Why? A few questions so I can understand.

[HsojVvad]

I almost finished reading the manual. I skipped a bit at the end, I will get back to it later. Got tired of reading 50 pages, didn't wnat to read anymore.

So I have a few questions, I don't understand.

First of, why can't we pick our tech? Why can't distribute how much light bulbs or what ever its called in DW, why can't we allocate it to where we want, like polprulsion, or computers or weapons or what not? Say I want 50% in one section and only 10% in another. Just building more science base just seems like more Civ than a Moo. (Ah maybe I just answered my own question, to be it's own game and not a Moo clone.) If this isn't the answer why is it then?

Why RTS? I saw a few other RTS 4X Space games, and they never worked out to well. So why RTS? One of the reasons why I bought this game is because I can pause it anytime I want. If there was no pause feature, I wouldn't have gotten this game. So I applaud you guys for putting the pause in since many people leave it out wich I think is a grave mistake. But why RTS instead of turned based?

As much as I use to curse it, now I miss it in this game. Maybe because I think DW would greatly benifit from it. Why not 3D? Before I thought it was so useless in most games but found Moo3 made it ok. At first I thought it was ugly, and useless. Now I like it, just because if I get bored of the map, I can turn it and rotate it. Why no 3D galaxy in DW? It's not a big deal, but I get a bit tired from looking straight top down, would like more of an angular view. I don't know why, it never bothered me until doing the tuturial of DW.

Why no Wonders of the world or wonders of the universe? I know it's releated to Civ games, but I havn't really seen a 4X Space game do it, so it would be something different into the genre.

So these are my questions from reading the manual and doing the 2 tuturials. Now to play a real game, and will be back to ask more questions and give praise. But for now these are the first things I have thought of.

Davor

[ASHBERY76]

What is the point here?

[tgb]

1) Because that's the way the game was designed.

2) Ditto

3) Again, Ditto

4) Mega Dittos

There was more than enough information posted here prior to release as to what the game is and what it is not. If those are all issues for you, why did you buy it?

[HsojVvad]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

What is the point here?

So I can understand what the designer ment when I am playing the game perhaps? Maybe I can see what their understanding is of doing it a certian way instead of another way.

[Erik Rutins]

Hi Davor,

ORIGINAL: Davor
First of, why can't we pick our tech? Why can't distribute how much light bulbs or what ever its called in DW, why can't we allocate it to where we want, like polprulsion, or computers or weapons or what not? Say I want 50% in one section and only 10% in another. Just building more science base just seems like more Civ than a Moo. (Ah maybe I just answered my own question, to be it's own game and not a Moo clone.) If this isn't the answer why is it then?

I guess to me the ability to both design research stations to focus on the areas you want and have control over building how many of them you want is a good equivalent for a less abstracted "simulation" game like this of moving light bulbs around on a screen. Note that you also have the option to pursue a "crash program" of researching a single tech if you want to focus in. For 50% in one are and 10% in another, just make sure your research stations are built to reflect that.

Why RTS? I saw a few other RTS 4X Space games, and they never worked out to well. So why RTS? One of the reasons why I bought this game is because I can pause it anytime I want. If there was no pause feature, I wouldn't have gotten this game. So I applaud you guys for putting the pause in since many people leave it out wich I think is a grave mistake. But why RTS instead of turned based?

To build a true "living galaxy" where you can watch things unfold it pretty much needs to be in real time. Don't get me wrong, I love turn-based games and turn-based 4x games but for what DW was going for I think the design needed to allow the galaxy to "happen". Now we didn't do real time like a typical "RTS", so it really does adjust to the pace you want it to go and it can feel more turn-based as a result than just about any other real time game I've played, but the fundamental structure is real time because it's simulating a living galaxy.

As much as I use to curse it, now I miss it in this game. Maybe because I think DW would greatly benifit from it. Why not 3D? Before I thought it was so useless in most games but found Moo3 made it ok. At first I thought it was ugly, and useless. Now I like it, just because if I get bored of the map, I can turn it and rotate it. Why no 3D galaxy in DW? It's not a big deal, but I get a bit tired from looking straight top down, would like more of an angular view. I don't know why, it never bothered me until doing the tuturial of DW.

3D = tons of extra work and development time (for our purposes and scale) for relatively little return. Going with crisp and well-done 2D graphics does everything DW needs graphics to do. While I can see the appeal of being able to rotate and pan the galaxy around, it would also introduce a whole new set of design questions and issues in exchange for a little eye candy. I find the 2D view in DW both attractive and very playable and the ability to zoom in and out all the way from a single planet to the full galaxy without missing a step makes it feel very alive to me.

Why no Wonders of the world or wonders of the universe? I know it's releated to Civ games, but I havn't really seen a 4X Space game do it, so it would be something different into the genre.

What makes you assume there are not? [;)]

Regards,

- Erik

[HsojVvad]

Thanks Erik for the reply. I see there is more to learn in this game. I made my first mistake. I played in sandbox mode. For some reason, I didn't like it, didn't feel I was playing a game if there is no objective victory. So I have to make shure at least I click on the conquest victory this time.

I am admiring all the beautiful artwork and not learning anything on how to play the game LOL.

One request for an upcoming patch or expansion, (hopefully that is in the works) is can we have a setting when you start the game, like a Pre Warp technology. The reason I ask, is becuase like HOI series, there are units in the game that I havn't created. I guess it's because I am simple minded, that if I didn't make them, I am not shure what to do with it. I would love to start a game with basically nothing. I know it was said that these units had to be made so we had some economy of infantstructure so we can start playing the game.

Once thing I am missing so far as well, is I don't feel like I am building a planet or colony at all. Either it's not in the game, Or I havn't seen where to do it yet, but we can't make buildings for our planets? I miss building factories and labs and what not. I see this is different, and it's different in a good way. I just have to open my mind to a new and different way of playing a 4X space game.

So I will be back in a few hours to give a small review on my first play through.

One thing I love, and I have to say finally someone got it RIGHT. If I don't understand anything, like for example in the creation screen, what a goverment does, I just have to click, and it brings me to the galaticpedia and the explanations are there. Only one click away. I LOVE it, and makes the game more playable without exiting and trying to read the manual again. GREAT JOB THERE. [&o]

[Webbco]

Also, do you really think 3D would be possible on this scale? 1400 stars, 50,000 planets?

[PDiFolco]

ORIGINAL: Webbco

Also, do you really think 3D would be possible on this scale? 1400 stars, 50,000 planets?

I don't think it'll be such a problem, most objects being simple spheres or such... and not many visible at the same time, as zoom-out transforms objects to icons, not many effects going around neither.
If DW looked like GC2 it'll be just grand ! But sure it's beyond Matrix/Codeforce current resources...

[Sarissofoi]

I like 2d generally. I think 3d is more hurt games than benefit them. Also 2d can be good done and be simply betafiul.
Example?
Look at Real Time Europa Universalis 3 map. It is 3d and it is frycing ugly.
Compare this ugly 3d map to map from Knights of Honors. 2d and look wonderfull.

I dont imagine this game as TBS. I think that this will be horror . I have tendecies for micro and yeah I can see me checking 200 colony to adjust some things. Brrr horror.

[Webbco]

I'm going to be careful here because I know we aren't supposed to compare games in this thread, but just a quick note...

Sins of a solar empire was 3D but only had up to about 100 planets to colonise and at that level, took it's toll even on my *quite* powerful rig (Pentium core 2 duo, 4 gig RAM, Geforce 8800 GT).

Maybe it's just personal taste but I thought the graphics in GC2 were completely terrible. I'm glad DW doesn't have awful graphics like that, but does 2D quite effectively.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Webbco

Also, do you really think 3D would be possible on this scale? 1400 stars, 50,000 planets?

If it had been 3d, I kinda get the feeling we'd have another of those great looking games that few people play. You can either spend resources on eye candy or gameplay...Codeforce made the absolute right choice here.

Besides, the graphics are nice enough without being resource hogs. Sure I can spin in a 360 arc around the mothership like I could in Homeworld, but by trading that in, I get a huge map, great gameplay, and a very non-linear, completely replayable game.

[HsojVvad]

I am still amazed at the beautiful graphics in DW. While I don't care for graphics to much in a 4X game, I prefer game play over graphics any day, but the eye candy is nice. Moo3 was horrible eye candy with bad game play. At least the community members made Moo3 a playable game with bad graphics wich I don't mind at all.

I forgot that DW has so many planets and star systems. Yes 3D would be a bad idea when playing anything over a 100 stars I guess.