Ascendancy?

I remember that game, I thought it sucked big time. Looked nice, but bad AI and I think you're limited to 1 or 2 capital ship for each planet in your empire.

The space game I remember fondly - while it bears little resemblance to GalCiv2 - was called Elite.

I played it on my Commodore Amiga. You played a space trader, traveled from system to system, trading in legal (or illegal) goods, and upgrading your humble little spacecraft. It used rendered graphics but was very basic, had missions but no real cohesive campaign. I loved it. I'd play it today, but they refused to port it to the PC (beyond Win9x, I think). Elite2 was very different and disappointing.

Yes, I fondly remember Ascendancy and recently tried it again. It's too old now and I was reminded of the near absent AI.

That 'Elite' game sounds similiar to 'Space Rangers 2, Rise of the Dominators'. I've played SR2 a little. It's a solid game that I recomend but I've been busy with a couple other games for now. Stardock Central features it now.

Ascendancy had a wonderful direction, and feel. And as mentioned, not much of an AI. A very charismatic game, without a brain. Loved the weird aliens, they came with their own little tunes as well. It was worth it just to see the artwork and hear the music at the time.

Elite is a chapter of it's own. A true classic. It is more of a "space simulator" than anything. Without much "real" physics of course. Davib Braben compensated in that area later, although he probably could have used some more help finishing up the stuff. A monumental task for one guy, those sequels. Hopefully he got more hands on the deck now.

Star Wars: Rebellion/Star Wars: Supremacy ( The latter is the UK title ) is IMHO an example of a more complex game, which is borderline 4X domain. Some liked it, some did not. These are all dated now of course. Played an Elite clone only a few days ago though.

Well bottom line is, yes I remember Ascendancy for it's weird and wonderful design.

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Actually there is an AI update patch floating around on the internet, though I've never played with it much myself.

Yup, was my favorite space 4x (though you had to use the aggressor AI patch to make the AI do much of anything really). GalCiv's a better game, really, but captures the old spirit of Ascendancy nicely IMO.

That patch makes the AI more aggressive. I think it made a difference, but it has been so long since I've played that game. I did love it when it first came out...introduced me to the whole space 4x genre.

I'm pretty sure I still have an Original CD of it in my computer CD folder. I always like the wormhole map it generated. With a better AI it could have been really fun, pre-built choke points, interesting aliens...

I liked the fact that the star system names were cheese related, although the only two I can remember are Smorgasboard and Philadelphia   

I am still waiting to AscendancyII as logicfactory announced it since years on
their site WWW Link.

But my 4X space favorite was longtime Fragile Allegiance a DOS game published by
gremlin interactive in 1996. With nice animations allover, also in the diplomatic screen. Without any suns or planets, only with an asteroid field to dig.
Also with real carrier ships and, for my feelings, the best (realisticly) spy and sabotage system I ever saw until now.
Only the performance of the mouse cursor, still under Win98, was a torture.

Yup, it was an awesome game that ultimately fell prey to the traditional 4x game problem: Once you were fighting the AI and not fighting the game (that is, once you really understood how everything worked) there was just no challenge anymore.

I've got to give GalCiv2 credit, incidentally, for being the only 4x game I can remember that I'm still playing after hitting that point.

yea galvic mixes all the things I wanted from ascendy to have I'm guessing anyhting else coming form that group will just be vaporware

I actually like a different oldie, but goodie called Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain which was released back in '97.

Sort of like a simple 4X game since all planetary improvements are automatically built for you as they become available. Instead of being turn based, it is a real-time strategy game. It's stregnth is in combat since you are able to design your own ships and a fleet can consist of up to 24 ships, IIRC.

I love Ascendency. I still play it on a regualr basis. The choke points are really awesome. I have to agree with the A.I. issue but I still like it a whole lot.
Still have the original CD too. Now that I read this thread i'm gonna have the soundtrack running through my head

They were discussing an Ascendancy 2 ages ago. They were going to make it some sort of large scale multiplayer-only game, which I wouldn't be remotely interested in even if they ever did make the thing, which I doubt they'll do.

Hi!

It's called Antag, but doesn't do much else as every race you meet declares war on you in the next turn. But the game really loked beautiful, compared to MoO, and movement in the 3d space was also great. I'd say great concept, but brain-dead AI. Pitty.

BR, Iztok