[DirkHowitzer]

Well, gentlemen, I will always have a soft spot in my heart(and maybe my head)for anything with the words "Master of Orion" in its title. This being said I will of course spend whatever it takes to possess my own copy of MOO3 when it arrives in stores. I think it will be very good if they can stick to the game plan but, as previously mentioned, that is improbable. I think the ideas hold very much promise.

Will it be as good as SEIV? Time will tell. This being said I resent the implications of traitor mentioned earlier. Yes I know it was all in good fun, but it still propogates the idea of loyalty at the cost of quality. I, for one, am not a fan of SEIV nor am I fan of the MOO series or Imperium Galactica, etc...I am a fan of 4X. And I, for one, will welcome anyone who attempts to better the genre whether the are backed by $10 or $10,000,000.

Now, this all having been said;-), SEIV is certainly one of the better, if not the best 4X game to come down the pike in quite some time. I believe that what we possess here at this forum, that being the suprising lack of skeptisicm, is exactly what is needed to better our genre. Rarely before have I seen a place as full of help and ideas as this. And this, I believe, is exactly what is needed to better the 4X genre. So I challenge all here to welcome with arms and minds wide open anyone who would attempt to follow in the path of 4X greatness. For without bold ideas where would any of us be now?

As for Tomgs assertation that it can only help the genre if it is a good game, I strongly disagree. Would you call Edison's first lighbulb a good light bulb? Seeing as it fizzled out after mere seconds I would argue not. But where would we be without that first attempt? In the dark. There is always something good to be gained out of even the most abject of failers even if it is merely an example of what NOT to do. To make a summary of what I've said in this post: It is the culmination of everybodies work, whether they be designers or mere players of the game with ideas, if we keep our minds opened and willing to accept even the most radical of ideas, in the end we will have what we desire.

Skepticism is NOT the answer. Not that constructive critisicm isn't helpful. And I don't mean to criticise these previous Posts pointing us back in the direction of reality, I merely hope to challenge us all to remain open minded and hopeful.

P.S.-- Whew...now I feel better;-)(Seguey now in the Creed song: "With Arms Wide Open"...lol)

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"He's dead, Jim."-- Lt. Commander Leonard "Bones" McCoy |Chief Medical Officer / USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

[This message has been edited by DirkHowitzer (edited 01 February 2001).]

[This message has been edited by DirkHowitzer (edited 01 February 2001).]