[madkillercat]

Hmm, not obselete...ok...

"Limited" is more accurate than stupid, or perhaps "too little for what it's supposed to do". From what I remember, the SE2 and 3 AIs were adequate for their respective domains while the SE4/G AI is insufficient for its. SE2 and 3 were relatively simple, and did not have enough features to require a capable AI. SE4/G however does have enough depth and breath to require a strong AI.

The SE4 AI is "stupid" because it provides minimal challenge w/o significant bonuses. To hopefully clarify why, here are some games I consider having "non-stupid," consistently formidable AIs: Galactic Civilizations, and Warlords.

Yes, SE5 looks very interesting, and I will probably preorder it too.

Oh...then are you saying you have a better way of organizing reality? Or are you saying SE4, and particularly its AI, is meaningless since it is based on mathmatical presumptions Aaron/MM made?

Math is not real not the truth, only a philosophical basis for reality. It is however used by scientists, and also for constructing working system models of environments. For example, SE4/G which models "space empires." The only thing I can think of as capable of filling voids is love, understanding, faith, and good buttered biscuits; I just don't see how you you would actually make a game with them . Feels good, but not much filling.