Any decent 4x space strategy games for OS X?

[Riesstiu IV]

I've been interested in playing a space empire building strategy game lately. After immense disappointment of MoO3 was unleashed upon the world, I forgot about the genre but I now have a renewed interest.

Unfortunately it seems like Space Empire building games available are either too old like Master of Orion 2 (requires OS 9), too crappy (MoO3), or simply not available for OS X (GalCiv 2). Any recommendations?

edit: crap I meant to post this topic in other games.

[Kuciwalker]

Obligatory

Remove "4x space strategy" and "decent" and it's still a good question

[Imran Siddiqui]

[Proteus_MST]

Emperor of the fading Suns?



It runs on XP, it runs on 2k, maybe it even runs on Vista

[Riesstiu IV]

Re: Obligatory

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Remove "4x space strategy" and "decent" and it's still a good question

Of course! Checkout this awesome lineup from August to October:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Battlefield 2142
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Need For Speed: Carbon



I mean, who isn't looking forward to Battlefield 2124 and Harry Potter?

[BlackCat]

Fragile Allegiance
Destiny
Imperium Galactica

[MarkG]

spaceward ho! ?

[Riesstiu IV]

Spaceward Ho! is a little to short and simple for me.

After lengthy research, I've found that it's pretty much the only 4x space game available for OS X. So, I just recreated a bootcamp partition and reinstalled XP. I'm going to give Space Empires V demo a try.

[Bkeela]

I wish Firaxis would become interested in making a 4x space game. Alpha Centauri as nice as it is, is still bound to the one planet.

I really had harbored hopes that Big Huge Games might fill the vacuum that MoO3 had left, but that wasn't to be.

I loved MoO2, but it is just too stale for me now. I liked Imperium Galactica, but I can't get it to run on XP. I haven't even tried MoO3. I don't like Galactic Civilizations - feels like more of a board game than an empire building game.

[FrostyBoy]

See what happens when you buy a Mac?

[Straybow]

I've heard people say Space Empires V isn't as good as III or IV.

[Patroklos]

Space Empires V demo a try.

SEV is a graphics sellout (if you can imagine that looking at the graphics).

SEIII is probably too dated for you to enjoy if you weren't playing it back then.

SEIV has everything you would want except 3D combat (a la Homeworld).

[Riesstiu IV]

Originally posted by Sn00py
See what happens when you buy a Mac?

What? I get to play PC games and use an non-Windows operating system I enjoy.



Anyways, I didn't even get the Space Empires V demo to work. After looking at reviews, the consensus seems to agree with Straybow, that V isn't as good as IV or III. A lot of reviews complain about numerous bugs and lack of balance.

So I turned to Space Empires IV demo and after playing a few turns, I'm pleased with what I see. I don't mind not actually controlling combat, although it would be a nice feature, but what really catches my attention are the shear possibilities for everything ranging from ship building to research to solar system variability. There are just so many options and gameplay features that I need to find a guide to help me understand everything.

I may try Galactic Civilizations I and II demos next. How similar is the GalCiv franchise to Star Empires? I had one friend describe it as civilization 2 in space.

[Patroklos]

I don't mind not actually controlling combat, although it would be a nice feature, but what really catches my attention are the shear possibilities for everything ranging from ship building to research to solar system variability. There are just so many options and gameplay features that I need to find a guide to help me understand everything.

Exactly. In the full version, which must be like $5 dollars now, you contol combat.

[Proteus_MST]

Originally posted by Riesstiu IV
...

I may try Galactic Civilizations I and II demos next. How similar is the GalCiv franchise to Star Empires? I had one friend describe it as civilization 2 in space.

I don´t know about Space Epires,
but GalCiv (you should best skip part 1 and start with part 2 from the beginning on)
IMHO could be described as a mix between master of Orion and Civiilization.

Like in MOO you have planets that yu ca cevelope by building buldings into a limited numbr of sectors. And just like in MOO you can develope your own ships according to the technologis you research.

Like Civ (and unlike MOO) it plays on a 2D-Map and you have strategixc resources (that aren´t as vital as those in Civ 3 however, thy just enhance crtain things like the atack values of your ships, your galactic influence and so on)

And you also have minor tribes, i.e. minor civs that normally only posess a single planet but can be good trading partners, trusty alies or just prey for your mighty armadas :d

A very big plus IMHO is the diplomacy (well done IMHO) as well as the implementation of many galactic wonders that can (similar to Rock´n Roll, Movies and Musicals in Civ 4) be franchised to other empires so that they can use it as long as the treaty runs.