Distant Worlds; 4Ex Space Strategy; What do you think?

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: Marcus the leper

I have but one word in response; Ravinhood...

Could be. He was (another?) idiot who couldn't grasp the fact that not all games played in 'real' time are 'RTS' games, at least in the sense 99% of gamers use that term. He never 'got' that regarding HttR and CotA either (having never played either, of course.)

[martok]

I'm not fully understanding what you're getting at, diablo. Is it that you think Distant Worlds is going to be a real-time strategy game in the same vein as Command & Conquer or Starcraft (which, by pretty much all accounts, it's not)? What am I missing here?

ORIGINAL: diablo1

ORIGINAL: martok

I'm still nervous about the game's real-time aspect

Puts on brakes that ruined it right there. There are only a handful of games that get it right when it comes to real time and this one doesn't look like one of them.

So which games, in your opinion, *have* gotten it right when it comes to real-time strategy? I'm honestly curious.

[GoodGuy]

Maybe it's just me, but I can't help thinking that some trolls seem to go through some reincarnation nickname-wise, in this forum. [:D]

Anyway, some people seem to have this urge to associate a given "real-time" element or game with one of those real-time action or arcade games, say Company of Heros, Men of War, Starcraft and the like, along with the urge to condemn such a game, solely due to the real-time element, even if such feature doesn't take center stage, quite surprisingly, and even if using real-time actually makes sense.

The games I listed above should be labeled RTSA (real-time strategy arcade) game, as quick and witty movement of units, along with speedy unit production is the main element. Some feature a silly resource management, while others just give you a certain points/minute ratio according to the number of flags you hold. Plus, most of them use what I call the "paper-scissor"-principle, where the player can produce a working antidote for every unit the opponent comes up with, if the game had been balanced properly by the designers.
Also, most of them carry unrealistic aspects, where things have been "dumbed down", either for commercial reasons or to make the game more accessible for casual players.

In turn, other games, say like HttR or COTA, maybe even Close Combat should be labeled RTSi (real-time simulation) game, as they try to simulate the decision-making process on a tactical, operational or even strategical level in real-time, with the emphasis on realism and involving the command of a formation the size of a squad up to an entire Corps.

Some games even attempt to simulate entire economies/countries or global politics, which isn't an easy task.
Still, games like HOI3 are closer to real-time than other games in the global/national strat genre (HOI3 may still be a cross-over, even if it has quite some of the elements mentioned above).

So it's a pretty simple (and unjust) generalization to lump RTSA and RTSi together. Interestingly, this often happens in an attempt to attest to alleged advantages of turn-based games over real-time games, so it's usually being used as a method to bash real-time games or RT fans. Many of these bashers didn't even play the games in question.

While it's a matter of someone's personal taste regarding what kind of wargame works best for him/her, military organizations around the world understood what kind of simulations would work best for them: Real-time sims and even RT games.

The Marines used CC:Marines a couple of years ago, and - if I am not mistaken - West Point offered the game to their students as well. Marine and Army units scheduled for deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan are also being trained on Bohemia Interactive's VBS1 simulator, which offers both: a top-down tactical view/module for officers and a 3D-view for the soldiers.
You'll see fully networked combat units (down to individual soldiers wearing headsets with a tiny cam, in order to relay the battle situation to the commanding officer, where he then has to handle a mix of top-down tactical views, selectable live streams and overviews of the mission area) during the next 10-15 years.
Police officers in San Jose are testing cam headsets right now, mainly to collect evidence in case someone wants to sue them, though.

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: GoodGuy

Maybe it's just me, but I can't help thinking that some trolls seem to go through some reincarnation nickname-wise, in this forum. [:D]

It's because they get banned and had a bad rep before that, even.

I've spied a certain person, previously mentioned, making new accounts in a few other places. Then proceeding to flame away at whatever the subject may be.

[ilovestrategy]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: diablo1

I'm still nervous about the game's real-time aspect

Puts on brakes that ruined it right there. There are only a handful of games that get it right when it comes to real time and this one doesn't look like one of them.

Not true at all - it's fully pausable (and can be fully interacted with while paused), has multiple speeds (including really slow) and is highly configurable to auto-pause on pretty much every kind of event or news item as well. Moreover, the intelligent automation means that you don't have to do everything, you can get involved in the details or just make the big decisions.

This sounds great! When is the release date?

[DampSquib]

Distant Worlds will release to the public on Tuesday, March 23rd.

[JudgeDredd]

Well, there was a certain poster recently who was told to change his sig by Erik. That poster has since logged on but not posted since the 26th Feb and NOT change his sig.

Perhaps in an vein attempt to not have to "back down" (which we all remember another infamous poster being like) they've abandoned that account and started a new one...The person we now find ourselves speaking of signed up on the 27th. Coincidence? Could be. Posting format the same? Yep. I'll leave it at that, but I'm getting bored of it. I would be very impressed if Erik could determine who it is who keeps re-appearing here (if indeed there is a link). Whether it is or it isn't...I expect we'll see a pattern emerging.

To the game...I wish I could see what you people see...I really do. 4x hasn't done it for me since an old game I had on the Amiga 500(?) called Supremacy I think. I especially didn't like the look of the giant insects in this game either.

Like I said - I would love to be proved wrong - that is 4x games do have something for me.

[GoodGuy]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I would be very impressed if Erik could determine who it is who keeps re-appearing here (if indeed there is a link). Whether it is or it isn't...I expect we'll see a pattern emerging.

BB software tracks logins usually, so it should be relatively easy for an admin to debunk users with multiple accounts/identities.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

This is a strategy game that happens to run in real-time

Admitted it by your own words. Real Time Strategy game. Thank you.

I'll make this even easier for you. When it's advertised or reviewed by respected magazines and reviewers do you think they are going to call it turn based or real time? What classification will it fall under when places like Game Rankings place it for review? Turn Based? Nope. First Person shooter? Nope. Real time Strategy? Yep.

Are you familiar with a guy that used to be on here named Ravinhood? [&:] [;)]