Galactic Civilisations II has gone Gold!!

[Shagnak]

<strong>[ Game -> Update ]</strong>

<p>Those busy little space gnomes at <a title="Stardock" target="_blank" href="http://www.tacticularcancer.com/system/admin/www.stardock.com" name="www.stardock.com">Stardock</a> have finished Galactic Civilsatio...oops, I mean <strong>Galactic Civili<u><strong>z</strong></u>ations II</strong>.</p><p>Check out the rather detailed wrap-up <a title="here" target="_blank" href="http://www.galciv2.com/journals.aspx?aid=100112&c=1" name="http://www.galciv2.com/journals.aspx?aid=100112&c=1">here.</a> </p><p>It will be made available around February 21st, so until then here is a pretty picture:</p><p><img width="512" height="409" border="0" src="http://www.galciv2.com/screenshots/gold/gold.h7.jpg" alt="oooh...purty" title="oooh...purty" /> </p><p>Ooohhh.....purty. </p><p>Thanks to one of our forum regulars, <strong>baby arm</strong> !
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

 

[S4ur0n27]

Is there something funny there?

 

[Jason]

Shagnak always giggles when he types the word "gnome".

 

[Naked_Lunch]

The first game was good, but rather shallow and repetitive. This one looks like it'll be a birthday cake of strategy awesomeness.

Maybe if I'm nice enough, I can score a free copy and get an uber-exclusive first review B)

 

[Jason]

If I was going to buy GalCiv1 or SE4, which one has more "bang for the buck"? I like the demo of SE4 so far, but does it stay interesting over the long haul?

Good luck scoring a review copy. Just don't call them faggots or BNOLs when you contact them. Some people don't like that.

 

[Shagnak]

Is there something funny there?

Spelling faux pas.
Civilisation vs civilization.

Yeah, not funny, but nevermind.

Maybe if I'm nice enough, I can score a free copy and get an uber-exclusive first review cool as fuck

Well if that doesn't work, Feb 21st is just before my birthday, so I'll almost definitely getting it online. Won't exactly be an exclusive, but I'll defo review it if you don't manage to.
(Hmmm...better play some more of the first one so I can compare)

If I was going to buy GalCiv1 or SE4, which one has more "bang for the buck"? I like the demo of SE4 so far, but does it stay interesting over the long haul?

Not certain.
Deathy/bscarlett/Pimpkernel is a big fan of SE4. From what he has told me it bears a LOT of replaying.

As I have that ubar-virus known as Steam on my machine, maybe I'll buy the latest version and find out for myself as well.

Edit:
The Deluxe version of SE4 is only $19.95 from Steam. I'm pretty certain I've seen not-so deluxe versions elsewhere for $25.

Dangerous Waters, a game I know little about other than it is a naval combat strategy/sim thingy, is also available from Steam now at a considerably steeper cost of $40.

 

[Naked_Lunch]

GalCiv I is basically Civ 2 in space, so if you can dig that it's definitely worth the 20 or so bucks. I've found the Deluxe edition at my EB for only 15 or so which comes with both the game and the uber-cool expansion.

SE4 is more than just your standard Civ clone and offers a lot more, but it's more expensive and has a steeper learning curve, though I doubt you'll mind that.

If you can buy both, go for it. If not, ehh, I'd go for SE4.

 

[Jason]

So they're putting out a demo, but not untill after release.

"The demo version obviously needs to get done. A lot of people won't buy a game without at least trying out the demo. The demo won't show up before release though. We want all our development effort put first to the people who are buying the game sight unseen. Those people have put faith that we'll treat them well and I want to make sure we do what we can to make sure they feel like they aren't let down.

So once the game's released, we can put together a demo pretty quickly. Even though the game requires 2 CDs to install, I really am hoping we can put together a demo that is less than a 200 meg download. Maybe even less than 100 megs. The tough part will be deciding what's in the demo."

Developer Diary Thing

 

[S4ur0n27]

That's like Blizzard. They always release their demos like a year after the game is out and sold like billions of copies.

 

[Jason]

3D Downloads, 3D Gamers, and Worthplaying all have the new intro movie for download. It's 8mb and will waste 2 minutes of your precious life.
I finally figured out how to link properly.

And IGN has a 3 page hands-on preview of the game. It even has a hideous mutant squirrel for some reason.

 

[S4ur0n27]

What the shit?

 

[VasikkA]

You just can't go wrong with mutant squirrels.

 

[Jason]

The main GalCiv2 site has a three minute gameplay demo here. It's worth watching because it includes commentary by one the designers and looks way better than any of the screenshots.

 

[Smiffus]

Nice, I've been looking forward to this one. After MoO2 there hasn't been much in the way of 4x in space (much good that is, don't get me started on MoO3)

On the other hand, Empire at War and Battle for Middle Earth 2 are near release as well. Choices, choices..

 

[LlamaGod]

On the other hand, Empire at War and Battle for Middle Earth 2 are near release as well. Choices, choices..

If you are seriously considering BFME2 over GalCiv 2, I hate you. Empire at War is nice, but nothing special and definately not nearly as good as GalCiv 2

 

[Jason]

Patrick, you are too young to have an important job so your opinions do not count. Nothing you say is witty or cool. You get one more warning and then it's bye bye.

 

[Smiffus]

I know, I'm a LotR fanboy, mea culpa. Gamewise they are miles apart, so I'll be choosing between old school 4x gameplay (and designing my own ships, yay!) and slick EA designed merchandising for the masses.

Should be an easy choice, but alas, not for me. Must be the Gimli wanabe burried deep inside of me, my angst of the big world out there, the urge to crawl back into the safe and warm womb where decisions are made for me and I'll be protected..

or something

 

[LlamaGod]

If you are a LOTR fanboy you wouldn't come within 50 feet of BFME2, thats a horrible excuse.

 

[S4ur0n27]

I gotta agree with Pat, shit D:

 

[Astromarine]

I have the game on my harddrive already, with their preloading thing. WTB a 5 megabyte executable, it's all I need to play! Argh!

There's also a really nice AAR by the lead developer here

 

[Jason]

Looks like the hotness. Let us know how it goes next Tuesday.

 

[Astromarine]

will do

 

[Human Shield]

If I was going to buy GalCiv1 or SE4, which one has more "bang for the buck"? I like the demo of SE4 so far, but does it stay interesting over the long haul?

Good luck scoring a review copy. Just don't call them faggots or BNOLs when you contact them. Some people don't like that.

GalCiv 1 is lacking in areas, wait for number 2.

The GalCiv series has more diplomacy and interaction with races, Space Empires is more about battles and has a lot more stuff to keep track of.

I found the micromanagement gets too annoying in SE4, sometimes you have to manually pilot colony ships around dangers, you have to send ships back to planets with the right building to resupply or upgrade, you have to separately design ground troops or fighters and build them (which they fill up the limited amount of cargo space on a planet) and load them in separate cargo ships.

 

[Levski 1912]

Battle for Middle Earth 2

The first one is better. Seriously.

 

[Shagnak]

I have the game on my harddrive already, with their preloading thing. WTB a 5 megabyte executable, it's all I need to play! Argh!

Preloaded eh?
I might have to investigate.

Edit:
Which option did you take?
Did you buy GC2 the "standard way" way? ($44.95)
Or do you have TotalGaming membership and use some tokens?

What seems a bit odd is that you can get TotalGaming membership for $39.95, get 5 tokens, and use up those tokens by buying GC2 - and save 5 bucks in the process!
Is there some other catch that I am missing?