anyone played it yet?

[spidergod]

Hello

Just wondering if anyone has played the game yet?

How is it?

does it rock?

I think I will start playing after tea

cheers

[ASHBERY76]

A game like this needs a long playtime before those thoughts.

[theonlystd]

*kicks the download*

[Darthcaboose]

ORIGINAL: theonlystd

*kicks the download*

64% and counting...

*can't wait*

[xepooqu80]

started the game now
btw there is a 1.01 patch out already

[Citriz]

yeah make sure you update first

[Coupon]

As usual I can't get Digital River to accept my Visa card. It works with everything else (Steam etc.). Fuk I hate that company!

[Erik Rutins]

Coupon,

E-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com and I can try to get them to manually clear your card, or you can probably do the same if you call them on the store phone number. This usually only happens if the credit card company is reporting something different (even if only by one letter) from the info you put in.

Regards,

- Erik

[rich12545]

What I don't like is I have to pay sales tax, living in WA.  And every time I have to phone.  Something about the visa additional check and I never remember that password on the dumb thing because nobody else uses it.

[Erik Rutins]

Unfortunately, DR recently had to expand the number of states where it charges Sales Tax due to the new "Amazon Tax" being passed by various state legislatures. Basically the states are trying to tax these online stores if they have local "affiliates", treating them like they have a brick and mortar presence which creases a "tax nexus". The upshot is that the government wants more money, they pass a law, we have to abide by it and you pay the price.

[rich12545]

lol, Erik I was just razzing you.  It's only a couple of dollars.  I don't mind the tax really, one of the main reasons so many states have financial problems is the internet.  Governments have to get money somewhere, except the federal - they can just print more. 

[Coupon]

Ok I finally got the game (still downloading). Thanks to Erik Rutins for excellent customer service. And this is way over my bedtime btw...

[Webbco]

I haven't heard anything from Wade recently...

[JohnM_slith]

Bought it today and played for an hour or so. Runs smooth on my two year old Toshiba laptop (WinXP, Centrino Duo @1.8 GHz, 2 gigs of RAM, 128 megs of shared video RAM). There's an incredible amount of detail here. For now, it's fun to just poke around, create colonies, watch the space monsters kill my escorts then send a fleet to deal with it, etc.

Well, that's enough air; time to dive back in!

[Vlad77]

Set aside a lot of time! You're going to LOVE this game!!

[Wade1000]

ORIGINAL: Webbco

I haven't heard anything from Wade recently...

Heh. I haven't purchased it yet. I'm just lurking to see opinions and any AI issues that arise. I'm seeing alot of good comments but a few uncertainties regarding the automation AI not using large ships and fleets to respond to nearby attacks by pirates and space monsters. The automation AI will use Escorts and Frigates well to respond apparently.

So basically I'm waiting and watching about the AI. I do not wish to buy another space 4X game packed with seemingly great features that the AI does not use or with an AI that does not play well.

So far the posts about the fun and great aspects of Distant Worlds are alot more then the few posts about issues regarding automation AI in certain situations. Also, these issues will likely be resolved as soon as pssible in an update.

If I get bored I can play some other games that are still fresh to me. I will likely purchase Distant Worlds soon.

[wodin]

Wade....an AI will never be as good as an actual person...AI's on the whole arent that good in all games Ive played. Some are better than others I find it depends on the type of game....operational level wargames have poor AI...tactical are better. So if it goes by the size and depth of the game I imagine a 4x game wouldn't have a superb AI.

I think if you want the game to have a fantastic AI in all areas without someone complaining about one issue or other I imagine you wont be buying.

You may have to be abit more realisitic in how an AI can perform. Though I'm not sure how good you want it to be.

[Vlad77]

I do think that the Fleet AI problem regarding smaller threats like pirates and monsters could be easily addressed. But, I like the fact that the fleets are already to rock when an empire comes calling.

And I love the SCOPE of this game. The sense of exploration is unparalleled. Other 4X games focus a bit too much on the extermination. I have always loved the exploration part - I guess being a Trekker does that - and this is the first 4X game that really allows me to get immersed in the "what's out there" factor.

The big point for me is the insane customization abilities! The universe can be configured in virtually limitless ways, and that speak volumes to me that the devs are serious gamers themselves.

People have complained that PC gaming is dying. I STRONGLY disagree. I think that in fact we are entering an amazing time! Even console ports to PC are much better. We have the freedom to make these games into something console players cannot. Oblivion did very well on the consoles, but, on the PC, we can create races, weapons, armor, homes, landmasses, etc.

And look at some of the releases from the big companies, the smaller ones and the indies! Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age, Torchlight, Distant Worlds, Sol Survivor, Gratuitous Space Battles, Trine, etc. etc.

I see people talking on other forums about going through Knights of the Old Republic for a fourth time. Others are still playing Age of empires! Very few console games have that kind of staying power. NWN and NWN2 have strong communities with continued development. People are still creating for Morrowind. Distant Worlds will join these ranks as well. Armada 2526 ALMOST had it right, but, it is too restrictive to me in a sense. I still play it, but, I sense my time with it will diminish as the paradigm shift to DW happens.

One final observation: many of us loved Star Trek: Birth of the Federation. In fact, their is a group of people doing a fan made version of it called Supremacy. But, we have the tools in DW to make BOTF the game it should have been. And how cool to sneak a Babylon station or a Death Star in too

Vlad

[Deto]

ORIGINAL: Vlad77
Trine

I have to comment here that Trine is console title, I hear it was mainly released on PC to cater larger player base and that PC release really was just 'alternative' as they were forced to wait extra months for the PS3 release

But yeah, PC gaming isn't dead, but piracy sure is hurting it, especially the indie size firms where even one 'lost sale' is big loss.. Tons of firms move to consoles cause its harder to do piracy on them :>

[Erik Rutins]

Thanks guys, we are very glad that you are enjoying DW.

Regarding the fleet response, I think it's important to realize that's not an AI flaw, but a design choice. We looked at it in terms of whether the US would sortie the entire Pacific Fleet to deal with a piracy issue. The fleets are generally reserved more for full warfare, whereas the individual ships are meant for escort/pirate/minor threat duty. The fleet is intended to remain fueled up and ready in a strategic location in case of a more serious threat so that it's not out of fuel and out of position if war is declared. Based on feedback we will likely tweak that to make fleets more flexible, but that is the original design intention.