Enjoyment Factor?

[BKL]

I was a big Master of Orion fan and played that game a lot. That was 20 years ago! I really enjoy strategy games and sport simulation games. I am very much considering to purchase Distant Worlds, as I have always looked for another MOO type game. I played Galatic Civilazation but didn't enjoy it like Master of Orion.

Here's my question. What I find is that if a game is too complicated, too involved, it becomes more work than fun for me. Also, another issue is that I now have a full time job, married, and newborn. I am often up at night about 2 hours after everyone is sleeping, and that's when I'll watch TV, play games, etc. Is Distant Worlds something you think I'd enjoy? Is it too much work, too much to manage? Is 20 - 30 minutes each day enough time to get "into" the game, since that's really all I'll have?

Thanks!

[Euler]

I'm a relative newcomer to DW and in a similar situation to you. It depends on what you enjoy. The game is more detailed than MOO, but also very satisfying. If you want, DW gives you almost total freedom to dig into every decision that your empire makes while you conquer the galaxy. There are automation tools to reduce micromanaging, but if you are like me once you start to understand the game you will want to control most of the decisions.

DW is so epic that you can't play a standard game in one sitting. I play about 1 hour per day, usually at the end of the day. I've completed two games in two months. But you can have whole themes and stories in DW that run through each game, like an ongoing alliance with a friendly empire, or how you defeated an opponent who had superior technology. Each race invites you to try a different play style and path to victory. If that is your idea of relaxation then you will like it.

Simpler games take less time to play but don't seem as satisfying to me. It depends on what you like.

If the game sounds appealing and the price of the game is not an issue for you then just buy the game and try it. That's what I did. I've been very happy so far.

[elanaagain]

I loved MOO, its in my hall of fame! I'm hoping GalCiv3 will be more like it. Re DW; The level of automation you choose will help determine how much fun it is, just fined a good balance. ... There is a steep learning curve...May I suggest you watch the videos on Youtube of players playing... that will give you some idea. Also, look at the guides some players have written... For a game in a two hour window each session, i would suggest you use the smallest galaxy, fewest stars, just to keep the sand box size manageable. Definitely check out the forums and the vids first.

[Euler]

Good idea, try a Google Search for Let's Play Distant Worlds Shadows.

[Osito]

I think DW is a fantastic game, but I also think it would be difficult to get the most out of it from 20-30 minutes play time per day. DW is a lot more complicated than MOO2 and a lot harder to get into in the first place. DW games last quite a bit longer than MOO, too (although that does depend on what starting settings you've used, of course). I think there is a serious risk that you will end up not being able to get into the game - being a MOO2 fan is certainly no guarantee of satisfaction.

The problem is that, ultimately, only you can decide. Definitely try some "Let's plays" first. There's a lot of good ones in the "After Action Reports" page of this forum, and 'quill18' has an interesting one (based on the pre-Shadows expansion, but still a good introduction), here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa_fN9P0x44

Osito

[CyclopsSlayer]

I loved MoO 1&2, Distant Worlds probably has more in common with 'Civilization' or 'Europa Universalis' than MoO directly. But I find I enjoy DW for many of the same reasons I enjoyed MoO.

Definitely check out the 'Let's Plays' they show you more than you can learn elsewhere.

[Henzington]

I agree with CyclopsSlayer and I actually have played all of those except Masters of Orion 1.

[Hrdina]

ORIGINAL: CyclopsSlayer

I loved MoO 1&2, Distant Worlds probably has more in common with 'Civilization' or 'Europa Universalis' than MoO directly. But I find I enjoy DW for many of the same reasons I enjoyed MoO.

Definitely check out the 'Let's Plays' they show you more than you can learn elsewhere.

Ha, when MoO first came out, I described it to my friends as "Civ in space".

That said, DW does remind me somewhat of EU. I also agree with your comment on Let's Play videos. Das's videos sold me on DW, and give me hope of one day becoming proficient.

[Icemania]

ORIGINAL: BKL

I was a big Master of Orion fan and played that game a lot. That was 20 years ago! I really enjoy strategy games and sport simulation games. I am very much considering to purchase Distant Worlds, as I have always looked for another MOO type game. I played Galatic Civilazation but didn't enjoy it like Master of Orion.

Here's my question. What I find is that if a game is too complicated, too involved, it becomes more work than fun for me. Also, another issue is that I now have a full time job, married, and newborn. I am often up at night about 2 hours after everyone is sleeping, and that's when I'll watch TV, play games, etc. Is Distant Worlds something you think I'd enjoy? Is it too much work, too much to manage? Is 20 - 30 minutes each day enough time to get "into" the game, since that's really all I'll have?

Thanks!

It does take a little time to get into Distant Worlds initially. What worked for me for taking some time while on Leave to get into the game initially. Once you are familiar with the game playing a little here and there works really well.

I like the same games you enjoy. But if you don't enjoy a bit of complexity, I couldn't say for sure you would enjoy Distant Worlds. It seems complex early, but might find that it isn't excessively complex.

What makes it fun is considering strategies to optimise games, but more importantly lots and lots of blowing stuff up!

[ReadeB]

A big plus would be quick scenarios with small maps.

Stop the insect invasion until reinforcements arrive: Hold off an invasion for a few game years, with tweakable victory conditions and difficulty

Escort a queen to her realm: Manually control and escort a small colony ship to a 100% quality world while fighting off pirates.

Race to find the Jewel of the galaxy: Race to get an Explorer to a distant neutron star with refueling required

Etc Etc..

[elanaagain]

Yes, somewhere it mentions the possibilities of putting everything on auto except one ship, or fleet, that you control... it can be quite a ride...

[EnDSchultz]

First post, whoo!

Anyway, long term lurker here just coming on to say that what draws me to Distant Worlds is the sort of authentic feel to it. For instance, my impression of Galactic Civs 2, as good a game as it is, is that it FEELS too gamey. It's turn based, and the turns are measured in weeks, and as a result I can have a newly settled world cap at a max population of some billions in under a year. This sort of thing just didn't sit well with me.

I, for one, play games like these for the immersion factor, and the atmosphere of Distant Worlds, with its real-time gameplay, grand scale, and resource/private sector based economic system really does the trick for me. It's a bit rough around the edges, but I think it's a very under-appreciated gem of a title.

[Darkspire]

ORIGINAL: EnDSchultz

First post, whoo!

Anyway, long term lurker here just coming on to say that what draws me to Distant Worlds is the sort of authentic feel to it. For instance, my impression of Galactic Civs 2, as good a game as it is, is that it FEELS too gamey. It's turn based, and the turns are measured in weeks, and as a result I can have a newly settled world cap at a max population of some billions in under a year. This sort of thing just didn't sit well with me.

I, for one, play games like these for the immersion factor, and the atmosphere of Distant Worlds, with its real-time gameplay, grand scale, and resource/private sector based economic system really does the trick for me. It's a bit rough around the edges, but I think it's a very under-appreciated gem of a title.

Welcome to the forums EnDSchultz [:)]

Have to agree on all of that, been playing DW for nearly three years now and the immersion level is unmatched in the 4x arena. Even now after all this time it still surprises me, like today, I ordered five transports and put them into a fleet but forgot to take the auto off, little furry dudes, Atuuk, decided to go to war with me and had invaded one of my colonies, I went into the fleet management screen and the transport fleet that I had forgotten that was on auto was on it's way to the colony under invasion to off load troops, I was just about to order them to do the very same thing [:)]

Darkspire

[DevildogFF]

It took me some time to truly get this game, but I did so by watching the Let's Plays that everyone here had mentioned, in particular, Das', and have now sunk a couple hundred hours in to it over the past year...

I keep coming back to it, too. I'm not one for complexity, and there's still things that I don't understand completely (ship building, I'm looking at you!), but there's nothing more epic or awesome on the market.

If the UI graphics were better and the ship models a little more detailed, it might be a game I could play forever. Alas, even with the mods, I think it'll only last me a couple more years. Probably until Distant Worlds 2.

Seriously though, this is the best game of its kind. Period.

[PsyKoSnake]

I play this more than BF4. It's an epic game. You truly feel like the leader of the empire.

[buncheesy]

ORIGINAL: PsyKoSnake

I play this more than BF4. It's an epic game. You truly feel like the leader of the empire.

Haha. I am still playing BF3 (as I got it only 4-5 months ago - I only buy games at the end of the product cycle) and distant worlds with occasionally a look back at minecraft. I have long busy days and at nights I sometimes think "Damn distant worlds is too mentally taxing at the moment, think I'll play BF3". On those nights I go to bed wired and often discontented. Whereas if despite my tiredness I play an hour or so of distant worlds I drift off relaxed with dreams of galatic domination!!

BF3 is like an addiction to soft drinks that gives you diabetes whereas distant worlds is a much more high GI food [:'(]