I'm reluctant to buy this. On the one hand I like space games and Stardock has an excellent standing in my book, but on the other I dislike RTS in general. Too much micromanaging and abstractions most of the time, too simplified mechanics and too little time to actually think instead of react.

Any schedule when a demo will be released?

Also, on the SINS homepage, the gameplay features list 'thousands of systems, limited only by the computer hardware' - then in the FAQ, it says 'up to four solar systems'. So, what IS the scope of this game?

Sorry, the FAQ is quite out of date and we'll get it all fixed up before release

The in-game Map Designer and the offline Galaxy Forge tool let you make as many solar systems and planets as your system can handle. The default maps that we provide go up to 6 systems and 102 planets. I've seen custom maps from beta testers of literally over 10,000 planets. That would be ridiculous to play but it shows what the engine can handle.

Probably after the retail release.

A demo will be at least a month after the retail release. If you check out the Sins forums, you can ask the beta testers about it.  Sins isn't some click-fest, twitchy RTS; it allows you to seriously think about strategy and has more depth than any RTS I'm aware of.

Ok, I am beginning to be sold on this.

How is the AI? Is it a non-cheating AI that plays by the same rules as the player?

Yes, and Ironclad plans to continue improving it post-release as we do with GalCiv II.

Hm. You're starting to get me interested. I'll probably wait for the demo, though. As it is, I already have too little free time for gaming.

A few idle thoughts on Sins from a personal perspective, been mulling over how to get the time in to learn this one properly even though I had the Betas.

IGN & Gamespy came out with reviews on Sins last week, I noticed them wondering around in an idle moment. The reviews are top notch, usual couple of parsimoanious comments justifying a reviewers time, but no major criticism. IGN video review is useful for those not yet seen it on Beta. They approach "rave" reviews in common with other comments I have seen that are now appearing in large numbers all over the place. FilePlanet starting to get player ratings - all running at 5 star.

It was interesting to see some having difficulty knowing what to call it Seems like most have settled on "RT4X" as a genre.

I suspect the sound of a Gauntlet thudding on the floor is ringing through the BoardRooms of a number of GameHouses . It will be interesting to see their response to the challenge of new Game Genre that didnt come from them. There is little doubt Sins has achieved the latter.

Traditionally I hate RTS, not my scene, been a 4X diehard for years, but Sins definitely wins me over. I am convinced we will hear more and more of Sins as diehards begin to realise this one is not just "another" game release, and that the "established" book on writing games just got re-written

The game devs must be chuffed at the initial outcome, deservedly so - well done to them

Regards
Zy

Hmm thinking about getting sins but usealy hate RTS games they turn into clickfest tank rush game no fun!

Been looking at the sins form the single player game look intressting although I thinks Galciv is better game.
Although it seems the mult players are already calling faster! Faaster and there is the Frigate rush game that everybody is geting into.
So I don't know if I going to get this one.
I love galciv and I know Brad was involed in this one too but if the game is just another rts I can skip this one.

I will try it first and if it is as good as galciv I will buy it.

BTW my credit card is full or i would pre order the new galciv update can't wait till it comes out

People that usually hate RTS games should probably at least wait until a demo. It has more depth and a slower pace than an RTS, but at heart it's still a "build up a bunch of units and throw it at a bunch of your enemy's units" RTS. It's not GalCiv2 in real time, closer to a larger scale hybrid of Supreme Commander/Total Annihilation and Homeworld.

It's also better MP than SP, especially considering how out and out bizarre the diplomacy system is. It's essentially "continue to do what the AI player tells you or he'll break all treaties and kill you" no matter what your history or the current situation.

(It's out now so:) I may as well point out that I don't know any other RTS with diplomacy. Frankly the implimentation is the only thing about the game I'm disapointed with, remedy? Simply play with locked teams! If anyone is thinking if they should get it or not, the awnser is a resounding yes yes yes!!!

Well, first the diplomacy in Sins is terrible, and second there are diplomacy models in a number of RTS's. The one that readily comes to mind is Rise of Nations.

Anyway, it's simply important for people to know, IMO, that this IS an RTS. It owes a lot to Total Annihilation, a lot to Homeworld, and at best a tiny amount to anything turn based. People that don't enjoy RTS games are going to be disappointed, especially if they come in expecting something with the depth of a turn based game. This is not Gal Civ 2 in real time and it's not EU2 in space.

I totally agree.

I hate RTS games but Sins I totally love. In fact now that I am getting better I'm starting to crank up the speed myself and may actually dabble in multiplayer games.

All in all this is a fantastic game and once the demo comes out give it a try. I wasn't sure I'd like the game or not but I've loved it since the first game I played.

You misunderstand, I OWN the game, I've played it for quite a while, and it most definitely is an RTS. It bears a rather close resemblance to a hybrid of Homeworld and Supreme Commander, with some turn based elements (ala Rise of Nations) thrown in. If you like this, you'd probably like those, and you aren't nearly as opposed to RTS's as you think you are.

I was hyped up for Gal Civ 2 in real time, this isn't that. It's a suprisingly traditional modern RTS. I can't think of a single component, other than the horrible diplo system and the clunky interface, that I haven't seen somewhere else. It's not a bad game, but it's not at all what I was expecting and I can't help but be a bit disappointed as a result.

I'm with you on that . I have a gigantic meta game that has come to a standstill since I got Sins. I think a GC2 themed mod for Sins would be off the hook. Hopefully with the players playing across both games someone will come up with one. If not, I may just have to start checking out those mod tools.

I finally pinned down a description that, for me, sums up this game: It's Rise of Nations in space with too few factions, too many planets/ cities, no mini map, no strategic campaign, even worse diplomacy, and a lousy interface. That's what's really been bugging me all this time, it's very similar to a game I've already played and like better. It's certainly worlds prettier than RoN, but that's secondary at best. Damn it took me a long time to figure that out.

Would you extrapolate on what makes the interface lousy? There is no mini-map because you don't need one. If there are too many planets for you, make a map with less planets. I have no arguement on the diplomacy. I don't hate it, but it doesn't improve the game in its current state. Yes, there are better games out there than Sins. However, Sins is still a very good game.

A mini map would alleviate the constant need to zoom all the way out and then all the way back in again, which is part of what's wrong with the interface IMO. I'm not a fan of Supreme Commander for the same reason. The game is paced for certain sized systems, so less planets, while nominally an option, doesn't actually improve gameplay.

And the empire tree, while a good fleet management tool and an adequate building tool, is not particularly practical for tracking anything else. It lacks a sense of relative position and becomes cluttered beyond usability very quickly even on a small map.

I'm not a big fan of Sins, even though I love both RTS and 4X games, which is not to say that it's a bad game (though it could certainly use some work, especially in the diplomacy department), but for me the problem is that it lacks the best parts of both genres; namely the action of an RTS (Rise of Nations, which is basically RTS Civilization, has a lot more action) and the depth of a 4X (Civilization, which I consider vastly inferior to GC2 in a lot of ways, has more depth).

From reading the reviews I thought Sins of a Solar Empire would be the best of both worlds condensed and refined into one awesome package, but after playing it, it feels more like the best bits from both genres have been striped out in order to accommodate the other genres style of play and all that’s left is a game with a fairly standard RTS formula that makes molasses going up hill in winter look fast (well not quite THAT bad, but you get my point, I hope).

I completely understand about the empire tree. I agree that the design is not very good. It does help me track down dormant colony ships though lol.



Expect some speed increases in the next patch. Maybe that will help you out a little. Check out some of the mods out there also.

Nvm, realized this thread was old, and it's in the "In development" area.