Discussion on 4X games.

[AJC]

One thing I do like about SE3-4 series is it throws me back to the GOod ol Star Fire days... that was a pretty cool board game. I still like Moo2 and I am definately looking forward to Moo3.

[capnq]

My very first 4X game was Reach for the Stars, 3rd Edition. It was probably my favorite computer game until I bought Sid Meier's Civilization.

I currently have installed on my harddrive:

Master of Orion (haven't played MoO2), Reach for the Stars (current Version), Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri/Alien Crossfire, and SE IV.

Games that aren't on the HD any more:

Civilization II, Star Wars: Rebellion, Birthright, King of Dragon Pass.

(All the non-space games might technically not be 4X, but they're still empire management, so I included them.)

All of these had their strengths, and the only one I'd hesitate to reinstall if I had the HD space for it is Rebellion, mainly because it's the only real-time game in the lot, which made it almost unplayable for me.

The one I play the most now is SE IV, with SMAX in second place. I rarely play MoO or RftS, but there are other non-4X games on the HD that I'd uninstall before those.

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Cap'n Q
My first mod! Hypermaze quadrant
The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

[CyC]

The only 4x game I would still consider playing other than Se4 is Birth of The Federation.
Unfortunatly I have not been able to play it since My house hold had a win 2k upgrade and it no longer works, but rumors are spreading that it will be able to work under Windows XP.
BOFT is still one of my all time favourite games and sits up there with Total Annihilation for longest running computer games to sit on my computer

Ferengie are too powerful but in my opinion, especially if they are lucky enough to meet up with a few allies that they can buy out in the early game

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CyC
The Person not the AI
L+++ GdY $!+ Fr+ C--- S* T!- Sf++ Tcp++ A? M++ MpM RV Pw+ Fq++ Nd+++++ Rp++ G

[Taqwus]

Lately, I noticed another one -- "Dominions", by Illwinter. It's a 4X god game (Literally -- the objective is to be the Last major deity whom any province worships), with a pretty high degree of complexity (large magical system, item forging, god design, unit experience, et al). I think I saw a comparison to SE4 complexity in a Dominions discussion forum, actually.

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

[Betaman]

I had the opportunity of Beta Testing SE4, and Birth Of The Federation. SE4 is now my favorite game. However, I still have MOO, and Moo2, and BOTF installed as well. I also like Pax Imperia 2.

Of all the games that I have played, and believe me, I have played almost all the 4x games to some degree. SE4 is by far the most customizable 4x Space game out their. If you don't like something in it, change it.

All the creative talents of new races have made this game by far a new game each time you start a new session.

I have counted over 100 new races player's have contributed to SE4. And more are being created as we sit here reading and typing! You can play your favorite SCIFI race. What other game can say that? This concept was built into the game! That's sooo cool!

I guess I am a fan of SE4, and the whole 4x genre. I can find something good in all 4x games. However, there are only a few that will wear out my mouse, and stay with my next computer update. Keep me from sleeping. Nuff Said!

The Betaman!

("Able to kill bugs faster that a speeding Patch!")

[Schwarzbart]

I played Stars!, Pax Imperia 2, Ascendancy, Master of Orion, Master of Orion 2, Reach for the Stars (dont know the Version but it is C 2000) and Space Empires IV. In my option is Space Empires IV the best of all this games. My hope for the future is Stars! Supernova Genesis.

[This message has been edited by Schwarzbart (edited 23 October 2001).]

[Baron Munchausen]

I've been reading further in the MOO3 site. The discussions in the forums are interesting but reveal some not-so-good ideas for MOO3. The 'event management' system where you get events to 'play' against other players is weird. As someone objecting to it pointed out, it makes MOO into 'Magic: The Gathering' rather than a 4X game. So perhaps MOO 3 is not going to be so perfect as it seemed at first. But, they have made major design changes already. The "ethos" system seems to have been dropped, for example. I guess it was too complex. Or they discovered that they were trying to program something that people wanted to do for themselves, the 'role playing' of their races. I hope they allow this strange 'event management' system to be disabled, at least.

[Suicide Junkie]

quote:

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I hope they allow this strange 'event management' system to be disabled, at least.

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It does sound like a very good idea if applied to intel ops.
You'd send in your spies, and they would prepare you a "riot squad", or a big stock of explosives, or whatever.
They'll notify you when ready, giving you a "card" to play whenever you send the signal.
These should have a limited shelf-life, depending on type and the counter-intel of the defender. (eg. Supplies for a bomb op could be hidden longer that an stirred-up populace for a riot)
When triggered, they would have a chance of failure (or partial success), depending on counter intel, happiness, and troop concentrations.

[Baron Munchausen]

A discussion of what is a 'strategy game' has started on Slashdot under the "Ask Slashdot" topic. The usual 'holy war' between RTS and turn-based games has broken out. Anyone here have a Slashdot account? You can put in a plug for SE if you do. http://slashdot.org/askslashdot/01/10/26/1441203.shtml

[Suicide Junkie]

quote:

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It all comes down to simplicity, the number of people that want really complicated games is not that high. Complex games have a small market. Some of the best times are spent playing drunken tetris!

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LoL "Drunken Tetris".
I think I'll stick with SE4