Anyone still play SE III?
 

I purchased SE III over three years ago. Recently I dug up my registration info, downloaded the game and began to rediscover the gem that it was.

SE IV has many more options and vast improvements. However if you want to play a refined, well oiled classic, SE III is just superb.

Does anyone else still play SE III?

-Nigel

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

In the past few months, I've played SE3 just as much as SE4. Then again, I haven't really played either very much. I'm starting to get away from computer games http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

And I know what you mean with SE3. It's more of a nostalgia (sp?) thing for me, but it would still have value to those who started out with SE4, to see where it came from. Sort of like SE3 players playing SE2 http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif All are great games, the series has come a long way.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I still play SE3. Even though SE4 does have more options and is easier to mod, I still prefer the production methods used in SE3 (most notably the ability to put many space yards on a single ship/base).

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It's not whether you win or lose that counts: it's how much pain you inflict along the way.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I still play SE3. Even though SE4 does have more options and is easier to mod, I still prefer the production methods used in SE3 (most notably the ability to put many space yards on a single ship/base).
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes that was brillant as the construct/repair window to manage that. I wish I had that in SE4.
I haven't played SE3 in a looong time.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I feel the production method is far superior in SE III. Also in SE III the ministers actually work. I often like to rely on the Colonization & Population transport ministers.

SE IV is so feature rich and customizable. It also looks really great. However so many things just don't work even after a year of incredible patches and great user modifications. I really hoped that the latest robust patch would solve many of the tiny issues that still plagued the game.

I find the AI challenging so that has never been much of an issue for me. Yet many of the ministers perform poorly at best or simply do not function as intended. Also because of extremely poor documentation a player is really forced to do extensive research in order to understand how the game mechanics work.

While there are many cool features added to SEIV. Many of them are not fully fleshed out or implemented.

While SE IV leads the pack when it comes to 4X gaming. I feel it's major competition is it's predecessor the venerable SE III.

-Nigel


[This message has been edited by NigelWulf (edited 29 October 2001).]

[This message has been edited by NigelWulf (edited 29 October 2001).]

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I haven't played SEIII for a long, long time. I think it's the lack of customizing options (compare to SEIV) and the cheesey graphics...

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Captain Kwok = Captain Spoogy

"Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there..."

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I learned on SE2 and still play that one from time to time. I haven't played SE3 in a long time but that's mainly because I prefer the human aspect of the PBW. In fact all my current games are all through the PBW. I have to agree with everyone else about the build queues features in SE3, but I also prefer the Research the way it was done in SE3 rather than SE4.


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"You don't know the Power of the Dark Side. I must obey my Master"

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

Especially the ability to put enough points into one area in one turn to get multiple levels.
You wouldn't get the levels all at once, but you could concentrate all your research into something cheap without wasting points.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

Hi all,

I'm brand new to this forum and even though I've played SE-III for about two years I still consider myself a newbie emperor http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif I do have the SE-IV demo but I have yet to order it, but I'll do my best to do so as soon as possible.

Even though I'm a Quaker (of the id kind) at heart, I still need my dose of megalomania http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

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Go fast, go SPLAT !!!

[This message has been edited by R3DFIV3 (edited 31 October 2001).]

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by suicide_junkie:
Especially the ability to put enough points into one area in one turn to get multiple levels.
You wouldn't get the levels all at once, but you could concentrate all your research into something cheap without wasting points.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hehe, that's why I like the new system better. You cannot "emergency research", you have to plan ahead. In order to get to level 5 you need at least 5 turns.

Rollo

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I played SEIII a fair amount, and beat the game soundly...but I was in for a big surprise when it came to the new tech tree. I assumed that the technologies would be essentially the same, and they are, but a few unpleasant surprises turned up becasue the manual led me to believe that Contraterrine engines were the only comp that gave a movement bonus.

Oh, well, I guess it will only happen once, eh? But it would be nice to know the rules of the game without having to mine the forums. Strategic combat for instance, which I always used in III and use now in PBW, has been made more complicated and I just don't get it; I keep thinking that if I have some obscure box left unchecked my ships will run away. Or that they will try to hold a formation instead of shooting enemy vessels.

So a couple of things are fristrating....but for the most part the game is just more and better of what I loved before.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

Well, it's been a year since I originally made this post. I have SEIV Gold, I continue to love the series but find I still enjoy SE III.

Anyone else still playing SE III?

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

It was actually what started me on the whole thing. Searching around one day after being bored out of my mind. Went to PCG and found an article about SEIV coming out. Went and go the SE3 demo. Played it until everyone had massive cruiser fleets with best weaposn available (demo limitations) and mega mine fields to keep everyone out.

Basically it went something like massive WP assault followed by minelayers to keep any counter attacks away all through the system. Repeat.

At that point I got the SEIV demo (it had come out at that point obviously) and bought it within a week. So since i never owned the original i can't really play. Sure wish i could buy it though. I jsut can't find it for purchase anywhere (same goes for SEIV).

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I play SE1 from time to time, but SE3 and 4Gold I tend to play now and then.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I was playing SE3 PBEM for a long time after SE4 came out, until eventually the players got so unresponsive that I stopped nagging people to turn in their turns. SE3 has some things I prefer over SE4 (e.g. Construction queues, tactics options, some AI features, ability to send multiple diplo Messages per turn, ability to retreat from tactical combat, build times not entirely linked to resource costs, etc.). I think we would have played that PBEM game to completion, if it hadn't been for the non-simultaneous PBEM sequence (have to wait for each player in turn, instead of all playing at once).

PvK

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, the construct/repair window was really handy. I remember having a whole screen full of constructions going, and I'd move the blocks around every round to try to "smooth out" the edges on the right so that all the constructions finish at around the same time. (You know, some constructions are partially done, and some small ships take only a few tenths of a year to construct, so they're small rectangles, and big things like bases have really long blocks, and so you put the long blocks by themselves on the fast-rate shipyards, move the small blocks to fill in the gaps on the other rows, and so on. Sometimes, if one block sticks out from the others, you can still move things around so that the edges line up, and get ahead by 1 turn by optimizing the construction assignments to that each ship yard is using close or equal to its build rate.)

I know this sounds confusing, but if you've done this you'll know what I mean.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

Wierd that you should mention this, I just started playing SEIII again recently. I keep getting killed, I used to consider myself quite proficient at the game, now I can't even get a decent empire running.

I agree about constrcution/research, definetly something that needs to be brought back. Also, the seperation of space based and planetside construction was nice. Something about building troops in a space yard just doesn't seem right.

The right click menu - bring it back!

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I tried SE1 and SE2 but I never thought it was as good as VGA planets.
SE3 I never tried, started on Winplanets instead.
But now it's only SE4 that I play, and when SE5 comes out I'll preorder it as fast as it can be done!

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I haven't played SE3 in quite a while, although I started a game Last spring for fun. SE3 was what really got me into PC gaming, I had always used a console for gaming before that -- PCs were strictly for work until I discovered MM and downloaded the demo, got hooked, then bought the full Version and been playing SE (upgrading as time passed) ever since. I do miss some of the SE3 features previously discussed in SE4.

[ November 26, 2002, 17:39: Message edited by: kalthalior ]

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I've never played SEIII. I think I'll download the demo though. Mess around with it see what it's like.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

I think it would be a good change to allow shipyards to work on multiple items at once. Like research projects for example - you could decide between using all that shipyard's resources on one ship, or divide them between a number of projects. It would be a cinch to implement!

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

What I think would be the best is an SE3 style management window, combined with the actual building/repair being done in the style of Organic Armor.
The Yard would store up mineral/organic/rads production and then add components as soon as it has enough points stored to complete the next damaged/unbuilt component.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif , SJ.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

It's been awile since I played SE III, but I'd like to look how Space Empires evolved into its current state. Can you downlad SE I & II anywhere?

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Skulky, you don't "buy" SE3 really, it is shareware. You register with MM using the form in the demo and pay $30, and you are sent the registration code. Then you fire up the demo, enter the code, and it unlocks itself, becoming the full Version.

I think Aaron will be happy to continue to provide this service, regardless of how many years have passed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

Has anyone been to Malfador's web site lately?
www.malfador.com has not worked for a while.
Did they change the url?

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

Malfador's site works fine for me..

Phoenix-D

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't know if you can download it but I have been with SE since SE1. Geez has this thing come a long way. I think that Aaron is going to do the same thing with DO, progress it that is. Anyway I still have SE1 and SE2 backed up on a CD somewhere around this mad house.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Oh, ya! I forgot about that right click menu. I would love to see that make it back into SE4G.

Re: Anyone still play SE III?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, the construct/repair window was really handy. I remember having a whole screen full of constructions going, and I'd move the blocks around every round to try to "smooth out" the edges on the right so that all the constructions finish at around the same time. (You know, some constructions are partially done, and some small ships take only a few tenths of a year to construct, so they're small rectangles, and big things like bases have really long blocks, and so you put the long blocks by themselves on the fast-rate shipyards, move the small blocks to fill in the gaps on the other rows, and so on. Sometimes, if one block sticks out from the others, you can still move things around so that the edges line up, and get ahead by 1 turn by optimizing the construction assignments to that each ship yard is using close or equal to its build rate.)

I know this sounds confusing, but if you've done this you'll know what I mean.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That was an art more than a skill!