Lame Game

from GalCiv2 Forums
At first glance the game is more than great, its amazing. Which is part of the problem. I only buy games that have had good reviews. This one had great reviews, but I think the people that rated it spent a limited time playing it. As you play the game more, you notice little things, that I can deal with. As you play more, you see many more pitfalls. Big pitfalls, that I can't deal with. Like the dread lords that randomly appear on a map. You can't kill them, they appeared only a few weeks into a few of my maps. I had to drop everything I was doing and research planetary invasion as quick as I could before they built one shipe, cause at that point in the game, one of their ships will kill everything you own. Everything. Then come the pirates. They are almost worse than the dreadlords. They are more powerful than any of the races you play against. They will kill everything you own also. Ok, now lets add the jagged knives. They take over random planets. This is fine, but they take them over without having to invade. They just boot any ships you had in orbit off the planet and take it over completely. Yet again LAME! I don't mind a challenging game. I like games that take a long time to master. But to throw in things that just can't be beat, or at best, just to jerk you around, is a waste of my time, and I don't like to spend 8 hrs on a map, just to have my entire day wasted because pirates decided to kill everything I had made in 2 rounds of gameplay, just as I was about to win. I also had a problem with advertising. It says that you can make custom ships, and then you can save them and the computer will use them. This sounds great. But, they only use ships that look like the ships you made. I made a custom race, I wanted it to research laser technology. I played against the computer, and all of the ships I designed were now equipped with missiles. So the computer is just doing what it wants, not what I want it to do. Yet again a let down. I realize that no game can be perfect, and I can deal with that. I can't put up with a game that has huge problems such as this game. If I could get my money back I would, its a waste of money, but those are the chances you take when you buy games.
15,660 views 46 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Usually I've found that when I disagree with the majority of folks around me, its time to reevaluate my stand. Like any rule there are certainly exceptions, still, it makes me wonder if I'm missing something or there's something I've overlooked.

Honestly I can't find one of the reasons you listed valid ones to not enjoy GalCiv2. The AI has a mind of its own, and while it may certainly use ships you model, if it wants to use missiles as opposed to lasers, it will. The pirates, while annoying, are not unbeatable - far from it. The very fact they don't conquer planets means their time is limited and their demise certain. Same for the Dread Lords; they may be scary, but they are far less a danger than the major races you'll face in the game.

"Mountains out of molehills". Indeed no game is perfect, but this game is tremendous fun for a large majority of us. I hope you give it a few more tries, but if not, that's cool, everyone has different tastes and one man's caviar is another's smelly fish eggs.

If you do like games that take a "long time to master" I'd suggest trying a few more games, sandbox mode (as opposed to the campaign). After all, you have spent the money - why not see if a day or two later you have a different experience.


Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It always amazes me when people post to complain about how overpowering and game finishing the mega events are. The developers have already said that it is UNBALANCING. If you don't like the fact that your game can totally be thrown out of whack randomly, then there is a simple solution - turn off mega events. I know it sounds crazy, but you can actually turn on and off the checkbox options. I swear its true. If you don't like something, turn it off. There, that solves two or three out of four of your problems.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
May I rephrase the first post?
"Many things in GalCiv2 don't make sense."
Is that correct?
It's the essense of most criticism around here. Things in GalCiv2 don't behave naturally. Actions don't have the effect you think they'd have, strategies that should work don't work, strategies that shouldn't work work, things behave unnaturally because the underlying gamerules don't reflect a sensable system, they're made up.

That doesn't mean GalCiv2 is bad as a game, it just means it's a let down for those people who think a game should behave naturally. Super Mario Bros. doesn't behave naturally and it's still a good game.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is yet another factor to consider - mods.

You can mod your own race, or any of the others, to do pretty much what you want.

Make a custom race that does not have to worry about the puny Dread Lords or pirates.

Or, get better at the game.

Options are available to make the game what you want it to be.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Um...if you hate the game so much, why are you even a member of the boards?

If you wanna complain take it to the Gamespot forum, this is for fans of the game who deliver only constructive criticism and don't have their minds already made up as you so obviously do.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If you don't like mega events turn them off. It takes far less time than writing a venomous, irrational rant on a web forum.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would also agree that you ought to disable mega events.

By design, they try to make the game "impossible". It caters to segments of the fanbase who find the game a little monotonous or are simply so good that only a mega event can slow them down. The Pirates, Jagged knife, and Dread lords are all mega events that you should disable until you get a better grip on teh game.

Beside, why would you want teh computer to play with lasers? Missles are generally the best weapon (damage/size) while lasers are the worst. The computer (AI) prolly just picked the best option.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As I posted this Rant, I did mention that there are many pitfalls. I listed ones that bothered me the most. I liked reply #3. It explains some of what I was trying to say. The game was a big let down. On the other hand I can see where the idea was good. There are also good things about the game. I just didn't mention them, that was not the point of my post. It is a very creative game. I don't want to turn off the mega events, becaue in theory it is a great idea that random things will happen in a vast universe. But, its a GAME. I shouldn't have to be worrying about pirates that kill all of my ships, and starbases etc, then surround all of my planets with an army so big that they have 15 ships in each fleet, and 2 fleets around each of my planets, when I control over half the map, and I can't leave my planet so I have to go for a tech victory. So yes the pirates aren't unbeatable. You can still win with a tech victory. Saying all of that. I still do have a problem with custom races. I don't see why I can't have the computer play my races the way I want them to without modding. I think that you should be able to have your race that you created use the equipment that you want them to have. I can see this game being a great stepping stone for another game, I'm just disappointed with this game as is.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
May I rephrase the first post?
"Many things in GalCiv2 don't make sense."
Is that correct?
It's the essense of most criticism around here. Things in GalCiv2 don't behave naturally. Actions don't have the effect you think they'd have, strategies that should work don't work, strategies that shouldn't work work, things behave unnaturally because the underlying gamerules don't reflect a sensable system, they're made up.

That doesn't mean GalCiv2 is bad as a game, it just means it's a let down for those people who think a game should behave naturally. Super Mario Bros. doesn't behave naturally and it's still a good game.

Galactic Civilizations is definitely not a simulation of ANYTHING. The pretty pictures of "spaceships" and "planets," and the descriptions of "populations," "weeks," "credits," and pretty much everything else in the game are not relevant to anything that makes any kind of real sense.

I actually quit playing after I realized how the game mechanics - with the sliders and stuff - actually works. But later I tried again and simply quit thinking of the "planets" as representing real planets, and the "colonies" as being anywhere near as independant as the offices in one corporate building.

Ideally, of course, we would all be blessed with the kind of mind that's inherently immune to cognative dissonance in the first place - but lets face it, we can't all be that lucky. The rest of us have to make somewhat of an effort to ignore all that and just approach the game as an abstract strategy game, filled with arbitrary hidden rules and limitations. And once you get past that hurdle, it's actually kind of interesting.

But then the Mega Events come along to wreck the strategy aspect entirely. Then the designers (apparently, somewhere) say that it's INTENDED to be that way, and you should just turn off the features you paid for. And then, to top it all off, people attack you as "venomous and irrational" for being annoyed by that.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Galactic Civilizations is definitely not a simulation of ANYTHING. The pretty pictures of "spaceships" and "planets," and the descriptions of "populations," "weeks," "credits," and pretty much everything else in the game are not relevant to anything that makes any kind of real sense.

I actually quit playing after I realized how the game mechanics - with the sliders and stuff - actually works. But later I tried again and simply quit thinking of the "planets" as representing real planets, and the "colonies" as being anywhere near as independant as the offices in one corporate building.

Ideally, of course, we would all be blessed with the kind of mind that's inherently immune to cognative dissonance in the first place - but lets face it, we can't all be that lucky. The rest of us have to make somewhat of an effort to ignore all that and just approach the game as an abstract strategy game, filled with arbitrary hidden rules and limitations. And once you get past that hurdle, it's actually kind of interesting.


There's something called "willing suspension of disbelief." Yes, we're aware that the underlying game rules are abstractions. There has to be - no computer has the processing power to simulate an entire galaxy with complete accuracy. Most people don't care, and are able to suspend said disbelief to enjoy it as a space strategy game rather than just an abstract one.


But then the Mega Events come along to wreck the strategy aspect entirely. Then the designers (apparently, somewhere) say that it's INTENDED to be that way, and you should just turn off the features you paid for. And then, to top it all off, people attack you as "venomous and irrational" for being annoyed by that.


You're "(apparently, somewhere)" confuses me. It's not as if there's some secret about it - Stardock has ALWAYS maintained that Mega Events are supposed to unbalance the game. That's the whole POINT of Mega Events in the first place. They're meant to give players interesting strategic challenges to adapt to. No developer had EVER claimed Mega Events were intended to do anything but throw a giant monkey wrench into the game

If you don't want to pay for Mega Events, don't buy Dark Avatar. You'll be missing out on asteroids, super abilities, economic and research treaties, planet environment types, and espionage, but you'll also not have spent any money on a feature you don't want. If you DO want all those things, but don't want Mega Events, buy Dark Avatar and turn Mega Events off.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
But then the Mega Events come along to wreck the strategy aspect entirely.


They were designed to spice up the game, if you're new (lets face it, how could you not be) TURN THEM OFF, it's like when someone doesn't like a TV show, CHANGE THE DAMN CHANNEL, if you don't like mega events turn...them...off, why complain about something that can be remedied with a click of a mouse.

If you had a headache would you run down to the doctors and complain or take some aspirin?
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oh god just turned the thing off.
You say you paid for the feature? OK, if you're willing an OPTIONAL 1$ (I'm guessing mega events equals mere cents, but lets say its 1$) button ruin the entire game thing for you, I think you have more problems than just this game.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
ROFL
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I still do have a problem with custom races. I don't see why I can't have the computer play my races the way I want them to without modding. I think that you should be able to have your race that you created use the equipment that you want them to have.


All being able to define which techs an AI uses would accomplish is making them easier to beat. When the game says you can design ships for them, it means you can create a ship style, a look that their ships will use. You can't straightjacket the AI as to what weapons tech it will use, and no one promised you that you could. No race in the game has a weapons restriction, they research dynamically depending on the situation and their particular perclivities. There's no AI scripting in this game, period, which is part of what makes it so great.

You need to play it a bit more, I think, and really understand what it is your condemning. It seems that at this point you're upset that you can't do things that anyone that really understood how the game works wouldn't want to do anyway.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Joe Bob Dork: "Huh, there is this thing I hate in the game. It completely unbalances the game, and by far, it's the one thing that's killing the game for me."

Smart Player: "Um.. turn that feature off then. That's why there are a ton of choosable options in the game, to customize the game how you want it."

Joe Bob Dork: "No, I can't do that. So this game sucks."

Smart Players: "...."

Either the OP is a troll, truly deserves the moniker, Joe Bob Dork.
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
At first glance the game is more than great, its amazing. Which is part of the problem. I only buy games that have had good reviews. This one had great reviews, but I think the people that rated it spent a limited time playing it. As you play the game more, you notice little things, that I can deal with. As you play more, you see many more pitfalls. Big pitfalls, that I can't deal with. Like the dread lords that randomly appear on a map. You can't kill them, they appeared only a few weeks into a few of my maps. I had to drop everything I was doing and research planetary invasion as quick as I could before they built one shipe, cause at that point in the game, one of their ships will kill everything you own. Everything. Then come the pirates. They are almost worse than the dreadlords. They are more powerful than any of the races you play against. They will kill everything you own also. Ok, now lets add the jagged knives. They take over random planets. This is fine, but they take them over without having to invade. They just boot any ships you had in orbit off the planet and take it over completely. Yet again LAME! I don't mind a challenging game. I like games that take a long time to master. But to throw in things that just can't be beat, or at best, just to jerk you around, is a waste of my time, and I don't like to spend 8 hrs on a map, just to have my entire day wasted because pirates decided to kill everything I had made in 2 rounds of gameplay, just as I was about to win. I also had a problem with advertising. It says that you can make custom ships, and then you can save them and the computer will use them. This sounds great. But, they only use ships that look like the ships you made. I made a custom race, I wanted it to research laser technology. I played against the computer, and all of the ships I designed were now equipped with missiles. So the computer is just doing what it wants, not what I want it to do. Yet again a let down. I realize that no game can be perfect, and I can deal with that. I can't put up with a game that has huge problems such as this game. If I could get my money back I would, its a waste of money, but those are the chances you take when you buy games.


Um...ever use the ENTER key? People might want to read your troll-post if you break it up a little.

Writing 101.

Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sorry, but that was a lame troll. I can only rate you a 2 on the Troll-o-meter. While you did score points for good puntucation, your propensity for inocomplete sentences, your deadpan delivery, and dunce-like grasp of basic facts may be indicative of severe head trauma. We suspect the same accident was responsible for the tragically placed stick in your rectum, as this is not known to be a congenital defect. Indeed, studies have indicated that such a confluence of maladies have been responsible for diarrhea of the keyboard on numerous occasions. We strongly suggest institutional care where your irresponsible use of Internet bandwidth can be supervised.
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Joe Bob Dork: "Huh, there is this thing I hate in the game. It completely unbalances the game, and by far, it's the one thing that's killing the game for me."

Smart Player: "Um.. turn that feature off then. That's why there are a ton of choosable options in the game, to customize the game how you want it."

Joe Bob Dork: "No, I can't do that. So this game sucks."

Smart Players: "...."


  
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I must agree with the pirates vs dreadlords. The pirates could kill the dreadlords easily if they had transports. Jagged knife should be the pirate race, but they are overpowered as well. There should be revolts and such and after a few turns, Jagged knife has it. Pirates should have cheap, weak, and fast ships. I dont want to see "..." on all the defences and weapons! That just means: "You are going to die and there is nothing you can do to stop us!"
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wait a second....You are complaining about the AI actually THINKING ON ITS OWN?!?!

Also, why are you wanting to force the AI to use a certain weapon?
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I really have to bring some things into focus a little bit. I have a problem with the game. I insulted the game, not those who play it. This forum is about posting what you think of the game, so I did just that.

I have read all comments so far, and am amazed that about half of the negative comments have to deal with me. Really, come on, its not like insulted your family, or ethnic culture. This is exactly why people think of gamers as game dorks. You guys take the game way too seriously. Really you need to lighten up a little bit.

It doesn't seem that I have been the only person that has the same problems with the game. There are other posts that say the same things. I posted this not just to reach the players, but in hopes that one of the guys that made the game would just hear my angry constructive criticism and maybe change things in a future patch or game project.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As for the AI using specific weapons

Lets use Warhammer 40k as an example, because some of you know about it. The Tau, use plasma weapons, so I want my Tau to use plasma weapons. Eldar are known for being fast and agile, so I want my Eldar to have engines over armor. Things like that as an example.
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So...your complaint is that the AI is intelligent, and reacts to situations rather than being predictable and using only what you want it to use..?
Reply #25 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Lets use Warhammer 40k as an example, because some of you know about it. The Tau, use plasma weapons, so I want my Tau to use plasma weapons. Eldar are known for being fast and agile, so I want my Eldar to have engines over armor. Things like that as an example.

Does Warhammer have an AI that has to react to one of three different weapon and defense types being placed on its enemies, and react accordingly by improving its strengths to defeat your weaknesses?

This is a strategy game, not a roleplaying game. The AI is designed to play like a human would, and no human I know would stubbornly stick to building weapons which his opponent has a high defense against.