was 1999 the best year for strategy games?

[lord of the mark]

1999 saw the release of SMAC, AOK and Starcraft. And Pharoah.

In follow ups to existing series, Imp2, Close Combat 4, Civ:Test of Time. And two versions of TOAW (Kosovo and Modern Battles)

In fantasy, Age of Wonders, 7K2, King of Dragon Pass.

A broad range of acclaimed and successful games, in all sub-genres (TBS, RTS, city builders and War-historical) in all themes (history, scifi, and fantasy) including completely new games, follow ups to existing series, and new games inspired by existing games (the first three above)

So is that the peak year for strategy gaming, the comparison for subsequent years?

[DrSpike]

Certainly a high point.

[St Leo]

1. StarCraft was released in 98.
2. AOK, StarCraft, and Pharaoh suck.
3. Never really got into 7K2.:P

[War4ever]

some good titles..i fear the good tbs days are over

[Adagio]

Not really... the best year of strategy, was the year, where they actually released some good strategy games (Which was earlier)

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by St Leo
1. StarCraft was released in 98.
2. AOK, StarCraft, and Pharaoh suck.
3. Never really got into 7K2.:P

I wasnt evaluating each individual game - i havent played many of them - i was thinking more in terms of sales, influence on other games, and general reputation. Even with that i may have made some errors in my list - though i was looking more for titles i overlooked, or years that were better, than which ones werent really good.

I was thinking more in terms of the rise and fall of the genre - in the way it widely held that RPG's went into decline, then were revived, or that adventure games and flight sims are in decline.

A year that has many games that expand the genre, improve on or expand predecessors, innovate in various ways, gain sales, bring people to the hobby, and influence later games would be my definition of a good year.

Sorry about the error on starcraft - i got that from a website (not the publisher's)

[General Ludd]

What ever year Europa Universalis was released was the best year for strategy games. (outside of the good ol' days, of course )

[Solver]

And also CtP was released that yeart.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Solver
And also CtP was released that yeart.

I'm begining to think it was the worst year. Horrid games.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Osweld
What ever year Europa Universalis was released was the best year for strategy games. (outside of the good ol' days, of course )

wasnt that 2000?

[Nikolai]

Originally posted by Osweld
What ever year Europa Universalis was released was the best year for strategy games. (outside of the good ol' days, of course )

I agree wholeheartly! Not to talk about EU2, which is multiple times better! This year might also be good in that regard, as both Victoria and Crusader Kings(CK) is underway!

[Urban Ranger]

Nah. While both Alpha Centauri and AoW are excellent games, they weren't groundbreaking. Sure, AC is a significant improvement over Civ 2, still, it's evolutionary.

I would say 1989 (Civ) and 1994 (UFO). [I am not sure about the exact years, however]

Now the year when The Sims was released is definitely a bad year.

[catullus]

1996
Civ2 and Moo2

C.

[SnowFire]

The last very good year, yes. I remember that after that, there was just a drought for awhile where there weren't any good strategy games. That's recovered somewhat recently, but WarCraft III alone can't save things.

Interestingly enough, I finally bought CTP a few days back. For a dollar. AFter a bit of play, I'm thinking that's precisely what it's worth, although I need to try out Vel's much lauded changes.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by catullus
1996
Civ2 and Moo2

C.

1996 - Civ2 and MOO2. evolutionary or not, the most influential (most widely sold?) titles in their respective series, perhaps in their respective subgenres.

Also, Caesar 2. Conquest of the New World. Age of Sail.

and, for wargamers, Close Combat, RELee:CWG, and 3 battlefront games.

So yeah, I'd say you're right. 1996 rather than 1999.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Osweld
What ever year Europa Universalis was released was the best year for strategy games. (outside of the good ol' days, of course )

2000.
Europa universalis, a genre busting break through.

Combat Mission, reviving wargames. Innovative.

Shogun TW - hybrid RTS/TBS, a genre buster?

The Sims, virtually a new genre, spawning a line so popular its almost its own industry, bringing new demographics to gaming.

Plus a bunch of games im not too familiar with, but all had their following: TBS: CTP2, SE4. RTS: Tzar, Cossacks.
Wargames: Panzer General3, Rising Sun.
Also Jagged Alliance2 and Majesty(subgenres?)

So tops 1999, the best since 1996?

[War4ever]

one good game doesn't make a year IMO

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by War4ever
one good game doesn't make a year IMO

which year are you referring to?

[War4ever]

no particular year , but basing a good year on one game, say civ2 or EU2 or ..... isn't a logical way to prove which year was the best.

[CapTVK]

The year Railroad Tycoon and the year Civ1/Command HQ were released are both highlights. But that's in the past, which has come and gone.

The best years are still to come...

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by War4ever
no particular year , but basing a good year on one game, say civ2 or EU2 or ..... isn't a logical way to prove which year was the best.

thats why in all three cases i attempted to list several games that i thought supporter the designation.

[War4ever]

i wasn't so much criticizing your opinion so much as i thought some other people were making blanket statements about other games.... ie oswald and eu.... but again its not to slight anyone, its just one game doesn't make a year, no matter how good the game is...

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by War4ever
i wasn't so much criticizing your opinion so much as i thought some other people were making blanket statements about other games.... ie oswald and eu.... but again its not to slight anyone, its just one game doesn't make a year, no matter how good the game is...

thats what was striking - he mentioned only EU, but it turns out that was the year of Combat Mission, Shogun and the Sims.

[DrSpike]

But can the strength of those good games outweigh the direness of The Sims?

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by War4ever
i wasn't so much criticizing your opinion so much as i thought some other people were making blanket statements about other games.... ie oswald and eu.... but again its not to slight anyone, its just one game doesn't make a year, no matter how good the game is...

Sorry, but EU does make a good year.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
thats what was striking - he mentioned only EU, but it turns out that was the year of Combat Mission, Shogun and the Sims.

The Sims? Well that just kills everything else, then.

[War4ever]

hehe....the sims was fun to simulate for a few days....it was strikingly easy and dull after about 4 hours.......

glad i got it off kazaa in disk form and wasn't suckered into buying it or its expansions.

shogun was a fun game....... but its like alot of rts never did get around to Combat Mission

[Adagio]

Originally posted by War4ever
hehe....the sims was fun to simulate for a few days....it was strikingly easy and dull after about 4 hours.......

4 hours in gameplay or..?

[Vince278]

1993 was way better. We had Civ1, Moo1, and X-Com 1. I still play each occasionally. However, the year that got me into PC strategy games was 1978 with Empire.

[Frozzy]

A bad year was 2002. PtW, et. al.

MoO3 makes 2003 a bad year, though GalCiv rectifies this, somewhat