Game of the year.

Such a thing would vary from one magazine/website to another--you'd have to look at each of them individually. In most cases though it will probably just be picked by the reviewers/editors.

They didn't bother fixing constructors. I've given up trying to do an influence victory due to the sheer boredom of micromanaging scores of constructors.

Quite simply, it doesn't deserve to win due to this alone. Why have something that turns the game into a grinding hault - micromanagement isn't fun.

And theres also no multiplayer. Personally I wouldn't even use a multiplayer, but the game would be much better if it had one - hence it shouldn't win game of the year.

And the most unique bit isn't done well enough - namely creating ship designs. You should be able to upload your own designs for others to use, and download other peoples ships designs (based on the technologies you've researched) within the game itself.

This would make things much more interesting. No modding doesn't count - I'd guess that 99% of people don't bother with the complication of mods.

I tend to play the game by having a few key planets loaded with facilities, while leaving the others empty.

I've found that rapid colonisation is possible so long as you leave planets empty (hence not spending money on development). However this means that you end up with 50+ planets with nothing on them.

It becomes a NIGHTMARE to try a go through them and build stuff on them - i.e. 30 minutes. Wtf?! The player should be able to create rules such as "on planets with 20 squares build the following facilities in this order".

Space Empires also did planet types - which only the expansion pack is implementing. This could have been in it from the start. Hence it could have been better.

Don't get me wrong - its an amazing game even excluding the limited budget they worked from. But it could have been better in all of these respects - it is not outstanding and therefore doesn't deserve in my opinion to win game of the year award.

To win the award it would have to fix the construtor problem and implement user rules to avoid micro-management - AND it would need to allow users to share their ship designs with each other.

I'd also like to see new technologies and weapons being made available now and again (in game downloading from the developer) to continually add new elements to the gameplay. I think that the ships should work more like the last version of Space Empires whereby you could add technologies like multi-ships tracking (for targeting several ships at the same time), stealth etc.

Oh dear, yet another of the ADHD addled "klikliklikliklikliklik WINNAR!" types.

U hav 2 think wit dis gaem.

There, you should be able to understand that.

As for multiplayer, that's been covered.

Oh dear, yet another of the ADHD addled "klikliklikliklikliklik WINNAR!" types. U hav 2 think wit dis gaem. There, you should be able to understand that.

Don't talk like that. Yes, Birney sounds like he's being condescending, but he does make some valid points. You, on the other hand, sound like a jerk, and you haven't added anything to the thread. Respond constructively next time

Also, your argument that games with more micromanagement require more thought is fundamentally flawed. Look at chess, it doesn't have *any* micromanagement and requires far more thought than any 4x game. Another example is MoO 1. It is a faster paced game with less micromanagement than Galciv 2, yet it still requires around the same amount of thought.

Having more micromanagement creates a steeper learning curve, and bogs the game down, but it usually doesn’t make you think more. What does make you think is a game that is balanced and has room for many unique strategies. It's the actual strategizing - not the repetitive task of managing every aspect of your empire - that adds depth to a 4x title.

Since the title of the thread was how and not if he actually hijacked the thread to say he thinks it doesn't deserve it.Pwrhaps if someome can help him out about his intended question not gripe about the game.

You, on the other hand, sound like a jerk, and you haven't added anything to the thread. Respond constructively next time

Don't police threads, unless you want a proverbial hole torn into you.

They didn't bother fixing constructors. I've given up trying to do an influence victory due to the sheer boredom of micromanaging scores of constructors.

Constructors aren't broken, end of statement. They require no fix. And yes, I say this as someone who plays gigantic galaxies and utilises starbases constantly to get the best out of my small fleets.

And theres also no multiplayer. Personally I wouldn't even use a multiplayer, but the game would be much better if it had one - hence it shouldn't win game of the year

You fail, completely and utterly. Yet another idiot who believes that to win game of the year you need multiplayer.

And the most unique bit isn't done well enough - namely creating ship designs. You should be able to upload your own designs for others to use, and download other peoples ships designs (based on the technologies you've researched) within the game itself. This would make things much more interesting. No modding doesn't count - I'd guess that 99% of people don't bother with the complication of mods.

Wtf? Are you saying you're too moronic to use mods, and want it done for you? guess what, it is. You download from the library, and then you select the mod, in game. Is it that hard?

It becomes a NIGHTMARE to try a go through them and build stuff on them - i.e. 30 minutes. Wtf?! The player should be able to create rules such as "on planets with 20 squares build the following facilities in this order".

No... planetary tiles. Fine, if you want to have a lazy and generically crap empire, go ahead. This would be a total waste of time feature.

To win the award it would have to fix the construtor problem and implement user rules to avoid micro-management - AND it would need to allow users to share their ship designs with each other.

So you want some of the depth cut out. That's all I can see. Constructors aren't broken, micro-management is reasonable for a game of this size (I honestly would like more) and designs can be shared easily by anyone with two brain cells.

What an utter waste of a post.

And personally, it depends what "game of the year" categories you mean.

4x/strategy? GC2 would be a firm candidate.
Single player? It'd probably get an entry, but I don't see it winning compared to the fan-powered voting machines of Oblivion, and others.

Don't police threads, unless you want a proverbial hole torn into you.

Is not telling me 'not to police threads' in and of itself policing a thread?

In any case, I'm just saying exactly what Stardock reps have said in the past. Be constructive, and don't use personal attacks. Something which *you've* just ignored by calling Birney a "moron" and an "idiot". Yeeesh!

Thanks for the response. As for multiply, online,I think would be a utter waste of time, but multiply on lan only, would be great, that way if your opponent tried to quit out just because they where losing, you could go into the next room where they where and smash their face in.
Well I think it deserves game of the year for the following reasons...

1 It's 100% addictive
2 For the hours entertainment it works out cheaper than a roast nat's widge.
3 Excellent support with the regular free updates.
4 Software house that actually listens to the customer.
5 The brave and ground breaking move to boot Copy Protection up the arse.

My only gripe about GalCiv2 is that is has a rather long loading time, I have never understood why a game with much better graphics and many more objects like, Oblivion, takes much less time to load than this game. Other than that this is likely my favorite strategy game of all time (although that might change when I pick up Empire at War).

Be constructive, and don't use personal attacks. Something which *you've* just ignored by calling Birney a "moron" and an "idiot". Yeeesh

Yes, I know I did. Do you have a problem?

My only gripe about GalCiv2 is that is has a rather long loading time, I have never understood why a game with much better graphics and many more objects like, Oblivion, takes much less time to load than this game.

Something to do with the ship files, I remember they've been changed a fair few times to try and boost the speed.

The aspect that makes a great game and a winner over all the rest is the gameplay, there is just one rule: simple to get the hang of, though to master and this game has it. It has every right to win game of the year and it has my vote.

Also emphsis on this:

Be constructive, and don't use personal attacks.

Yes, I know I did. Do you have a problem?

I think I'll wait for a mod to respond to that one.

I think I'll wait for a mod to respond to that one.

If you do have a problem, get on the IRC and complain. kryo's there.

That, or stfu.

Once again, that's irc.stardock.com #galciv, accesable at www.ircatwork.com

And once again, that's stfu.

Get a grip, kid.

Get a grip, kid.

Grow some balls and call the mods, if you want to. Other than that, what did I just say about stfu?

You're just making an ass of yourself now.

If you were on my forum, you'd have a temp ban right now. In any case, I'm sure the mods will see this thread and do with you what they will. They do not need my help in the matter.

Grow some balls and call the mods, if you want to. Other than that, what did I just say about stfu, you whiny little bitch?

Ahhh, classic. You know this reminds me of all of the joy that the holidays bring with them. Actually quite nostalgic now that I reflect a bit. Marcathonas you're starting to make me sniffle...  
P.S.: They started playing friggin X-Mas music at my dealership today! So if my sarcasm seems out of place... now you know!  

You're just making an ass of yourself now. If you were on my forum, you'd have a temp ban right now. In any case, I'm sure the mods will see this thread and do with you what they will. They do not need my help in the matter.

They've seen it. Because I've told them about it. Frankly, you really can keep your forum to yourself. I might be making an ass of myself, but you're an ass, plain and simple.

If you have a complaint, make it.

EDIT:

Damnit ES, I decided to be nice in the second edit ><
Although come to think of it he's an arrogant prat, so yeah. Keep it there.

Okay guys, let's just try to keep this constructive.

My personal favorite game of the year is Company of Heroes which is an RTS.

re Load times: Oblivion loads things as you move around. It doesn't have as much content on a single screen as GalCiv II has to have. GalCiv II had to load almost all the content by the time you reach the first screen.

New turn based strategy games that came out this year.

Below are the top 10 rated PC strategy games of 2006:

1. Company of Heroes	PC	THQ	55	7.7	94.1%
2. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade	PC	THQ	27	6.8	87.2%
3. Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords	PC	Stardock	50	8.5	87.1%
4. DEFCON: Everybody Dies	PC	Introversion	27	6.6	83.9%
5. The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II	PC	EA Games	48	5.9	83.7%
6. Civilization IV: Warlords	PC	2K Games	43	7.3	83.4%
7. Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends	PC	Microsoft Game Studios	60	8.2	82.3%
8. Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs	PC	Microsoft Game Studios	20	5.7	82.0%
9. Star Wars: Empire at War	PC	LucasArts	59	8.2	79.6%
10. Hearts of Iron II: Doomsday	PC	Paradox Interactive	26	6.4	79.4%

Knock it off, Marc.

What was this thread about?

Jeff, please try to be a bit more tactful if you're going to rebuke people.  If you can't be tactful, contact one of the moderators via e-mail or IRC.

Marc, you might want to watch the size of the hole you're digging. 

Too many RTS games in that list! Blech!

Damnit ES, I decided to be nice in the second edit >< Although come to think of it he's an arrogant prat, so yeah. Keep it there.

Please don't think I was condemning you Marc, I'm just in a "strange" mood today!  

Jeff, please try to be a bit more tactful if you're going to rebuke people. If you can't be tactful, contact one of the moderators via e-mail or IRC.

Perhaps a 'report post' function is in order. I can't see many people going onto IRC just to talk to moderators.

You are right though. I should have known that a rebuke would be ineffective when mark posted "Yes, I know I did. Do you have a problem?" to my informing him that he had broken the rules. It's pretty hard to deal with those kinds of people without mod powers.