A couple of questions before I buy.

[Fyron]

Then, considering the SEIV AI doesn't cheat, can't agree that sucks badly.

Sure it does! It can see what is on your planets (facilities and cargo), so it can try to determine whether it is a good or bad idea to attack. You can give it bonuses to construction and production, which is a big factor in the cheating employed by most (all?) AIs in TBS games. Now, certainly the cheating is not as bad as in some games, but it is still present.

[Combat Wombat]

When I first started playing all of the options seemed a little overwhelming but once you get playing it all falls into place and makes sense and if you need any help with getting started just ask and I would say that anyone here would be more than happy to help you.

[rdouglass]

For me, the complexity was a big draw in the beginning - "I just got Physics Level II; now what kinda' goodies will that tech give me?" Learning the details of the game was a lot of fun. The depth that others spoke of is there IMO.

Secondly, is all the great mods being produced by fans (who are almost co-developers in their own rights). As previously stated, never the same game twice. And reguarding the AI; even the "bad" AI was challenging at first. Now even as an experienced player, there are a few AI mods that are still a challenge.

Now some other games I've played, you only have to click "Next Turn" to win.....won't mention which ones....

IMO, the most productive $45 "gaming" dollars I ever spent....

[PvK]

Originally posted by ttomm46:
...
My questions are :!1, one reviewer claimsit's hard to even finish a game of SE4..Is this true.

Depends on the settings. Finishing a small quadrant with only a couple of AI's at an easier setting than your own skill level doesn't take long, especially if you let the computer resolve most or all of the tactical battles.

A large game can take a very long time, although it's also up to you when to decide it's over. Many players play games up to a point and then decide to start another, but don't seem to see this as a problem.

Next It's 44.95 which is a pretty fair Investment.Is it worth that much?

Yes it's quite worth it, if it's your kind of game.

...Is it easy to learn and immersive?

Easy to learn - depends on your gaming skills. If you're new to computer games, or not a fan of detailed strategy games, then it's probably pretty complicated and might take some effort to learn. If you are a strategy game fan, then you'll enjoy learning it, and appreciate all the varied stuff in the game, and find it very immersive.

Everyone has their own tastes, though. If you're enjoying the demo a lot, though, it's a good bet you'll really like the game and be happy you bought the full Version.

As for the AI being weak... it can be easy to beat once you've mastered the game and played the AI and learned how to beat it. The difficulty depends on the settings, start position, and mods. There are mods which make it more difficult to beat the AI. And I wonder how many months of play it takes the average new player to get to the point where the AI seems weak - I expect quite a few.

PvK

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

Sure it does! It can see what is on your planets (facilities and cargo), so it can try to determine whether it is a good or bad idea to attack.

Honestly, I'm not 100% sure about this point, althougt know that some people reported this behavior. Anyway I have not elements to refute you.

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

You can give it bonuses to construction and production,

Sure, but it's an option. In games like Moo, Moo2 and Pax Imperia, the AI ALWAYS knew where my fleet were placed... and then, attacking the unprotected planets.

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

which is a big factor in the cheating employed by most (all?) AIs in TBS games.

Agree here.

In my previous post, forget to said that the AI is only competitive for experienced players, in small galaxies.

Finally, an element to support my point that the AI can offer a fight: a guy lost a KOTH game because the AI killed him.

[ttomm46]

Hi

They just lowered the price today so i'm going for it....

completed the tutorial which i couldn't do with the SE3 demo.....Just too much reading.

Thanks

[Captain Kwok]

Originally posted by ttomm46:
They just lowered the price today so i'm going for it....

That's great. I know you won't regret it!