Why are these boards so dead?

[morelyn]

I've played Skyrim, I wasn't impressed. A drab, flavorless addition to the series, if you ask me.

And yes Minecraft was a great idea, I find it great fun. Dwarf fortress is a great game too, btw.

Not to be an "effete intellectual snob" (God, dating myself), but DW is probably too cerebral to ever have a huge audience. Not everyone finds watching hundreds of tiny geometrical shapes waltzing across their screen enthralling.

I may just start a "favorite race" thread anyway...

[Tormodino]

Well... Not to be "that guy", but I think the forums are a bit dead because of linear research, completely random level of challenge, which is totally dependent on available resources, encounters with other races and when/if "they" show up. Tactics aren't very deep, and the choices are really that many or exciting.

Once I started seeing the same stuff over and over, and doing the same thing over and over, I lost interest.
DW is an ambitious game, and a good one in many ways, but it's suprisingly easy to get bored with it.
I'm obviously not speaking for everyone, but I think the game, when played for a while, is a bit dead.

I know that comes off really negative, but the potential of DW is not near to being realised. Lack of support for mods is just the most glaring example of how to lose active community members.

A final note to new players, though: If you are interested in the genre and/or settingm do check it out. It is worth the price tag. The game definitely deserves more than a casual look. It is pretty unique with it's ai driven gameplay and epic scale.

[Sarissofoi]

Yep. What this guy wrote.
Its boring.  For me at last.
I just can feel it and I cant become interested in game.
It lacks something and not very good UI and  lack of events and large scale automatyzation make it boring.For me at last.
Meh.

[Spacecadet]

ORIGINAL: LiquidSky



It's quiet.

Too quiet.

Speaking of dead, though...I have played many campaigns now and have been consistantly winning. I like to play on a small map with scarce habitable planets since I didnt want to overwhelm myself in detail... I mastered the art of colonizing, moving my fleets around, dealing with pirates....and could usually subdue my nastier neighbours and eke out a win.

So I decided to move up to the large map. Being cocky, I picked a ring galaxy with me in the middle. Started game as the humans (as usual). Everyone starting out. 400 worlds, scarce habitable, scarce aliens. Usual max pirates.

After 3 days of playing (about 24 hours of game time) I own about 10 colonies....3 of them used to be homeworlds for races who foolishly declared war on me...

Then I ran into *THEM*. For those who know..you know..for those you don't you don't want to know. Trust me...they are not nice.
My 6 fleets with almost max fighters tech, almost maxed shields and armour....were no match....but with a gift of ships I thought all was not lost.....
Until they started blowing up planets.

GAME OVER

Let this be a warning to future generations....They came, They saw, they blew me up real good.

Anything like this (First time I've seen it, and I've played a lot)? :

[LiquidSky]

Actually, no..I had several carrier fleets, of which half of them could take out one his 15 ship fleets. It was the mobile AT&T symbols that did me in when I lost most of my worlds in 15 minutes.

[Shark7]

I've just been busy doing other things lately, playing SW:TOR, Playing WiTP:AE, Working 2 jobs...you know, the usual. [:D]

Planning on getting some quality DW time in, but things need to calm down (or the new needs to wear off my other games) first.

[adamsolo]

ORIGINAL: Shark7

I've just been busy doing other things lately, playing SW:TOR, Playing WiTP:AE, Working 2 jobs...you know, the usual. [:D]

Planning on getting some quality DW time in, but things need to calm down (or the new needs to wear off my other games) first.

Same here. The reason I don't play DW more is because I simply don't have the quality time to do so. There is no such thing as a "let's play a quick DW game". If you're in your teens or 20's you're fine but if you're the general working joe (like me) then finding 1 or 2 time-spots to play DW a week is a good week. But these games quality aren't measured by the number of hours you play but by the number of quality hours you extract from them.

[Igard]

The main reason I'm not around so much is because I've began scale model building almost a year ago now, but the hobby has escalated and taken more of my free time away.

If it weren't for that, the Picard era Star Trek mod would've been released by now.

I still check the forums every day, but only really for posts related to modding, and to see what my mates Ed, TJ, and Data are up to.

I work on the Picard mod a couple of times a week, and thankfully, it's almost there. I just haven't been able to find the time to make preview pics for it.

I play the game for *scratches head* a couple of hours a month, if that. Still love the game, just feel that time spent playing is time away from modding and modeling!

Well, I've rambled long enough. Back to work.... [:D]

[geosch]

Count me in as one of those that think DW is the best space 4X since MOO2... but I don't play it anymore. I check about weekly for an update, especially for the ship/fleet controls. The eXpore, eXpand and eXploit opportunities are very good, however the problem starts when you try to eXtinguish with ships/fleets that have their own opinions on how they should be spending their time. Unfortunately this is after a heavy investment of time in the first three Xs.
Here's something radical [X(] - I would even prefer an optional MOO2 turn-by-turn tactical battle map rather this RT chaos. At least I would be able to see what my cleverly designed ships are doing with all their fancy weapons and shields.

[Blueberry]

I play the game af often as I am able to. I have always loved pc strategy gaming and have been a true gamer since my childhood years... Distant worlds is my most favorite strategy game. It has that charm and character that nowadays, so many big budget games lack. Visit the forum quite often but usually to check on the latest patch progress/update. Work and family takes too much of my time so allocating from 5 to 10 hours to gaming per week is the best I can do.

I don't know about any of you guys but I find that so frustrating. I have to carefully choose my games since I can't afford to waste any of that precious time of mine. I gave up Skyrim in order to play Legends. Having invested well over 50 hours on it I stopped playing without completing the main storyline and moved to Legends. That, most certainly, states something about Skyrim ...... and DW. The only game that I am truly looking forward to right now is ME3. Space has always fascinated me to a rather great extent and sooner or later, any decent 'space' game is going to get my attention... as long as it isn't a first person shooter.

Personally, at this point, I am not at all interested in DW2 3d. All I care about and look forward to is some truly challenging AI, expanded Diplomacy (various galactic senate options, more trading options), better performance, etc. A brand new expansion or an uber patch of some sort to address this issues.

DW has come a long way since the original back in 2010 and I am very happy with the direction that the game is heading to and it is definitely not boring. Not if you'r playing bugs....

[jpwrunyan]

I want to add my voice to that of those critical of the inconsistant gameplay challenge. This is true. I like this game but I still consider it at best beta-stage quality. Economy and diplomacy need a lot of work. Its a good thing the game isnt mainstream right now because if it were it would get panned. And no matter how much you fix it after that the damage to the brand is done. I dont play the game anymore because of the inconsistent gameplay quality. I still follow the forums because I like the game itself. I just wish it would get better faster.

[Nedrear]

Since the interest of my mod died down "a little" and I got EU3 Chronicles running - so much for expansion packs collections -I was playing it most of my time. I will most likely focus on it a little longer before I finish my mod and then try to mod my own world (Ned) into EU 3.
 
IF my threads would have gotten a push in the one time I come along per week I would have answered them though...

[Malicar]

First post here. Hello Everyone...

I've been checking this site ever since I heard about Distant Worlds during the Galciv 2 Beta. Not once have I ever seen a price drop and looking at the current product page, I'm required to buy the original game and both expansion packs to play Legends. There is no demo or time trial for this game either. Personally I've never used Matrix games but I'm all for supporting the indy community and have been a fan of the genre since MOO. Still though I can't justify those prices on a product or service I've never used.

I suspect the forums would be much busier if the game was cheaper and more accessible. I mean if it was priced right and had a bundle to bring in new players I would be all over it. Assuming it doesn't have some insane DRM scheme with it. I will keep watching for price drops or alternate forms of distribution but even Microsoft doesn't abuse Games on Demand as bad as the prices are on here. Hell I've bought Sins and all it's expansions for a fraction of the cost. You won't sell many copies of any game with this approach. Especially niche 2D games.

PS I really love reading about the game and the videos are inspiring on some levels. Performance is definantly noticably better on Legends videos. I would definantly give this a try if it came in a bundle at the right price. I will keep on checking back I guess. Happy gaming everyone.

[Arcatus]

I don't have much spare time to play games...

But when I do: I play DW.

[:D]

[KEYSTONE07950]

ORIGINAL: Malicar

First post here. Hello Everyone...

I've been checking this site ever since I heard about Distant Worlds during the Galciv 2 Beta. Not once have I ever seen a price drop and looking at the current product page, I'm required to buy the original game and both expansion packs to play Legends. There is no demo or time trial for this game either. Personally I've never used Matrix games but I'm all for supporting the indy community and have been a fan of the genre since MOO. Still though I can't justify those prices on a product or service I've never used.

I suspect the forums would be much busier if the game was cheaper and more accessible. I mean if it was priced right and had a bundle to bring in new players I would be all over it. Assuming it doesn't have some insane DRM scheme with it. I will keep watching for price drops or alternate forms of distribution but even Microsoft doesn't abuse Games on Demand as bad as the prices are on here. Hell I've bought Sins and all it's expansions for a fraction of the cost. You won't sell many copies of any game with this approach. Especially niche 2D games.

PS I really love reading about the game and the videos are inspiring on some levels. Performance is definantly noticably better on Legends videos. I would definantly give this a try if it came in a bundle at the right price. I will keep on checking back I guess. Happy gaming everyone.

Historically, Matrix has a once a year "Holiday Season" sale. You may have to wait until late November.

[solops]

Hmmm. Did not know these boards were dead.

[morelyn]

ORIGINAL: solops

Hmmm. Did not know these boards were dead.

Compared to many other boards (Paradox ones, for example), yes, the posts come pretty slowly here.

[Tophat1815]

ORIGINAL: Nedrear

Since the interest of my mod died down "a little" and I got EU3 Chronicles running - so much for expansion packs collections -I was playing it most of my time. I will most likely focus on it a little longer before I finish my mod and then try to mod my own world (Ned) into EU 3.

IF my threads would have gotten a push in the one time I come along per week I would have answered them though...

EU3........i still like it but talk about being forced to buy expansion packs as a fellow mentions later in this thread. Also i bought all the GalCiv games/expansions as they came out and still like DW above them.

Sorry to hear your mod is going to be delayed then Nedrear.

[ASHBERY76]

ORIGINAL: Morelyn

ORIGINAL: solops

Hmmm. Did not know these boards were dead.

Compared to many other boards (Paradox ones, for example), yes, the posts come pretty slowly here.

That is a huge community,like Totalwar and Civ game forums.Not many other strategy sites come close to these.

[morelyn]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

ORIGINAL: Morelyn

ORIGINAL: solops

Hmmm. Did not know these boards were dead.

Compared to many other boards (Paradox ones, for example), yes, the posts come pretty slowly here.

That is a huge community,like Totalwar and Civ game forums.Not many other strategy sites come close to these.

Aren't you just asking my question a different way? Why are those communities so huge and this one not?

Sure, some of it is more marketing dollars, longevity, etc., but still...

I happen to think DW is a really great game. It took me some time to give it a chance, perhaps, paradoxically, because so much of it is automated that at first I just let it play itself, and so got bored quickly. Once I took a lot off automation I started getting much more interested.

And the expansions have certainly improved the game a great deal, to the point where IMO it can hold its own with most Paradox products and is superior to any Total War (if not graphically, then in depth).

I would like to see a lot more discussion, and several others have posted that they would as well. The huge hovering crowd of lurkers would seem to indicate that many are hungry for more posts. Perhaps, as some have said, when a proper release as opposed to all these betas comes out.