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spregger
spregger
Join Date 06/2007
0

more space-y-ness please?

December 18, 2007 2:49:06 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
So I played a couple of games vs AI in beta 4, and I would like to share my thoughts. Which are mostly on some specific aspects of the general feel of the game, so that's why I didn't put it in the technical/gameplay feedback thread.

Last time I played was around beta 2. Just one or two games before I decided beta testing really wasn't for me, and went back to supreme commander. So consider me a noob!

First off, the game really feels a lot more fleshed out. I love the pirates, improved tech tree, zoom to cursor etc. etc. etc. However, I don't love the fact that there are two types of research stations. Maybe I haven't played enough but it feels like a artificial way of giving me more stuff to do.

I really had a lot of fun the first few games (which I didn't really have in beta 2, so kudo's there) right up to the moment where I figured out how to always beat the AI. Which was a lot harder than in beta 2 by the way. I guess enough has been said on AI so on to the next point.

Combat: I haven't played enough to comment on balancing etc. What I do think though is that the movements of the ships is a bit... not so space-like. More underwater-like. How about having the TEC ships move in a more angular way, to represent thrusters (which you would of course see when zoomed in close enough). Then you could have the Vasari move in the more smooth manner all ships move now (different alien style thrusters or whatever) to create a more different feel for the factions. Or how about a class of slightly-bigger-than-figher ships that still zoom around instead of hover (I'm thinking of homeworld of course). Probably too late for that though Oh and formations! Please don't forget about formations.

Also, planetary upgrades could use some work. I don't object to the whole management of planets being abstracted down to one or two upgrades (although I'm more a 4x person than rts). But it should feel like you are really improving the infrastructure on your planet. Changing the description and the picture of the button you press so it feels less like just upping some statistics would probably help a lot. Maybe it's just the placeholders?

Other than that... can't think of anything that hasn't been said a million times. Except that performance is really, really good. I can play the game on my laptop without a hitch! Amazing!
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spregger
RonLugge
Join Date 05/2004
+50
Reply #1 December 18, 2007 10:46:32 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Maybe I haven't played enough but it feels like a artificial way of giving me more stuff to do.


In some ways you could consider it, but its an extension of the concept that weapons are a totally different field of research from medical technology -- so you have two different labs, one for military one for civilian. Consider it an abstraction of the needs to diversify your labs across many fields.

I guess enough has been said on AI so on to the next point.


Given that a new AI is due out, yeah, 'nuff said!

Oh and formations! Please don't forget about formations.


We've been promised something: fleets (which act like formations) for a while now.

Changing the description and the picture of the button you press so it feels less like just upping some statistics would probably help a lot. Maybe it's just the placeholders?


Most of the media (art, sound, models, etc etc) is still placeholders or going to get vastly improved.
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spregger
spregger
Join Date 06/2007
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Reply #2 December 18, 2007 11:22:50 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums


We've been promised something: fleets (which act like formations) for a while now.



Great! Despite all my trolling I hadn't picked up on that one yet.

And how about this: instead of saying 'population infrastructure: level 1, 2, 3, etc.' the names could be a little more imaginative. Something like 'outpost - ... - coruscant style'. And instead of emergency infrastructure: level 12345 something like 'sandbags - bunkers - force fields - full blown underground cities'

hmm so I seem to lack a bit of imagination myself at the moment.., but I'm sure you get what I mean It would be a change that wouldn't affect gameplay at all, but still give the game more flavor. Or are the names placeholders as well? Guess we'll find out eventually!

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spregger
RonLugge
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #3 December 18, 2007 11:51:14 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

And how about this: instead of saying 'population infrastructure: level 1, 2, 3, etc.' the names could be a little more imaginative. Something like 'outpost - ... - coruscant style'. And instead of emergency infrastructure: level 12345 something like 'sandbags - bunkers - force fields - full blown underground cities'


But then we loose all sorts of clarity -- which levels are which? What does that do?

As things stand, its easy enough to understand whats going on -- don't mess with that!
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P5yy
Join Date 06/2007
+19
Reply #4 December 18, 2007 12:29:27 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

And how about this: instead of saying 'population infrastructure: level 1, 2, 3, etc.' the names could be a little more imaginative. Something like 'outpost - ... - coruscant style'. And instead of emergency infrastructure: level 12345 something like 'sandbags - bunkers - force fields - full blown underground cities'


But then we loose all sorts of clarity -- which levels are which? What does that do?

As things stand, its easy enough to understand whats going on -- don't mess with that!


Actually these guys are demonstrating something about 4x peeps. All they want is to BELIEVE ,since its all about immersion.

To me its just superficial but im all rts and microey tactical ..but if one just adds a bit of roleplaying immersion into the buttons and upgrades , the 4x peeps will love it. Take Civilsation vs call to power. One thing people HATED in call to power was the fact they couldnt see the cities up close. Seeing the cities up close however had no relevance or impact on Gameplay but it was still a BIG thing for 4x peeps to add to immersion.

I too would love to see the suggested buttons. To take it even further..id make it unique for each race , and unique for each type of planet... 4x peeps will actually be interested in how lets say the Vasari race manages to increase population on a volcanic planet compared to Advent. No relevance to gameplay or rts ..but its deadly important to have this sort of stuff to make it 4x

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TheGreatEmperor
Join Date 06/2006
+6
Reply #5 December 18, 2007 6:06:59 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
I'm sure the names will be changed as well. With an added description for the names.
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spregger
spregger
Join Date 06/2007
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Reply #6 December 18, 2007 7:05:47 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Actually these guys are demonstrating something about 4x peeps. All they want is to BELIEVE


You make it sound like it's a bad thing. But yeah, immersion, suspension of disbelief etc. All very important to us 4x people!

Anyway, keep up the groupthink P5yy! I'm sure you're doing the community a great service.



But then we loose all sorts of clarity -- which levels are which? What does that do?


No disagreement there, but as long as the names/artwork are very clear that should be no problem. Besides, level 1234 doesn't inherently contain any information either on what it does.
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Spartan
Join Date 03/2006
+172
Reply #7 December 19, 2007 7:08:03 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
I'm all for adding to the immersion experience and honestly have thought the current system was just placeholders. However since this thread has made the daily round-up I have reason to believe this is not the case and the current number system is in fact the the one intended for final release.

Thus this post and my position which is I support this idea 100% percent. For people like Ron (RTS focused) there can always be an information bubble pop-up that says level 1,2 or 3. Of course the numbers could simply be part of the graphic image.

BTW: About the comments regarding 4X wanting to believe -etc... Why are so many resources invested in making things look so pretty for RTS games if the RTSers dont want to believe as well? Surely simple chit or icon images and lines should suffice for those none imaginative types.
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P5yy
Join Date 06/2007
+19
Reply #8 December 19, 2007 8:15:38 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
RTS players , or atleast hardcore ones dont care about graphics much , only the micro and tactics and interface. This is why so many people still play Starcraft even tho theres tons of games with better graphics.

And anyway immersion has little to do with graphics. A book can be immersive. Its all about the creation of a universe and that factor which i cant explain that wraps you in the world. Even games like civ 1 had me beleiving i was a ruler.
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WedgeHG
Join Date 10/2006
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Reply #9 December 21, 2007 12:08:56 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
RTS players , or atleast hardcore ones dont care about graphics much , only the micro and tactics and interface.


Amen!
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