Endless Space

[Bungee]

For all the GalCiv and MoO2 addicts (like me):

http://endless-space.amplitude-studios.com/

It looks/reads like a wet dream, but does it hold up? I don't have time to dive into it these days, but maybe somebody here does?

[kildorn]

http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=22142.0

We're over there! (Steam subforum, since it's out as alpha on steam)

[Lantyssa]

I thought it released yesterday.

[kildorn]

Hm, may have. I haven't been on steam in a week waiting on a(nother) replacement drive. The progress page says gold though, so it may actually be out now!

[Bungee]

http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=22142.0

We're over there! (Steam subforum, since it's out as alpha on steam)

Sorry, did do a (rather quick) search for it and didn't see it. Yes it is realesed/out now. Some people say it's worse gameplay-wise than CivGal- AI to blame (fixable) or generally true?

[Ruvaldt]

The AI is definitely having a hard time keeping up.  The game, overall, feels bland and there isn't much of a sense of discovery when one is exploring space.  The ingredients are all there for a great 4x, and I love 4xs, but for whatever reason I just find myself getting bored while playing it.  Maybe ai improvements will help that, but sometimes it feels like the game just lacks personality.

[Bungee]

I see, so the usual wait for the miracle patch. Bleh...

[Yoru]

I picked it up back in alpha and played the shit out of it in singleplayer. The AI is pretty weak, but the real problem is that each faction has its own "uber strategy" - once you figure it out and employ it, you become effectively unstoppable. Especially since the AI doesn't do strategic shipbuilding.

Could be fun in multiplayer though; some of my local friends are picking it up and planning some MP games.

[Tebonas]

Missed this on Kickstarter, but bought it today and still enjoying the heck out of it. It might become boring after I figure out the strategies, but I think I might get out my moneys worth till then.

[Ingmar]

I haven't tried this yet, but if it is actually more bland than GalCiv then I think it has reached a new blandness plateau previously unreachable by man, because goddamn GalCiv was bland.

[Ruvaldt]

I found it much more bland than GalCiv.

[Jobu]

Mine seems to be missing an "x". I load up a new game, and every solar system seems to be pre-explored with all the planets viewable from the start. It's even kind enough to tell me where the other AI empires are located. 

[Ruvaldt]

I think amoebas start with knowing where everything is at, don't they?

[bhodi]

Yep, they do.

Game so good! The AI is a lot smarter than in beta.

[Bungee]

I'm so confused 

[Mrbloodworth]

Anyone played this multiplayer yet? How fun is it?

[Ceryse]

Haven't tried multiplayer and have little interest in doing so, honestly.

I'm enjoying the game, overall, thus far. It is, however, quite bland. Not entirely sure why when I think about it, as it hits most of my wants in a 4x game.

Also, I found the AI performed much better when I turned the game speed to slow --  seems to give the AI more time to sort itself out. On the default speed setting I was settling most games in <200 turns even on the largest maps. Current game is at turn 150-ish and I've only knocked out 1 of 7 opponents (with another 2 on the ropes, albeit one of them is from another AI) and 3 AIs are actually keeping close to me in terms of score.

[Tannhauser]

Will start MP in a week or two.  Game is good, but I guess I don't build enough ships, I keep getting zerged.  The AI is good.  

[Setanta]

I'm so confused 

QFT

Not having played this style of game before I started a game and had it pop up "this does this" pictures and gave up. A decent tutorial mode would be nice to walk me through how to get started.

[Modern Angel]

I found it much more bland than GalCiv.

Completely disagree. This is evocative and the best put together space TBS I've played in over a decade. Fucking AAA.

[Hawkbit]

The reviews seem to indicate that it is missionless, and just a big sandbox.  Is that true?

[bhodi]

Y...es? It's as missionless as civilization or sim city.

[Bungee]

I'm so confused 

QFT

Not having played this style of game before I started a game and had it pop up "this does this" pictures and gave up. A decent tutorial mode would be nice to walk me through how to get started.

I actually meant all the confusing information in this thread about this game. I guess I'll have to give it a go...

[Setanta]

I'm so confused 

QFT

Not having played this style of game before I started a game and had it pop up "this does this" pictures and gave up. A decent tutorial mode would be nice to walk me through how to get started.

I actually meant all the confusing information in this thread about this game. I guess I'll have to give it a go...

Well it mirrored my impression of the game I must admit :D

Going to fire it up again and see if I can work out what the hell I'm supposed to do

[Hawkbit]

Y...es? It's as missionless as civilization or sim city.

Thanks.  Confusing question, but my only other modern 4x experience with with Sins of a Solar Empire, which tried to structure slightly around missions, or stories.  I was hoping for just a big sandboxy kind of game in which to either flourish or flounder.

[Ragnoros]

Y...es? It's as missionless as civilization or sim city.

Thanks.  Confusing question, but my only other modern 4x experience with with Sins of a Solar Empire, which tried to structure slightly around missions, or stories.  I was hoping for just a big sandboxy kind of game in which to either flourish or flounder.

Did we play the same game? The Sins I played had nothing but a skirmish mode, no missions or story to speak of. Nevermind that Sins is only a 4x in the loosest sense of the word.

[Lantyssa]

It's not a bad game, but it's not quite there yet.

Some races can settle anywhere, or you can get the tech to do so, but you take such a huge hit to unhappiness that you might as well only settle the 'good' planets.  We need a Silicoids-like race that is happier on the bad planets.  The Sowers are close, but way too hampered by happiness right now.  (Why do machines suffer unhappiness?  Were they based on Marvin?)

I don't like that once you settle one planet in a system, all the others are off-limits.  Having multiple empires in a system is great for tension and deal-making.

Conversely, it is at least interesting that there are a few planet-based buildings, but most are system-wide.  There could probably stand to be a little more variety.

Pirates need to not be so annoying early on and not completely disappear once all systems are settled.

I'd like some ground defenses so my planets aren't completely undefended and reliant upon fleets.  Blockading them is fine, but if they invade I should be able to fire back.

[Mithas]

Sorry for the necro, but has anyone played this recently? It is on sale on Steam right now. Is it worth $10?

[Lantyssa]

Depends how badly you need to play a 4x game.  Personally I think it would be worth it for a few play throughs.

I noticed it had a big patch yesterday, but I haven't checked to see what was done yet.

[Ruvaldt]

If you ask me it's pretty mundane.  There are much better games to spend you time on, though, admittedly, not a lot of them are recent 4xs.

[Hoax]

Sorry for the necro, but has anyone played this recently? It is on sale on Steam right now. Is it worth $10?

I'd say no. I found the early game to be too boring and the combat to be too rock-paper-scissors.

[jakonovski]

I haven't played the game in ages but the reason it's on sale is the DLC pack, Disharmony. It has a new race and a combat overhaul and some other stuff too. I'm going to play tonight to see if it's any good.

[Maledict]

I quite like Endless Space. It's probably my favourite of all the space based 4X games that have come out over the last few years and definitely worth a few games at that price.

[JWIV]

It's got some good ideas, but the implementation is fairly bland. I've played through a few games of it, but still find Sins to be a much more captivating experience.

[Maledict]

For me the fact Sins is real time makes it a completely different beast of game. As I get older I do find myself enjoying turn based games more and more...