GalCiv II v1.8 is out!

[Brad Wardell]

Just a head's up that GalCiv II: Dark Avatar v1.8 has gone up.

http://forums.galciv2.com/?aid=165449

It's a free update to anyone who has Dark Avatar. Lots of new features including several new screens (new governors, an event screen, a lease management screen, local high scores, etc.).

Some AI and improvement tweaks and reduced memory use along with faster performance.

Next week the first beta of the new expansion pack Twilight of the Arnor is supposed to be made available (fingers crossed).

[slantz]

I smell a VM!

I keed, I keed.

[Gendal]

Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in. Every .1 or so update I play a few games then go back to waiting for the next exp/update.

Overall that's made GalCiv II an excellent bargain for me, since I rarely replay games, even ones meant for it like this and Civ.

[scharmers]

Thank you, Brad.

NOW BACK TO WORK ON MOM2 YOU TOOL

[Brad Wardell]

Just a head's up on that rumor, Stardock is NOT making Master of Magic 2. We're working on a turn-based fantasy strategy game but it won't be called MoM2.

[Lazy Shiftless Bastard]

Just a head's up on that rumor, Stardock is NOT making Master of Magic 2. We're working on a turn-based fantasy strategy game but it won't be called MoM2.

http://tykesontrikes.com/images/profound_sadness.gif

[Raife]

Just a head's up on that rumor, Stardock is NOT making Master of Magic 2. We're working on a turn-based fantasy strategy game but it won't be called MoM2.

Can I recommend some titles?

Master of Monsters
Magic or Monsters
Monsters of Magic
Giant Clam Assault Alpha

[Unicorn McGriddle]

Can I recommend some titles?

The Horrible Horror of Horrortown
Knife Pistol Shotgun
Cutscene Raiders
Bikini Invasion

[Jason Lutes]

Giant Clam Assault Alpha
Where do I pre-order?

[Raife]

Can I recommend some titles?

The Horrible Horror of Horrortown
Knife Pistol Shotgun
Cutscene Raiders
Bikini Invasion

You suck at this, although I like where you're going with Bikini Invasion.

[Lum]

No one has yet matched the sheer genius of Leisure Town (http://www.leisuretown.com/).

I'm fond of Assignment:Lincoln myself. (http://www.leisuretown.com/library/qac/10.jpg) (image mildly NWS)

[DoomMunky]

No one has yet matched the sheer genius of Leisure Town (http://www.leisuretown.com/).

I'm fond of Assignment:Lincoln myself. (http://www.leisuretown.com/library/qac/10.jpg) (image mildly NWS) That's the most fucked up site I've seen all week. What the hell are those things? Bendy toys in a diorama town?

[DeepT]

Just a head's up on that rumor, Stardock is NOT making Master of Magic 2. We're working on a turn-based fantasy strategy game but it won't be called MoM2.

OK, aside from being called something else, will it be MOM2? Although you say it is turn based, which is fine for single player, the only big thing I wanted from MoM2 was RTS multi-player.

[Njal]

OK, aside from being called something else, will it be MOM2? Although you say it is turn based, which is fine for single player, the only big thing I wanted from MoM2 was RTS multi-player.

Heretic!

[Tyjenks]

You suck at this, although I like where you're going with Bikini Invasion.

How 'bout Giant Bearded Clam Bikini Invasion?

Oh and, woohoo Gal Civ update!!!

[Orinoco]

OK, aside from being called something else, will it be MOM2? Although you say it is turn based, which is fine for single player, the only big thing I wanted from MoM2 was RTS multi-player.

Brad - please ignore DeepT.

kthxbye

[Matt Perkins]

OK, aside from being called something else, will it be MOM2? Although you say it is turn based, which is fine for single player, the only big thing I wanted from MoM2 was RTS multi-player.
So, from a turn based civ building, world conquering, turn based combat game, you want a RTS multiplayer mode...

Did you light up a doobie before you made this post?

[Matt Perkins]

Brad - please ignore DeepT. QFT!!

[DeepT]

There isn't anything intrinsically different between and RTS and TBS game, the only actual difference is in multi-player. RTS games keep things moving, where as a TBS game can bog down very quickly.

However, I have offended your sacred cow, which I knew would happen. I still want to play MoM in a multi-player format where a single game doesn't take weeks to finish.

[wildpokerman]

There isn't anything intrinsically different between and RTS and TBS game, the only actual difference is in multi-player. RTS games keep things moving, where as a TBS game can bog down very quickly.

However, I have offended your sacred cow, which I knew would happen. I still want to play MoM in a multi-player format where a single game doesn't take weeks to finish.

How about a quick mode like Civilization IV?

[Adam Altmann]

There isn't anything intrinsically different between and RTS and TBS game, the only actual difference is in multi-player. RTS games keep things moving, where as a TBS game can bog down very quickly.

However, I have offended your sacred cow, which I knew would happen. I still want to play MoM in a multi-player format where a single game doesn't take weeks to finish.

Stop typing!

[ZekeDMS]

Awesome. Looks like it's time to re-install and lose another week of my life before Twilight hits.

I should harass you for that interview I never got when I was a JIVE ;)

[Lum]

There isn't anything intrinsically different between and RTS and TBS game

Except for, you know, the game play.

I still want to play MoM in a multi-player format where a single game doesn't take weeks to finish.

Have you *tried* playing Civ4 online? Once?

[Funkula]

I'm so glad I made the wrong opinion thread. I might have missed this flawless jewel of batshit insanity otherwise.

[Matt Perkins]

Except for, you know, the game play.
Yeah, except for everything, they are exactly the same.

[Soapyfrog]

There isn't anything intrinsically different between and RTS and TBS game, the only actual difference is in multi-player. RTS games keep things moving, where as a TBS game can bog down very quickly.

I think Dominions 2 and 3 have demonstrated the ideal format for turn based multiplayer.

RTS is good too but unfortunately in that scenario you need to have everyone all present at the same time to move the game forward. So it does have serious drawbacks for long term strategy games.

SO they are quite different.

[André Costa]

There isn't anything intrinsically different between and RTS and TBS game, the only actual difference is in multi-player. RTS games keep things moving, where as a TBS game can bog down very quickly.

http://www.facepalm.org/images/16.jpg

[AndrewM]

I'd like a team-based FPS multiplayer mode.

[scharmers]

OK, aside from being called something else, will it be MOM2? Although you say it is turn based, which is fine for single player, the only big thing I wanted from MoM2 was RTS multi-player.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/scharmers/BITCHES_LEAVE.jpg

[Peter Olafson]

Just a head's up that GalCiv II: Dark Avatar v1.8 has gone up.

http://forums.galciv2.com/?aid=165449



Hi! Is there a place this patch can be downloaded without installing Stardock Central?

Peter

[Sten Friberg]

Just a head's up that GalCiv II: Dark Avatar v1.8 has gone up.

http://forums.galciv2.com/?aid=165449

It's a free update to anyone who has Dark Avatar. Lots of new features including several new screens (new governors, an event screen, a lease management screen, local high scores, etc.).



Sounds good, but one thing I was somewhat expecting was a new diplomatic screen akin to Civilizations "glance"-screen. Somewhere where I could get a quick overview of which races want what techs (or trade goods), and what techs they are willing to trade.
It would greatly reduce the time I spend clicking on all the races just to find out they have nothing I want, or don't want anything I got.

Do you have any plans to implement any such screen?

[DeepT]

No, I never played Civ4. I didn't get much out of Civ3 so I didn't even buy Civ4. Or if I did play Civ4 I can't remember anything about it to distinguish it from Civ3. In any case, one thing I am sure of, is that I didn't play it online, multi-player.

But yes, time limited turns, where you had like 2 minutes to do whatever, might be acceptable. Of course the game would have to be built with that in mind so you didn't need to micromanage 10 or 20 cities and not have a lot of spots where you just want to get through a bunch of turns to wait for something to finish building or getting somewhere.

[Lum]

So, you might actually want to try the industry leader in turn-based online multiplayer strategy once before dismissing turn-based online multiplayer strategy.

Plus, I'm pretty sure not actually playing Civ4 disqualifies you from talking about turn-based strategy games. Ever.

[Bill Dungsroman]

DeepT: rarely, if ever, wrong.

[Troy S Goodfellow]

If you can't find anything to distinguish Civ3 from Civ 4, then you clearly did not play Civ 4. They are the same in a lot of key ways, but oh so very different in how things are managed. There's no way any thinking person could confuse the two, so it's likely you just played Civ 3 or didn't spend much time with 4.

Give Civ a try in MP, DeepT. The pitboss is great, PBEM games are handled well, you can set up simultaneous turns if you like...it works much better than expected because, IIRC, it was designed with multiplayer as a core concept, not simply an option like in the other Civs.

Troy

[scotthal]

There's nothing wrong with a game that takes a long time to finish. A friend of mine and I who have absolutely incompatible schedules have been playing a game of Civ 4 PBEM for something like 8 months now. It's a different kind of fun than the fun you have sitting and playing a game straight through for 4-8 hours, but it's definitely still fun. It absolutely beats not playing together at all, which would be our only option if Civ 4 didn't support PBEM.

[Taranis]

No, I never played Civ4. I didn't get much out of Civ3 so I didn't even buy Civ4. Or if I did play Civ4 I can't remember anything about it to distinguish it from Civ3.
The two games are worlds apart from each other and Civ4 is the best of the two IMHO, its sounds like you never gave Civ4 a real chance. I would suggest going back and checking it out again, it truly is a great game and with the Beyond the Sword expansion it really shines (except it still needs a few patches).

MP is extremely well done and customizable in Civ4; I play Direct IP games with a Friend and were both on dial-up but are still able to finish Epic speed games in 5-7 hours, set the game to Fast and you can finish in under two hours easily and even faster with the introduction of "Advanced Starts" in BTS.

[DoomMunky]

Yay for GalCiv2. Yay for more streamlined interface!

[Brad Wardell]

Regarding GalCiv II v1.8:

Update is only available via Stardock Central (which is just a download manager, it doesn't stay in memory or anything).


Our next set of work is with the new expansion pack: Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor which goes into beta next week.


Re The fantasy strategy game:

Multiplayer will be turned based but will have similar features as Civ 4 multiplayer which, as others have pointed out, sets the bar for how it can be done.

We already have a space based RTS coming out - Sins of a Solar Empire (http://www.sinsofasolarempire.com) which has really good multiplayer which even lets you save your multiplayer game and continue them later with the same people if you choose.

[Ben Sones]

which even lets you save your multiplayer game and continue them later with the same people if you choose.

That's a great feature. (Brad, you crazy VM, you!... ;)

[ZekeDMS]

It's been a long time since I can think of an MP game that allowed saving. Some part of me says TA did, but I think that's wrong.

I remember Serious Sam did, in co-op, but that's all I can think of.

[fuzzyslug]

That's a great feature. (Brad, you crazy VM, you!... ;)

I'd say essential, if I want to consider any multiplayer game of considerable length.

[Rob_Merritt]

Yay for GalCiv2. Yay for more streamlined interface!


I just bought and installed Galactic Civilizations II Dread Lords Gold and patch it up. My head just about exploded trying to take in the interface. I hate to see how the interface looked before the stream lineing

[Quitch]

Trust me, it was harder, oh so much harder, like the total inability to see an overview of colony focus. *shudder*

[DoomMunky]

I'm REALLY Looking forward to the tweaks that TA offers...

Yay!

[cliffski]

It's been a long time since I can think of an MP game that allowed saving. Some part of me says TA did, but I think that's wrong.

I remember Serious Sam did, in co-op, but that's all I can think of.

what?

most RTS games do AFAIk. I know cossacks sure does.

[davidf]

OK, aside from being called something else, will it be MOM2? Although you say it is turn based, which is fine for single player, the only big thing I wanted from MoM2 was RTS multi-player.

That doesnt make any sense to me. A RTS game is a completly diffirent creature than TBS. TB is thinking, plotting, cerberal, RTS is is reaction and all about adopting the firefighting mentality. You have some strategy but its all tied to reactions

[Wobbo]

Hi! Is there a place this patch can be downloaded without installing Stardock Central?

Peter
Word.

[Jab2565]

Is there any news on the 2nd expansion? I tried going to TGN and it seems to be down or something today.

[tiohn]

Does anyone have a link to that blog where someone posted a very long, but very good AAR for GalCiv2? I've been playing again and would love to read it again, but I can't find it.

[JMR]

I think this is it

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=161570&site=pcg

[tiohn]

I think this is it

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=161570&site=pcg

That's it. Thanks a ton.

[tiohn]

I've owned GalCiv2 and Dark Avatar since before time, but haven't played more than two tiny games on easy AI that lasted about an hour each, both in GalCiv2, not the expansion. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that I've ever even run DA, but I bought it because I love love love Stardock. So now I'm willing to give it a try in earnest, especially now that a friend of mine is into the game. Should I work my way up through the campaign on the original, or just go ahead and jump in and play with Dark Avatar?

edit: Are the various tweaks, such as AI and interface that have been implemented in DA also implemented in the base game?

[Sam Jones]

edit: Are the various tweaks, such as AI and interface that have been implemented in DA also implemented in the base game?

The way the expansions work is that it's an entirely new build of the game - for the most part, changes are *not* retrofitted back to previous releases (GC2 and DA in this instance). You can switch between "chapters" - i.e. choose which version to run - from the autorun menu before launching the game.

[MikeJ]

Should I work my way up through the campaign on the original, or just go ahead and jump in and play with Dark Avatar?


The original campaign is nothing to write home about. The one in DA is better, but I still think it's entirely optional. The campaign games always seem very artificial to me, and I don't think they were a major focus of development. To me, custom maps are the main game, so I'd suggest playing small-medium maps in DA to get started.