GalCiv availability thread - first impressions

[Boris Godunov]

Okay, the release is nigh, so will start the requisite "I got GalCiv!" thread. Of course, I likely won't be getting it for a while, but I'm sure some of you folks will be rushing out to buy it. So post your first impressions here!

[The Templar]

Amazon hasn't even shipped mine yet. Should have happened by now?

[Harry Seldon]

I got it yesterday from EB. I fired it up last night and got murdered on Tutorial level. Finances are killing me. Also, I've noticed some small bugs but I'm thinking it has more to do with my 450MHz processor than anything else. Overall, I'm very impressed with the game and look forward to playing it again tonight.

[Kinjiru]

Downloaded mine yesterday. The game download took about 25 minutes on my DSL. The multimedia download however took about 5 hours.

First impressions... very cool. I love the music, cut scenes are well done, pacing seems a bit disjointed (fast then slow then fast) - but that prolly has more to do with my lack of understanding than anything else.

Combat? Don't know, played two games and have had no wars... some of the AI civs have fought but I haven't.

The morality play... I LOVE this concept. You can really see dynamic changes in game based on what your choices. The only way I avoided war in my first game (and I had to as I only had about 3 defense ships total) was to change my initial Good stance to a very Evil one so that the Drengin would ally with me and help me avoid getting crushed by my neighbor with the big military machine.

The modable starbases is an interesting concept. I have managed to use them to effect cultural assimilation, but I can't quite figure out how to use them to boost trade.

Speaking of trade. Very interesting way of handling it. You are limited to a very small number of trade lanes (which cn be increased through research) so you have to be very strategic in deciding who your trade partners will be.

Trade impacts the metagame in a major way. You may only be able to establish 3 trade lanes, but there are other civs that could also establish them with you. So if trade is a priority, you need to figure out a way to get teh other civs to want to trade with you!

All in all, after about 6 hours of play I would give Gal Civ a solid 7 out of 10. And I should mention that I fully expect my rating to move up one or two points after I better understand some of what is going on.

Comparisons:
My initial rating of MoO3 was a 5 which moved to a high of 6 and now has settled at a 2.

My initial rating of Civ III was a 7. Pacing is the major problem there. PTW rating: 1. I would rate C3 stand-alone at a 5 now.

SMAC: inital rating (from the demo) 9, from retail 9. The faction interaction is superb in that game. The only flaw is the ugly terrain. I still play and love SMAC.

SimCity: I know I know, completly different genre. But my initial impressions of SimCity were much the same as my GalCiv impressions. There was alot I didn't quite understand the first few games, but I could see the potential for very deep gameplay. Once I really understood how things worked, I was blown away.

Well, that's it, I am really looking forward to the next few days. Gee, I kinda feel a fever coming on, and a cough, oh gee, I guess I better call in sick and get some rest...

[moomin]

Thank you, Kinjiru. That calibration against other games was very useful.

[Boris Godunov]

Ooooh! My first topped thread!

I will probably get GalCiv one way or another tonight...stay tuned.

[Eric S]

My first game I got clobbered within 30 minutes on the level below beginner. Had a bad starting position, off away from all the decent stars, so only got two colonies. Then made the mistake of accepting the monster park. Here's a tip: if that comes up to a vote, vote for someone you hate that is far away if you're early in the tech tree. They've escaped and caused quite a ruckas every time.

Second game, on beginner, I'm off to a very sound lead, and I'd have to do something really stupid to loose, but I'm still trying to get the hang of the game mechanics, so I'm not slaughtering anyone yet.

[WarpStorm]

Always send the monster park to the enemy who is farthest from you.

[The Templar]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
I will probably get GalCiv one way or another tonight...stay tuned.

You might try EB on Broadway between 3rd and 4th - I gave up on Amazon, cancelled my order and bought it there.

[Boris Godunov]

Well, didn't get it yet. Friend had catastrophic romantic break up, spent evening giving comfort...and too rainy to go out now to stores. Maybe tomorrow!

[The Templar]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Well, didn't get it yet. Friend had catastrophic romantic break up, spent evening giving comfort...and too rainy to go out now to stores. Maybe tomorrow!

Too rainy? For GalCiv?

[Nirvana_CN]

Well i downloaded the 80Mb game, and while waiting for the 360Mb of Multimedia i have played 2 games.

My first, i chose a high tech Human, anf concentrated on colonising as much as i could, whilst researching manufacturing upgrades so i could pump out ships. Ummm mistake after seeing my power rating beeing pitifully low, i noticed i was in trouble, after meeting the Yor and Dregnin, they instantly declared war on me, i forced purchase of about 10 defenders, and set up a few star bases, and the Yor realised i was too much effort this early one..phew..however..the damned dregnin came down with a fleet of 15 star fighters, wiped out 2 planets, invaded and colonised them, and then the Yor decided to declare war, i had about 15 planets in 20 systems, half an hour later i was left with only the Sol system and a massive combined fleet or Yor and Dregnin ships, 2 turns later, Sol fell..doh!

Second game i went for the same colony boom, but researched star fighters fast after an hour playing, i decided to attack the Yor who seemed weak..to my suprise their starbases had somekind of Defense tech installed, so i beat a hasty retreat, only to find the Yor's Human allies pissed off that i invaded :\ hmm in my haste to become a military power, i failed to notice the other Civs all out boomed me massivly, and their tech level was far far greater than mine..30 mins later the Sol system fell again :\

Wow after Moo3 im loving the challenge

Up until now i would give it an overall rating of 85%, and the fact stardock support is incredible (I had a problem downloading, i posted on their forum, 10 minutes later and Stardock had emailed me saying i could also get a CD version for the price of shipping it over!) would add 5% to that score.

Graphics i would score at 75%, good, but not groundbreaking, they do the job well though.

The AI is one of the best i ahve seen, and the fact that it will update itself from the uploaded game and scores on the Galciv site is incredibble!! If a tactic becomes common place, then the ai can learn from the 1000's of human players, and adopt its style, an unreserved 95% for this groundbreaking feature.

Sound and music, well music is so-so, Sound is average, BUT it comes with a built in MP3 player excellent, i would rate it 85% here.

Re-playability..well this is a no brainer, 89%

The UI is ok, maneuovering around it is a piece of cake having come from M003, you can access all screens with one hotkey, or 2 mouse clicks at most. Right mouse button is also utiliised. A few flaws, but enough to earn a steady 80%.

Learning curve is a few hours Max, everything makes sense, from taxes, to the excellent reseach system, although after 10 hours of playing, i still spot new things, easier ways to do things etc. Compared to Moo3 (Which i enjoy) where after 30 hours of play i still hardly understand whats going on.

My current game is going okay, i have allied the other 2 "Good" civs, and we are fighting a War against the Dregnin and Yor, admitteldly we are loasing it right now, but im planting Star bases in my allies areas, and hastily reseaching the techs to make them defensive giants..hopefully we can take em out

[Urban Ranger]

Cool!

I trust player reviews more than the ones on gaming websites. Guess I will pop over and grab a copy tomorrow.

[Boris Godunov]

Just picked it up over my lunch break at the nearby EB. But have to wait until I leave work in 3 hrs to play.

Good thing I went to the gym before work...wouldn't want to have to wait any longer!

[Jack_www]

well after reading reviews I think I will get GalCiv, after getting the stupid peice of trash that is called MOO3, I want to get a replacement for it. By the way were do you think I could get the most money if I decided to sell my copy of MOO3?