Amazing game!

kenobi · Post by **kenobi** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 10:33 pm

Yes, I probably should have posted this under one of the other threads of praise but hey... <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

I'm really having a hard time tearing myself away from this game. This has got to be one of the finest bits of software that's ever graced my hard drive. Andrew and co., I think this may be the start of a new 4X dynasty for you. I hope so at least!

I've gone through every 4X game under the sun, and even as I contemplated purchasing yet another name in the genre I wondered what STUN <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> G would be able to offer me that Space Empires, MOO2, Stars!, or RFTS (yuk) hadn't already. I realize now that even though STUN <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> G's backbone features are those of every 4X game, and very familiar to any hardcore 4X nut like myself, it doesn't play like any game of the genre I've ever played before. Or any game of ANY genre I've ever played for that matter (and that's a lot of games!).

Great job all around, the game has a fantastic concept (the tactical combat especially) and is very easy to jump right into and start playing, the interface is one of the easiest to learn and navigate I've ever seen in a 4X game, the graphics are a great touch, and even the sounds are worthy of very high marks (I did NOT expect those little plasma bugs to make such bowel-shuddering BOOM's the first time I squished one). And wait, could it be... yes, it is! A midi soundtrack! Honestly, this is one of the only games I play with the music left on. One of those songs is bouncing around in my skull this very moment as a matter of fact. They really do add a tremendous amount of atmosphere to the game. Kudos to the composer!

The only thing I can possibly find to gripe about at this point is the relatively bland dialogue exchanges with the other races. Diplomacy feels a little too mechanical sometimes. But I suppose that's a standard that MOO2 set long ago that ANY 4X game since has yet to surpass (IMO at least). In any case I feel that STUN <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> G has definitely raised the bar for the genre in virtually every area but this. It's good to know that I can conquer the universe and have fun doing it without being bogged down with micro-management and minutiae by mid to late-game for once in my 4X career!

Thanks, and PLEASE keep up the good work! I hope to be playing STUN 2, 3, and 4 in the years to come!

edit: AHHH! Those damn graemlins ate all my d's and colons again. Oh well, I'd fix them but I'm too lazy.

[ January 18, 2002: Message edited by: kenobi ]</p>

peaeri · Post by **peaeri** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 12:39 am

Hi Kenobi,

Thanks for the nice words on the soundtrack.

Cheers,

Vaaish · Post by **Vaaish** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 6:56 am

Thanks for the complements on the graphics aspect, from me and the others who worked on them.

[ January 18, 2002: Message edited by: Vaaish ]</p>

kenobi · Post by **kenobi** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 9:21 am

Was I gushing again? Hehe. Just giving credit where it's due! Whenever the DG theme song starts up, I've got a habit of focusing on one of my scouts at 1X speed, turning up the volume, and just watching him scoot past the stars with that epic John Williams-y tune playing in the background. Reminds me a little of the Imperial March from Star Wars for some reason, although not quite as brooding. Don't ask me why, my own brain baffles me sometimes.

So what are the odds of ever seeing the graphics make the leap to true and full 3-D? If you guys are ever in the market for some more modellers, I'm fairly skilled and readily available. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Vaaish · Post by **Vaaish** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 6:25 pm

If they want to move to full 3d, I would only have to remove the greeble and retexture the existing models. For the planets it would be somewhat more difficult because the planet map is a procedural texture and would need to be rendered flat before being mapped as a bitmap to the planet sphere.

Other than that, it is fairly "simple" to convert on my end... on Andrew's, I'm not sure what he would need to do to code a fully 3d engine. I shudder at the prospect of coding it though. <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

Marc von Martial · Post by **Marc von Martial** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 6:42 pm

Yup,

thanks for the kuddos <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

On the 3D aspect, well the modelling and texturing is the lesser work me thinks <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Andrew Ewanchyna · Post by **Andrew Ewanchyna** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 12:46 am

I'd love to do a true 3D version of Stun but that will have to wait until I finish my next game, which will be in 3D, of course. I've had my fill of sprite-based graphics and software particle effects.