Will DA be the death of DL?

from GalCiv2 Forums
I certainly don't know the answer to this question. I guess it will be determined by all of us that play the game. I'm just interested in how other folks feel about this.

Previously, once a new revision came out most everyone moved on to the latest version and the previous versions went the way of the dinosaur. I'm sure there are some that play older revs, but certainly for those that play the metaverse being on the latest rev is pretty much a necessity. After all, how can a fair comparison be made if folks are playing different games.

Since DA is an expansion pack, it's a different situation. That plus AFAIK Stardock plans to continue support of DL. But as I stated initially, in the end we as players of the game will probably have a lot to do with it. If everyone "moves on" to DA and there's little or no interest in GC2 then GC2 will go the way of GC1.

Though it is possible, I think the converse, that there will be minimal interest in DA and most folks will continue to play DL, is pretty unlikely.

Anyway, I am looking forward to DA, it's just that I'm a bit torn if that means the death of DL. What do you think?
12,218 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's an expansion so it has everything that the original had plus alot more. I will probably not play plain DL anymore.

I think the only ones who will continue playing DL are those that are too cheap or too stubborn (those who will cry that new features 'ruin' the game)

I think I saw mentioned that DA/DL will be sold as a bundle, this is most likely what the new players will be purchasing, everyone wants to pick up the latest version anyways. I remember GC1/AP bundle was what got me hooked   
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yea, I don't really understand how DL is "dying." It's not dying, it's getting bigger, better, faster, stronger. Etc. It's like playing Starcraft without Brood War...who does that? But that doesn't mean Starcraft is dead at all--same thing with GalCiv2.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
every game will die eventually, or atleast stop evolving.
GCII is not dead, its just in its next stage, DA = DL + more.
and from what i heard GCII won't be dead for a good while, wasn't there another expansion pack planned? one for late 2007?, if that is so, than this game will continou to evolve for quite a while. and after that i think it is time to move to another game
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Does it really matter? There's no MP to force people to head to the latest version.

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Plus, even if GC2's player base converts to DA, the franchise is still alive. After all, how many people played vanilla [your favorite big name title here] after its expansion came out?
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Given DA's huge scope of changes, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people still played DL. DA and DL offer different playing styles, and --this is coming from a beta tester-- if other people are anything like me, I think they'll play DA until they want something different, and then change back to DL, and back to DA again, etc. It's all about the kind of game you feel like playing at the moment.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think Stardock should simply offer a 30-day trial of DA for everybody who owns DL. I can't picture anybody going back from DA once he has seen and played it. Kinda like going from riding your bike to driving a car
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think DL has been doing well, quite a bit beyond the three month window most PC games use as their base for success. With the addition of DA it should keep GCII in the spotlight even longer. The way Stardock is going to bundle the expansion with GCII is a really good manner of getting new people to the series without forcing them to buy two games. I have spent some time with the beta and I'm most impressed with all the new features, but as of now I still return to the vanilla GCII to play sometimes. Eventually DA will be the standard, but I think new players would benefit from playing DL first, then going to DA. Once DA becomes metaverse compliant though, you'll probably see people focusing more on DA.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There are some that are still playing GCI. We Diplomats get questions from a player on GCI about once a week - vist the Core and get the help you need.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I know I will move on once the expansion pack comes out, regardless of the game in question. There's not a time that I can recall going back and playing an earlier version of a game, ever. So sadly enough, at least in my world, GC2 DL will be going the way of the dinosaur.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The only situation similar to this one for me would be Alpha Centauri and Alien Crossfire. When I got Alien Crossfire, I was able to incorporate the new elements into my playing style fairly easily. For a while I played just with the new factions, but I switched to using a combination of the old and new factions, and those were generally the most enjoyable games. Dark Avatar isn't replacing the old races, it is only adding two new ones and new stuff to the old ones. If someone asked me whether I was playing Dread Lords or Dark Avatar, I would probably answer that I was playing both. You can hardly play an expansion without the original game, and I certainly wouldn't play every game with both or perhaps even either of the new races.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I, probably controversially, think that DL has gone pretty much as far as it can short of major changes - which is what expansions like DA are for. I don't see much in the way of further developments going into DL now apart from things that are done for DA and can be exported back to a DL update, limited AI tweaks, bug fixes and driver support basically. Maybe the odd graphics tweak, that happened for GC1 after AP came out IIRC.

I see the hardcore fan base moving on to DA once its released and really only infrequent players sticking with DL. New players are increasingly likely to buy a bundle pack or, as they are new, being quite happy with the base game as its all new to them. If they stick with it sooner or later they'll pick up DA as well.

If think DL will soon be at the end of its evolution as, like I said before, it's pretty much gone as far it can. The updates released in the year since release have improved the game far beyond what we bought back then, I can't say I didn't get my money worth in after sales support.

The community goes on, just with more ground to cover!
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
DA looks very promising. I like what I see in the forums. In particular, the idea of pirates throwing players off their script.

I'm not beta testing because I'm a Metaverse player. Unless the developers suddenly allow the game scenarios into the Metaverse, I'm taking time off from the game until the retail release of DA.

As for DL being "dead," that's how it goes. The DL universe is pretty bland in comparison to what's coming in DA. I wish the developers could improve DL a little more but it's a small team and DA is the future. If they were a big team, they'd be like Electronic Arts and not give a rat's ass about the players.

And here's the parting shot: Mumble, the subject line was irresponsible if not downright idiotic. The last thing Stardock needs are headlines under "Recent Posts" that make it look like their game is no longer relevant. DA is in beta. DL is still very much for sale this holiday season.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I know I will move on once the expansion pack comes out, regardless of the game in question. There's not a time that I can recall going back and playing an earlier version of a game, ever. So sadly enough, at least in my world, GC2 DL will be going the way of the dinosaur.


Agreed, i've beta testing DA... and once its out there will be no need for DL, DA is a much more interesting game.
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm actually new to DL, having played Alpha Centauri and its "expansion pack" for many years. Frankly, I think that there will probably be many people still playing DL once DA is released since that seemed to be the case with Alpha Centauri. Although I plan on buying DA once its released, I'm still learning the game so I don't know how DA will affect the overall gameplay of DL.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ahh, good old Alpha Centauri. Every now and then I get the cds from the closet an re-install the game. Once that happens, you can usually forget about me for at least 2 weeks. No game had me this hooked again, until GC2 came along. And with DA, that addiction only got worse
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Agreed, i've beta testing DA... and once its out there will be no need for DL, DA is a much more interesting game.


It's like trying to play starcraft without the brood war expansion pack... it just doesn't happen.
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
or Civ 4 Vanilla when you have Warlords Why??



Actually its an expansion so the base GC2:DL stuff is there PLUS the goodies.

Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
there's little or no interest in GC2 then GC2 will go the way of GC1.


Am I the only one to still enjoy GC1 !?!?
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's like playing Starcraft without Brood War...who does that? But that doesn't mean Starcraft is dead at all--same thing with GalCiv2.


I remember starcraft, got a severe ass kicking trying to play that game, eventually i gave up and put it in the too hard box - the easy level must have been broken or somthing!!

I'm actually new to DL, having played Alpha Centauri and its "expansion pack" for many years. Frankly, I think that there will probably be many people still playing DL once DA is released since that seemed to be the case with Alpha Centauri. Although I plan on buying DA once its released, I'm still learning the game so I don't know how DA will affect the overall gameplay of DL.


Please! there is no game to compare to Alpha centauri, i mean it has sooo many features, massivly ahead of it's time. I'm still looking for games that are as good, i guess it's just too hard for developers.
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If anything,,Alpha Centauri was too easy.
I know that since I maxed out the scores on my 4th try and while I do am a Civ fan ever since the original came out on Amiga,,I'm simply not that good.
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My job occasionally requires me to travel to really out of the way spots where there is absolutely nothing to do for days on end. Alpha Centauri was one of my constant companions on trips like these and helped me through many arduous plane trips and boring nights in dinky little motel rooms. I'm glad to add GalCiv 2 to my laptop as relief for the monotony. I'm looking forward to the DA expansion pack too.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Am I the only one to still enjoy GC1 !?!?


I still log a game a month.

I will switch as soon as the games are submittable.