First Impressions?

[lilserf]

The one thing I miss from MOO2

The thing I miss most is the ability to bring up a nice summary of all of my colonies and how they're doing. The Colonies screen in Moo2 was invaluable for gauging your empire's overall status, and I miss that in Moo3.

I realize you can use the Planets tab to sort out just planets owned by you and then arrow through them, but it's just that much more of a pain. Next time you want a new colony, it's time to reset all those checkboxes.

All in all, they probably did it this way on purpose, to make you watch stuff at a planet-by-planet level... but I still miss it.

[JonahFalcon]

Uh, yes, the Planets tab is very very handy.

Try clicking "Unowned Planets" and use the friggin' sorts - both primary and secondary. (ie. primary: haibility zone, secondary: size -- or gravity -- or fertility -- or mineral richenss -- or...)

[Cado]

Only thing i haven't quite gotten a clue on is how to create point defense screening ships.

Any ideas?

[JonahFalcon]

Try Auto Building them at the Shipyard. Just select Point Defense, then autobuild, and you can tweak from here.

System ships are best for point defense, by the way, and you don't have to create a task force for system ships.

[lilserf]

Try clicking "Unowned Planets" and use the friggin' sorts - both primary and secondary. (ie. primary: haibility zone, secondary: size -- or gravity -- or fertility -- or mineral richenss -- or...)

Ohhhhh... so to quote myself, I "can use the Planets tab" to get a list of my colonies, but then to find suitable new colony sites, I have "to reset all those checkboxes" -- like the 'Unowned Planets' box and the 'Uncontrolled' box. Gee, that's nothing like what you said just now.

I'm not saying the info's not there, I'm not saying I really mind that much having to change the checkboxes and sorts when I switch tasks, I'm not even saying this needs to be changed!... I'm just waxing nostalgic about being able get all of this kind of info with just one click.

[JonahFalcon]

No, just uncheck "Owned Planets" and check "Unowned planets" Is that so haaaaaaaard?

[vee4473]

i'd watch what you say about moo3 guys, (those of you who are now playing it).

If you criticize it, or if you say you are disappointed with certain aspects, you are likely to be labelled as stupid, dumb etc... just as the reviewers who didn't like it were.

or get some sarcastic response belittling you such as "didn't you see that button stupid?" , or "all you did was click end turn? i'm just gonna laugh at you!"

something along those lines.

[Stuie]

Originally posted by vee4473

If you criticize it, or if you say you are disappointed with certain aspects, you are likely to be labelled as stupid, dumb etc... just as the reviewers who didn't like it were.

That happened with EU too. Some people just don't like EU....

That said, reading the problems people are having, I'm still looking forward to getting MOO3 when the price comes down a notch.

[vee4473]

i like hearing all kinds of opinions on the game too. I was just commenting on the way some in this thread were replying to some who had questions or gripes.

They are either getting laughed at or being told, in a very condescending way, that here's the button or checkbox you should use.

i'm waiting for the out and out insults to start flying at those who may be disappointed with the game.

[TrainWreck20]

First Impressions:

The manual: is pretty good. For a change, I am hoping I won't NEED the strategy guide to figure out the game. Also, the 'chapters' on history spready throughout the manual were a nice touch.

The Graphics: better than expected. The informatino screens would be way to distracting with more detailed grapics, I think. Combat graphics are not exactly cutting edge, but are not nearly as disappointing as some of the rumors had. Fun to watch.

The interface: Pop-up (pop-out, whatever) meus everywhere. I think I am growing to like these, though, after being a little lost. I am not sure about the organization yet (still a lot of learning to do), but the format is nice.

A few negatives: I have lots to learn, but so far....
The finances are odd and hard to follow. I know I am not suppose to micromanage, but it would be nice to be able to figure out exactly where the money comes from and where it goes to while I am a small empire....more playing time will probably help here.

Also, the tech advances are so numerous that you switch off the notify option for new techs. It might be nice if there was a difference between techs that did nothing for you and techs that were significant, so that you could know when it was time to upgrade.

Still getting a feel for the gameplay, strategy, AI ability, etc....however, big kudos for developing SOMETHING DIFFERENT. It is NOT just MOOII with new tech and new graphics. This may take me a while to learn/master, but that is a plus too....and multiplayer really has some potential. The fact that you don't need to check every planet every turn means that multiplay games might finish in a resonable amount of time.....

[Stuie]

Originally posted by vee4473
i'm waiting for the out and out insults to start flying at those who may be disappointed with the game.

You probably won't have to wait long; seems to happen with any game that's released. I can never understand why someone who likes a game cannot accept that others may... *gasp* ... dislike it. And vice-versa. And then they get all defensive and insulting about it, as if that's going to validate their position.

Anyway, thanks to all who are posting first impressions. It's making the wait until Sunday that much easier.

[mrbilll]

Life's too short to play galactic spreadsheet simulators. The acolytes of Moo3 insist that you've just gotta dedicate 20-30 hours of your life to learning to love it. I'd rather just skip ahead to the cyanide cool aid.

Where to start? The migraine inducing fonts. The bland, Byzantine maze of uninformative interface screens. The inscrutable galaxy map, where all names disappear at any useful zoom level. The flat, uninteresting ships and combat screens.

I don't give a rat's behind about DEA's,AU's,PP's, RP's, and all the rest of this crap, especially when you're not supposed to even MESS with it anyway, and let "uncle viceroy" take care of everything.

They should've named this one "Galactic Bureaucrat Tycoon". If I wanted this kind of experience, I'd join the U.N. Anyone who genuinely enjoys this mess should seek help.

Yeah, I know that all the faithful are going to jump on me now, flaming away about what a wuss I am, how I don't understand it, how dumb I am, etc.,etc. Save your breath guys. I've got three words for ya.

Bite me, Fanboy.

[Ray K]

Originally posted by JonahFalcon
The finances are very very organized. When you learn the finance sliders and budget, you're home free. That, and proper task force management, are the keys to winning.

WTF?

When people talk about winning at Master of Orion, I want to hear **** like "build ships with weapon X", "watch out for race X in the Senate", "technology X works great in ground combat", and "I hate the ?#!%# spies!"

The last thing I want to hear is "learn the finance sliders" and "proper task force management"

[Yodasplat]

Originally posted by mrbilll
Life's too short to play galactic spreadsheet simulators. The acolytes of Moo3 insist that you've just gotta dedicate 20-30 hours of your life to learning to love it. I'd rather just skip ahead to the cyanide cool aid.

Where to start? The migraine inducing fonts. The bland, Byzantine maze of uninformative interface screens. The inscrutable galaxy map, where all names disappear at any useful zoom level. The flat, uninteresting ships and combat screens.

I don't give a rat's behind about DEA's,AU's,PP's, RP's, and all the rest of this crap, especially when you're not supposed to even MESS with it anyway, and let "uncle viceroy" take care of everything.

They should've named this one "Galactic Bureaucrat Tycoon". If I wanted this kind of experience, I'd join the U.N. Anyone who genuinely enjoys this mess should seek help.

Yeah, I know that all the faithful are going to jump on me now, flaming away about what a wuss I am, how I don't understand it, how dumb I am, etc.,etc. Save your breath guys. I've got three words for ya.

Bite me, Fanboy.

Fanboy? Somebody called me?

You don't like the game? Sorry to hear that bud, to each his/her own I guess.

There's other games out there... you'll find something else you like I'm sure.

Good luck !

*Yoda goes back to play MOO3*

[Daveybaby]

Originally posted by mrbilll
...Exactly the same as in another thread...

Well, of course, SPAMMING is a really good way of ensuring that everybody takes your opinion really seriously, and nobody AT ALL will think of you as a self-obsessed little **** with an axe to grind. So, well done you.