Your History With SEIV
 

My history with SEIV:

For me it started with a short thread in a forum that has long since disappeared. The poster stated that Malfador had just released the SEIV Demo, and that it was quite good. So I visited the site, read up on what the game was about, and download the demo. That was August 2000.

I played the game one time, and was hooked. I played through the 100-turn demo a dozen times before I started posting at SE4 Forums. I posted there until about October of 2000 when one of the posters recommended that I join the Shrapnel Forum. I did, and haven’t looked back.

In late November just after receiving my copy of the game in the mail, I happened to mention to a long time ICQ buddy that the game I was now playing was very addictive. He asked about it, and when I said SEIV, he knew exactly what I was talking about as he too had been playing the demo. Both of us enjoy Star Trek and he sent me my first Star Trek ship. It was the Sovereign (Enterprise E). From there, we both worked on Star Trek ship sets, he based his off of the ships in Armada, and I off of schematics that I had.

My first contribution to the SEIV Ship Set family was my Dominion Battle Cruiser and Attack Ship. Both of them I created using nothing more than an old draw program and paint. It took me days to sketch out the designs. But it was worth it.

Along with the Dominion ships I also generated several other ships and a few bases. All of theses, with the exception of the Dominion ships, have either been scrapped now, or modified to better fit the races they ultimately ended up in.

I don’t recall what races I made first, but I do know that the Dominion was one of my most prized sets. I compiled many new and unique images for many races including the Federation, Ferengi, Klingon, Romulan, Borg, Breen, 8472, and others.

The Breen were a from scratch race. Everything with the exception of one ship came from the work I did. I gathered the images, and compiled them into the Breen Race. Many of the ships that were left over I used for Species 8472 along with a few that Warp 9 had made.

In fact, I owe a lot of my work to the inspiration and design of Warp 9 as his demo Trek Races were the utter foundation of most of my ship sets.

Looking back on this Last year, I get a sense of great accomplishment when it comes to SEIV. I may have never finished a game of SEIV, but I have compiled 12 of the best Star Trek races for this game, and 2 Non Trek races that are among many others that are now out

Granted non-of my races are genuine true creations, but many of the ship images I have used, are one of a kind, and that does speak well of my dedication to my work.

SEIV has had a great influence on my life over this Last year, both through the interaction at this forum, through hours and hours of game play. Never had I considered that a year from the date I loaded the game onto my computer that I would still be playing it. A game that is as much fun now as it was when I first download the demo a year and a half ago.

In all honestly, Aaron has created a game that many happily call a great and powerful game for all, a true one of a kind.

That’s my SEIV story.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Are you saying you just got on-board for SEIV? Man you missed out!

I found SEIII when it was reletively new, I was looking for another game when Stars and some other space game (now long since forgotten) was growing stale. I found the game, downlaoded it, couldn't figure it out, deleted it. A couple of weeks later I rediscovered, downloaded it, figured out how it worked and never stopped playing untill SEIV (well actually I stopped playing it about six months before SEIV came out but still)

SEIII still remains the game I spent the most hours playing...

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Ha to both of you! You missed SE2! Well so did I sort of, I found and played it shortly before I discovered that SE3 was out. I was hooked since then. Heck I still have my old copy of SE2 around here somewhere.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I'm also a late-comer http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I've been hooked on Logistical Puzzles (otherwise known as Strategy Games) ever since Empire. I'd been looking for a MOO II replacement for quite awhile when my wife saw a review of SEIV in one of the Gaming Magazines we regularly buy and showed it to me Last year (2000) about December. I read the review and then ordered the game.

I played it awhile and was a little disappointed in the AI and put it down until recently when I got a little burnt out on EverQuest where I am the Guildleader of a fair-sized guild. I picked it back up about a week ago and noticed that there had been about 4 patches since I Last played. I downloaded the latest patch and I am impressed by the improvements http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

As for me, I was a big Master of Orion fan. I played MOO for hours (still remember the day I bought it) and MOO2 ruled my life for years.

Eventually, I think this was back in 97, I read about the SE series in articles comparing MOO2 to other games. At the time, SE3 was the most recent one, but SE4 was already 'in preparation'. I downloaded my copy of SE3, but I kept on coming back to MOO2 because of the graphics (at the time) and the amazing gameplay experience it offered. Something I hate is what I call 'unnecessary micromanagement', and I must say that I have yet to encounter a better balanced game than MOO2 in this aspect.

I guess I never grew into SE3 because SE4 was announced and I said to myself "why bother learning this game when SE4 is coming and promises to be a killer?". Plus, in the meantime, I had MOO2...

I remember I also tried Imperium Galactica (1 & 2 & 3 or was it just 1 & 2?), which are real-time and not turn-based. The Last two IGs (this would be 2 and 3 I think) were cool because of the storyline and I just loved the way the tutorial was built into IG2. But it had a very limited replay value. I'm not a fan of real-time strategy games but the IG series was very well made in this aspect as you could pause the game and still issue orders.

Then there was Star Wars Rebellion (as many here, I am a SW fan). Interesting because of the SW universe, but what a nightmare in micromanagement! It was a real time game but would have been much better if it were turn-based. In fact the game is built like a turn-based game but the turns just drift by automatically. I think LucasArts made it real-time just because real-time was "in" at the time. Kind of stupid.

But back to SE4. I am European, and I am currently studying for an MBA in the US. Unluckily, SE4 (finally) came out during my 1st year in MBA so I don't have a lot of time to play it. But it certainly fulfills its promises, and is easily the best 4X type of game on the market. It is the first game of the genre that made me uninstall MOO2 from my hard disk. Mind you, I still think MOO2 is one of the greatest games ever, but I have beaten MOO2's AI to death soooo many times that I'm almost sick of it.

So how does SE4 score in micromanagement? Well, not bad after all. It doesn't beat MOO2, but that is understandable because it is richer. And it is 'manageable enough'. I love the game.

I think 'user modpacks' became a reality with Civilization 2, and I am glad SE4 was conceived with this aspect in mind. It is hard to find a good mod though: one that has a balanced feel to it.

A funny thing is that I have played maybe 15-20 games of SE4 but never finished a single one. I tend to pick a favorite race to play (currently: propulsion experts/psychic/religious) and develop a 'perfect strategy' with this race, and then I just can't let go of it. As a result, I struggle A LOT in the beginning of each game (I put AI settings on the hardest possible; I used to play on the "impossible" level in MOO2), but I invariable reach a point where I know I have won the game and it is just not challenging to keep on. So I start a new one...

However, I am very, very excited about MOO3 which will soon hit the market http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I never heard of the SE series at the time, I was always looking for a good space game, played both Moo's (still like 1 little better then 2), Pax Imperia 2, Birth of Federation, etc, then one day I read a review in I believe it was computer gaming world about SE4, sounded good, started looking for reviews in mags. At the time, my kids used the net, I very rarly. Then went on the net looking for more info on SE4, went to MM, Shrapnel sites, went to this forum, started reading the threads and Posts,which by the way, convinced me more then anything to buy the game. Sent for it, loved it, been playing it ever since,
even tho I take a break from it once in awhile and play something else, I always come back to it.
Introduced to 3 of my friends, they liked, bought, and the same with them. It is the best one out. I just wish I had known about the other SE games sooner. In addition, its thanks to SE4 and this forum that I now use the net and have become involved in other game forums, BUT, this one is my #1 favorite, it has everything all the others lack and I have found that MM and Shrapenl have the best support then any other game company out there, in addition, the vets and modders on this forum are the best in helping newbies and anyone who has questions or discussions on the game and its infrastructure. This is VERY lacking in other game forums, and there is no flaming, I hope it remains this way..

just some ideas mac

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by TacticDragon:
However, I am very, very excited about MOO3 which will soon hit the market http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <hr></blockquote>

Yep, me too....but I heard that it was going to be an RTS game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

One of my fondest memories from highschool is playing SEIII mutliplayer in the computer lab while I was supposed to be doing research... Ahhh, the fun never stops.

[ 29 November 2001: Message edited by: ZeroAdunn ]</p>

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Why not? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

First turn-based game I really got into was the X-COM series. Then the friend who introduced me to that, showed me the first MOO but MOO2 was about to hit the shelves so I waited for that instead, and still love it, although the Last part of the game gets boring. 18 doomstars taking out the max number of enemy units (all but a dozen were doomstars and the rest titans) allowed in the combat screen in 1 turn with no return fire gets boring.

Again my friend comes to the rescue by introducing me to SEIV over the holiday. (He was a big Starfire nut and loved seeing something so close to it.)

And now MOO3 is on it's way (checked the site, battles will be real-time with the game itself is turn-based for whoever it was that asked).

There goes my freetime....

By the way, this is the first reference to 4x games, what does 4x stand for?

Nscaler

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

X-ploration
X-pansion
X-???? poliation maybe?
X-termination

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Ahh, memories of SE2...

I had a roomate who had this CD of shareware games. I was checking out the different ones when I came across something called Space Empires II. After two games of the demo Version, I was hooked. Simple yet still intriquing. The very notion of a game that allowed you such customizing features of your ships! Wow. At the time, I didn't have internet access but wanted the full Version, so I called a friend of mine and asked if he could check it out for me. He told me to come by later that day.

Later that same day, I pay my friend a visit. "Sorry," he says. "Couldn't find SE2." Damn, I thought, "But I did find SE3!" Cheeky bastard. Got home and proceeded to play SE3 for HOURS on end. Good thing I was single then...

About a year or 2 later, I heard that SE4 was in the works. I thought 'How could this game be improved?' I could think of nothing that could make this game better than it already is. But then I saw my first screen shots. That made for the longest year I can remember waiting for the release. First July, then september, then October, Then xmas. WHEN WOULD THE TORMENT END!!!

I preordered my copy the same day it was announced.

But then, came this news message on Malfador about something called PBW? Sounded interesting and I haven't played a single player game since.

I met Andreas Lescano through his Star Wars SE site while playing SE3. Imperial shipsets for me, all the way. I had developed one and utilized some of Andreas work into what I played. Once I saw the racestyles of SE4 I knew I wasn't going to be able to create anything like that. So, I talked with Andreas, who couldn't get a full Version in Argentina at that time, and asked him for a custom set. I told him what kind of ships I wanted for each size and Voila!! He created the beautiful Imperial Shipset I use nearly exclusively (thank you Andreas).

Now the Empire is strong and thriving in several SE4 PBW games.

Nick (bearclaw)

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Spyder:


Yep, me too....but I heard that it was going to be an RTS game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif <hr></blockquote>

No, only the combat will be real time. And if you think about how complex it is going to be, how can it be otherwise? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Have you ever played an SE IV battle with 100+ ships in tactical mode? Did you finish before some part of the computer broke down? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif They claim it's going to be very slow so you don't have to depend on your click-speed to win. Essentially, it's the 'impulse' or 'initiative' combat we've been hoping for in SE IV, just sped up a little bit.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ZeroAdunn:
X-ploration
X-pansion
X-???? poliation maybe?
X-termination<hr></blockquote>

Yes, those are the 4 X's to my recollection. eXploration of the galaxy, eXpansion of your empire, eXploitation of resources, and eXtermination of the enemy. (That reminds me... has someone made a Dalek SE IV race yet? Would be cool to see them go up against the Borg! Exterminate! Assimilate! &gt;pow&lt; http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif )

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

4X = eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate

MOO3 is actually advertised as a "5X" game, the 5th X standing for eXperience. And yes, the battles will be in real-time, but the strategic dimension of the game is turn-based, as it should be. I am not worried about this, since the MOO series has traditionally always been very concerned about gameplay and game balance. And, as a big fan of Homeworld, I think space battles are actually best rendered in real time and 3D. Imperium Galactica and SW Rebellion battles were also RT/3D and it worked great.

I like the idea of "eXperience", since I am constantly looking for the ultimate gaming experience. I'm sure most of you here would agree that gaming is not about winning, but about playing, i.e. the game or the "experience", is its own reward. I just hope that this is what Quicksilver has in mind when they mention the "5th X", and that it is just not some phony marketing thingy.

It certainly is a challenge for a game designer to create a good gaming experience. Ideally, a game should not have a preset difficulty level. Rather, the game should adapt the difficulty as the campaign unfolds.

Think about this imaginary situation: you have struggled in a SE4 game and overcome all the challenges the AI has thrown at you. You know you have won the game, and what is left of it is only hours of boring "insect crushing" of the Last enemies, as you lazily finish to research the Last technologies, and you spend more time micromanaging your 200 colonies than doing exciting stuff...

Sounds boring? It is... But, suddenly, out of nowhere, a warp point from another galaxy appears and an alien invasion fleet strikes your empire with fiery destructive force... What are you going to do? Sounds cool? It would be... This is an example of how the game decides that you must be bored and it gives you a new challenge. Unfortunately, such a game is yet to be invented. Just think about it...

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I found SE2 way back when (in the days of Windows 3.1, so probably late 1995 or early 1996), and loved it. I'd played Star Fleet Battles in college, and had been looking for a computer Version of SFB. Then I switched employers in late '97, and didn't have a computer at home until late 1998. At which point I loaded SE2 on my computer (yeah, you could load SE2 on a Win95 box). Then I realized I should look to see if Malfador was around and making improvements to the game. Lo and behold, there was SE3! So I started playing SE3, and deleted SE2 ( http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif ). And, like everyone else, waited with great anticipation for SE4.

I was one of the first to send in modified files for SE3; like most of the other modders for SE3, my first mods tended to create overly powerful components at early tech levels. So I backed off, and finally settled on adding more fighters (different weapon loads, larger fighters at higher tech levels) and more variety in planetary defense facilities (I especially liked the Ion Cannon - a facility-only weapon with very long range). I have a feeling that those mods (along with everyone else's Versions of fighters & facilities) ended up as the inspiration for the fighters and weapon platforms in SE4...

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Seems relevant to this thread, and I haven't plugged it in a while: Do you have your SEIV code? Check out my sig for more info. Here's the relevant bit:


4X Legacy
=========
L++++ In my day, computers were the size of houses and we had to play wargames using little painted figures.
L+++ I've been playing 4X games since the days of steam computing. I remember when this was all asteroid fields...
L++ By the time SEII came out I was already a dedicated 4X fan.
L+ My first 4X game was SEII
L My first 4X game was SEIII
L- I played the demo before I bought SE4. Does that count?
L-- SE4 is my first 4X game.
L--- I'm still playing the demo.
L---- I'm still playing SEIII.

L? 4X Legacy. Isn't that an Australian Lager?
L! I don't own any 4X games, not even the SE4 demo. Sorry.
L!+ I don't own any 4X games, but I really want to get into them.
L* I attempted to conquer Europe in a previous life. I'd have done it too if not for those meddling kids...

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I did some paper pen stuff before I had a decent computer (had a 286 with no HD but two low density double sided disk drives and a monochrome monitor and 640k memory! woohoo) though maybe I'm not being fair since I did play lots of early games off the disk http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif . On the computer I started with SE2 in 1995 off of a Shareware CD with a new Win95 Pentium 100mhz computerwith 16 RAM blah blah(woohoo). Then SE3. Then SE4. And lots of stuff like MOO2, Stars!, Pax Imperia, EotFS and many others.

Look forward to MOO3 and Stars! Supernova Genesis.

All the games have their strong points and their weak points. Moo2 was good... but the combat system was flawed what with the shoot first never recieve return fire thing going on.

I just want to see what the future has in store. Hopefully someone will get the genius idea of combining MOO, SE and Stars! with all their best components into one united game front as these three IMNSHO(Not So Humble Opinion) are by far the best of these types of games.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I like the idea that TD & Spyer mentioned. Similiar to Birth of Federation where the Borg shows up. Now I'm not a programer but I have seen a lot of the vets/modders here create new races etc, how hard would it be to create a new race, make it super xenophobic, weapons, ships, etc, program it to only enter game on a random factor each game, sometimes after MEE arrives, maybe before MEE, and others situations, it arrives from more then 1 entry point, fleets glaze and capture/colonize planets, begin new empire, all the current tech available to them, they start at specific levels in each or certain tech areas, Maybe give them several starting fleets of a specific number or a random number of turns as reinforcements, to get started, etc. Couldn't you just take a current race and tweak or modify its traits, change weapon names and increase their strenghts etc in order to do this? I'm not sure about how you would implement the random factor.
Is this possible or at least something capable with the current system to implement something like this. If anyone interested, I or maybe one of you could start new thread on this so we don't clog this one up with discussion. Sorry for being off topic.

just some ideas mac

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

First of all, I realize some of my postings are a little "off-topic" and I am creating a new thread called "eXperience: the 5h X" to move the discussion dealing with how to make SE4 more challenging in the "boring phase" of the game.

But, to address Spyder's concern about Homeworld: I agree that Homeworld easily became a "click feast" and I just hate that in a RTS game (even more than I hate pointless micromanagement). Even though it was pausable, it was impossible to give orders while in pause. But the graphics, the music, the storyline, and the overall "mood" of Homeworld were so great that I still loved it. I spent a lot of time in pause though, and kind of "prepared my orders" while in pause, then unpaused to quickly actually "give one order", then paused immediately again to do the same with the next order. This was true especially in combat situations of course.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>how hard would it be to create a new race, make it super xenophobic, weapons, ships, etc,<hr></blockquote>This part's easy... <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>program it to only enter game on a random factor each game, sometimes after MEE arrives, maybe before MEE, and others situations<hr></blockquote>...but this part's the show-stopper; it would require major hardcode changes.

I suppose while I'm here I should list my history, too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I discovered SE IV while doing a Web search for some other game, almost a year ago, I think. Downloaded the demo, quickly got hooked, ordered the full Version. Started playing on PBW in Geo's "Survivor" Tournament. SE IV is my favorite game, and 4X is my favorite genre; I like the early eXplore phase the best.

[ 30 November 2001: Message edited by: capnq ]</p>

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Wonder if a new thread should be started for:
"My life leading up to SEIV"
My first 2X (eXpand, eXterminate) was a board game, "Tactics II". This ruined my college carrere. Eventualy the paper Version of Star Fires. This brought my retail carrer to an end. At some point I found Empire II, III, and Deluxe.
That was, (my now X) wife's fault, she make me go sell computers. A "friend" introduced me to SE III. That contributed to the "D".
Now that I'm single, it is all I play.
I wonder how many others have the "same" story?

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

5X game:
Now that I think about it, the "D" would make SE III and SE IV a 5X game.
the 5th X would be my wife.
&lt; bemused grin &gt;

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I started with Civ I as my first computer game, then CivII. I then tried other like games, but very disappointed. I then found MOOII. In the discussion they mentioned SEIII as a great game. I looked at it, but decided to wait for SEIV that was soon coming out (yeah right). CTP, BOTF and IGII game out and I got all games, but they all disappointed me, especially the support with was almost 0. BOTF and CTP had such great potential but the games felt unfinished, like they rushed it to market by not finishing some great ideas. SEIV, was delayed so I thought I would get get SEIII. Loved the game, but missed a map edititor to create scenarios. Pre-ordered SEIV, played the demo (OK, but not good), but rarely played SEIV until patch 1.31 because of all the problems. Since 1.31, I have hardly played any other game. Love the game, but just got CIV3 and am playing that game and will probably get MOOIII when it comes out. Waiting on the promised drones for SEIV.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I started with Civ I as my first computer game, then CivII. I then tried other like games, but very disappointed. I then found MOOII. In the discussion they mentioned SEIII as a great game. I looked at it, but decided to wait for SEIV that was soon coming out (yeah right). CTP, BOTF and IGII game out and I got all games, but they all disappointed me, especially the support with was almost 0. BOTF and CTP had such great potential but the games felt unfinished, like they rushed it to market by not finishing some great ideas. SEIV, was delayed so I thought I would get get SEIII. Loved the game, but missed a map edititor to create scenarios. Pre-ordered SEIV, played the demo (OK, but not good), but rarely played SEIV until patch 1.31 because of all the problems. Since 1.31, I have hardly played any other game. Love the game, but just got CIV3 and am playing that game and will probably get MOOIII when it comes out. Waiting on the promised drones for SEIV.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I started with Civ I as my first computer game, then CivII. I then tried other like games, but very disappointed. I then found MOOII. In the discussion they mentioned SEIII as a great game. I looked at it, but decided to wait for SEIV that was soon coming out (yeah right). CTP, BOTF and IGII game out and I got all games, but they all disappointed me, especially the support with was almost 0. BOTF and CTP had such great potential but the games felt unfinished, like they rushed it to market by not finishing some great ideas. SEIV, was delayed so I thought I would get get SEIII. Loved the game, but missed a map edititor to create scenarios. Pre-ordered SEIV, played the demo (OK, but not good), but rarely played SEIV until patch 1.31 because of all the problems. Since 1.31, I have hardly played any other game. Love the game, but just got CIV3 and am playing that game and will probably get MOOIII when it comes out. Waiting on the promised drones for SEIV.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I found the SE3 demo from web and played it for a couple months. I didn't buy the game because I read that SE4 was in development. First I thought that the release was only few months away but as it was postponed many times and I almost forgot about the whole thing. When the SE4 demo was released I downloaded it and loved it.

SE4 is the best game I've ever bought. I wanted to make my own shipset so I had to learn to make 3D graphics. Before SE4 I didn't have a clue how to make graphic with computer. (Well, I knew how to use Paint.) Now I can use Pov-Ray and I have made few shipsets that are looking good enough to play with. (Toron, Aquilaeian)

I have played some PBW games with those shipsets but with poor success. I have been always second or third who is eliminated from game and I have only played with 10+ players. Some time in the future I intend to survive in a game still when half of the players have been eliminated.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by TacticDragon:
MOO3 is actually advertised as a "5X" game, the 5th X standing for eXperience. And yes, the battles will be in real-time, but the strategic dimension of the game is turn-based, as it should be. I am not worried about this, since the MOO series has traditionally always been very concerned about gameplay and game balance. And, as a big fan of Homeworld, I think space battles are actually best rendered in real time and 3D. Imperium Galactica and SW Rebellion battles were also RT/3D and it worked great.<hr></blockquote>

Well, Homeworld was given to me for Christmas by my step-daughter and so I played it out of duty. It quickly turned into a twitch-click, who-can-get-there-fastest-with-the-mostest game...like warcraft. No strategy involved. I would have not finished it had it not been a gift. I hope that MOO 3 will allow is to at least to stop/pause action to issue/reissue orders, otherwise, there'll be no tactical strategy...it'll all depend on how fast you (that's YOU, not your empire...big difference) can click the right ships and get them to shoot the right things at the right time.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>I like the idea of "eXperience", since I am constantly looking for the ultimate gaming experience. I'm sure most of you here would agree that gaming is not about winning, but about playing, i.e. the game or the "experience", is its own reward. I just hope that this is what Quicksilver has in mind when they mention the "5th X", and that it is just not some phony marketing thingy.<hr></blockquote>

I've always referred to these games as Logistical Puzzles. You have to figure out how to respond, strategically & domestically, to each challenge. The variety of challenges is what makes a game of this type good.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>It certainly is a challenge for a game designer to create a good gaming experience. Ideally, a game should not have a preset difficulty level. Rather, the game should adapt the difficulty as the campaign unfolds.

Think about this imaginary situation: you have struggled in a SE4 game and overcome all the challenges the AI has thrown at you. You know you have won the game, and what is left of it is only hours of boring "insect crushing" of the Last enemies, as you lazily finish to research the Last technologies, and you spend more time micromanaging your 200 colonies than doing exciting stuff...

Sounds boring? It is... But, suddenly, out of nowhere, a warp point from another galaxy appears and an alien invasion fleet strikes your empire with fiery destructive force... What are you going to do? Sounds cool? It would be... This is an example of how the game decides that you must be bored and it gives you a new challenge. Unfortunately, such a game is yet to be invented. Just think about it...<hr></blockquote>

yeah, this would be great http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I don't think that it would be that difficult to do, but, the space requirements would be huge. To keep things interesting, there would have to be a variety of things that happen when you hit that 'bored' stage. These games can be anything but predictible. Once you get predictible, the game shelved because the challenge is gone.

One thing that comes to mind comes straight out of Civilization (the Board Game). There are Calamity cards that you get through trading and one of the Calamities that can hit your empire is called Civil War. Another is called &lt;something else, can't remmber&gt;. Both essentially require you to split your empire and allow you to choose which half you want.

This would translate to SEIV this way:

Once you hit MEE, your chances of having a civil war increase dramatically. The longer you're MEE, the higher they are. This means that you better win quickly after hitting MEE or your Empire will split.

[ 30 November 2001: Message edited by: Spyder ]</p>

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Always liked the SE products. I was waiting like a year for #4 to come out. Now I wait for the next patch, lol!

{And BTW, what's with the new lame archives forums with no way to down load the mod files or they're not showing up. (sorry, off topic)}

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Well, found an answer to my question back a page or two in the forum here.

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

I first became interested in the game back in September. I have not yet ordered it as I do not have my own computer. But I will order it as soon as I do get a computer. When I visit my brother, I play my game on his PC. I am up to turn 260+ and going. The game is a wonderful departure from life, and I enjoy being a Uber Lord of the Galaxy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Your History With SEIV
 

Gaming for me started with Chain mail, D&D, car wars and those ol micro games like starfire, spell binder... Then I got really interested in games like africa corp ,panzer leader, third reich , star fleet battles and squadleader. I was always looking for a good space game on the computer and went through star general, moo, moo2, stars - and found that all of them bored me after awhile, then I found se3 which was be all appearances my "starfire on the computer" dream come true. Once I had played that for a year I got in on the se4 beta test. Since then SE4 is pretty much my main computer game to play..