Amazing game!

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Amazing game!

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [Science Fiction] >> Starships Unlimited v3 >> Amazing game!

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Amazing game! - 1/19/2002 12:33:00 AM

kenobi

Posts: 6
Joined: 1/18/2002
From: USA
Status: offline

Yes, I probably should have posted this under one of the other threads of praise but hey...

I'm really having a hard time tearing myself away from this game. This has got to be one of the finest bits of software that's ever graced my hard drive. Andrew and co., I think this may be the start of a new 4X dynasty for you. I hope so at least! I've gone through every 4X game under the sun, and even as I contemplated purchasing yet another name in the genre I wondered what STUN

G would be able to offer me that Space Empires, MOO2, Stars!, or RFTS (yuk) hadn't already. I realize now that even though STUN

G's backbone features are those of every 4X game, and very familiar to any hardcore 4X nut like myself, it doesn't play like any game of the genre I've ever played before. Or any game of ANY genre I've ever played for that matter (and that's a lot of games!). Great job all around, the game has a fantastic concept (the tactical combat especially) and is very easy to jump right into and start playing, the interface is one of the easiest to learn and navigate I've ever seen in a 4X game, the graphics are a great touch, and even the sounds are worthy of very high marks (I did NOT expect those little plasma bugs to make such bowel-shuddering BOOM's the first time I squished one). And wait, could it be... yes, it is! A midi soundtrack! Honestly, this is one of the only games I play with the music left on. One of those songs is bouncing around in my skull this very moment as a matter of fact. They really do add a tremendous amount of atmosphere to the game. Kudos to the composer! The only thing I can possibly find to gripe about at this point is the relatively bland dialogue exchanges with the other races. Diplomacy feels a little too mechanical sometimes. But I suppose that's a standard that MOO2 set long ago that ANY 4X game since has yet to surpass (IMO at least). In any case I feel that STUN

G has definitely raised the bar for the genre in virtually every area but this. It's good to know that I can conquer the universe and have fun doing it without being bogged down with micro-management and minutiae by mid to late-game for once in my 4X career! Thanks, and PLEASE keep up the good work! I hope to be playing STUN 2, 3, and 4 in the years to come! edit: AHHH! Those damn graemlins ate all my d's and colons again. Oh well, I'd fix them but I'm too lazy. [ January 18, 2002: Message edited by: kenobi ]

_____________________________

Post #: 1

- 1/19/2002 2:39:00 AM

peaeri

Posts: 8
Joined: 9/27/2001
From: Montreal, Canada
Status: offline

Hi Kenobi, Thanks for the nice words on the soundtrack. Cheers,

_____________________________

Eric Pearson
(composer STUN Divided Galaxies soundtrack)

(in reply to kenobi)

Post #: 2

- 1/19/2002 8:56:00 AM

Vaaish

Posts: 45
Joined: 8/23/2001
From: Pensacola, Fl
Status: offline

Thanks for the complements on the graphics aspect, from me and the others who worked on them. [ January 18, 2002: Message edited by: Vaaish ]

_____________________________

-Vaaish

(in reply to kenobi)

Post #: 3

- 1/19/2002 11:21:00 AM

kenobi

Posts: 6
Joined: 1/18/2002
From: USA
Status: offline

Was I gushing again? Hehe. Just giving credit where it's due! Whenever the DG theme song starts up, I've got a habit of focusing on one of my scouts at 1X speed, turning up the volume, and just watching him scoot past the stars with that epic John Williams-y tune playing in the background. Reminds me a little of the Imperial March from Star Wars for some reason, although not quite as brooding. Don't ask me why, my own brain baffles me sometimes. So what are the odds of ever seeing the graphics make the leap to true and full 3-D? If you guys are ever in the market for some more modellers, I'm fairly skilled and readily available.

_____________________________

(in reply to kenobi)

Post #: 4

- 1/19/2002 8:25:00 PM

Vaaish

Posts: 45
Joined: 8/23/2001
From: Pensacola, Fl
Status: offline

If they want to move to full 3d, I would only have to remove the greeble and retexture the existing models. For the planets it would be somewhat more difficult because the planet map is a procedural texture and would need to be rendered flat before being mapped as a bitmap to the planet sphere. Other than that, it is fairly "simple" to convert on my end... on Andrew's, I'm not sure what he would need to do to code a fully 3d engine. I shudder at the prospect of coding it though.

_____________________________

-Vaaish

(in reply to kenobi)

Post #: 5

- 1/19/2002 8:42:00 PM

Marc von Martial

Posts: 10875
Joined: 1/4/2001
From: Bonn, Germany
Status: offline

Yup, thanks for the kuddos

On the 3D aspect, well the modelling and texturing is the lesser work me thinks

_____________________________

Marc von Martial
instagram stream

(in reply to kenobi)

Post #: 6

- 1/20/2002 2:46:00 AM

Andrew Ewanchyna

Posts: 229
Joined: 8/24/2001
Status: offline

I'd love to do a true 3D version of Stun but that will have to wait until I finish my next game, which will be in 3D, of course. I've had my fill of sprite-based graphics and software particle effects.

_____________________________

Developer of Starships Unlimited

(in reply to kenobi)

Post #: 7