New GalCiv preview at WEWP

[Asmodean]

Just a heads up to you all. There's a new preview up at

http://www.wewp.com/platform/pc/4211/Previews/633/

Overall, the previewer is thrilled with the game:

I know I’m coming off a little happy-go-lucky about this game and I hope you don’t necessarily run out and buy it based on only a preview (unless you are a total fan of the genre or of Strategy First games). I’m trying real hard not to over-hype the game, but such is the nature of a “Preview” in most cases.

But he's got one major complaint:

You’ve got this well designed game with great cut scenes, pretty pictures, thoughtful game mechanics, a pretty decent interface… but it has this really old looking, ‘Shareware’ like feel to it because of the 2 dimensional top down galaxy view (where you’ll spend the majority of your time while playing). GalCiv was designed with playability in mind, not pretty graphics, but I can’t help but sometimes feel like I’m playing a Shareware game due to this perspective.

Which only goes to show that he's not been following GalCiv hard enough. Brad Wardell has stated time and time again, that 3D was not chosen to be in the game, because it would raise system reqs to where it would hurt sales. That's it.

Asmodean

[Lemmy]

Which only goes to show that he's not been following GalCiv hard enough. Brad Wardell has stated time and time again, that 3D was not chosen to be in the game, because it would raise system reqs to where it would hurt sales. That's it.

And 2d view allows for much easier modding by users...just look at SE4, it has the same 2d top-down view, and the number of fanmade shipsets that came out is amazing.

[Draginol]

I don't think the fact that you can't spin the galaxy around in 3D is going to cost the game any sales.

[MarkG]

you can't spin the galaxy around in 3D

what???? you can do it in moo3 you know
(but i never use it )

[Eric S]

Glad you can't. One time one of my cats jumped on the keyboard, causing the galaxy view to get in an unusable state, and I just could not figure out how to get it back to normal. Wound up saving and reloading, which fortunately put the galactic view back to normal.

[Asmodean]

Originally posted by MarkG

you can't spin the galaxy around in 3D

what???? you can do it in moo3 you know
(but i never use it )

Does anybody use this feature??

Allthough I must say that QS have done a great job of it, making sure that all stars are visible in the Top-Down view, so that you don't have to rotate the galaxy.

Re: "rotate the galaxy" Has anybody ever thought about how totally stupid that really sounds?

Asmodean

[The Templar]

Originally posted by MarkG

you can't spin the galaxy around in 3D

what???? you can do it in moo3 you know
(but i never use it )

Yes but I wouldn't cite Moo3's rotating galaxy map as a favorable implementation.

[moomin]

I would. It's pretty, and it's something to amuse you for a little while before clickin' that turn button.

On topic: I'm a great believer in static 2D graphics. It makes modding so much easier. The stupid Civ3 animated leaderheads ("don't I look like a real ******, huh?") cut down on the number of good player-developed images no end.

[The Templar]

Originally posted by moomin
I would. It's pretty, and it's something to amuse you for a little while before clickin' that turn button.

On topic: I'm a great believer in static 2D graphics. It makes modding so much easier. The stupid Civ3 animated leaderheads ("don't I look like a real ******, huh?") cut down on the number of good player-developed images no end.

I know what you mean there. I was thinking about replacing the leaderheads with flags or symbols or something (e.g. an american flag with the number/pattern of stars changing through the ages). I never liked the idea of Lincoln the Immortal or Shaka the Undying (and Elizabeth just looks plain undead).

As for clicking the turn button, I usually amused myself with the starship design screen - struggling to get the right name and mission for the model. Now that is fun.