To Buy or not to buy, that is the question

[Pindar]

I like strategy games. I liked the old Birth of the Federation. I like EU 2. I like RTR. I'm thinking about the EB. I like the MTW XL mod. I didn't like Civ III (I thought it was boring). I like peanut butter.

So, for those who have played the game: should I buy Galactic Civilizations II?*

*

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Yes, I've seen the Galactic Civilizations II thread already on this board. This poll is for science, fun and to practice making polls

[Crandaeolon]

Not liking Civ3 is a bad sign. I'd say wait for a little more feedback on 1.1 before making the decision.

[Zenicetus]

I voted yes/grand game, but I have no idea what kind of game turns YOU on. Note that GalCiv2, like Civ4, doesn't include tactical battles. You get your ships in position, and then everything is auto-calculated and you watch the battle in hands-off mode. Some people don't like that. I thought I wouldn't, but the main strategy game is so interesting that I don't really mind it.

The word from the official forum is that a demo is coming out "very soon," so you might want to wait for that before deciding.

P.S. I just hope the demo includes the ship designer, because even though it's basically an eye candy extra that doesn't affect the gameplay, it's also loads of fun. I think I'd still enjoy the game even without it, but it definitely adds something.

[BDC]

Ship designer is central to game. There are no core designs for the more powerful craft.

[Voigtkampf]

I like strategy games. I liked the old Birth of the Federation.

Oh, the good old Birth of Federation...

But did you like Master of Orion 2? It is the space strategy game. GalCiv2 reminds me a lot to MoO2. I'd say buy GalCiv2. I did. Reviewed it too. Very fine game.

[frogbeastegg]

What didn't you like about Civ 3? I didn't like that game, but I do like Civ 4 and GalCiv2.

My two main issues with Civ 3 were the insane corruption, and the need to bury the map in roads/railways. There were other dislikes, mainly things which I felt Alpha Centauri had done better and Civ 3 had failed to learn from, such as the very limited government types, the unit and battle system, the diplomacy, the more limited victory conditions, and the way all the factions felt so similar.

So if your niggles with civ 3 match mine, then you may like GalCiv2 (or Civ 4!).

[Pindar]

Oh, the good old Birth of Federation...

But did you like Master of Orion 2? It is the space strategy game. GalCiv2 reminds me a lot to MoO2. I'd say buy GalCiv2. I did. Reviewed it too. Very fine game.

Hello Master Voightkampf,

I didn't know you had donned the black robes! I don't check in here enough. Maybe we'll have to start playing chess again. Actually, Birth of the Federation and another game called Napoleon 1813 (a sort of precursor to the Total War series) were the first two PC games I bought. I've never played MoO2. All the positive reviews and your additions mean I'll have to buy GalCiv2.

[Pindar]

What didn't you like about Civ 3? I didn't like that game, but I do like Civ 4 and GalCiv2.

My two main issues with Civ 3 were the insane corruption, and the need to bury the map in roads/railways. There were other dislikes, mainly things which I felt Alpha Centauri had done better and Civ 3 had failed to learn from, such as the very limited government types, the unit and battle system, the diplomacy, the more limited victory conditions, and the way all the factions felt so similar.

So if your niggles with civ 3 match mine, then you may like GalCiv2 (or Civ 4!).

Civ3 was my first Civ series experience. Several of your comments are similar to my feelings: dislike of the poor diplomacy, limited government/troop types, similar factions and an overall dissatisfied feeling where one would play just one more turn, but the bloody game just wouldn't be fun. I really don't understand why the game was so popular.

[Voigtkampf]

Hello Master Voigtkampf,

I didn't know you had donned the black robes! I don't check in here enough. Maybe we'll have to start playing chess again. Actually, Birth of the Federation and another game called Napoleon 1813 (a sort of precursor to the Total War series) were the first two PC games I bought. I've never played MoO2. All the positive reviews and your additions mean I'll have to buy GalCiv2.

Indeed, Pindar-sama, they've put a dress on me.

I would honestly recommend you to get Master of Orion 2 if you can, I loved that game, GalCiv 2 reminds me of it greatly. I am currently playing several older games, Broken Sword, Blade Runner, The Longest Journey… Retro is good. Hook up for a chess game anytime, and humiliate me again.

[Martok]

Yes, Pindar, you should pick up Galactic Civilizations 2; it's without question a terrificly fun game. As I posted in the main thread about the game, I'm completely addicted to it despite my ancient computer causing the game to crash every few turns. Like you and Voigtkampf here, I'm also a big fan of BotF, and even it can't compare to GalCiv 2 in terms of overall "addictiveness" and enjoyment. Don't walk--but run--to your nearest game store to pick up this excellent title!

But did you like Master of Orion 2?

You know, I picked up MOO2 on Amazon for cheap, but was never able to get into it that much. Ironically enough, I think I have Birth of the Federation to blame for not being able to like Master of Orion 2 as much as everyone else has. To me, when compared to the more dynamic Trek background of BotF, MOO2 basically felt like a bland and generic regression. (Blasphemous words, I know!) I eventually wound up giving my copy of MOO2 to my younger brother, who apparently enjoyed it more than I was able to.

[Ser Clegane]

This thread and the other GC2 thread just sold the game to me (I just ordered it).

Now I only need enough time to actually play it...

[Nikpalj]

The feature I specially liked in MoO2 were assigning all the various Planetary Governors to the planets and ship commanders, which added a slight rpg taste to it (wich fit's in perfectly) something I found gravely missing in much of the Cx4, Grand Strategy games (except for the Crusader Kings, of course)...

The tac combat was also really awfull because of the 2D dated graphics which in 1997, when I got the game looked like something from the Space Invaders or something... and the ships had the abbility only to move in a 2D space - what kind of "space" was that?

BotF was the first (and only, imho) ST game which seriously attempted to portray the inside working of the ST (and any other serious sf) world. Although I missed the orbital defense batteries actually making an appearance in tac combats...

Every one of ST games before or since had only the strat or tac combat part, never the two of them combined into a Cx4 game, to which ST is ideally suited. Specially it's "exploring strange new worlds part" and the accent on scientific growth, not on combat/violence as such - which seems to be the case with all the other ST games.

BotF imo is an ST game "for grownups", and with dozens of mods that have been made by the community for it, it continues to live on right to this day.
We won't have as many Cx4 gems as this one that much in the coming days, as the industry is taking over and the general level of intelligence in computer games is being modified for the average, short attention span teenager/early adolescent (just look at the lightning quick combats in unmodded RTW...) even in strategies.

There'll always be mods around and small programmer firms like Stardock, so we're safe, though...

[Samurai Waki]

go for it! all you've got to lose is a few bucks.

[frogbeastegg]

Civ3 was my first Civ series experience. Several of your comments are similar to my feelings: dislike of the poor diplomacy, limited government/troop types, similar factions and an overall dissatisfied feeling where one would play just one more turn, but the bloody game just wouldn't be fun. I really don't understand why the game was so popular.

Then I'd say GalCiv2 is worth a go. You might also want to look at Civ 4, as it's a big improvement. I believe there is a demo available; I do know that there will be one for GalCiv2.

[doc_bean]

the demo should be out thursday

Gamespot countdown to the demo

[Martok]

This thread and the other GC2 thread just sold the game to me (I just ordered it).

Eeeeeeeeex-cellent. Welcome to the dark side, Sir Clegane.

[Pindar]

Indeed, Pindar-sama, they've put a dress on me.

You look good in a dress.

Yours, frogbeastegg's, Martok's, the Cube and others covinced me. I bought the game today.

[Pindar]

Like you and Voigtkampf here, I'm also a big fan of BotF,

Wouldn't it be nice if a grand strategy Trek game was put out with all the advantage of all the advances in system that have been made since BotF. I was always partial to the Romulans. Maybe its the ears mixed with a penchant for violence.

[Martok]

Wouldn't it be nice if a grand strategy Trek game was put out with all the advantage of all the advances in system that have been made since BotF.

Yes, indeed it would. I've been clamoring for a sequel to Birth of the Federation for at least five years now. It proved that the Trek universe lends itself very well to the sub-genre of 4x strategy games. Yes, BotF was by most people's standards only a mediocre game; but that was mostly because of flawed execution. In concept and overall design, however, the game was pretty sound.

I was always partial to the Romulans. Maybe its the ears mixed with a penchant for violence.

The Romulans were my favorite race to play as in BotF.

[Voigtkampf]

Ah, you two love them only because they were evil, mean and sneaky.

Adorable little buggers, ain't them?

And what's with the pointy ears and all those sex implications?

[Nikpalj]

"If knowledge is true power, then to be Unknown means to be Unconquerable..." phew, and I got this right out of my memory, didn't need to take a peek at the Romie intro. To many years of staring at green game interfaces...

Btw, has enyone noticed how cool the music is? I really like it, specially the Romie strategic interface one - it really makes you feel like driving out in your Warbird and conquering something... ;)

I just couldn't resist this, but let's not turn this thread into a BotF fan related one...

"This sector is STILL ours... When will they learn?"

[Martok]

Ah, you two love them only because they were evil, mean and sneaky.

You know me too well, old friend.

And what's with the pointy ears and all those sex implications?

Okay, now you lost me! (And I'm not sure I want to know, either.)

[Martok]

"If knowledge is true power, then to be Unknown means to be Unconquerable..."

Yeah, I love that line. (Although I also enjoy the Klingon's introduction: "If a Klingon does not fight, he does not breathe!") I do really like the dialogue in BotF, even if it is limited overall.

Btw, has enyone noticed how cool the music is? I really like it, specially the Romie strategic interface one - it really makes you feel like driving out in your Warbird and conquering something... ;)

Yes, I agree the Rom's music is excellent (although I admit the Fed's campaign music is probably my favorite). Really, though, Microprose did a good job with the music for all the races. No matter which empire I was playing as, the music always felt appropriate; and it really gave me a feeling of immersion into the game.

[Reverend Joe]

Oh, man, now you got me thinkin' about the music from Master of Orion 2... man, if I heard that music for the first time now, I would hate it so much, but it was ingrained into me too heavily, back in the day.

Someone needs to remake Master of Orion 2.

[drone]

I always liked the Klingons in BotF, the interface skin and voices were so fitting. And not nearly as annoying as the Ferengis....

The sound at the start of MoO2, when the main menu folds down onto the screen, still gets me all tingly.

[Pindar]

I'm shocked so many both played and liked BoF. I thought I was alone in the universe. Of course when I bought the game I was still working over in Japan and the Trek universe is smaller there.

Ah, you two love them only because they were evil, mean and sneaky.

Hehe, that's me. I hated the Federation almost as much the Frengi dogs. I would go out of my way to hunt them down with my Warbirds.

[Martok]

I'm shocked so many both played and liked BoF. I thought I was alone in the universe. Of course when I bought the game I was still working over in Japan and the Trek universe is smaller there.



Hehe, that's me. I hated the Federation almost as much the Frengi dogs. I would go out of my way to hunt them down with my Warbirds.

Yeah, the Feds were usually the 2nd race to die in my games--after the Ferengi, of course. Stupid arrogant, self-reightous humans....

[econ21]

I'm intrigued by all this talk of Birth of Federation. I am a Star Trek fan - is it worth getting this game (e.g. on E-bay)? At the time, the reviews were kind of mediocre (7.5 or thereabouts) but the talk here makes it sound significantly better. What did people like about it? How is the combat? GalCivII sounds like it may have better gameplay, but I find it hard to get attached to generic fantasy settings. By contrast, a game set in a Star Trek world would be instantly appealing to me.

[Ser Clegane]

I'm intrigued by all this talk of Birth of Federation. I am a Star Trek fan - is it worth getting this game (e.g. on E-bay)? At the time, the reviews were kind of mediocre (7.5 or thereabouts) but the talk here makes it sound significantly better. What did people like about it? How is the combat? GalCivII sounds like it may have better gameplay, but I find it hard to get attached to generic fantasy settings. By contrast, a game set in a Star Trek world would be instantly appealing to me.

I think what makes BotF so much fun is really the Star Trek license and the excellent atmosphere it creates using this license.

I enjoyed this game tremendously, but if I take an objective look at it, it would probably indeed be a mediocre game without the Star Trek license.

The tech tree is rather linear and the battles (while nice to look at) only involve very limited tactics (quite a rock/paper/scissor approach is used for battle maneuvers).

If you love Star Trek you will very likely enjoy this game very much as it is definitely not a bad game (and the graphics and sound are quite nice).

Some advice if you buy it:
- definitely patch it (there was a horrible memory leak in the first version)
- turn of the Borg (they can absolutely ruin a fine campaign)

EDIT: sorry for going further OT