distant worlds
Moderator: MOD_Armada2526
RE: distant worlds
Little off topic, but whenever I read this thread I think about a game that was supposed to be the greatest 4X ever... Stars! Supernova. Alas, it ran out of money, and is probably sitting on some developer's hard drive to this day, never to see the light of day... unless... Matrix? [;)]
Lifetime "You Magnificent Bastard!" callouts: 5
Lifetime slaps across the face by a female: 2
Lifetime games that hold my attention longer than a month: 3
Lifetime slaps across the face by a female: 2
Lifetime games that hold my attention longer than a month: 3
RE: distant worlds
Ah yes, Stars! Supernova Genesis.
Gods, I was so looking forward to that game! I was a very sad panda when Mare Crisium couldn't find a new publisher and it became vaporware. I would still get it even now if it were ever released.
Gods, I was so looking forward to that game! I was a very sad panda when Mare Crisium couldn't find a new publisher and it became vaporware. I would still get it even now if it were ever released.
"Evil is easy, and has infinite forms." -- Pascal
RE: distant worlds
ORIGINAL: martok
Ah yes, Stars! Supernova Genesis.
Gods, I was so looking forward to that game! I was a very sad panda when Mare Crisium couldn't find a new publisher and it became vaporware. I would still get it even now if it were ever released.
Same here! [&o]
RE: distant worlds
Me too re Stars! Supernova Genesis. Man I loved the original game. 
RE: distant worlds
One of the best space 4X ever made!
RE: distant worlds
this looked like a good comparision / opinion thread for space sims so ...
A comment from a complete newb to space games. I've been playing Homeworld and HW2 the past couple of weeks. I just bought FreeLancer and Independence Wars 2 and await their arrival. I wanted to start playing some of the classic old space games, both RTS and Sim. I really wanted to get FreeSpace but its hard to find the stock game in a box for a reasonable price (I may download the open code version one day soon for <$10 ... .sounds like a good deal).
I like HW/HW2 (HW2 is better obviously due to its upgraded graphics - both are quite outdated by today's standards but awesome when you think of how old they are).
Are the games mentioned here similar to HW2?
I like HW2 but I wish the space models were much larger. Each battle is confined to a small piece of space real estate. Does DW or Armada allow further exploration?
I've found a whole world ... or universe of fun. These games are a blast.
regards to all
A comment from a complete newb to space games. I've been playing Homeworld and HW2 the past couple of weeks. I just bought FreeLancer and Independence Wars 2 and await their arrival. I wanted to start playing some of the classic old space games, both RTS and Sim. I really wanted to get FreeSpace but its hard to find the stock game in a box for a reasonable price (I may download the open code version one day soon for <$10 ... .sounds like a good deal).
I like HW/HW2 (HW2 is better obviously due to its upgraded graphics - both are quite outdated by today's standards but awesome when you think of how old they are).
Are the games mentioned here similar to HW2?
I like HW2 but I wish the space models were much larger. Each battle is confined to a small piece of space real estate. Does DW or Armada allow further exploration?
I've found a whole world ... or universe of fun. These games are a blast.
regards to all
RE: distant worlds
Difficult to compare either Armada or DW to HW/HW2 or any of the others you mention as other than being space games they are very different.
Armada/DW are a lot less about space battles, though they do naturally occur they are just one part of the empire building focus of the games. The actual space battles therefore are not really the focus of either game and to be honest if space battles are what you are after you are going to be a bit disappointed in what you get with these games, I almost always auto resolve combat in Armada and just watch it happen with little input from me in DW.
Better to think of Armada and DW as a very good take on a Civilisation type game in space. If this is what you are after then Armada might be the easier one to start with then maybe have a go at DW (the comparrison of the two is an ongoing debate and you can find a number of discussions in both the Armada and DW sections of the Matrix forum).
If space battles are more what you are looking for then either Sins of a Solar Empire (for a more RTSish type game) or Sword of the Stars (sort of Total War in Space as a very loose analogy) might be better starting points. Also as I'm posting on the Matrix forum I should point out Starships Unlimited v3 though I have no idea what it is like it might fit the bill for you.
Armada/DW are a lot less about space battles, though they do naturally occur they are just one part of the empire building focus of the games. The actual space battles therefore are not really the focus of either game and to be honest if space battles are what you are after you are going to be a bit disappointed in what you get with these games, I almost always auto resolve combat in Armada and just watch it happen with little input from me in DW.
Better to think of Armada and DW as a very good take on a Civilisation type game in space. If this is what you are after then Armada might be the easier one to start with then maybe have a go at DW (the comparrison of the two is an ongoing debate and you can find a number of discussions in both the Armada and DW sections of the Matrix forum).
If space battles are more what you are looking for then either Sins of a Solar Empire (for a more RTSish type game) or Sword of the Stars (sort of Total War in Space as a very loose analogy) might be better starting points. Also as I'm posting on the Matrix forum I should point out Starships Unlimited v3 though I have no idea what it is like it might fit the bill for you.
"In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Goodwill." - Winston Churchill
RE: distant worlds
Thanks Wolfe for the reply.
I'm not focused on anything in particular at this point; I'm just learning. I don't like micromanaging combat which I tend to do with HW(2). After the first few complete games it was fun but it does get old. I do like watching the fights which an autoresolve would let me do without a click fest.
I've been doing my research and of the older games Gal Civ II and Sins of ... seem to have good reviews. I'm getting more interested in the two big games here, Armada and DW. You're right, there are lots of debates which one is considered better than the other which I must say after playing oodles of wargames ... each game has its pro's and con's. I'll also look into Starships U...
What I want is to build ships (being in engineering its a natural attraction for me) ... explore beautiful planets and planetary systems across an endless (or seemingly endless universe) ... interact with other races ... and build an empire. HW is more of a survival / combat game. I don't know yet what the sims I have ordered will give me but I'm still anxiously awaiting.
I'm going to pull the trigger soon on one of the four I mentioned so thanks again for the help.
I'm not focused on anything in particular at this point; I'm just learning. I don't like micromanaging combat which I tend to do with HW(2). After the first few complete games it was fun but it does get old. I do like watching the fights which an autoresolve would let me do without a click fest.
I've been doing my research and of the older games Gal Civ II and Sins of ... seem to have good reviews. I'm getting more interested in the two big games here, Armada and DW. You're right, there are lots of debates which one is considered better than the other which I must say after playing oodles of wargames ... each game has its pro's and con's. I'll also look into Starships U...
What I want is to build ships (being in engineering its a natural attraction for me) ... explore beautiful planets and planetary systems across an endless (or seemingly endless universe) ... interact with other races ... and build an empire. HW is more of a survival / combat game. I don't know yet what the sims I have ordered will give me but I'm still anxiously awaiting.
I'm going to pull the trigger soon on one of the four I mentioned so thanks again for the help.
RE: distant worlds
ORIGINAL: hank
What I want is to build ships (being in engineering its a natural attraction for me)
In this case, assuming you mean design and build Distant Worlds is the one to go for as it has pretty comprehensive ship building, almost a game in itself, whereas Armada has no player controlled ship design with stock ship types become available through research.
"In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Goodwill." - Winston Churchill
RE: distant worlds
ORIGINAL: hank
What I want is to build ships (being in engineering its a natural attraction for me) ... explore beautiful planets and planetary systems across an endless (or seemingly endless universe) ... interact with other races ... and build an empire.
In that case, you should definitely go with Distant Worlds (plus the Return of the Shakturi expansion). Of the 4x titles you've mentioned, it easily comes the closest to fitting what you're looking for. [:)]
"Evil is easy, and has infinite forms." -- Pascal
RE: distant worlds
Thank you gentlemen. That helps immensely.
RE: distant worlds
Starships Unlimited v3.5 (RTS game like Distant Worlds)
http://www.matrixgames.com/products/316/details/Starships.Unlimited.v3
Starting with one starship, explore the galaxy, uncover ancient alien artifacts and fight pirates as you expand your empire. In this game, starships are the heroes! Watch detailed space combat take place before your eyes. Research over 200 technologies from 4 ages. Keep your worlds and starships up-to-date with your latest technologies. Encounter alien races. Build up a spy network. Use it to keep track of others or to steal some of their technology. Only one civilization can rule the galaxy.
let's play starships unlimited part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2y68rz2AM
let's play starships unlimited part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwbcy2BDSj8
let's play starships unlimited part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY75zBUbNKs&feature=related
http://www.matrixgames.com/products/316/details/Starships.Unlimited.v3
Starting with one starship, explore the galaxy, uncover ancient alien artifacts and fight pirates as you expand your empire. In this game, starships are the heroes! Watch detailed space combat take place before your eyes. Research over 200 technologies from 4 ages. Keep your worlds and starships up-to-date with your latest technologies. Encounter alien races. Build up a spy network. Use it to keep track of others or to steal some of their technology. Only one civilization can rule the galaxy.
let's play starships unlimited part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2y68rz2AM
let's play starships unlimited part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwbcy2BDSj8
let's play starships unlimited part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY75zBUbNKs&feature=related
RE: distant worlds
ORIGINAL: MilanGru
Starships Unlimited v3.5 (RTS game like Distant Worlds)
http://www.matrixgames.com/products/316/details/Starships.Unlimited.v3
Starting with one starship, explore the galaxy, uncover ancient alien artifacts and fight pirates as you expand your empire. In this game, starships are the heroes! Watch detailed space combat take place before your eyes. Research over 200 technologies from 4 ages. Keep your worlds and starships up-to-date with your latest technologies. Encounter alien races. Build up a spy network. Use it to keep track of others or to steal some of their technology. Only one civilization can rule the galaxy.
let's play starships unlimited part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2y68rz2AM
let's play starships unlimited part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwbcy2BDSj8
let's play starships unlimited part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY75zBUbNKs&feature=related
Did you make these videos?
RE: distant worlds
ORIGINAL: noname
Yeah, Gal Civ2 bored the hell out of me too which is why I have never tried Distant Worlds.
I think the problem I have with Gal Civ2 is it takes so long for anything to happen. Research is painfully slow.
RE: distant worlds
mbar - I think depends on research speed set for your game, and choosen race (some have nice technology trees others not) - and some in gameclues:
- try starting your new game till your homeworld will have at least 300% research tile (additionally 100% manufacturing at least)
- find ASAP some purple (pink) crystals and pump your research
- set your slider in your empire management 50/50/0 (e.g. 50 research / 50 civil buildings)
- find ASAP other civs and exchange (buy) research
me: diff. suicidial, huge space, turn 120, 2000 res. points
- try starting your new game till your homeworld will have at least 300% research tile (additionally 100% manufacturing at least)
- find ASAP some purple (pink) crystals and pump your research
- set your slider in your empire management 50/50/0 (e.g. 50 research / 50 civil buildings)
- find ASAP other civs and exchange (buy) research
me: diff. suicidial, huge space, turn 120, 2000 res. points