Space Empires IV Gold vs. GalCiv

[Boris Godunov]

Okay, I will be getting SEIV Gold tomorrow, having ordered it after playing the ultra-addictive demo. I've been so starved for a 4x strategy game that I just couldn't wait for GalCiv.

So my question is for the folks who have SEIV and are waiting for GalCiv--which do you think you will end up preferring? I don't want to ask which one is better, as I think there will be enough of a difference (GC seems more strategic while SEIV seems more tactical).

What I like from what I have seen of SEIV is the customization and mod ability, while GalCiv is appealing for the AI and the event engine. I am, however, worried that GalCiv is going to end like Civ in terms of having an endgame that is overwhelming (especially if you're in a massive galaxy and have to move all those units...is their fleet grouping?)

So any thoughts?

[WarpStorm]

Yes, there is fleet grouping. In addition, I've had teams just give up and turn their planets over because they knew it was hopeless.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by WarpStorm
Yes, there is fleet grouping. In addition, I've had teams just give up and turn their planets over because they knew it was hopeless.

Now that's kinda cool... kinda like an annexation. Better than the Civ fight-to-the-death-no-matter-what model.

[Lemmy]

I only play single player games, and don't have time to make and learn extensive new mods.
So i think i'll like GC much better.

[The Templar]

Boris Godunov, you just smooth wasted your money. After playing SE3, I got SE4. SE3 is a pretty good shareware game. SE4 is, well, lets just say that if you last about the first 50 turns, you're going to win. The AI ain't the brightest (and no, all the AI scripts written by modders don't do that much).

Basically, the AI does not know how to develop planets based on the three types of resources (nothing like finding a mining world with no minerals). Should have just been resources (like in SE3). Also, the AI won't utilize captured members of other species to maximize colonization of different atmosphere types (you'll see what I'm talking about...)

Enjoy (ha, ha, ha)

[PDifolco]

SE4 is neat ... for a time, but lacks "atmosphere" to last.
It has very varied gameplay, there are tons or races to play and good mods, the PBW system is very cool.
Graphics/sounds are very so-so but UI is efficient.
Tons of tech and designs, correct tac combat game - but often lopsided vs the AI...
But it is also very micromanagement and conquest oriented, not much to do politically and culturally - colonize like hell, crank up prod, build tons of ships, crush enemy, rinse; repeat...

[Jamski]

Sounds like MoO3

-Jam

[The Templar]

Originally posted by War of Art
Sounds like MoO3

-Jam

Nah, the AI in SE4 attacked, it just couldn't keep its production/research up against a human who knew what he/she was doing.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by PDifolco
SE4 is neat ... for a time, but lacks "atmosphere" to last.
It has very varied gameplay, there are tons or races to play and good mods, the PBW system is very cool.
Graphics/sounds are very so-so but UI is efficient.
Tons of tech and designs, correct tac combat game - but often lopsided vs the AI...
But it is also very micromanagement and conquest oriented, not much to do politically and culturally - colonize like hell, crank up prod, build tons of ships, crush enemy, rinse; repeat...

What I really like about SE4 is the ability to add custom graphics very easily. I am looking forward to downloading the Star Wars and Star Trek graphics mods.

That, and the gameplay is just very addicting. I love the "one more turn" syndrome, something that, in the later stages of Civ3, got lost. The tactical battles are also fun, at least compared to most TBS combat systems.

Atmosphere, however, is a big issue. So far, my two favorite 4X games, oddly enough, are Ascendancy and Imperium Galactica II, both of which had major design flaws, but both of which had an engrossing atmosphere that inspired a true sense of an epic galaxy.

And Templay, as for wasting money...well, I can send it back before opening. And even if I don't, I have enough to spare, and I'm doing my bit to help the struggling economy.

[The Templar]

Hey Boris, you get SE4 yet? I'm curious to know what you think.

[Boris Godunov]

It hasn't arrived yet. Stoopid UPS 2nd day shipping!

Actually, I had it sent to my office, so the building management will likely get it late in the day and then I won't get it until tomorrow.

I am actually considering more and more just sending it back unopened, since GalCiv is looking like what I want. I will have to make myself patient.

[vee4473]

Boris:

If you have the money to spare, don't cancel.

I downloaded the SE4 Gold demo a couple of days ago after hearing you say that it was fun. I have never played it.

I like it alot, it seems to be very well done.

However, I am going to wait for galciv because of my self-imposed game spending limits.

argh

[The Templar]

Hmmm, I just reinstalled it. I'm tired of MoO3 already.

[Boris Godunov]

Following up...after about a week playing, I have to say I find SEIV to be pretty cool, though not ideal. I haven't gotten bored with it yet, that's for certain. The custom mods are AWESOME, since I now have my massive Imperial fleet, without having to suffer through the awful mechanics of Rebellion.

The tech tree is pretty well-done, though I wish there was a bit more explanation of how things work. I'm still not clear on how exactly is the best way to use fighters, drones, and mines, and what exactly some of the ship components do.

I haven't had a problem with the AI being too bad. On the contrary, they seem to outstrip me in tech and have huge fleets, so I need to catch up.

[The Templar]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
I haven't had a problem with the AI being too bad. On the contrary, they seem to outstrip me in tech and have huge fleets, so I need to catch up.

Hmmm, might be either the gold edition is much improved, or you haven't mastered optimization. I started playing again and immediately whipped the AI.

Have you done the following: focused on capturing races that breathe different atmospheres and then filled planets with the species that breathes that planet's atmosphere. You can resettle populations around Tito-like. In my current game, I'm the terrans, so my people breathe oxygen. I captured the Cluk-ruk (methane breathers), Nultoh (hydrogen breathers), and stole an Eee colony ship via espionage (CO2 breathers) and optimized all my planets with only races that breathe that planent's atmosphere. No domed colonies - so everything is at capacity. Last I looked, the AI won't do this. I suppose I could play as a genocidal madman and wipe out all other races - but my way seems nicer.

If you have done the atmosphere optimization trick and the AI is still competetive, then the Gold edition must be improved in the AI department.