Map and you have strategixc resources (that aren´t as vital as those in Civ 3 however, thy just enhance crtain things like the atack values of your ships, your galactic influence and so on)

And you also have minor tribes, i.e. minor civs that normally only posess a single planet but can be good trading partners, trusty alies or just prey for your mighty armadas :d

A very big plus IMHO is the diplomacy (well done IMHO) as well as the implementation of many galactic wonders that can (similar to Rock´n Roll, Movies and Musicals in Civ 4) be franchised to other empires so that they can use it as long as the treaty runs.

[Grewlybreekly]

I definitely disagree about MOO3 not being worth playing.

MOO3 has something that isn´t a learning curve but a learning cliff, but if one has mastered it MOO3 can be quite enjoyable. Especially as the last patches have fixed all of the serious that had till then haunted MOO3.

It´s also not everything bureaucracy.
Of coruse you can let the planet governors run most things in the game, you can however, instead of using te buraeucracy that Riesstiu IV still micromanage your planets (or use a mixed approach, i.e. micromanagoing some planets and use the planet govrnor for others.


But I agree that MOO3 isn´t a game for everyone as it is definitely very complex.


Originally posted by Riesstiu IV

Thanks for the description, Proteus_MST. One question about the Galactic Civilizations series, are you allowed to customize ships? Well, if I remember correctly ships in GC2 are very very very customizable (in contrast to the ships in GC1).
Aside from equipping them with weapons, engines and all the other equipment you have a lot of non functional additions that you can put onto your ships, for one to increase the number of hardpoints (every pieceof equipment is attachedd to a hardpoint on your ship) for the other to make your ship more individual in his apearance

[en-druzhba]

So not a 4x space strategy game then.

[SashaLionx]

Pychic weapons

Some hints for you...

Reaserch Point Defence Weapons to get PDC level III or higher and you will rule the early game, missile weapons are favored by the AIs until they develope more effective energy weapons, at which time they will switch to ploaron beams, but since you know this you will have already reserched phased shields and will rule the middle game to

And watch out for sun crushers. Drop a few satillites over the stars in you systems to keep enemies from sneaking a cloaked sun crusher in there. You can also mine your stars for the same effect. Minefields are pretty devestating early game because designing specialized mine sweeping ships is a stretch on the tech/shipbuilding capacities of most early empires. Mines on the other had are cheap (and don't require maintenance!).

Fighters are a good early system defense if you find yourself being overrun in the early game (along with planetary weapons platforms and mines), but not so good a power projection until you have the ability to build carriers. Fighters will go out of style in the mid game due to PDC improvments, but they come back with a vengence in the late game.

[nasdfrdg]

Wow,
the space empires series sounds great for anyone who loves complex 4X games.
Too bad the previous 4 parts of the series never got published in germany, so I never got to know it. At least SE 5 is available here, so I will very probably buy it

[Suentiend]

Originally posted by Proteus_MST
Wow,
the space empires series sounds great for anyone who loves complex 4X games.
Too bad the previous 4 parts of the series never got published in germany, so I never got to know it. At least SE 5 is available here, so I will very probably buy it Well you could always try digital download. I got the game as a direct download from the publisher.

It certainly is a complex game with a lot of possibilities and the interface design is well organized and easily understandable. One aspect I like is races who are adapted to certain atmospheres such as methane, hydrogen, oxygen, etc and certain types of planets such as rocky, icy, and gas giants. It makes terraforming more abstract unlike the MoO2 where the goal was to make everything into earth like planets.

After looking at the tech tree, I'm rather amazed. Apparently with enough research you can create and destroy stars and planets as well as build ring worlds and dyson spheres around stars.

Another well developed feature of the game is intelligence services and diplomacy. With intelligence services, you can do things ranging from create false messages to try and get to empires to fight one another to conducting mission of sabotage to counterintelligence. Diplomacy has a lot to offer too with a lot of treaty variations.

MoO2 used to be my favorite 4x space empire game but I've got to say Space Empires IV is incredibly well developed and the added complexity makes the game re-playable.

My only complaint so far is that colonists have to be loaded on colony ships. In my first game I sent several colony ships to settle planets without a population.

[GoblinGaga]

There's so much research I'm not sure what area to focus on. Early on, should I focus more on satellite and mining defense or try to go for bigger ships? You want to get the masic techs for mines and fighters right away so you can put up some static defenses (mine the warp points). I usually research to destroy level right off the bat because that hull is large enough for you to fit all your basic componets. After that I focus on upgraded the component techs rather than hull sizes, a very advanced destroyer will beat a low tech cruiser anyday.

After you get some initial security I normally focus on getting better mineral miners and research complexes. Next on my list is atmphere convertors. Both those things will let you maximize the value of your systems, it is better to have a few really developed systems than alot of colonies flung around everywhere. Then I break out an conquer the galaxy

[Gymngatagaica]

For this Reason I moved the 3D Cam in a 2D Position (In SEV)

Unfortunatly I started a game while Diplomacy wasnt working too well (alas not working at all) and did not want to start a new Game before finishing it first.

The AI doesnt realize their Number Superiority in Battles though.
Instead of cutting of my Missile ships it follows them leaving a Trail of Deactivated AI Ships.