First Beta 3 impressions

After one short unfinished game...

from Sins Forums
I've just about finished a small random galaxy against one easy AI player...

I got 3 new gravity wells. 2 Asteroid Belts which you can't colonize and which contain not nearly enough asteroids I think (but that might be me ) and a Magnetic Nebula which looks nice, can't be colonized and doesn't seem to do anything else but sit there twinkling in the dark. Is it suppose to do something? Disable shields, boost shields? Might be nice if it showed this in the info card...

The gravity wells aren't all in the same plane anymore which makes for a more varied look to the star system which I like.

The placement of some buttons has changed. It's a bit getting used to in the start, but after that, I can't say I care one way or the other...

I'm under the impression it's easier to get resources now. At least, I never really had a crystal shortage. Off course it's just a small easy game so I haven't played long enough the research a lot of the tree, but it still feels better...

The pirates around the unvisited gravity wells are changed to a 'local garrison' which consists out of the standard TEC ships. The reason of this change isn't really clear to me. Are these unallied ships that never joined the TEC? Then why do they have the same ships? On the other hand, it seems more logical to have these planets guarded by rebels then pirates.

All in all, I really like the changes I've seen up till now. Good job guys...
13,099 views 49 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Actually it does show if you select the nebula.

Some disable the use of antimatter effects; others prevent fighters/bombers from being able to launch, among other things.

As for the Militia, basically every planet in the game is already inhabited by humans. When you colonize a world, all you're really doing is conquering it with your faction's government (basically, you're annexing it). The Militia are the forces of the native inhabitants who don't want you there.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I'd love to have a first impression of B3, but it doesn't look like thats gonna happen. Hope the game turns out for you guys, but I'm canceling my pre-order. I refuse to put up with stardocks crap another minute.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Only had a few minutes with the game thus far, however two positive things i immediately picked up on were, firstly, as Scorpiana pointed out, the gravity wells are no longer on the same plane; and despite it being a small change, make the galaxy feel infinitely better. Secondly, the music is simply, for want of a another word, awesome. I already thought it was pretty good, but the songs seem to have gone under some major refinements and now sound superb. Give your composer a pat on the back from me will 'ya

All in all a good start then, looking forward to discovering what else is out there (and of course a spot of multiplayer).
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

I'd love to have a first impression of B3, but it doesn't look like thats gonna happen. Hope the game turns out for you guys, but I'm canceling my pre-order. I refuse to put up with stardocks crap another minute.


No Patience? or are you just a Troll who doesn't even have a pre-order in?

Give them some time to straighten the problem out its only been a few hours You act like they are doing this to you daily Hence Why I think you are just a Forum Troll!
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Ahh I was right Troll this is your First Post!@
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Yeah i was just simply ignoring the moron instead of feeding him.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

I'd love to have a first impression of B3, but it doesn't look like thats gonna happen. Hope the game turns out for you guys, but I'm canceling my pre-order. I refuse to put up with stardocks crap another minute.

Hi BMBender, sorry you are disappointed. Perhaps if you let us know what the problem is we can help you out

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

I'd love to have a first impression of B3, but it doesn't look like thats gonna happen. Hope the game turns out for you guys, but I'm canceling my pre-order. I refuse to put up with stardocks crap another minute.


Hi BMBender, sorry you are disappointed. Perhaps if you let us know what the problem is we can help you out




Don't fall for it! He wants to suck your wallet! j/k
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
ooooh different planes of Gwells... downloading new beta as we speak
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
Yep a A Grade TROLL.
i just recieved a email from Stardock (VERY FRIENDLY and APOLOGETIC TOO) I re ordered and walla! its downloading now TOTAL Time from contact 8 LOUSY MINUTES!! nice try Mr troll won't be feeding you anymore!

Thank you Stardock

Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
now, wait a second, I got an email as well, I reordered as well, but I got no email, except for the confirmation mail. what's going on here? has the conspiracy already started?
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
I agree. Planets being on different plains makes the map much nicer. Also did you increase the size of the sun, or is it just me?




I like the capitals decreasing enemy culture.

The change of pirates to local militia is also nice. Btw. did the marauders always gave a warning before riding, so you could outbounty the enemy? Don't remember that.

Also the new planet/nebulae/asteroid types are very nice.
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
Yes marauders have a warning so you can all try and out bounty each other. We find this leads to bounty races before the bidding ends and some really interesting economic strategies, particularly in multiplayer (the AI isn't told how to 'ebay' yet ).
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
Yes marauders have a warning so you can all try and out bounty each other. We find this leads to bounty races before the bidding ends and some really interesting economic strategies, particularly in multiplayer (the AI isn't told how to 'ebay' yet ).


It's a really nice change. Me likes it a lot.

Also zooming in on a ship and automatically locking the view on it is very nice, but zooming out is kinda annoying right now, since it somehow tries to center your view on something which I don't want.

At least it somehow wobbles when zooming out for me, which is kinda strange.

Oh yea, the new bonus are very nice.

A highly sought after substance that grants heightened awareness to the consumer, it is a valuable export and increases the spread of culture.

The spice must flow! The perfect bonus to add to my Dune planet in my custom map.

Oh, and treasure hunting is also fun.
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
The game runs MUCH Smoother no more jerkiness.
I am only playing the small game but it is running perfectly so far (fingers crossed)
Now to get some huge fleet battles going and see how stable she is
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
Ok I already have a problem that is probably of my own creation. Im running a dual Opteron 2.0 system 4 GB ECC Corsair XMS ram 3200 and a 7950GT Nvidia card Evga. Windows XP Pro. My problem is that the game started fine. I go to options and select 1680 x 1050 resolution, I play all my games in this resolution eg: Supreme Commander, WoW, Galactic Civs II, Overlord, Vanguard, the list can go on. Well anyways once the game adjusted it just errors out to screen. Of course I sent in a few feedbacks per the beta error log. I uninstalled and will reinstall and try again but is there a way that I can check to get the original resolution. I have a sneaking suspicion that the ECC ram will not like this game. HoMM V is the only other game I can think of that also didnt like my system. Never played it because of that fact. Hey guys I moved this to the technical thread sorry for the error. Later
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top

The FAQ tells you how to change your resolution manually. Open user.setting, look for the window height and width.

Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top

now, wait a second, I got an email as well, I reordered as well, but I got no email, except for the confirmation mail. what's going on here? has the conspiracy already started?


Check your e-mail again, it will allso contain your serial number at the bottom.

Cheer

Warder
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top

Actually it does show if you select the nebula.


Some disable the use of antimatter effects; others prevent fighters/bombers from being able to launch, among other things.




Strange, I really thought I had the Nebula selected... but I just checked and it does indeed say what it does. (Preventing antimatter abilities from being used).


As for the Militia, basically every planet in the game is already inhabited by humans. When you colonize a world, all you're really doing is conquering it with your faction's government (basically, you're annexing it). The Militia are the forces of the native inhabitants who don't want you there.




Sounds good
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top


now, wait a second, I got an email as well, I reordered as well, but I got no email, except for the confirmation mail. what's going on here? has the conspiracy already started?


Check your e-mail again, it will allso contain your serial number at the bottom.

Cheer

Warder


thanks man, now I feel like a complete moron. nah, doesn't matter, I'm off to play. maybe I'll be in later for a mp match, but I'll likely be bad.

Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
Overall game speed is horribly slow... To the point in which I will usually do something else ( watch a movie as I play, or go to the bathroom) and not even bother pausing the game... As a player I need to be able to increase the game speed for us who want more C&C in space RTS and less 4x pause style play...

As it is now , its like I am playing a game that uses the NEXT TURN method, without actually having to click "next turn"...

I said in another post, this game has gone from fast and fun RTS in Beta 1 to 4x slowness in Beta3.

Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top
As it is now , its like I am playing a game that uses the NEXT TURN method, without actually having to click "next

turn"...


Only that it is like turn 3542 where every AI and player has like 6433 gazillion ships and the next turn takes ages, so you can

go watch a movie with some girl/boy, get married with her/him and get divorced, before the next turn comes up.

It is really boring right now. (And it doesn't help, that the AI doesn't seem to do anything anymore in my games... it just refuses to leave it's home world, pansy)

So I wonder, did something got changed?
Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
I dunno, but it feels so different for some reason...

<3 Vandenburg's mutual agreement of my issues... I thought I was alone
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
I dunno, but it feels so different for some reason...


Well, could be that because I've only played my own custom maps in the last few weeks with lots of modifications on game files, thus probably making game play very different, I get this impression with the unmodded game.

Oh and btw. I just realized that I've posted in about 4 threads about speed issues in the last half hour. Uh sorry, for that. My brain is like... uh... leaking out, you know, because of marry and divorce in such a short time...
Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
Oh and btw. I just realized that I've posted in about 4 threads about speed issues in the last half hour. Uh sorry, for that. My brain is like... uh... leaking out, you know, because of marry and divorce in such a short time...


Make yourself heard, as long as it goes with the topic of the post...

I am trying to get a poll on the front page (Looks at Yarlen), to see if people want the game pace faster...

Lets get some Poll's on issues that matter and not what ship we like the most!