Matrix Games Forums

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

Official site:
http://codeforce.co.nz/default.asp

Publisher site:
http://www.matrixgames.com/products/379 ... ant.Worlds

"Facts about Distant Worlds" forum thread:
tm.asp?m=2379285

Publisher forum:
tt.asp?forumid=782

There are two genres of game that I know I can steer clear of and not be disappointed - 4x games and hack and slash games.

I've tried both and neither have ever drawn me in. I want to see what other people see...but can't (must be that tiny brain thing again [;)] )

I'm still nervous about the game's real-time aspect (I've long been mostly a turn-based strategy gamer myself), but otherwise I'm very much looking forward to Distant Worlds. I can't til next week!

I too have mostly played turn-based strategy games. I'm looking forward to Distant Worlds though.
 
Maybe it should be called "Real Time Strategy Orders While Paused".(RTSOWP)

ORIGINAL: Wade1000

I too have mostly played turn-based strategy games. I'm looking forward to Distant Worlds though.

Maybe it should be called "Real Time Strategy Orders While Paused".(RTSOWP)

What a mouthful! [:)]

Try Pausable Continuous Time (PCT) which is the term we use for HTTR/COTA/BFTB or PausableRTS if it has a resource building aspect to it.

Cool. Alright, 4Ex PausableRTS game sounds good. 4Ex PRTS

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.

I find all I need from 4X space strategy with Sins of Solar Empire...It's real time but it's not a click fest, AI is very good...love the art and graphics.

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.

What about a demo?
It does look good in the screen shots.

Once you have Galactic Civilization II and all its expansions you don't need another 4x game imho and you don't have to even think about pausing or setting up stop moments as it's programed so you don't have to. Also, being pausible doesn't take away it's still an rts type game. I suppose next we'll hear it doesn't have resource micromanagement or having to build structures to build up an army or defensive structures and units?

Correct, it is not an RTS-type game. While I had a blast with GalCiv 2 (and have owned every GalCiv back to my original copy of the first one on my OS/2 system), I would strongly disagree that it's the only 4x you'll ever need.

Correct, it is not an RTS-type game

You're starting to believe in your own delusions of what real time strategy really is. The official site even states so.

Taken from the official site itself:

Distant Worlds - Overview
Distant Worlds is a vast, real-time, 4X space strategy game.

Guess you just don't know the product you are selling.

diablo1,

Are you trolling? I've played plenty of "RTS-style" games and enjoyed some of them. This is a strategy game that happens to run in real-time (at a variety of pausable speeds, with full interaction while paused). That to me is more like a variant on turn-based play than anything close to a typical RTS, where the gameplay and often AI performance depend on a non-stop experience. This has none of the typical RTS elements, such as those mentioned above (resource micro-management, building structures to pump out units, etc.) apart from the real-time clock. It's far more similar to a Conquest of the Aegean style system in space than it is to Starcraft.

Regards,

- Erik

I wish the official site had screenshots featuring combat. It's all patrolling and exploring and custom ships and look here is a base. Not one shot of combat, space or ground or anything.

ORIGINAL: carnifex

I wish the official site had screenshots featuring combat. It's all patrolling and exploring and custom ships and look here is a base. Not one shot of combat, space or ground or anything.

Click view all, The first screenshot shows space combat. There a couple in the screenshot thread

What a turd! I actually thought your "World domination/athletes as American slaves" comments were trolling rubbish and I thank you for confirming! This game looks good enough and deep enough that it might actually tempt me despite not being much of a fan of the 4X style games.

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Once you have Galactic Civilization II and all its expansions you don't need another 4x game imho and you don't have to even think about pausing or setting up stop moments as it's programed so you don't have to. Also, being pausible doesn't take away it's still an rts type game. I suppose next we'll hear it doesn't have resource micromanagement or having to build structures to build up an army or defensive structures and units?

Actually if you have CIV4 you do not need to play Galciv2 at all,but that is another story.

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.

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