4 x games in 2002: the big three.

[Iron Giant]

This is a good year to be a 4x fan...

Master of Orion 3 -
Graphics look good
Combat looks good
Universe looks huge, open ended and believable

http://moo3.quicksilver.com/main.html

Imperium Galactica 3-
Graphics look absolutely fantastic.
Combat looks good - 3d, ships look awesome, shield effects, lightning, etc.
Universe looks ok, story driven. Probably not nearly as ambitious as MOO3, but it will have a story to follow.

They did just release a demo of the combat. There is not much documenatation, but the graphics alone are worth the download. I posted a quick Users guide in their forum about getting started in the demo.

http://www.ig3.de/english/index0.htm



Space Empires 4 -

Graphics are.... well, how can I put this... um, Well its not that they're "bad" per say, its just that... the graphics are not what SE4 is about....
Combat has a lot going for it tactially. Many ships, weapons, research, etc. Just not a graphical game.
Universe is tremendous. Huge replay value, many different races, Online play etc. The diplomacy is very good.

And, SE4 is available now, if you want be tided over while were waiting for MOO3 and IG3....

Webpage:
http://www.malfador.com/se4.html

Forums:
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...ubb=forum;f=23

Note, Im lazy and bored so I'm posting this to all 3 forums.... I'm not comparing them to each other, just filling in others about whats out there.

I'd say they are all apples to oranges (to peaches ). I'll take all 3, myself...

[Gargantua]

What about Galactic Civilizations? Looks good too, they just released beta ( http://www.galciv.com ).

[Puke]

but if he included that, he would have had to title the post:

4 x 4-X games 4 2002

and thats just too confusing.

[Schwarzbart]

I dont know If I would consider GalCiv a 4E game, its more like the good old civ except that it is in a space setting. The major downside of galciv as fare I have seen it is that you research your ships like you research units in civ and the combat works just like the same as in civ . The Graphics arent any bether as MOO2 but how cares about this point. But they are still in the first Beta Phase so I hope they will improve the game a lot till they release it.

Somthing I missing in the list is Stars! Super Nova Genesis even if they havent a producer at hand.

[disabled]

I wonder if Shrapnel ever put a bid in for Stars! Supernova.....

[tesco samoa]

if ig3 is modable.... The First mod should be BAB5. Way cool.

Thanks for the links