Why DW and not Sins of a solar Empire?

[jnpoint]

I am looking for a spacegame. And now I do not know if I should buy Sins of a Solar Empire or wait for DW? Any help? I have yet never played that sort of games, but would like to in near future.

[impact]

Well, to give a simple answer: if you are looking for a deathmatch-type of game with simplified mechanics, Sins is for you.
If you are looking for a long, complex and immersive game that focuses on empire building and a sandbox-kind of playing style / experience, DW is the way to go.

[lordxorn]

Jnpoint,

Welcome to the Matrix forums, and for me to give you a good answer tell me more about your gaming preferences. The reason is that while some people may bill SINS a 4x, it is in essence a RTS in space. If you love Command and Conquer type games, and want something with a grander scope and deeper research options, diplomacy options, then Sins is the way to go. With the two latest expansion packs it is really a complete grand RTS game.

Why is SINS not a 4x game, is because it is very lite in all of the 4x elements like research, ship design, diplomacy, colony management. The standard by which all 4x games are held now days is still Master of Orion 2 which can be bought at Atari, and I posted a work around to get it to run in Vista/Win7.

With that said, the reason us jaded 4x gamers are excited about Distant Worlds is that it is a unique approach to 4x but still has all the elements that made MOO2 great.

To summarize if you are a RTS gamer looking for a more complex and involved games that requires more strategic thought and planning, with tactical combat all in glorious real time, then wait for Distant Worlds if you gamer budget is limited. Otherwise if you have money, get SINS for now and you will be occupied by a great RTS game untill Distant Worlds is released.

Hope that helps. [:D]

[Webbco]

I have SoaSE since it came out and I have now bought both expansions. To be honest, I really feel the game is quite shallow and there doesn't seem to be any real character to it. Almost as if you are very much on the outside looking in on whats going on rather than it feeling like it's your own empire. The graphics are good, sound effects are ok and the interface is also ok...but for me, that's what this game is. Ok. You really don't have time to look at your empire as a whole, it's general expansion as you are constantly having to fight different battles on many fronts. If you don't time something perfectly then it's usually total disaster. In this respect, it's very much an RTS and far from being a 4X game. It's designed for people who love multiplayer games/skirmishes that are not story driven whatsoever.

What I feel DW will offer that Sins doesn't:

1) Random and intriguing events that offer bonuses and give you clues to the history behind the galaxy.
2) An open environment where you can move your ships anywhere in space (even deep space). When I say anywhere, I mean ANYWHERE!
3) Gameplay that will make you feel like it's YOU expanding and exploring the galaxy, with a slightly stronger storyline than Sins (in fact...Sins of a Solar Empire doesn't have a storyline AT ALL!)
4) Colony development that actually feels like you are indeed improving the attributes of the colony (with Sins, you just click a few buttons that gives you more money from the colony by increasing tax)
5) Immersive interactions with other empires - diplomacy that works and feels "right".
6) Extensive research that doesn't feel like you are just playing with toys...this one is hard to explain. Research in Sins requires you to press big buttons that feels a bit patronising.
7) SPACE MONSTERS!

Of course, if you've seen the screenshots then you will realise the graphics are not top notch at all, but this is not a big budget company and the focus seems like it is ALL about the gameplay elements. The above list are, in my opinion, only some of the things Sins does not offer and DW will do upon it's release.

Hope this helps, it's a bit biased obviously so check around and see what others say. There's also a demo out for SoaSE.

[ASHBERY76]

DW is yet to be released so we do not really know how good the A.I is or if the game is really that good in practical terms.What we know about Sins is that is a lightweight 4X real time.I would recommend ImperiumGalatica2 over Sins as a real time 4X game by a country mile,and it is cheap now too.

[ypsylon]

Depending what you like.

Pseudo-4X with - properly named - death-match style of play then SoSE is for you.

If you want proper 4x game where you're not bound by any limitations then DW is for you. Even considering that DW is still under development, and quality of AI is unknown, DW vs SoSE is a non-contest for me. SoSE is seriously flawed production. Not in terms of bugs but in terms of general boredom. Every game is virtually the same. Sure there are bigger 'galaxies' but exploration, R&D, and expansion possibilities are VERY limited. There is only 1 'X' from possible 4, which is well represented in SoSE - eXterminate.

[jnpoint]

ORIGINAL: lordxorn

Jnpoint,

Welcome to the Matrix forums, and for me to give you a good answer tell me more about your gaming preferences. The reason is that while some people may bill SINS a 4x, it is in essence a RTS in space. If you love Command and Conquer type games, and want something with a grander scope and deeper research options, diplomacy options, then Sins is the way to go. With the two latest expansion packs it is really a complete grand RTS game.

Thanks for the good answers from all of you. [&o]
I like games like: Alien crossfire, Civ and especially EU3. I find RTS games to agressive and there is not enough 'time' to plan the next move and the overall strategy. So I'm mostly to Turn based games.

[martok]

ORIGINAL: jnpoint

Thanks for the good answers from all of you. [&o]
I like games like: Alien crossfire, Civ and especially EU3. I find RTS games to agressive and there is not enough 'time' to plan the next move and the overall strategy. So I'm mostly to Turn based games.

Going by that description, I would say you'll almost certainly want to purchase Distant Worlds then.

To me, Sins feels like a more standard RTS with some "light" 4x elements added in. Enjoyable enough, to be sure, but not what you're looking for if you want deeper strategy like the above games you just mentioned.

[lordxorn]

You welcome! [8D]

From your response I would definitely say Distant Worlds.

Alien Crossfire was excellent, and the EU3 series and the WWII counterpart like HOI3.

I just got Strategic Command Global and I am enjoying it.

[adamsolo]

Sins is a much better game than I first anticipated. I gave it a 9.2 in my review (the Trinity bundle - all expansions) for the reasons I explain in the Review: http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2010/02 ... ty-review/

If you're more into pure TBS 4x games like Master of Orion 2 you will probably like Armada 2526. Check my review of Armada 2526: http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2010/03 ... 26-review/

If you like the Star Wars universe you have Star Wars: Empire at War, very good game also: http://www.lucasarts.com/games/swempire ... Flash.html

If you didn't played Galactic Civilizations 2 yet it could be the right game for you. GalCiv2 is the best most recent 4x TBS.

You have also Sword of the Stars. With all the expansions it is a very interesting game: http://www.swordofthestars.com/

In conclusion
- If you prefer 4x TBS I recommend you GalCiv2 or Armada 2526
- If you prefer 4x RTS I recommend you Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity

Let's see what DW has to offer ..

[magickoji]

I say go ahead and buy Sins of a Solar Empire. But be warned... you will be back next Tuesday. Waiting for DW because Sins is such a swallow, and in my opinion a boring game. That after you play it over the weekend. You'll be asking yourself, why did I waste my money and time on that game. I should have waited and seen what DW was all about.

Also with Armada 2526. It's a fun game, but it's missing alot of stuff that makes it a great game. The way it is designed makes it very tedious to play. The ships you can build are limited to the ones that come with the game. You can not change or add to their designs, While DW says that you can make any kind of ship, that will fit within your Hull size that you can currently build. The research tree is also very limited. And There is no way to get a list or do a search to see what planets you've discovered. You have to zoom in on the map and hover over each planet. That you haven't colonized to see what it is.

[Wade1000]

And There is no way to get a list or do a search to see what planets you've discovered. You have to zoom in on the map and hover over each planet. That you haven't colonized to see what it is.

That part of Armada 2526 is being added in the next update.

[Duckfang]

ORIGINAL: Wade1000
That part of Armada 2526 is being added in the next update.

I have Armada 2526, but I'm having a hard time getting into it. I understand that the annoying population transfer malarky has been automated now, but my biggest problem is that when I'm in a space battle with an enemy, their ships don't do anything?

Even combat ships will just sit at the other side of the screen doing nothing. I keep hearing how the game has pretty smart AI, but I really don't see it.

Any ideas?

[Sarissofoi]

Play Master of Orion I.

[Anguille]

ORIGINAL: Duckfang
I have Armada 2526, but I'm having a hard time getting into it. I understand that the annoying population transfer malarky has been automated now, but my biggest problem is that when I'm in a space battle with an enemy, their ships don't do anything?

Even combat ships will just sit at the other side of the screen doing nothing. I keep hearing how the game has pretty smart AI, but I really don't see it.

Any ideas?

I am not very experienced with the game but maybe, if you have many ships, you have to place them first and then press start...

Cheers

[magickoji]

ORIGINAL: Wade1000

And There is no way to get a list or do a search to see what planets you've discovered. You have to zoom in on the map and hover over each planet. That you haven't colonized to see what it is.

That part of Armada 2526 is being added in the next update.

And how long will that be WADE? Never mind I don't care. And I don't think this guy wants to wait months for an update, when next Tuesday or sooner he can get DW instead.

[Anguille]

ORIGINAL: magickoji

ORIGINAL: Wade1000

And There is no way to get a list or do a search to see what planets you've discovered. You have to zoom in on the map and hover over each planet. That you haven't colonized to see what it is.

That part of Armada 2526 is being added in the next update.

And how long will that be WADE? I don't think this guy wants to wait months for an update, when next week he can get DW instead.

It's supposed to come in April...

[Wade1000]

The battles in Armada 2526 are also being improved in the same upcomming update.
 
By the way, I am looking forward to Distant Worlds...if someone has not noticed. Heh.

[Sarissofoi]

Sins of Solar Empire is shalow. I spend some time playing this game and that was waste of time. Shalow gameplay, simply and without soul. I can feel tis game I get bored very quickly. On the other hand look good and iidea with leveling capital sips is good, but this game lack something. Still Sins isnt bad. But medicore. If you like RTS you propably like it more though.

New Armada 2526 is bad. Interfeys is crappy, technology tree is simple, limited types of ships. Moving ships is pain and battles arent very funny. This game lookmore like Imperium Galactica 2. But worse. Also game look like crap. They add some 3d and cg animated scenes for no reason whatewer. I mean this look like crap andgameplay dont save it becoze gameplay is bad too. Rent it first or play demo (if it exist). I like orginal Armada(2525) more. Much more.

Wait some few days for DW.

[Gertjan]

I like Sins. I have played both the vanilla and entrenchment now (have already bought diplomacy, but didn't try it yet). The ship combat is really cool, although it can become a clickfest now and then. The AI is also pretty good. I agree that it gets repetitive after a while. But the races look a lot different and also play differently. The system with starlanes leads to a nice chokepoint effect. Starbases are also great features.

Nevertheless, I'm much more looking forward to DW. It looks to become very interesting. I only hope the average game doesn't necessarily take 5 weeks to complete, and that you can also complete it within 4-8 hours and still have fun. I hope it is easy to keep oversight and that automation and the AI are both very good. I hope automated ship combat is as good as if you would do it yourself, so that strategy (where, how and when you deploy your fleets) is much more important than clicking 1000 times a minute (like in SC). Despite these concerns, I'm very hopeful!