GAL CIV2 vs Space Empires V (which has multiplayer) Which is better?

Ok, I own Gal Civ 2 but it's sitting on my shelf unplayed until a multiplayer expansion comes out. I bought it originally thinking it would have it just like ever other good strategy game these days. I dying for a good space strategy game to play multiplayer on my LAN with friends, so has anyone tried Space Empires 5 yet and is it worth it for the multiplayer. If it didn't have multiplayer, I wouldn't even consider it.

21,740 views 31 replies
Reply #1 Top
1) It's your loss not even trying out GalCiv 2, even without multiplayer.

2) You will likely be waiting a realllly long time for a multiplayer expansion to GalCiv 2. The masses have spoken to Stardock, and Stardock has concluded that it is more important to the masses that added game features be added at the expense of building a multiplayer capability.
Reply #2 Top
Yeah, I know it's a great game but i'm kinda funny that way, I don't want to play the game to death become not so interested in it before multiplay comes out. That and be really good at it while my friends have no clue. I like to play a bit single and get a good grasp of the game and do multiplayer mixed in. The singe player alone will get old after a while. I did see a post that said if this expansion sells well, they might do a multiplayer one next. /crosses fingers. Space Empires V from the demo just doesn't seem to have the coolness that this game has but this game screams multiplayer to me. Wish I could be more like "the masses" I guess.

Reply #3 Top
Crash23,

Nobody cares about your opinion. Learn that.
Reply #4 Top
I've seen and played Space Empires V and it is not a patch on Galciv2, and the multiplayer is immensely tedious.
Reply #5 Top
Nobody cares about your opinion. Learn that.


I don't think that's entirely fair. The devs certainly care about the opinions of the players. Just because you don't want multiplayer doesn't mean others don't.

As for Space Empires V, I really haven't looked into it much so I can't gave a recommendation either way, but it may be a while before GC2 goes multiplayer. You might want to try the game out. I agree that games can be alot more fun when you play them with your friends. GC2 though was never designed to be that kind of game. Browse the market a bit see whats out there. You might just find something interesting.
Reply #6 Top
Since Brad and company have basically said that GC2 is unlikely to ever go MP it seems slightly silly to have a paid for game sitting on your shelf unplayed. I am unlikely to play SEV in MP since it will likely be similar to SEIV MP which is a marathon length event. Frankly I don't know who has 10-12 hours for a single MP game unless they live in their mom's basement.
Reply #7 Top
Since Brad and company have basically said that GC2 is unlikely to ever go MP


Actually, they've said that if the DA expansion for GC2 sells well, there's a decent chance a second expansion will be released with MP in it. By then, the MP code libraries for Society (one of their other upcoming games) will have been written, and can be used for GalCiv2 to reduce the amount of work involved. So Crash23, make sure you buy DA!

As for Space Empires games, they can definitely be a lot of fun MP. Be warned that initial releases of SE games are quite bumpy though. They're usually released with huge bugs and features that are simply broken. I picked up SE V this week, and it's no exception, so I'm holding off on playing it until some of the issues are addressed. They will be addressed in time, so it's just a matter of waiting.
Reply #8 Top
Hey, are you dissing pasty-faced basement dwellers? They are a key demographic in many niche markets, including strategy games.   
Reply #9 Top
Nobody cares about your opinion. Learn that.


Wheeloffire, nobody likes a troll. Learn that.
Reply #10 Top
I hate this VS talk.GC2 was great.SEV is also great, but in a different way.The patch for SEV is released in monday,it fixes most of the issues.
Reply #11 Top

I'm always surprised when people seem so adamant about playing people on-line in multiplayer.

The # of satisfying games I've played on-line in a TBS game is not many. Usually the opponent quits, gets disconnected, or is just too slow.  The opponents in GalCiv, while not perfect representations of idealized human opponents, I think are more satisfying that the typical person you'd find on-line. Of course, I'm biased.

Reply #12 Top
The patch for SEV is released in monday,it fixes most of the issues.


Yay!
Reply #13 Top
I agree with Frogboy in that it is really hard to get a satisfying TBS game into a multi-player format.

However, I also find WheelofFire's nasty flame uncalled for--we should respect each other's opinions, even if we disagree with them or "don't care" about them.
Reply #14 Top
Honestly, all I want is a PBEM option... Also, this game has one burning question to it- how good are my strats really- and not just vs the AI? You guys did a good job with the AI- but that question still burns.

As for the people adamant- I think it's because the polls you did only included people who already bought the game and are active on the forum. I think there is a segment of people of there who would have bought GC2 except for the MP, and those opinions aren't easy to measure, and weren't included.

Reply #15 Top
Yes, I am actually not so much for playing long drawn out games like these online but actually with friends on a LAN. I could definitely see why a lot of people wouldn't invest days into one Internet game and to keep people who you don't know interested would be amazing. I love these kinds of games for the single as well as multiplayer experience but only on LAN or Internet with people I know. That's why I am glad the single player experience was not compromised by multiplayer but I would love an expansion added with multiplayer. Multiplayer to me just adds to the game even after the single player fizzles out. I know I will definitely buy both expansions DA and a multiplayer expansion when/if the time comes. If they say no multiplayer add-on for sure, then my hope is crushed and I can just play the single player without worrying about getting tired of it before multiplayer hit the floor.
All I know is if I was in a store and had SEV and Gal civ2 in my hands and knew nothing about each I would pick SEV because it has the multiplayer. Guess that's just us few.
Reply #17 Top
First of all, Wheeloffire, nobody cares about A TROLLS opinion, learn it, live it, love it, stop acting like a jackass, people who act like that ruin the gaming community. Anyway, Crash23, Galciv 2 is really a great game, I could live without the multiplayer on this game (and I am in favor of multiplay) the only thing holding Galciv back IMO is lack of being able to control combat. I still love the game though. I do own SEV, I've played it, nice game, though a bit buggy as someone else said. Both games are worth the buy IMO. As far as WHY people want multiplay, speaking for myself only, it would have to be to watch as your fleet just decimates a enemy fleet and know that at that point in time you were "better" then your enemy. Of course the disconnects, quiting cause they dont get there way, and general stupidness (wheeloffire) of some of the gaming community can make playing MP not worth it (no 13 year old smack talk!! YAH!!) . And they can take forever to play games like these two MP, but on the other hand, even SP games can take forever as well. I would suggest at least playing one game of SP though. It just might change your mind.
Reply #18 Top
Frankly I don't know who has 10-12 hours for a single MP game unless they live in their mom's basement


Which is exactly why I DON'T play multiplayer.
Reply #19 Top
The opponents in GalCiv, while not perfect representations of idealized human opponents, I think are more satisfying that the typical person you'd find on-line.


I think they are also more satisfying than my wife.

Reply #21 Top
As for Space Empires games, they can definitely be a lot of fun MP. Be warned that initial releases of SE games are quite bumpy though. They're usually released with huge bugs and features that are simply broken.


NOTE TO EVIL STORMBRINGER - you might want to avoid SE5.
Reply #22 Top
The opponents in GalCiv, while not perfect representations of idealized human opponents, I think are more satisfying that the typical person you'd find on-line.


Say what you will about the Drengin, they've never called me a "FAG! LOL!"

Reply #23 Top
Man, you need a better wife. The AI are pretty satisying in GC2, but my wife still has them beat, hehe.

I'm sure nobody cares about my opinion, but I state it anyway in the off chance somebody does.

Reply #25 Top
As for the LAN thing... this kind of game doesn't even NEED LAN. Just make it so you can play a Hotseat game. And none of the other players can look at the screen while another player is doing their turn.

Beyond that, it's up to the players on how to do things.

But the point still stands that LAN games would just be silly with a TBS when you could just have Hotseat instead, and thus only need one computer.