Page 3 of 4

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:36 pm
by killroyishere
Here's some more proof:

Sales rank by Amazon.com for Sword of the Stars Ultimate Collection:
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,072 in Video Games

Sales rank by Amazon.com for Galactic Civilization 2 game of the year:
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,575 in Video Games

So we have higher review scores for Galactic Civilizatin 2 and a higher sales ranking for it as well. Pretty easy to see which is the more popular game of choice of the two.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:48 pm
by Zakhal
I dont think most people on matrix games forums are mainstream playrs. So what mainstream thinks doesnt really matter to most of us. We are niche players.

And theres nothing wrong with been a niche player. I rather play game taylored to my taste than one taylored for everyone and no-one in particular. I actually feel bad for those who cant get their niche's filled but instead have to eat the "mainstream burger".

This suits me well! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1fMf8CB7jE

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:58 pm
by sabre1
[/quote]

Only thing is the user scores can be scewed but the critic scores cannot at Gamespot. One can make 100 user login to Gamespot and post 100 votes in favor of their game of choice. This also happened during the Gamespy Best Game of All time voting and they discovered users were using bots to cast votes over and over for the game of their choice. So, with that in the air over voting it has to come from critics how good a game actually is, especially at Gamespot.
[/quote

Hmmm, I could add some political humor here, but the ca'ts got my tongue.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:00 pm
by killroyishere
And now let's goto the awards:

Galactic Civilization 2 Twilight of Arnor wins best expansion of 2008 from IGN
http://forums.galciv2.com/333131

Galactic Civilization 2 Editors Choice Award: Gamespot
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/gal ... eview.html

Galactic Civilization 2 Editors Choice Award: IGN
http://pc.ign.com/articles/694/694441p1.html

Galactic Civilizaion 2 Editors Choice Award: Gamespy

And then we can't forget Gamespys 2008 PC Strategy game of the year award goes to....Galactic Civilization 2
http://goty.gamespy.com/2008/pc/12.html
Darn I didn't see Sword of the Stars anywhere in those lists.

Very high regards for the Galactic Civilization 2 game by highly rated review sites.

Now let's see are there any Sword of the Stars awards??
Nope couldn't find any. [:D]

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:08 pm
by sabre1
I am diving back into SOTS, primarily because I just picked up the Naval Yard addon.

I never really got into SOTS game, and I'm going to give it a serious go this time.

I'm still just keeping my eye on Armada.

MOO2 continues to be my all time favorite, with GalCiv2 Twilight of the Arnor following up. SOTS "may" become a favorite if I can figure out the RTS part of it. I'm not good at twitch fests.

I never could really get into the ship design on GalCiv2, but I may give it another go also (ship design that is). SOTS ship design "seems" more "fun".

What I really liked about MOO and GalCiv was the AI adjustment levels. You could set the AI down to a cakewalk, and learn the ropes without getting your you know what kicked. Then raise the AI to the more difficult levels. Single player is "generally" all I do. Just don't have much time for anything else.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:15 pm
by Richard III
Good luck with SOTS, I also just got Naval Shipyard. I really want to like it, but the dreadful 3D Strat. map and often poor game start colony worlds available have been a problem for me. I advise turning off " Random Encounters" since thats a game killer and totaly messed up IMO.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:17 pm
by Zakhal
Galciv2 did have a good amount of difficulty levels. Cant ever have too many of those. I think armada could use few more too looking at how many people are having trouble with economy and unrest in the beginning. Realistic economy and unrest could be a difficulty level of its own alltogether.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:21 pm
by Zakhal
ORIGINAL: Richard III

Good luck with SOTS, I also just got Naval Shipyard. I really want to like it, but the dreadful 3D Strat. map and often poor game start colony worlds available have been a problem for me. I advise turning off " Random Encounters" since thats a game killer and totaly messed up IMO.
You can make 2d flat map if you like with the editor. Its one of the different galaxies that you can choose.

I always like to turn down random encounters too. At default they seem to happen a bit too often. However I never turn them totally off though since there are many many interesting things that can happen.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:53 pm
by Richard III

That I`m even looking at SOTS again is because the Humans unrest/economy deal is so badly implemented here. There`s gotta be other ways to game balance without gameplay overkill that turns people off. The MOO example that Tom Holsinger talks about is one way, your`s is another.

R.

Thaks for the editor tip for a 2D system map in SOTS.
ORIGINAL: Zakhal

Galciv2 did have a good amount of difficulty levels. Cant ever have too many of those. I think armada could use few more too looking at how many people are having trouble with economy and unrest in the beginning. Realistic economy and unrest could be a difficulty level of its own alltogether.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:00 pm
by ShotmanMaslo
What I seriously dont like about SOTS is that all races use totally different form of FTL travel. Its like they arent even a part of the same physical universe. I mean.. ..wtf? This ruins all feeling of realism and consistence for me..
But otherwise it looks pretty good..

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:52 pm
by PDiFolco
Police, this thread has been hijacked !! [8|]

Back to the question : in fact A2526 is more like BotF (the ST 4x from Microprose '99) than the others 4X, they share many design resemblances regarding colony management and battles.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:59 pm
by Janster
SOTS and Galciv are two different beasts really, one is Total war in space, other is a more strategic type. If you like to design your ships, and then fight with em, SOTS if your best game, as Galciv combat is just dice rolling. If you like to build empires, manage trade routes and 'talk' to AI , go Galciv.

Combat wise, SOTS is actually very good, I know some don't like the limits, but the game will absolutly 'kill' your PC when you max out ships later, plus the battles can become long, and last over turns as both sides brings in reinforcements. The latter expansions introduced trade and commerce, and pirates.

Btw, the FTL and the research tree in SOTS are things of genious, you can choose depending on your style, but you never know what tech you will get..which means you gotta be careful with gambling.
Last, i used to play on the 2d map, it does the trick.


RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:50 pm
by Krec
What about SEV ? that is the space game of alltime and not a word ? I have not seen a space game even come close to SEV. MOO2 was good but very basic and only a few winning strats. SEV has so many ways to go and is the most open ended space game that i am surprised nobody here even mentioned it. Anybody interested in 4x try SEV , you nust use the balance MOD and update it of corse , but i garantee you will not be disappointed. Now i ask, how is Armada vs SEV?

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:17 pm
by Hertston
ORIGINAL: ShotmanMaslo
What I seriously dont like about SOTS is that all races use totally different form of FTL travel. Its like they arent even a part of the same physical universe. I mean.. ..wtf? This ruins all feeling of realism and consistence for me..

I don't see why. Just look at it as manipulating the same fundamental laws of nature in different ways; if there is any way to achieve FTL travel, why not several? All of which is pretty much beside the point, of course, which is that the different modes of travel introduce variety between races and compel you to play them in different ways. Which can only be a good thing IMHO.

ORIGINAL: Krec

What about SEV ? that is the space game of alltime and not a word ? I have not seen a space game even come close to SEV. MOO2 was good but very basic and only a few winning strats. SEV has so many ways to go and is the most open ended space game that i am surprised nobody here even mentioned it. Anybody interested in 4x try SEV , you nust use the balance MOD and update it of corse , but i garantee you will not be disappointed. Now i ask, how is Armada vs SEV?

Glad somebody mentioned SEV as its omission was rather odd. Can't say I agree with it being the 'space game of all time', even limited to 4X, but that's just personal taste. Good game, though, certainly.

I've only just bought Armada so it's not really fair to make comparisons yet, particularly when all the other games mentioned (MoO 2 excepted) are far better now than they were when released due to patches and/or expansions. What they all are though, is different, and it's worth playing all of them because of that. Reasonably impressed with Armada so far,though. With continued support, further development and some TLC over the next couple of years, it could become a 'top 4X' contender.


RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:23 pm
by tombo
On a different note....
Can someone comment to AI WAR- Fleet command vs. 2526.

I'm on the fence to which one to buy. AIWar is RTS though.

thanks [:)]

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:10 pm
by Hertston
ORIGINAL: tombo

On a different note....
Can someone comment to AI WAR- Fleet command vs. 2526.

I'm on the fence to which one to buy. AIWar is RTS though.


Apples and oranges. AI War is a pure RTS rather than a Sins style RTS/4X hybrid, but is also the most innovative and entertaining RTS game in the last five years IMHO. It has a demo, so check that out before making up your mind.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:50 pm
by Arctic Blast
I have been pleasantly surprised by the AI War demo. The only reason I haven't pulled the trigger on a purchase is waiting to see if it pops up during these weekend long Steam sales. [:D]

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:54 pm
by Wade1000
ORIGINAL: Krec

What about SEV ? that is the space game of alltime and not a word ? I have not seen a space game even come close to SEV. MOO2 was good but very basic and only a few winning strats. SEV has so many ways to go and is the most open ended space game that i am surprised nobody here even mentioned it. Anybody interested in 4x try SEV , you nust use the balance MOD and update it of corse , but i garantee you will not be disappointed. Now i ask, how is Armada vs SEV?

I tried Space Empires 5 for awhile. I used to think it was great; now it is a chore to me and not fun.

It has so many choices. It has nearly everything from all science fiction...except FTL.
It uses old game style warp point travel lines. The user interface is annoying. Nice huge technology tree but a it's bit unorganized. Some weapon techs are redundant and useless compared to another similiar tech. You can get bogged down in micro management and setting combat strategy options.
The AI is mostly non existent...unless you get one of a couple popular mods. I don't prefer to use mods. Too many other good games to focus on instead.

A few SE5 pros:
-has nearly every tech in all science fiction
-somewhat organized and nice to look at ship design that's not too complicated
-one of the most (if not the most) "modable" 4X space strategy games

A few SE5 cons:
-nearly non existant AI that isn't programed to use nearly every tech in all science fiction or to fight well...or to manage planets well. A couple of popular mods are available to improve this if you are into mods
-No faster than light travel in open space. Travel is in system and instantly via warp point lines connecting various systems.
-Unorganized, annoying user interface that consists of several layers of sub screens in some places.

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:15 am
by LarryP
ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

I have been pleasantly surprised by the AI War demo. The only reason I haven't pulled the trigger on a purchase is waiting to see if it pops up during these weekend long Steam sales. [:D]

AI War is excellent! Plus Chris Park has updates every week, and for months he had one almost every day. His expansion for it is $10 and you can use it right now while he continues to add to it. The download from his site uses a simple code for installing and that's it. Just like Matrix. Here is the link:
Arcen Games

RE: Armada 2526, Galactic Civilizations 2, and Sword of the Stars.

Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:29 am
by Janster
Given its been a while since I tried SEV, but the verdict on it is shameful, it messy, bug ridden, and the AI was not there at all to begin with.
Now, later the AI can give you a fight, but the turn times...even on SMALL maps gets atrocious, there is simply no way I will wait 2-3-4-5 mins PER turn, I have better things to do. The whole concept of SE V is brilliant, but the sheer attention to detail makes this a multiplayer champion more than anything, and thats something I rarly have time for :(