Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen shots?
 

So, I'm assuming that everyone, for the most part, will abandon playing SE4 when SE5 is released.
What are you're opinions of the SE5 screenshots?
In particular, what do you think of the space and ground battles being in real time?

I appreciate the concept; stategic being turn based and combat being real time. Like an ancient leader on the battlefield; in this case he may be on site personally, or via a clone or android, or via other technological or psycic sensory.

That screenshot of the fighter and capital ship battle with all the little explosions is wonderful.
The ground battle art looks a little rough. I'm assuming that these are prototype screenshots.
What are the little orange puffs around the star in the other shot? Aftermath of a supernova?

What do you think of the user interface? I think that the mini map should be the same height as the rest of the panel so that the game screen will resemble a movie screen.

I particularly like the ship designer appearence. It has upper, middle, and lower decks. I wonder if Malfador still has time to make it to where we can grab, rotate, and flip the model. Also possibly zoom in.

If customized ship sets are so popular for SE4 then maybe have a ship set creator as part of the in game for SE5.
Or, even better,we pick a basic shape: pyrimid, cube, sphere \ we stretch and shape it : triangular, rectangular, tubular, etc. \ we add a "hull material texture" and colors : smooth, moderate, rough: metal, ceramic, biological, crystal, energy etc.: glossy, glowing, moderate, dark, etc. \ we add hull "items" and customization: engine nacelles, wings, command bridge structure, etc. \ we add the components \ Complete .

Would these humble opinion concepts be do-able in the current progress of Space Empires 5?...Probably not.

-Wade

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen shots?
 

I for one have already stopped taking on new SE4 games so that my current ones will die out once I start se5. I know SE5 will have elements from SE3, which I have not played, so I don't know for absolute if I will like it better or worse than SE4, though I believe I should make a complete change to SE5.

I don't know much about having different decks, unless you are refering to the Starfury model with inner and outer hull.

I don't think there is much chance of an adition allowing ship modelling. To my knowledge there is a lot of debate on SpaceEmpires about what packages to use to make the new models, and although those subject to the NDA can't say one way or the other I doubt they would be going along with the debate if they already knew it had a modeller.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen shots?
 

[quote]
I don't know much about having different decks, unless you are refering to the Starfury model with inner and outer hull.[\quote]

I'm reffering to this shot Post#http://www.malfador.com/SE5scr012.htm at Post#http://www.malfador.com/

[Edit] It seems that I did not quote properly and my links are not...linking.

-Wade

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen shots?
 

http://www.malfador.com/SE5scr012.htm

I never noticed that before. Interesting. I suppose the combat system has some way of determining which deck takes damage.

What I noticed only recently was the ability to determine the atmosphere of planets. You could have nitrogen, or argon or other breathers.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen shots?
 

I'm not really sure I like the new GUI. Think I prefer the SE4 one, for various reasons. Other than that, the pictures doesn't tell me so much, as I really just care about gameplay improvements, not graphical ones.

Oh, actually I like parts of the GUI, just not the buttons in the main system view and the 'unit-buttons'.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen shots?
 

Its kind of funny bc this was the discusion right before se4 came and was ultimately one of many things that killed the se ladder. For a long time alot of people prefered se3 but most people gave in and some didnt.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

This case is different though. Three big points:
- SE3 had a weakness in the multiplayer. SE4 does not; PBW and simultaneous turns.
- SE3 was not seriously moddable. SE4 is. SE4 has a huge base of quality mods, imagepacks, the TDM AIs, and more. SE5 is currently barren, and will be barren for a significant time after release while people figure things out and work on their mods.
- SE3 and SE4 will both run great on any system which runs win95 or higher. Nobody needs to spend a dime on hardware to run those two smooth as silk.


On a completely unrelated topic:
- Carrier Free Battles mod #2 is open on PBW; 4 players already in, join the fun!
- Lord of the Rings is also very recently opened; 2 players so far.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I for one will continue playing SEIV once SEV is out. After all, just because SE5 is out it doesn't in any way diminish what SEIV is. I'll switch mostly to 5, but I'll continue playing 4 as well; just like I play some games of 3 even today.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

SE5 is one of the games that will help set the minimum specs for my next system. I have no projected date for when I might be able to afford a new machine, so I will be sticking with SE4 for the foreseeable future.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Well, I might play SEIV from time to time, but I would probably play it way less than now, after getting SEV. I have only played a few games of SEIII after getting SEIV because it's just not the same anymore after getting used to something that has many improvements and new features.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Personally. I have no intention of just quitting SE-IV and diving headlong into SE-V.

I actually enjoy SE-IV. It's a great game, and the freedom to modify nearly every aspect of it is what caight, and kept, my attention.

For me, it's actually disappointing that so many people will simply just drop it because something new comes along. New may be different, but it's not always better.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Well I've never given much thought to the differences between SE4 and 5, though reading this has caused me to consider them. I have been going by the assumption that SE5 would be the same as 4 except with better graphics, so on that basis I was quite willing to stop playing SE4.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Humm, I had the impression that SEV would *be* SEIV with SE3 research, new design system & 3D graphics, but otherwise just improvements in all areas? At least that's what I hoped it would be, even though I think doing 3D is a waste of resources( why fix what's not broken?).

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

As a player in what I believe was the last SEIV version 1.49 game, I can say that I won't be one to quickly abandon version 1.94. It's kind of like what happens with Windows. Microsoft puts out a new O.S. and before you know it you start having trouble getting programs for the older versions. 1.49 died for lack of players. 1.94 fixed some bugs, but is far from bug-free. I just hope that SEV isn't rushed into production before it's truly ready.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I'll wait for the demo I think.

To be honest it's the real time combat that puts me off. I actually like the turn based combat, it just seems to give a far more strategic game.

I have to admit to being rather cynical about a series switching to rts style combats after Master of Orion 3.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Its nothing like MOO3.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Are we still going to have a choice wether to fight via the RTS or to have the computer resolve the battles automatically?

If we have to fight every battle by hand, this may put me off as well.

If you have ever played Shogun or Medieval Total War, then you will see a similarity in the concept of strategy is turn-based and combat is RTS. But with those games you could allow the computer to resolve the combat without having to fight all of the battles.

So this is my major concern with the nes ship-battles

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I believe the auto-resolve choice is definitely there. Wasn't there also supposed to be some sort of semi turn-based combat?

Re: Abandon SE4?
 

Tactical combat mode is by default "auto-resolve". Depending on your desired level of interaction, you can do lots of different things. If you just want to watch, let the time run. If you want to simulate turn-based combat set the default stops to like 1 or 2 seconds etc. If you'd like to control just one ship at real-time during the combat you can do that too. It's really up to you.

Simultaneous combat is just like in SE:IV, you watch the dots on screen and see the results after combat.

Re: Abandon SE4?
 

Ah, so its more like a stopwatch type system than an rts style combat?

My main problem with rts combat in a game with ship building is down to the AI. You spend hours kitting out a ship with top class technology and nifty abilities, only to watch it ignore them all in favour of charging towards the enemy firing. The only alternative is to micromanage one ship and watch the rest of the fleet suffer. If you can set it to autopause (or just pause when you need to) it should help.

Still going to wait for the demo though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Abandon SE4?
 

You can have task forces within fleets so that can help improve the application of strategies to large groups of ships within a fleet.

You can also customize strategies for each class of ship as well.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I think most everyone is gonna greatly appreciate the 3d graphics and real time battles; even the current critics. I believe SE5 will retain much of the SE4 aspects as well.
We are gonna be in heaven. Hehe.

Master of Orion 3 had some good aspects but it was rushed and incomplete. I believe that Malfador is taking great precautions to avoid Infrogrames mistakes. Thus the pushed back dates of release.

-Wade

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

seiv will be played long into the future in my honest opinion. I know that the game offers a tremendous on going addictive type of play that I believe many will keep playing, or come back too. SEIV is like an old pair of jeans, you might go out and buy new jeans but nothing compares to the fit and feel of those old jeans.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Especially after they get rips in the knees and you turn them into a pair of shorts. Totally comfortable, if they survive that long.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Hell yeah !!! I second that motion....

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I thought that was what we were getting with SEV: More of the same?

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

SE V, by the looks of the information that is already out about that game, appears to be a simular game, but very differant in many regards.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Lets be real.SEIV will be dead for the majority when SEV is out.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Wow, That NDA really makes people talk like Politicians http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

So what?

Many people moving on to an improved SE V will merely make it harder to find multiplayer opponents for SE IV. It won't diminish the joys of single player and modding.

If we cared about majority opinion, we wouldn't play TBS games.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I predict many more years of life left in se4 even after se5 is released.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I agree with you. I intend to go on playing SE4. I will buy SE5, but whether or not I'll like it will be determined by the gameplay. Higher end graphics don't impress me. I want to know if it's a more enjoyable game.

There are some games where I just prefer the older version. I like Railroad Tycoon II so much I never even considered getting Railroad Tycoon III. After reading comments about how RRT3 differs from RRT2, I will probably never buy the newer version.

I love Doom 2, but find Doom 3 unplayable.

I prefer OOTP Baseball 5 over OOTP Baseball 6.

And anyway, do we know for sure when SE5 will be released?

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

There's many game series where the older games are better than the new ones, but I thought the whole idea with SEV was that we'd get basically SEIV with more features and options, not something *new*. I'm with the "don't care about graphics" crowd, but I was sure SEV would be a big improvement on the gameplay and modding front as well, yet there seems to be a notable lack of enthusiasm about it, I'd say.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Mainly because we don't know what's changed. The ship design system is new, the research is SEIII style..other than that, who knows.

We do know the moddng has been opened up somewhat, which will cause much joy a couple months after release.

Re: Abandon SE4?
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif No one can be overly enthusiastic, since no one other than the beta testers knows what's coming! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif And we can't tell, for fear of breaching the NDA all beta testers had to sign.

Re: Abandon SE4?
 

Quite true.

One thing most of us will agree on is that SE5 has some very large shoes to fill. IMHO the idea that SE5 will be so great it will make us set aside SE4 is almost too much to hope for.

We shall see.

I have seen some of the screen shots. They look quite nice.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen shots?
 

I'll get SE5 and be interested to see how it turns out. I'll be continuing to play SE4 though, especially my Proportions Mod PBW games.

Some considerations:
* The SE5 graphics aren't a feature I care much about.
* I wasn't entirely happy with SE4 until the Gold version came out.
* I wasn't really happy with the way Starfury ended up.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

One thing that bugs me is the shift in graphics format. I already liked the way SE4 works, and the ability to add new graphics to it at will was a <font color="gold">HUGE</font> factor in my enjoying it.

From everything I've seen the shift in graphics is more show than go. Add to that the new issue of a more complicated image system and the increased difficulty in making new shipsets for it, and I doubt I'll even bother with it. Improvements could've been made to SE4 without changing it's entire format.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

That's only an issue if you do not make shipsets with 3d models. Most SE4 shipset authors use 3d modeling programs anyways, so it's not that big of a deal. Atrocities might have Doga troubles, but he will adapt.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

While <font color="red">AT</font>is certainly the best, he isn't the only DoGA user around. I've noticed that there are a lot of other sets with DoGA. I evenhave a few sets I've made and won't be able to translate over.

But above and beyond that, I'm simply not interested in "adapting" just because a newer version of the game comes out.

There are a number of games out already that have 3D models &amp; graphics far superior to anything I've seen so far with SE5. If that was all I cared about, I wouldn't have bothered with SE4. It was the ability to readily "make it mine", mod or add to it, that I liked. You could play the game and add to it what you wanted, and you didn't need to be a computer or graphics whiz to do it.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Atrocities? Troubles??? *Might*?!

I can see it now; error beeps tip the neighbour over the edge; she goes postal, and knocks down a couple of poor Atro's outer walls. Atrocities will get screwed by the insurance company too, and have to pay for his repairs out of pocket.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I just hope SE5 is not a dumbed down version of the game we know and love.

I rather like having control over most aspects of my empire. What some people call too much micromanagement is what I call fun.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Personally, I don't have high hopes for SE:V. I can't stand the research model, and I don't like the StarFury component placement. I'll give the demo a try, but I doubt I'll buy/play the full game.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

The game is being shipped with some of the best anti-pirating software known to exsist. Code named: open source to confuse would be pirates. Should be interesting too see how people who won't buy the game aquire it. Not that any one here would ever do such a dispicable thing.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

What's wrong with the research style? You can set the percentages up to simulate SE:III style or SE:IV style if you'd like that better... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Well, if it can be set to do SE4 style research, I'd like that. Although I still don't care for the StarFury style component placement.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

I dont really get what all the skeptisism is all about??? From everything that ive seen SEV is what SEIV is but better. They've listened to fans request, SEIII research is back, better ground combat, and IMO better space combat. Really why cant you have your graphics and gameplay too? I cant wait to watch those battles unfold in realtime combat while still having the flexibility to pause and issue commands!!! Imagin a startrek mod with the new engine! That would be something, assuming Atrocities will port his mod to SEV http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I love SEIV but theres nothing wrong with having a more immersive glaxy to play in!!!

Just my 2 C

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

That's easy. Just set research to 100% and bam, SE4 style research. If you're one of those weird people (;)) that use "distribute points evenly" just..do just that to all the projects you wish.

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

The bonus with SE3 style, is that points spill over into the next level of a tech.

For example, if you take your starting 100k points, and put 100% into ship construction which costs 20k, then you get 3 or 4 levels out of that first blast of research (depending on how fast tech costs go up).

Re: Abandon SE4?Opinions:Space Empires 5 screen sh
 

Have they said what the production ques will be like? As much as I like SE4 I always thought the prior shipyard system was better, where you have 2 separate queue for ships and planetary stuff and fighers with shipyards repairing the stuff on them once the ships were built. Meant faster fleet production.