Favorite "Indie" Games

[Illuminated One]

Well, I don't think it was an indie game but as it's old and either free or very cheap and someone mentioned it in the other thread I'll recommend Imperialism 2.
It basically encompasses military conquest, diplomacy, industrialization and trade, with the focus on the latter two. But don't worry this doesn't mean some stupid building of things to build more things to build more things - the economy is complex and well designed enough that you'll be constantly struggling to manage all the interlocking elements (cargo fleet, infrastructure, mines, farms, workforce).
Similarily your military and diplomatic strategy will have to be integrated with your eco strategy. If your expecting your workers to demand sugar or strike later you'll have to gain control of sugar - if you do this through military power, diplomacy or trade is up to you. Don't forget to factor in that fjord near your cap when making that decision, though.
Oh, and the AI is very good, it can do naval invasions actually...

The only flaw imo is that the battles are not really the best (and not even playable in MP).

[hEad]

Light of Altair looks a bit of alright. Following that one up, led me to this web site : http://tigsource.com/ The independant gaming news.

What a colossal collection of indie offerings! Check it out!

[hEad]

Originally Posted by Baalz

AE is a lot of fun, but it really wants a MP aspect. I found it hard to play it against the AI more than a dozen times. All that potential sneaky strategy and nobody to hamstring but a computer...

Yep, my only beef with it now. The new one is MP so there is hope. I find the subject matter a tad dark though. I keep recalling that Nietzsche quote - "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

Odd when I have no quibble sacrificing virgins for a devil or two. Its funny though, it did take me a while to be comfortable playing a blood nation in Dom - sensibilities eh? They turn on and turn off!

[hEad]

Originally Posted by Sombre

So does it have to be for the PC?

Sorry, missed this, Yes - I haven't got the thumb for consoles.

[capnq]

Originally Posted by hEad

I find the subject matter a tad dark though. I keep recalling that Nietzsche quote - "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

The first half of that, while widely quoted, is a rather poor translation.

In the original German:
"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein."

A better translation to English:
"He who fights monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

[hEad]

Originally Posted by capnq

The first half of that, while widely quoted, is a rather poor translation.

In the original German:
"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein."

A better translation to English:
"He who fights monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

I don't really see any differences between the two versions of the quote except that one takes 30 words to say it and the other 23?

[RegnorVex]

Originally Posted by the Vanishag

1. Laser Squad Nemesis - from the Gollup brothers, who created X-Com. Free demo, cheap to try, continuing requires a subscription but it's $40 for a year, not $30/month.

Omg, I'd forgotten all about LSN. GREAT game. In fact, I'm going to go fire it up now and see how it's changed since I last played it (they were just introducing the 3rd "race"). Thanks for the inspiration.

[Ishamoridin]

Originally Posted by hEad

I don't really see any differences between the two versions of the quote except that one takes 30 words to say it and the other 23?

The difference, as I see it, is that the first translation precludes battling with monsters on the premise that you will become one, while the second merely warns of the danger that this might happen.

[hEad]

Originally Posted by Ishamoridin

The difference, as I see it, is that the first translation precludes battling with monsters on the premise that you will become one, while the second merely warns of the danger that this might happen.

There is no immutable truth in the word lest from the first definition. Indulging the activities of monsters raises the possibility of becoming one yet, it would be the capacities of the individual not the activity itself, which would finally decide who would become a monster and who wouldn't.

What I perceive both quotes to be clearly saying is that if you don't want to face the possibility of becoming a monster, don't play with them.

Both definitions say this, to me at least, by implication - one just says it with less words.


Welcome to the forum by the way.

I dug out my old Imperialism disk and gave it a whirl for old times sake - 4 hours went by, be great if someone would remake these games.

[Foodstamp]

I've always took the phrase as meaning that when you battle against "evil", you may be tempted to stoop to their level to combat them. Either way, I really like the quote, the widely accepted translation and your version.