Gold Version - First Look

GhostBear · #1 March 18th, 2002, 05:10 PM

All,

The good:

The new sound effects are great. The first time my planet opened up on an enemy ship with Quantum Torpedoes at range 10 it was really cool. NEVER underestimate the value of "suspension of disbelief"

The new "systems" are vaguely interesting. The organic infestation was kind of cool. I'd rather have had a useful planet, or something to deal with the infestation (maybe there is something in the long run?)

Jury still out:

Drones - I launch in combat and don't seem to have ANY ability to give them a target. Maybe I'm missing something?

Seems like they are pretty good for planetary defense, but not so good for ships to carry (think Andromeda). Either allow recovery/refuel, or allow construction without a space yard (to allow replenishment without returning to base).

Of course, if the computer makes them as fast as they make fighters, the computer will certainly like them. Haven't seen them used yet...

The not so good:

Game speed: I'm running XP and the problem with SE IV with ship animations is mostly gone. I'd still like to see this (without having to turn the animations off) be adjustable. I'd also like ship speed on the screen to be indicative of the ship's game speed.

Bottom line - I really don't see anything that warrants paying for the game again. I expected major improvements in the graphics OR something to make this more than just the next patch. I realize they have to make money to keep improving the game, but this WAS NOT worth even the rebated price.

Still love the game though.

GB

Elmo · #2 March 18th, 2002, 05:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by GhostBear:
All,

<snip>

Still love the game though.

GB

Unfortunately I have to add the manual to the "not so good" Category. It's OK for newbies but worthless for veterans which I would think are mostly the people buying Gold. The Index is full of references to pages that don't exist. Must be the manual was shortened at the Last minute to cut costs.

Elmo

Wardad · #3 March 18th, 2002, 05:45 PM

Hey,

I finally opened the manual and found the REBATE COUPON!!!
I guess it's good for something.

I'm having a bLast playing gold. Has anyone looked at the MODS yet?

UPGRADES HAPPEN!

PsychoTechFreak · #4 March 18th, 2002, 05:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Wardad:
Hey,

I finally opened the manual and found the REBATE COUPON!!!
I guess it's good for something.

Just if you are owner of SE4 (non-Gold).

wr8th · #5 March 18th, 2002, 05:57 PM

I'm tempted by the mods. I figure I'll play unmodded for awhile, let the novelty wear off and thens start adding the mods to reintroduce some newness into the game. I couldn't wait to add the ST races. I copied the Klingon logo from BOTF though and updated the system name text file to include names from the series. Maybe I'll update the screen bitmaps to be more TNG-ish? Qa'plaH!

Richard · #6 March 18th, 2002, 06:36 PM

No the manual was not cut down, in fact we inflated it with several things to reach the 120 page margin. The index appears to have some incorrect info in it however.

Elmo · #7 March 18th, 2002, 09:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Richard:
No the manual was not cut down, in fact we inflated it with several things to reach the 120 page margin. The index appears to have some incorrect info in it however.

Richard

Fair enough. I stand corrected. Sorry for the negative comments on the manual but as a long time player of SE IV it was a disappointment to me. However many other aspects of the package, such as the additional bug fixes and Mods were welcome.

Elmo

Arak Koba · #8 March 18th, 2002, 10:44 PM

I found the manual to be satisfactory. But having already played the Gold demo, and done the tutorial there, I really didn't need the manual for much of anything. But I do know what you mean: some things weren't covered in the paper manual, but are covered in the Online game manual, which I am finding more useful.

I think I will learn a lot more about the game just reading through the .txt files than from any manual anyhow.

BoomStick · #9 March 18th, 2002, 11:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Elmo:

It's OK for newbies but worthless for veterans which I would think are mostly the people buying Gold.

Elmo

Nah. I'm a newbie and don't find the paper manual useful. I refer to the html based manual from in game far more often, though at times I'm left wanting with that as well.

Great game though, so it makes up for it.

capnq · #10 March 18th, 2002, 11:31 PM

As a veteran, I think the new printed manual is a HUGE improvement over the original; my only complaint is a dislike for the overly "chatty" writing style in spots. [ I cut my gaming teeth on some of the most opaque wargame rules that Avalon Hill and SPI ever produced; that's probably warping my judgement.

] I don't think I've even looked at the Online manual for Gold yet.

[ Edit ] Forgot to mention the Mods; I've installed Matryx's Mod Launcher, the two I contributed, and the TDM-ModPack so far. There are several others I intend to try that I probably wouldn't have downloaded otherwise. I expect the modding tools and guides will prove quite useful when I start working on another mod.

[ 18 March 2002: Message edited by: capnq ]