Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

No matter how good anyone ever makes AI it is still not as fun as playing against other people. Plain and simple.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

Agreed.

As for polls, they are like statistics. They can be bent any damned way you want if you need them to and frequently involve waffles.

I get the impression that GalCiv players are the kind of people who prefer Solitare. On the flip side, SE players are more Poker, Blackjack, and Baccarat type of people.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

I like GalCiv, what draws me to SE is the complexity. Combat is pretty simple in GC, very rock paper scissors and linear. Weapons don't really differ except in power/cost. Since SE has tactical combat it opens up allot more. Other then that i like GC just fine.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

"There are lies, damn lies, and statisics." I've always loved that quote, not sure where it comes from though.

I bought and played GalCiv2 a while back, when it was released. Definitely not going to bother with their expansion, simply because...well, GalCiv2 was boring. What didn't I like about it?

Simply put, the AI cheated. They may have said it didn't, but I noticed several behaviours that drew me to the conclusion that it did. I probably couldn't prove it, but I know it. Second, as has been mentioned, multiplayer. Enough said there. Third, combat sucked ***. While the ship builder what a little bit interesting, it really had no effect on the game whatsoever. I know there's people out there who like spending time creating pretty ships...but that sort of thing just doesn't turn my crank. Fourth, diplomacy was weak. Sure, you can say the same thing about SEIV/SEV (though SEV has a lot of promise), but combine it with 1-3 above, and it makes the game a lot worse. I also didn't like the economic model, even SEIV/SEV's planetary percentage works better in my opinion.

On the plus side, it was really pretty! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Thus ends my mini-rant about GalCiv2. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

I haven't played the game; however, I wouldn't be surprised if the AI did cheat. I have read a number of times in the past that programmers will give an AI cheat or cheat like abilities. In each of the commentaries were this was admitted the designers would point out the same thing. Which is (basically) short of massive development, effort, space, and computing power there is no way to make a great non-cheating AI.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

I don't buy into the AI cheating on purpose. Brad (I think that is his name) has always been pretty open and forthcoming about the galciv games.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

It may not cheat in this one, and I am not even saying that is that way for every game with AI. What I am saying is that I have read over the years instances where game designers admitted to making an AI with cheat abilities to give the players a better challenge. So if the designer admitted giving this AI something extra to push it along I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

There's tons of games where the AI cheats, but it's rarely kept secret from what I've experienced.

As for GalCiv

http://www.galciv2.com/media/mediaguide.html

Pretty neat way they've made the whole AI thing, in my opinion. And especially the "It's multithreaded. That means while you are taking your turn, the game is multitasking within itself to generate a strategy." part.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

Cheating AI is done by many games like the Civilization games. I wouldn't doubt that GalCivII uses it. If it does it is wrong fo them to tout theier AI because anyone can make a AI that cheats good at the game.

Re: Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN
 

I too have read what the developer said, and, with no disrespect intended to him and his team, I will believe what I have experienced before I believe a statement from the developer, who has reason to want people to believe their incredible AI doesn't cheat. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif