Will Gal Civ 2 ever get multiplayer??

No.

Why?  I remember that at one time on the boards before the last xpansion they were asking if we would prefer multiplayer or more stuff. Well, they put out the xpac with the "more stuff", why not release the xpac with the "multiplayer" now? 

@VenomWW - Could you be more specific?  I can't recall this idea being discussed by Stardock since 2006, other than for them to reiterate that it won't be happening.  Brad discussed it here in January 2006 and had a poll that ended the debate in May 2006 here.

With the matter closed, Kryo finally asked that we not open new threads about it here in October 2006.

Perhaps I'm missing something or perhaps you might be referring to someone besides Stardock that might have asked if we preferred it?

Yup, thats the poll, sorry, never stuck around to see how it turned out, I just remembered voting in it. I guess the subject is dead then. I still think it would be a nice addition in the end, or make Gal Civ 3 have multiplayer IF they ever make a GC3. Thank you for the more in depth answer Motti.

Right now Stardock is developing Elemental, which is out in 2010, but it's VERY likely that they will make GC3 after that.

Perhaps we can get in on the ground floor with GalCiv3 and ask for MP right off the bat.  Brad has all but said that it won't have the Metaverse, so MP might be a viable idea.

Then again, they haven't asked us yet afaik.

I want what people have wanted besides MP. Carriers, Tactical Combat, Bombardment are high on my list. Then again. Sins of a Solar Empire has that.

Here's what would be happening right now if GC2 had multiplayer:

1) Multiple complaints that other players are "too slow".

2) Multiple complaints over "rage quitting" or other players saving their games and leaving (Rage Saving? )

3) Multiple complaints that some race is either OP or UP.

Remember, it takes up to an hour for players to complete some turns. Just imagine the frustration of playing against 9 other players in an Immense galaxy. All ten players would have to either stay awake for WAY too long, or arrange for a "Save" time when everyone would sign off for the day at once.

Let's not forget 50,000 1/1 ships traversing the galaxy to 10 players' MSAs either. Can you even begin to imagine the time each turn would take?

Doubt it.

Multiplayer just doesn't really work for tbs games, as the developers explained.

Edit:  And what the above guy said.

I'd say Multiplayer for GC3 is a very real possability..IMHO.

Look at the success of SD published MP games like SINS and Demigod. Why wouldn't SD want to get in on the action with one of their own titles, and why not use GC3 as that mig MP vessel when GC2 was such a success for it's genre, adding MP which is very popular could make financial sense.

Though, MP may comae at the ezpense of Turn Based, since turn based MP does not work very well.

GC3 as a RTS with MP????

I wouldn't be against it.

 Looks like you have a fan.

Snark is right. I spent the afternoon doing four turns in year one colonizing.  If someone knows how to accelerate the process, please relieve me of the burden.  I'm sure as hell not going to wait on some other slow old ass to make his turn.

GalCiv III could be multiplayer. If so, it would almost certainly have to be RTS and dumbed down to play a game within the time constraints.  That, by definition, is not Galactic Civilizations. 

Hopefully, SD understands this and that the MV is unique.  Publishing is one thing, developing is another.

Actually Turn Based Multiplayer works very well.  There are many ways to implement it.

Anyone that has played Civ 4 can see a great way.

simultaneous turns...  time limits...

My wife and I play Civ 4 all the time multiplayer and with mods also.  Sure it can take a few days

for us to play a game, but doesn't that occur in civ 4 withour multi and also in Gal Civ 2. 

Sure, it is hard to get a few friends together over a few days to play a massive game tbs game.

That is why they make RTS games.

Of course, I am lucky to have a woman that loves strategy games as much as i do.

I stay far away from RTS games and quit buying them long time ago.  Just not enough strategy

in them.

A GC3 world with no Metaverse, dumbed down for multiplayer!!! Oh the humanity!!!

Elemental will have multiplayer. GC3 (when we get to that point, which will probably be at least a couple of years) will be using Elemental's engine as a starting point. Take that as you will.

Yup...like i said....

See look at that...i quoted myself....next i'll be agreeing with myself....

Then, plan on some sort of hybrid that should offer RTS (in specific concepts such as Fleet Combats or Invasion Tactics, be it managed by multiple AIs or ... see next) & possibly a duel mode for TWO human opponents only which could be used to rank comparative performances (as in tournaments) on a new MV.

GC2 is TBS, granted.

The thing is that there will always be some kind of comparison among players as to what kind of scores they're getting. With a metaverse it's in some manner controlled and moderated and can therefore avoid some of the more blatant abuses. Without a metaverse you’ll just have people posting their scores in threads for comparison effectively causing the same amount of grief potential as the “real” metaverse yet with none of the controls.

As far as I remember the criticism of the metaverse was based on the assumption that most of the pissing and moaning regarding various game nerfages were from metaverse players that felt that these changes somehow eliminated their easy exploits used to get big scores. In reality even with these nerfages the result has been ever higher and higher scores achieved over time. And while there may be some element of truth that those that complain the loudest about changes may be motivated by their metaverse scores, I can’t imagine anyone could believe that elimination of the metaverse would therefore remove all source of complaint about game changes.

The metaverse is what it is which is at best a very poor way to make player to player comparisons and anyone that would use someone’s position as some absolute measure of someone’s skill at the game is deluded. But however flawed, someone’s metaverse performance is in some small way one piece of evidence that can be used among other information to get a relative idea of someone’s game skill and knowledge. I mean just the information that someone is consistently beating the game at suicidal versus tough must have some meaning associated with it.

The bottom line is that the metaverse is a motivating factor that has most definitely extended the useful life of GalCiv2 beyond what it would be without it. It’s by no means the only reason that I’m still playing the game some 3 years after I first bought it but it is most definitely a big reason.

I can’t know or even estimate how much work and effort it is on Stardock’s part to implement and maintain a metaverse but I have to guess that once setup it’s not that tremendous of a burden to maintain and that at least in my mind a GalCiv3 without a metaverse is just another game, whereas the Metaverse made GalCiv2 unique. Without the metaverse you may as well play Civ4.

Kryo's statement did give somewhat of a glimpse. Been kinda reading Brad's journals on Elemental and the as current attitude of not compromising the single player experience for MP is a huge plus.

The meta provides a pseudo-multiplayer experience for those of us who otherwise don't play MP games. That directly influenced me(and i'm sure others) to keep playing a lot longer(and buying exapansions). 

So, I just really hope they have a meta for GC3.

I suppose we should find a GC3 thread and express our desire for a continuation of the metaverse there.

I suppose we should find a GC3 thread and express our desire for a continuation of the metaverse there.

Double poster!

After reading the reason why MP won't work, I'll stick with the MV.

That sucks. I didn't even vote in that poll. I got into Gal Civ 2 when it first came out and then when the expansion didn't add multiplayer, I kinda left it alone and went elsewhere. The other day I was out at the store and saw the Platinum pack or whatever and it got me wondering if the game ever did go multiplayer. So I come on here and find out it didn't. If they had multiplayer, I would own it tonight. But it doesn't so it really doesn't offer me anything really. Right now me and a few friends are looking for some games to play online and right now we are aming for Civ 4.

I think this game would be great for multiplayer being able to run across other people's ship designs and custom races. The level of cutomization allowed towards civ creation on here screams multiplayer and yet it came at the cost of it. Metaverse doesn't really interest me personally. I understand where everyone is coming from on it though. More power to you and all that. But I don't care how I rank. Multiplayer for me is totally different than ranking though. It's more a social game I seek than an ego boost. To me that is what seperates the metaverse from the multiplayer aspect. And to me those are two entirely different concepts and the metaverse should never be referred to as a substitute valid or not but more of a consolation. But for me that's like offering me all I can eat tomatoes (I hate tomatoes) because the restaraunt is out of onions.

One guy I saw bought GC2 and so did his friend to play multiplayer. Of course, as he said they probably should have done research but in today's day and age multiplayer has became an expected feature to any game with a competative edge.

At any rate, I don't think that poll included everyone as I myself was lead to believe very early that the game would never include multiplayer because the numbers would most likely prove that it wasn't worth it. So I left the community alone because I got bored with the game. I think its a good game but it has its limitations on pulling me back in. Its replayability I guess is only measured by the length of time I haven't played it. I think its a good game and fun. But I feel like alot of the "custom" features are not lived up to. Sorry guys just wanted to get that out. I am good now. If GC3 won't have MP, I wont be a customer probably. It's a good game but my funds limit me to a select amount of games currently and most of which the lack of multiplayer means it gets pushed back. As currently me and some friends are looking specifically for some games to play online.

As for Elemental I am really interested. However, in GI magazine it said Multiplayer (TBA) I assume this means To Be Added. But I probably won't be expecting it if GC2 promoted the same thing. Because the same case could be argued for ANY TBS game that they used for GC2. So I would assume it won't get it either. Which is a shame because we have played alot of hours playing Age of Wonders 2, and we are about to start playing Civ4's FFH2 online, and I think Elemental would be another good game to check out.

EDIT: I would also like to say Multiplayer works out fine for TBS games. Its the anonymity of the internet that doesn't agree.

Flevance:

Elemental has already been announced to include multiplayer. Gal Civ 3 will almost certainly have it as well. Most people won't use the MP in either game, and frankly I tend to think of the inclusion of MP in games like this as a waste of resources that would have been better used expanding the SP experience and (most importantly) constructing a genuinely competitive AI.

The inclusion of MP in Elemental is why I haven't pre-ordered it like I did both Gal Civ expansions: I need to see evidence that MP hasn't damaged the SP experience. Hopefully it won't and everyone will get what they want, but I'll need to see that to believe it.

It was not my intention to impugn the intellect of MP players.  But, MP GCIII would have to be a different game.  And yes, the fate of humanity will more likely be decided for different reasons. 

I probably should of said "streamlined for MP", but I didn't want to make it sound like a good thing . I like all the micro and have turns that have lasted eight hours. Unless it is PBEM, I think my opponents would fall asleep  . 

I am somewhat a reformed anti-MP person, since playing Demigod with some of my ToE comrades had been a lot of fun