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**sabrewolf** · September 28, 2005, 03:46

Originally posted by MarkG
for someone that would normally wait for the "gold" version to hit the bargain bins that's a big step

and miss out all the early fun of crashing games because there are lots of bugs?

**Drakan** · September 28, 2005, 03:53

Originally posted by MarkG

the bad thing is that yin got himself one of our new 4-years subscriptions so he'll be around for a long time in order to get his money worth

Where's the commit-suicide similey ?

I see you've changed your avatar, Yin, to a carboard-eating-rabbit. That's the spirit !

**yin26** · September 28, 2005, 06:49

Originally posted by MarkG
for someone that would normally wait for the "gold" version to hit the bargain bins that's a big step

That's true, actually. Almost all my last purchases have happened that way -- Rise of Nations, Age of Mythology, Never Winter Nights (Platinum!), etc. Man, the gaming-for-the-buck is really astounding. And it's so great just to go to their Websites and get the 50 MB patch built on the sweat and tears of gamer feedback that I didn't spend one minute on.

Anyway, even if Civ 4 doesn't break much new ground, it does seem as if Firaxis is actually paying attention this round. So while I still don't think I'll be needing to eat any cardboard, it does seem Civ 4 will be a polished product with proper attention given to MP and modding.

As for my new avatar, I've named that rabbit Yin ... and should the need arise, he will be doing all the eating for me!

**conmcb25** · September 28, 2005, 06:58

Originally posted by yin26
As for my new avatar, I've named that rabbit Yin ... and should the need arise, he will be doing all the eating for me!

Very clever and very underhanded! I love it

**conmcb25** · September 28, 2005, 07:01

Originally posted by yin26

Besides, I'm a woman...

Actually this doesn't surprise me the way you are b****ing all the time, you really do remind me of my wife

**Robert** · September 28, 2005, 07:17

Originally posted by yin26
As for my new avatar, I've named that rabbit Yin ... and should the need arise, he will be doing all the eating for me!

Too bad that yin26 is the one who should eat the cardboard box

**MarkG** · September 28, 2005, 07:17

and should the need arise, he will be doing all the eating for me!

is this the "my mouse ate my cardboard" excuse?

**Jeje2** · September 28, 2005, 07:42

Originally posted by yin26
That's true, actually. Almost all my last purchases have happened that way -- Rise of Nations, Age of Mythology, Never Winter Nights (Platinum!), etc.

(As I haven't been paying attention to APO lately.)
What is your opinion on these games - just shortly good, average or bad?

**yin26** · September 28, 2005, 07:57

Rise of Nations: While these kinds of games are really best played on-line with a group of dedicated friends, it's hard to find such time. In the end, it's almost like training for the Olympics to become competitive, and those days have past me by. But the AI in RON is surprisingly good until you learn how the press your advantages. Borders, attrition, and some of the other twists add a lot. In the end, though, it's just another (if very good) RTS game, and if you aren't a fan of that general formula, this one won't convert you.

Age of Mythology: Like RON, an RTS with some interesting elements. I found this one much harder to get into than RON, and even though I bought the gold edition, etc., I still felt like I shouldn't have bought it.

Never Winter Nights: I *really* enjoyed the first campaign, even if at a certain point you are so powerful, etc., that you feel like rushing to the end to finish the darn story. Still, by virtue of buying the Platinum Edition, I have TONS of gaming left to play, and now that I've forgotten the first campaign almost entirely, I might start the next one soon. Of course, with Civ 4 coming, that would be a bad idea. Anyway, if you have any interest in D&D gaming, it's hard to go wrong with this one.

Another game I tried at a bargain price of $8.99 is Brad Wardell's Political Machine. While I respect Brad a great deal, this game is a mess. They don't even have their Website from which you were supposed to be able to download content, etc. Seriously, this game really doesn't belong on any respectable gaming shelf, though I suppose a university class on politics might find it mildly instructive. At $8.99, though, I still feel a bit cheated.

**Robert** · September 28, 2005, 08:11

quote:
Originally posted by yin26

Besides, I'm a woman...

You're My Wife Hates Civ's wife!

**Harovan** · September 28, 2005, 08:14

Originally posted by yin26
Never Winter Nights: I *really* enjoyed the first campaign, even if at a certain point you are so powerful, etc., that you feel like rushing to the end to finish the darn story. Still, by virtue of buying the Platinum Edition, I have TONS of gaming left to play, and now that I've forgotten the first campaign almost entirely, I might start the next one soon. Of course, with Civ 4 coming, that would be a bad idea. Anyway, if you have any interest in D&D gaming, it's hard to go wrong with this one.

I take it Platinum contains Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark? I bought them all separately, hence I don't know.

If so, you should definitely play their official campaigns, first SoU and after it HotU. If you enjoyed the original game, you will find those absolutely awesome. Some shortcomings of the original game are fixed (it's no longer a "bashing trapped chests"-fest, for a start), you can influence your henchman (and even let him/her carry things) and it has a whole bunch of new classes to tinker with, new skills, spells and abilities.

**yin26** · September 28, 2005, 08:20

Originally posted by Sir Ralph

I take it Platinum contains Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark? I bought them all separately, hence I don't know.

If so, you should definitely play their official campaigns, first SoU and after it HotU. If you enjoyed the original game, you will find those absolutely awesome. Some shortcomings of the original game are fixed (it's no longer a "bashing trapped chests"-fest, for a start), you can influence your henchman (and even let him/her carry things) and it has a whole bunch of new classes to tinker with, new skills, spells and abilities.

Yes, that's right (about the Platinum Edition). Man, what a ton of content for the price! Glad to hear about the other campaigns. I'm looking forward to it. One of the reasons I've stopped playing for several months is I wanted to get passed the temptation to carry my current character over to the new campaigns. I did it for about 20 minutes just to see what would happen, and, of course, it was a slaughter of the poor evil creatures...no, I want a challenge but needed time to "let go" of my character.

**Harovan** · September 28, 2005, 08:22

You should start SoU with a level 1 (make it the son/daughter or the grandson/granddaughter of your first character if you're into roleplay). You can carry over your SoU character into HotU, as it starts with level 15, and you should be somewhere between level 12 and 16 when you finish SoU. Both are also successors by the storyline.

EDIT: By the way, if you're into playing persistant worlds online, this thread and its predecessors might be of interest.

**MarkG** · September 28, 2005, 11:21

i only put it in bold letters, so perhaps it wasnt noticed

THE YIN-VEL FUND IS FULLY COVERED!

any further plus proceeds from plus subscriptions will go to the usual stuff: paying the server bills and our contest fund

**Philotas** · September 28, 2005, 11:27

THE YIN-VEL FUND IS FULLY COVERED!

any further plus proceeds from plus subscriptions will go to the usual stuff: paying the server bills and our contest fund

Darn, and I was just waiting for my paypal transfer to go through.

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The YIN-VEL Fund: Join the FUN!

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