Galciv2: Dark Avatar gets a 9.0 in IGN

[President_Elect_Shang]

I haven't played the game; however, I wouldn't be surprised if the AI did cheat. I have read a number of times in the past that programmers will give an AI cheat or cheat like abilities. In each of the commentaries were this was admitted the designers would point out the same thing. Which is (basically) short of massive development, effort, space, and computing power there is no way to make a great non-cheating AI.

[aegisx]

I don't buy into the AI cheating on purpose. Brad (I think that is his name) has always been pretty open and forthcoming about the galciv games.

[President_Elect_Shang]

It may not cheat in this one, and I am not even saying that is that way for every game with AI. What I am saying is that I have read over the years instances where game designers admitted to making an AI with cheat abilities to give the players a better challenge. So if the designer admitted giving this AI something extra to push it along I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[Raapys]

There's tons of games where the AI cheats, but it's rarely kept secret from what I've experienced.

As for GalCiv

5) It is NOT cheating (unless you put the difficulty above Tough at which point yea, it's cheating, we're giving it money).

http://www.galciv2.com/media/mediaguide.html

Pretty neat way they've made the whole AI thing, in my opinion. And especially the "It's multithreaded. That means while you are taking your turn, the game is multitasking within itself to generate a strategy." part.

[Renegade 13]

Raapys said:
There's tons of games where the AI cheats, but it's rarely kept secret from what I've experienced.

As for GalCiv

http://www.galciv2.com/media/mediaguide.html

Pretty neat way they've made the whole AI thing, in my opinion. And especially the "It's multithreaded. That means while you are taking your turn, the game is multitasking within itself to generate a strategy." part.

I too have read what the developer said, and, with no disrespect intended to him and his team, I will believe what I have experienced before I believe a statement from the developer, who has reason to want people to believe their incredible AI doesn't cheat.

[Azselendor]

"Pretty neat way they've made the whole AI thing, in my opinion. And especially the "It's multithreaded. That means while you are taking your turn, the game is multitasking within itself to generate a strategy." part. "

Actually this is a little neat tidbit, because on the flip side, this sounds like spin. To me, it indicates the game is peeking at what I'm doing over my shoulder. Maybe the developer meant something else, but that's the way it sounds to me.

[Fyron]

It means the AI is planning its moves and research and such while you take your turn, rather than waiting until you hit end turn.

[Combat Wombat]

Cheating AI is done by many games like the Civilization games. I wouldn't doubt that GalCivII uses it. If it does it is wrong fo them to tout theier AI because anyone can make a AI that cheats good at the game.

[raynor]

I bought Gal Civ I and played it several times. The AI was very, very challenging. But I didn't like the combat. I also didn't like that you set spending rates for ALL your planets at the same time. I also didn't like how the game radically changed with each new version to provide a better challenge for the folks playing on the highest difficulties. I began to feel like Gal Civ was primarly about the really tough AI to the expense of all else.

I thought about buying Gal Civ II several times and even more so when the expansion came out. But then I remembered the dry gameplay compared to SEV. So, I decided to pass. Then, I played a little SEV. But I had forgotten how horrible the UI is. So, I think I'm going to browse some websites for MOO 3 patches and give that game another shot. (Just kidding!) Seriously, I'm looking for a Shrapnel Game to spend money on. I'm gonna give Dominions 3 a try and wait another three months for more SEV bug fixes.