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Galactic Civ. - 5/2/2004 3:25:58 AM

PeckingFury

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Joined: 2/12/2003
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If you like space strategy games along the lines of sid's civ series you should check out Galactiv Civ, pretty good single player only space strategy game. Lots of different approaches for winning. Picked up Moo3 and didnt care for it too much this game fills the void left with that purchase.

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RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/2/2004 4:24:07 AM

Hertston

Posts: 3564
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Cornwall, UK
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It's a very good game, and like you say very reminiscent of the Sid Meier games beneath a classic "4X" coating. They kept it simple, and got it right. Some of the limitations are annoying.. like only being able to play humans (why not any race ?) and the lack of any multiplay, which might have been exceptional had they put it in.

The trouble with MoO3 is that it was just too ambitious.. if they had pulled off what they set out to do it would have been simply amazing. Even a few more patches (it only got one) could have sorted it, but it never got supported. It's worth trying again if you still have it, the patch did solve a lot of problems and there are some very good user mods that iron out some of the rest.

BTW, if you like GalCiv you might want to try Dominions 2. Fantasy rather than space, but it's never been done better.

(in reply to PeckingFury)

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RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/2/2004 9:28:09 AM

NefariousKoel

Posts: 2930
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Murderous Missouri Scum
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I tried the GalCiv demo and thought it so-so just because it was so simplified. One of the biggest turn-offs I had was the fact that starship battles happened on the main map. They also take up way too much space to be appealing. I mean, aren't we in these games for the conflict? I just felt like I need the equivalent of a Viagra tablet for the combat.. it didn't excite me. :( That being said, I think they were on the right track with the rest of it, and the look of the interface was nice (other than the ships). I guess I like my 4X very complicated, with interesting combat - yet scalable. Aren't I a b*tch?

If you don't mind a small downgrade in flashiness, I'd recommend Space Empires 4 Gold just for the quality of gameplay. There's a lot to do, though it's showing it's age - it was never flashy in it's time even. There really hasn't been much to choose from in that category for some time now.

< Message edited by NefariousKoel -- 5/2/2004 1:23:42 AM >

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RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/2/2004 5:51:09 PM

Rainbow7

Posts: 404
Joined: 11/4/2003
From: Ottawa
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I've played both GalCiv and MOO3 extensively, and I still think MOO3 is better, problems and all. GalCiv is just a little too much a traditional, micromanagement game. It's good, but MOO3 is just that little bit more sophisticated. And it had the focus in the right place, meaning you're the emperor and not someone that's singlehandedly ordering buildings on each settled planet. But I do play both.

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RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/2/2004 6:01:36 PM

pasternakski

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Joined: 6/29/2002
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I was a big fan of GalCiv when it first came out, but it ran out of gas fairly quickly for me. MOO3 I never bought, based on the extremely negative reviews it received (besides, I've still got MOO on my old 200mhz box, and it's still a kick).

The thing that still impresses me about GalCiv is the work that was done on the AI. It cheats a lot less than any other AI I've seen in a game this size, and it's not remarkably stupid (for one thing, it performs some of its routines behind the game, allowing for more sophistication without taking up more time).

I wish Matrix/2by3 would step up and take the lead in AI design, possibly in consortium with other designers who are interested in preserving the hobby for those who prefer playing against the computer rather than against another human - still a large majority of computer gamers. Without them, sales go down, publishers go out of business, and the big, complex games most of us here like to buy don't get made anymore - we wind up back in the 'eighties again with no Gary Grigsby et al. to step up and revitalize the hobby.

BTW, Stardock is about to bring out a campaign for GalCiv called "The Altarian Prophecy" that looks pretty interesting for about thirty bucks. They continue to give excellent support to this game like Matrix does for its products.

< Message edited by pasternakski -- 5/2/2004 10:57:59 AM >

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RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/2/2004 7:19:31 PM

Von Rom

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Joined: 5/12/2000
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quote:

ORIGINAL: pasternakski

I wish Matrix/2by3 would step up and take the lead in AI design, possibly in consortium with other designers who are interested in preserving the hobby for those who prefer playing against the computer rather than against another human - still a large majority of computer gamers. Without them, sales go down, publishers go out of business, and the big, complex games most of us here like to buy don't get made anymore - we wind up back in the 'eighties again with no Gary Grigsby et al. to step up and revitalize the hobby.

It amazes me that even today no wargame has implemented a tactical "IF, THEN" event system. This simple addition could help fill in a lot of the AI deficiences.

If anyone wants to see what can be done combining events with a stupid AI, check out the latest release of Red Front v1.5 for Civ II MGE.

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Post #: 6

RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/3/2004 7:06:10 AM

Makoto

Posts: 458
Joined: 3/28/2004
From: Oregonia
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quote:

It amazes me that even today no wargame has implemented a tactical "IF, THEN" event system. This simple addition could help fill in a lot of the AI deficiences.

to clunky

I'm surprised Shrapnel Games' Space Empires 4 Gold hasn't been brought up yet, it's an excellent game.

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RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/3/2004 1:41:24 PM

Hertston

Posts: 3564
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Cornwall, UK
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Makoto

I'm surprised Shrapnel Games' Space Empires 4 Gold hasn't been brought up yet, it's an excellent game.

It has been (Nef).

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RE: Galactic Civ. - 5/3/2004 5:03:13 PM

Von Rom

Posts: 1705
Joined: 5/12/2000
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Makoto

quote:

It amazes me that even today no wargame has implemented a tactical "IF, THEN" event system. This simple addition could help fill in a lot of the AI deficiences.

to clunky

Well, in all the hundreds of scenarios and the thousands of events that have been created for Civ II, "clunky" was never a term that was used.

Anyone who has worked with this type of event system knows how well it can work with the AI. I have played some great scenarios that have taken advantage of this type of event system, and all I can say is, it can give the single player one heck of a run for his money in terms of gameplay.

Cheers!

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Post #: 9