4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

This is a good year to be a 4x fan...

Master of Orion 3 -
Graphics look good
Combat looks good
Universe looks huge, open ended and believable

http://moo3.quicksilver.com/main.html

Imperium Galactica 3-
Graphics look absolutely fantastic.
Combat looks good - 3d, ships look awesome, shield effects, lightning, etc.
Universe looks ok, story driven. Probably not nearly as ambitious as MOO3, but it will have a story to follow.

They did just release a demo of the combat. There is not much documenatation, but the graphics alone are worth the download. I posted a quick Users guide in their forum about getting started in the demo.

http://www.ig3.de/english/index0.htm

http://www.anthonyOnline.net/wildcat...creen%2001.jpg

Space Empires 4 -

Graphics are.... well, how can I put this... um, Well its not that they're "bad" per say, its just that... the graphics are not what SE4 is about....
Combat has a lot going for it tactially. Many ships, weapons, research, etc. Just not a graphical game.
Universe is tremendous. Huge replay value, many different races, Online play etc. The diplomacy is very good.

And, SE4 is available now, if you want be tided over while were waiting for MOO3 and IG3....

Webpage:
http://www.malfador.com/se4.html

Forums:
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...ubb=forum;f=23

Note, Im lazy and bored so I'm posting this to all 3 forums.... I'm not comparing them to each other, just filling in others about whats out there.

I'd say they are all apples to oranges (to peaches http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ). I'll take all 3, myself...

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

What about Galactic Civilizations? Looks good too, they just released beta ( http://www.galciv.com ).

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

but if he included that, he would have had to title the post:

4 x 4-X games 4 2002

and thats just too confusing.

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

I dont know If I would consider GalCiv a 4E game, its more like the good old civ except that it is in a space setting. The major downside of galciv as fare I have seen it is that you research your ships like you research units in civ and the combat works just like the same as in civ http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif . The Graphics arent any bether as MOO2 but how cares about this point. But they are still in the first Beta Phase so I hope they will improve the game a lot till they release it.

Somthing I missing in the list is Stars! Super Nova Genesis even if they havent a producer at hand.

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

I wonder if Shrapnel ever put a bid in for Stars! Supernova.....

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

if ig3 is modable.... The First mod should be BAB5. Way cool.

Thanks for the links

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

anyone remember the bab-5 flight sim that sierra was making a few years ago? it looked spiffy, and was supposed to have a well-done zero-g flight model. shame about that.

regarding SSNG, i heard that they poo-pooed on-line-only software distributers as not good enough for them. i would not hold my breath on stars any time soon, it sounds like they are going to die in flames. maybe they will make another attempt in a couple years.

and im only giving moo3 a 50/50 chance of being published and being worth playing. it sounds like they put their original design plans on the chopping block because they bit off more than they could chew, programming wise. i have not heard about what features are still in the game, but if they are not saying, then i am assuming the worst.

at least theres NeverWinter Nights. we can mod SE4 to have a ground map background instead of stars, and cities instead of planets, and have a land war simulator. then we can mod NWN to have spacemen instead of ghosts and goblins, and have a sci-fi game, and then...

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Um, I don't know, but as far as I recall Stars wasn't asking for "bids". They were looking for a publisher to sink some money up front in while they completed work on the game. That's not the way Shrapnel operates. At least it hasn't been in the past.

Geoschmo

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

Hey, you said something about NWN. NWN is a good game, but its pretty tough to play as a wizard by yourself without any henchmen. My poor little panter familar has died too many times. I haven't even grazed the editing tools, but it looks incredible

Re: 4 x games in 2002: the big three.
 

"at least theres NeverWinter Nights. we can mod SE4 to have a ground map background instead of stars, and cities instead of planets, and have a land war simulator. then we can mod NWN to have spacemen instead of ghosts and goblins, and have a sci-fi game, and then..."

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Awesome game so far (almost done it, waaay to addictive). After I tire of it I fully intend of getting Morrowwind (wich should be in the bargin bin by then, then again I do have IWD2 on pre-order http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )