Answering the Critics

[Gandalf Parker]

Tim Brooks said:
That usually equates to, in simpler terms, is it fun?
I think we all know the answer to that one!

Now Im curious. Have you ever cracked it open yourself?
Come on. Some of the staff has to have gotten curious a long time ago.

[Tim Brooks]

Now Im curious. Have you ever cracked it open yourself?

Okay great Gandalf, put me on the spot.

The answer is of course. Although I haven't gotten to delve deeply into it like you lucky folks. My gaming time is quite limited. But I have a copy on my desk. Next chance I get I am going to go through the tutorial turn by turn. Something I never did with Dom2.

I have read the entire manual though!

[DominionsFan]

MythicalMino said:
I have had a few ppl (one on another forum on these boards, among others I know/work with) that say Dominions is not a very deep game.

Eh? This is just making no sense, if they are saying anything like this. Doms 3. is the most complex TBS on the market. Even an FPS player could figure it out.

[Horst F. JENS]

Hi Mino,
after many frustrating years trying to explain other peoples how great Dominions games are (beginning with DomPPP!) i have an simple advice for you:
Don't try too hard. Some people will like the game, most people don't.
There has to be no specific reason why someone don't have your taste in games, it's just different taste.
My favorite quote of a friend who refuse to play is:

"It is not that i don't like the game. It's just that if i start playing it, i do nothing else anymore."

[isodea]

I find beating critics over the head with the manual helps them to like it. And it's a big thick manual that's sure to knock some sense into them

[NTJedi]

Horst F. JENS said:
Hi Mino,
... ... simple advice for you:
Don't try too hard. Some people will like the game, most people don't.

yes indeed... Dominions is a game which takes patience to realize its true value. Also true with Dragonballz... watching one episode won't be interesting, but after watching 15 episodes you'll eagerly want to see the rest of them. Yet don't watch the DragonballGT those are crap.

[SafeKeeper]

"The amount of units do not add depth, just complexity, to cover up the dumbed-down economic model, the mediocre and crude combat engine, and the lack of 'city buildings'."

I could just as easily accuse Civ 4 of "covering up the mediocre and crude units" with

And as was stated, if a Civilizations player came over to me and whined about Dominions' battle system, I'd snicker, shake my head, and walk away. Far away.

Dominions's battle system looks easy. But once you start getting magic-casting units, combined arms, et cetera, it becomes so infinitely deep that it's a joke.

They're partially right, the economics is very simple and city building is non-existant. Although, one trend I've noticed lately among RTS games is to get rid of the complicated resource management and micromanagement of peasants because it's not fun, so...

It depends on what you want. You like a focus on city-building? Play Victoria or Sim City or Civilizations. Want action and battle? Play Ground Control (highly recommended).

What's the difference between 'depth' and 'complexity' of a game in their view anyway? Without knowing that, you cannot answer them!

Indeed.

No to mention the fact that in the Civ games, a single primitive spearman can destroy a battleship or an aircraft carrier. That kind destroys any semblance of credibility for the game, imo.

Less of that in the last game. But boy, what a horrific feature.

I still think that all reviewers and news posters should pass IQ and anti-drug tests before they are allowed to post.

That would be really, really nice. I've read so many idiotic reviews that it's not even funny anymore.