[MasterDave]

I have stated before and still believe that it is the lack of a TC/IP (or another network protocol) style multiplayer game that is preventing SE IV from becoming one of those "great" strategy games which can hold my attention for years at a time. New and tougher AI's and race pictures are keeping the game somewhat interesting, but without the foreseeable opportunity to take on real live human opponents over the net, I can feel my interest in this game waning. Europa Universalis is starting to replace SE IV for me, as that game does offer the opportunity to take on other humans now (or after I have practiced playing different nations to the point where I feel ready).

Moo2 was a great example of a game that had the ability to suck me in and stay fun for a long,long time. Beating its AI on impossible became pretty routine after a couple weeks playing the game, but overcoming the devious tactical, economic, diplomatic (..."ok, it's time we all gang up on MasterDave, hehe..."), and sheer creativity of other human players is what really kept that game interesting for me for a very long time. I played in a Kali league for over two years until Everquest finally came along and dominated my on-line life (or lack of life depending on your perspective) for a solid 20 months (ouch).

SE IV has the potential with its amazing depth of technologies, types of weapons, races, etc. to be a fascinating game against human opponents. However, an email game with one turn a day just does not seem like it would be all that much fun, and would probably take half a year to even having a chance of getting finished. Hotseat might be ok, but the game is far too long without simultaneous movement. It would probably take multiple sessions over a network to finish a game WITH simultaneous moves, but so did Moo2 if you had four or five players. Strategic combat would probably be needed to keep the game moving, but it would still be a great game without the tactical combat.

Anyway, I plan to stick with SE IV at least for part of my gaming time, in the hopes that TC/IP will eventually get implemented. If not, Moo3 will hopefully be released in a year or so...


MasterDave
Former Psilon Emperor and official Ringer for the Trilarans

[This message has been edited by MasterDave (edited 11 May 2001).]