SEIV Fans Please Read
 

It has come to my attention that far to many of you are deriving far too much pleasure from this game. It is ok to love thy game, but just don’t luuuuuuv thy game. Therefore I hereby command you to stop playing SEIV and go out and buy MOO 3. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Seriously, what makes SEIV so damned enjoyable?

For me it many differant aspects. The Modding ability being the foremost, support, these forums, the community, etc.

I love the game, it gives me the feeling that I am exploring the stars, commanding a vast stellor empire, and am leader of trillions. I enjoy the battles and strategy, (limited as it is) of the AI, and cannot seem to get enough of the this. It is by far the one game that has defined the term "Just One More Turn."

If Aaron did nothing but add wheel mouse support to SEV, I would buy it without question. I know that SEIV has been so brilliantly supported that SEV, if released, will be more of the same.

I have to agree, if Infogames wants to salvage the Master Of Orion name, they had better contract with Malfador now.

"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done." - Longfellow, Kavanagh

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

SEIV is the only game that keeps me from getting to bed early. I hate it because of that! :-)
Damn game. Every time i play a game, there is something unique about it.
I also learn a lot of neat tricks on this forum and this is probably one of the more appealing factors of SEIV: the endless variantions in ship and unit design. It keeps the game interesting.
Anyway, enough posting, i need to get back to my game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

The Game is addictive???
All this time I thought the forum was addictive.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I think one of the aspects is that there is the perfect "rate" of new & different things added during a game. You can expect a new weapon, facility, ship, technology, or some such thing every couple of turns that you have just GOT to start using. You are also continuously expanding, building, conducting diplomatic relations, conducting military operations, etc. Like I said, it is the rate that makes the game great. If you quickly got all the techs, met all the empires, built a huge fleet and conquered the empire, it wouldn't be fun and the game would be easily mastered. If it took too long to do these things, your interest wouldn't hold long enough to have fun. The "excitement rate" is perfectly tweaked to keep people wanting "just one more turn".

Slick.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

SEIV is the only game I have owned that stayed on my hard drive from day 1. It is also the only game, in my long gaming history, to have 4 Versions, with at least 3 mods each, installed at the same time. It is also the only game, perhaps regrettably, that has me addicted to Online gaming. It is also the only game that has induced me to pull even more money out of my pocket after game purchase (to support PBW). It has the only game forum that I visit regularly, or should I say daily. My hat is off to the game, the community, the PBW admins, Aaron and Malfador for bringing it to life, Shrapnel for publishing it and hosting this forum, and all the great players I meet on PBW.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I've had Civ2 installed much longer than SE4 has been around. I think I have 2 Versions currently, Gold and Test of Time. I lost count of the huge number of mods I have for it long ago. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Of course, it also had a much larger following than SE4, so it makes sense that there are more mods for it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Frankly, If you count ToT as CIV2 variant, you should also include SEIII in SEIV list. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I too have Civ2 on my computer and consider some Civ2:fantastic_worlds scenarios (behold the maddening perfection of Midgard !) as true artistic masterpices.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I have played many games over my years and I must confess SE4 is the one I always come back to and play the most. There are a lot of reasons that make this game IMHO the best on the market, The game itself, the mods, but even more important the game support MM and Sharpnel give to the game and the community. No other company that I know of has ever given one of their games this type of support let alone listen to its players and actually incorporate a lot of their ideas and recommendations. Then there is the community/forum itself. I've been on a number of game forums but this one is by far the friendlist, and the most helpful,and No flame wars, Everyone always try to help those in need especially us older gamer geezers who are in constant duress and need help with these infernal contraptions and the "essance".

In pure honesty, I check this forum everyday at least once if I can. I can't say that for the other forums...

In plain words... The game and the community are fun.... and thats what a game is supposed to be and to make new friends..

I tend to ramble Mac

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Frankly, If you count ToT as CIV2 variant, you should also include SEIII in SEIV list. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I too have Civ2 on my computer and consider some Civ2:fantastic_worlds scenarios (behold the maddening perfection of Midgard !) as true artistic masterpices.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Midgard scenerio of ToT is much better than the Fantastic Worlds one (not that the FW is bad, but the ToT one is soo cool http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ).

ToT is definitely a Civ2 variant. It is the same game, just with lots of tweaks, and some newer features. It is maybe Civ 2.5, but not enough to be a different game.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

Well, I've already commented on MOO3 in another thread, but suffice it to say that I agree...it has NOTHING on SE4. It is a nightmare of fighting the AI and UI to try and get what you want done. In the end, I think the touted 'macromanagement' is every bit as tedious as 'micromanagement', with the added complication of needing to learn a completely different way to fight the UI.

By contrast, SE4 feels very clean. Everything is laid out intelligently and clearly. There are obviously things I would change, but SE4 feels 'done', unlike MOO3 which feels very much like its still in Beta, even after all of the delays.

SE4 keeps me coming back because, through modding, it can be the game *I* want it to be. I've taken Proportions as a base, and tweaked it to feel the way I like it. This is such a HUGE feather in SE4's cap. I would have stopped playing with the default data long ago...it just left me feeling a little bland. But with modding, its a game and a mad scientist's workshop all in one! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif I'm not sure if I have more fun modding or playing, but its all coming from the same product.

My biggest gripes about SE4 are the AI and dipomacy. The AI is fair, but has a lot of holes. The diplomacy just feels 'off'. There are tons of options, but most of them just dont seem to do much. I receive threat after threat with no follow-through. I ask for things that are agreed to, but I never see the result...(ie, "Break your treaty with the 'X'"..."ok"...and it never does it).

But, in the realm of multiplayer, SE4 really shines. Since Gold, I've been able to play TCP/IP and that is where the game is really at. All the AI and diplomacy faults fall away when playing with other folks, leaving us to enjoy what is probably the best 4x game ever made.

Long, rambling...but its my story and I'm sticking too it! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Talenn

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

SE4 is always the first "fun" program I install on any computer I'm going to be using. Whenever I travel for either business or pleasure it is on my laptop HD. I always wind up playing it. Other games come and go but SE4 remains fun.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

This is the only game that has never been removed from my harddrive, has a shortcut on my desktop and an archive in "work" drive. Other games usually never stay on my computer long enough for me to start moving files around to accomodate them. I'll install them where I can easily remove them when I finish the game, or get bored with it (guess which happens first..)
This game has to be addictive because its ALL ABOUT THE FUN. Yeah I can have a game with eyecandy, a winning path, killer strategy, B-actors in cutsceen and the rest of that crap. But after awhile you have to ask yourself "What about the FUN?"
Fun is pounding weaker races. Fun is getting pounded by races you didn't think were a threat. Fun is having a race pull a fast one on you that you didn't see coming. Fun is knowing you are supporting a software developer and not just a store in the mall. Fun is being so engrossed in the game that you take boarder incursions personally. Yeah, I'd buy this game again.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

Well, I just have been playing for a couple months, so I'm still in the first love period http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif .

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I'm a newbie on SE IV ( only 9 months playing with it). I think I love it because it's incredibily rich, because all games are different.
With it, I can create races and share them.

I tryied a few mods, like some, dislike others. My only regret is that I don't have enough time to test TDM right now, and I can't be involved in more than two PBW at a time.
My only fear is that my wife will sooner or later tell me to stop playing, or that my future job will take me far away from home and from my computer.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

SE Iv is besides from CIV 1 the game I like most.
I got Civ2 and Call to Power and Civ 3.

But what I always comes back to is Civ1 (well, actually CivNET).

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">ToT mods? Where ? Could you provide a link for me, pleeeaase?

My longtime non SE4 Favorites are still:
SMAX, Civ ToT, Age of Wonders II, full stop.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I love SEIV like the rest of you. I have a vast experiance from strategy gaming from the early 80's until today. SEIV is one of the most enjoyable and addictive games in my career as a strategy games player.

MM is one of the best game companies. They always carefully listens to their customers. The only company that can top them are Paradox who by the chance also has produced the best game ever Europa Universalis II. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

For me strategy games are like art is for artlovers.... even though I'm probably not going to play Moo3 as much as I did play Moo2 it's still has beutiful nuances that other games don't have and it's a worthy addition to my near 150 strategy games collection.

I am sure that SEV will be an even better game but I have a feeling that there will be lots of complaining just because SEV will not turn out as some peoples has imagined. This always happen to every game that follows up a series of great games.

I have never regretted any of my strategy games buy (with the exception of perhaps Destiny http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif ) and I am always open minded about the games I buy and well awared that they may not be like I had imagined.

[ March 12, 2003, 10:07: Message edited by: Saarud ]

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The difference to other great game series is this:

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It seems to me, MM has exactly the same vision/tastes for a neverending strategy series as 99% of this board. I can not imagine a better stroke of luck than an "independend" programmer who is addicted to the same kind of game visions as I have.
Although, you might be right. I have heard of many complaints about the differences of SE4 to SE3. Let's hope the best (and take the rest), as long as it does not become a realtime series http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Oh man, don't even mention that. I had enough with Lords 3 going real time. I hate it when developers try to sell to the Casual Market.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

A lot of times, that fact is just unavoidable. Particularly when you are on a large enough team that has extra costs. A one-man show can survive staying on the non-mainstream if they are lucky enough to still turn a profit, such as this case. However, there have been some companies that went for a better choice than going just mainstream. Sure, mainstream gets the money you need, but it's always nice when a company decides to do spinoffs of a series for the mainstream, while still supporting your non-mainstream fans.

In a way, Battletech/Mechwarrior kind of comes to mind. That is, having a series to satisfy your gathered fans, and then branching off mainstream appeal series that work to get the casuals in. Sometimes this works wonders because *some* casuals like the universe but want something with much more substance and/or story, so they end up becoming new fans of the non-mainstream Versions. Then you have a much larger non-mainstream audience with the addition of the used-to-be casual gameplayers. Mechassault is probably as far from the strategy of Battletech that it could get, being a very arcade deathmatch-style game (moreso than even Mechwarrior 1). A mech Version of a FPS, basically, but with special abilities thrown in mildly-resembling the systems in that universe. But it spurred new interest in even the table-top turn-based games. Not a bad way to sell your games. You get the mainstream dollar, and you promote your heavier strategy Versions that you are still supporting. Of course, this only works for big companies, but I guess that's the point we're talking about. Of course the small companies can afford to support the niche market, since their internal costs is so small.

I guess this is a bit of a food for thought for the idea that MM may get big due to increasing sales. Of course, you do run the risk of some head of publication screwing you over and pressuring you to stop with your development of the non-mainstream game just because it isn't raking in the megamillions of the mainstream product. That's a sad fact and could happen to anybody who gets a publisher like that. Maybe the safe thing is to sell just the game with a mainstream publisher, but make sure you keep the rights of the game-universe to yourself. That way your less-mainstream more substance game stays with the people you know will allow you your freedom and is running with the lower resources to make good money off it. Too bad console development has gotten to the point of being so expensive, it's becoming go-mainstream or die. At least half of Sega's sufferings go to this alone. (Too man people to pay, and too much always trying to make new innovative game instead of countless sequels) Perhaps, this is the real main thing that puts the Personal Computers in the undying spot for gaming.

[ March 12, 2003, 15:39: Message edited by: Foiden ]

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">OOK. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif That brought back unwelcome memories. I let the dog teethe on that CD. The only game purchase (including BC3K - which I liked when it worked) that disturbed me enough to destroy the evidence.

Again OOK.

Teal_Avenger

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I wonder if its possible to find the percentage of sales that it's done thanks to the word-of-mouth by hardcore gamers. Several of my friends believe this a game breaker or maker, but I don't want to overestimate it.
Do you guys know any stats, if any?

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I'd like to know. Heck, thanks to MOO3, this game is getting new looks by people who were on the fence for MOO3 and was waiting for the good word. That could possibly be a major deal since the hype of a new Master of Orion was so intense, that it got maybe millions to at least find interest in it. Finding this game is only a quick web search away (popping up first in search engines like Google). This could be one case where this game just may get more exposure than the typical advertisement would do. Kind of like using someone elses heavy advertising dollars to inadvertantly promote your product. (No effort on your part).

Now if I can pull something like that on Space Empires, that would be sweet. That is, use the efforts of some other race to boost ahead of the pack. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ March 12, 2003, 19:09: Message edited by: Foiden ]

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I'd also like to give credit to Geo for keeping the PBW going. That's what keeps me playing. IMO -It's what sets SEIV apart from the rest.

Re: SEIV Fans Please Read
 

I never multiplay, in any game, except on LAN. I prefer to give a big bad bonus to the AI.
My past Online multiplayer experiences have been very bad, with players that use exploits just short of cheating, or they quit if they think they are losing.
Besides, I'm a very slow gamer, I never click my turns away, I kind of enjoy survaying my domain. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif