City-building Game Catch All

I have not played that much in the last few months, but I have seen some real content added. I suspect that the game is still sort of bland as they are in development. So maybe that is what you are seeing?

I finished my Per Aspera campaign, but I almost screwed it up. I had made it to the last step without any pushback really. My resources were good. I think I was around year 50 when I hit that step. Then I got careless. I was just keeping a cursory look at my resource levels as I was playing at 16x speed. I lost track of how much aluminum I had at separate bases, so while I thought I had plenty, my main developed area didn't have much and I lost around half my workers. Things screeched to a halt.

I went on a mad dash deleting unnecessary things, much got me some resources back. I made my way to new aluminum deposits and got that flowing again. But then I wasn't paying much attention to power because after building more buildings I started running negative. I had temporary swings so I wasn't worried, but this one wasn't temporary and it drained my batteries.

I went on another spree deleting things and building nuclear power plants. Now I lost track of my carbon and electronics stock and I lost almost all my maintenance drones. Another mad scramble. After pairing down things that were no longer necessary, shoring up production, I was able to let it run until I finished terraforming the final step.

That sounds like work.

Any overall thoughts about the game? Would you play it again? I picked it up recently but have only maybe got an hour in it. I've restarted four times as I learn the systems and wish I could skip the narrative bits I have already seen, but have no other thoughts about it. Well, except that it is slow even in the early going.

Well, overall I'm glad I at least did that one play through and haven't thrown it into my done forever category

As far as gameplay - definitely slow paced like you said. My guess with some super aggressive expansion that can be mitigated somewhat, and being aggressive importing colonists would help research. I'm a methodical player by nature. I think its a pretty straight forward game - pay attention to your production rates, demand and efficiency and it should be too challenging on normal difficulty. The automatic connecting of buildings can make a pretty big mess on the map.

I was able to win with developing a small fraction of the planet, so the player doesn't need to go too crazy. It would be nice to see stats on how many years it takes players to win. I think i was 100-110 years.

I'm not jumping into playing again any time soon, but hope to eventually try the sandbox mode. I have a lot of builder games that for now I have a higher priority:

Imagine Earth (played demo, want to play full game)
Dyson Sphere Program (still in EA, but I'll probably play in the next several months)
Surviving Mars (played once at release, thought it was OK and want to try again with the expansion)
Surviving the Aftermath (haven't played yet)
Sid Meier's Railroad (I played this at release and it was a bug ridden mess. Figured I'd at least take it for a drive)
Railway Empire DLC (liked the base game and have several DLCs)
Kingdoms and Castles (Liked quite a bit years ago, figured its time to play again)
The Colonists (One of my favorite games of this type. Figure after the above I', ready to get some more time with it)
Two Point Hospital (Never finished the campaign because the gameplay got very samey. Play another mission or two)
Tropico 6 (Tried briefly. Like the systems but tired of the political stuff. Time to play more)
Railroad Corporation (Liked the campaign, figured worth playing again)
Production Line (I thought it was dull at release but I didn't give it much of a chance. Probably try again)
Railroad Tycoon 2, Railroad Tycoon 3 (liked these a lot back in the day. worth playing again)
Mindustry (just dabbled, want to give more of a chance)
Settlers 7 Deluxe Gold (haven't played this is ages, want to play again)
Then maybe Per Aspera

robc wrote:

Settlers 7 Deluxe Gold (haven't played this is ages, want to play again)

I loved Settlers 1 and 2, but I kinda fell off the series after that. Not sure why - it just didn't have the same appeal to me.

I'm therefore cautiously optimistic about the upcoming franchise reboot, The Settlers, despite the release delays (2019 -> 2020 -> ?).

robc, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

merphle wrote:
robc wrote:

Settlers 7 Deluxe Gold (haven't played this is ages, want to play again)

I loved Settlers 1 and 2, but I kinda fell off the series after that. Not sure why - it just didn't have the same appeal to me.

I'm therefore cautiously optimistic about the upcoming franchise reboot, The Settlers, despite the release delays (2019 -> 2020 -> ?).

I was opposite, I started with the newer one and then tried to go back and play the others. I prefer Settlers model much more than the Anno series. Settlers 7 feels like a combination of a typical 'collect the resources' builder and a board game with different win conditions. Didn't they remake the older settlers? I should try the remade version.

robc wrote:
merphle wrote:
robc wrote:

Settlers 7 Deluxe Gold (haven't played this is ages, want to play again)

I loved Settlers 1 and 2, but I kinda fell off the series after that. Not sure why - it just didn't have the same appeal to me.

I'm therefore cautiously optimistic about the upcoming franchise reboot, The Settlers, despite the release delays (2019 -> 2020 -> ?).

I was opposite, I started with the newer one and then tried to go back and play the others. I prefer Settlers model much more than the Anno series. Settlers 7 feels like a combination of a typical 'collect the resources' builder and a board game with different win conditions. Didn't they remake the older settlers? I should try the remade version.

Well, Ubisoft has the full Settlers History Collection for $14 (65% off) right now - that's Settlers 1 through 7, including all DLC/expansions, I believe. Hopefully that means the new reboot is coming soon.

IMAGE(https://store.ubi.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog/default/dw035cc126/images/pdpbanner/5b647011ef3aa548048c5977.png)

merphle wrote:
robc wrote:
merphle wrote:
robc wrote:

Settlers 7 Deluxe Gold (haven't played this is ages, want to play again)

I loved Settlers 1 and 2, but I kinda fell off the series after that. Not sure why - it just didn't have the same appeal to me.

I'm therefore cautiously optimistic about the upcoming franchise reboot, The Settlers, despite the release delays (2019 -> 2020 -> ?).

I was opposite, I started with the newer one and then tried to go back and play the others. I prefer Settlers model much more than the Anno series. Settlers 7 feels like a combination of a typical 'collect the resources' builder and a board game with different win conditions. Didn't they remake the older settlers? I should try the remade version.

Well, Ubisoft has the full Settlers History Collection for $14 (65% off) right now - that's Settlers 1 through 7, including all DLC/expansions, I believe. Hopefully that means the new reboot is coming soon.

IMAGE(https://store.ubi.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog/default/dw035cc126/images/pdpbanner/5b647011ef3aa548048c5977.png)

That would be great! The previews look awesome!

Nuts, I missed the sale. Up to $36 now.

merphle wrote:

I loved Settlers 1 and 2, but I kinda fell off the series after that. Not sure why - it just didn't have the same appeal to me.

The reason is all the games afterward are bad and should feel bad!
Note: 3rd one was decent. 7 was also okay, but a very different game.

But yeah, the new game looks like it could be great. Some of the developer comments and videos made it sound like they understand! The indefinite delay is quite worrying though.

robc wrote:

Didn't they remake the older settlers? I should try the remade version.

2nd game, aka. the best, had an anniversary edition, only a remaster, which is probably a good thing.

Actually, I have Settler 2 Anniversary Edition on GOG, so if that is the best one (of the older ones) then I guess I'm OK. Still at $13 I would have taken the collection.

robc wrote:

Actually, I have Settler 2 Anniversary Edition on GOG, so if that is the best one (of the older ones) then I guess I'm OK. Still at $13 I would have taken the collection.

Yeah, that and Settlers 7 are the two that I have the most fondness for. I really ought to reinstall 7 sometime...

A new Settlers game is long overdue!

Farscry wrote:
robc wrote:

Actually, I have Settler 2 Anniversary Edition on GOG, so if that is the best one (of the older ones) then I guess I'm OK. Still at $13 I would have taken the collection.

Yeah, that and Settlers 7 are the two that I have the most fondness for. I really ought to reinstall 7 sometime...

A new Settlers game is long overdue!

Yeah, Settlers 2 is by far the best, although I had some fun with Settlers 7 at the time. It was a very controversial release back then, as it was very multiplayer-focused. Seems so quaint now!

Where Settlers 3-6 fell off the cliff is in trying to chase the 90's RTS craze (talk about quaint), with more and more focus on the combat side of things and less on the zen/cutesy base building that made the series so enjoyable.

edit: I just remembered that a big part of the controversy was the always-online requirement of Settlers 7, through uPlay. It was one of the first to really push this. Less quaint, but still

dejanzie wrote:

Where Settlers 3-6 fell off the cliff is in trying to chase the 90's RTS craze (talk about quaint), with more and more focus on the combat side of things and less on the zen/cutesy base building that made the series so enjoyable.

edit: I just remembered that a big part of the controversy was the always-online requirement of Settlers 7, through uPlay. It was one of the first to really push this. Less quaint, but still :lol:

As far as I remember it was after that game Ubisoft backtracked somewhat on their draconic online requirements. So at least the game didn’t suffer for nothing.

Completely agree on the combat. The game should be about creating a well-oiled machine that, sure, in the end leads to having a strong military (or maybe rather being able to replace your fallen soldiers like it was nothing #DarkRealism). But the combat itself should be an afterthought. Just a way to present how well your production chains and transportation networks were made.
Also similar to how the Pharaoh/Caesar games were. Speaking of which, can’t wait for the Pharaoh remaster!

I'm really in the mood for a city builder that focuses on logistics. Like Factorio or something but about supplying ancient Rome with grain. But all of the games I can think of tend to be smaller-scale stuff. Sure Pharaoh has an economy and supply chains but its ultimately really local-focused and constrained. Is there any game I'm overlooking that has this?

Cities Skylines has production chains and goods export and import. But probably not to the degree you want.

I'd look at colony games - Surviving Mars, Rise to Ruins, Per Aspera come to mind. Those should be pretty close to what you want.

There's that new space Factorio-like called Dyson Sphere Program. That's been super popular.

Maybe Children of the Nile? It's super old, but interesting logistics.

Robear wrote:

Cities Skylines has production chains and goods export and import. But probably not to the degree you want.

I'd look at colony games - Surviving Mars, Rise to Ruins, Per Aspera come to mind. Those should be pretty close to what you want.

I'll have to check those out.

garion333 wrote:

There's that new space Factorio-like called Dyson Sphere Program. That's been super popular.

Waiting for it to get more finished before I put another 60 hours into it (I heard they're adding blueprints eventually).

Mixolyde wrote:

Maybe Children of the Nile? It's super old, but interesting logistics.

Hmm. I haven't tried that one.

Voxel Tycoon looks promising. Looks like Factorio combined with City Skylines and maybe some Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon(?) at the moment. I like trains!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/7...

Of course there's always Soren Johnson's Offworld Trading Company.

Children of the Nile is really good. I came to it late and found it to hold up at the time. 2010 maybe?

Gremlin wrote:

I'm really in the mood for a city builder that focuses on logistics. Like Factorio or something but about supplying ancient Rome with grain. But all of the games I can think of tend to be smaller-scale stuff. Sure Pharaoh has an economy and supply chains but its ultimately really local-focused and constrained. Is there any game I'm overlooking that has this?

Anno 1800! It’s tailor-made for what you want:

- Build and supply growing cities whose needs become more and more complex as you progress - start with fish and woollen clothing, finish with chocolate, cigars, champagne, and steam-powered cars.
- Manage intercontinental supply chains across multiple biomes - cocoa and coffee grow in the tropics, while hops and grapes grow in the Old World.
- The DLCs add even more regions, with their own quest lines and unique mechanics (the Arctic, and an Ethiopia-inspired region).

I can’t recommend it highly enough.

quasiChaos wrote:

Voxel Tycoon looks promising. Looks like Factorio combined with City Skylines and maybe some Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon(?) at the moment. I like trains!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/7...

I streamed a bit of it. It still needs time in the oven.

This is a good spot to point out that the innovative City-builder, Frostpunk is free on Epic this week.

I came back to Anno 1800 this week after deciding to give Ubisoft+ a go for a few months. Boy is it overwhelming. I'm managing 3 islands in the main area, 1 in the Africa area, 2 expeditions, an aggressive pirate lady, and a budget that doesn't like to stay positive so I run quests at the same time to be able to spend money to Turn the economy around.

It's SO MUCH!

Yeah, I like Anno 1800 in some ways, but it is quite overwhelming, and in a way it is hard not to feel that they designed for quantity over quality.
Bought some of the DLC on sale recently though, and do want to play it again some day.

Also, and I dont know if they have fixed this, but at release the game couldnt be paused. So while you were sitting in some menu, with a mini-roleplaying expedition game, your city could burn to the ground. Which is just brilliant game design on a level that in similar ways to the lack of pausing in Souls games make you feel happy inside.

@Gremlin

I'll +1 Anno 1800/1404/1701 as all pretty competent logistics games. Some don't care for it, but I really liked 2205 as well. They're all about exploration and efficient use of limited land to set up supply chains to produce higher level products to promote your citizens.

Cities: Skylines is good too, but I'd recommend the Industries DLC for the much more fleshed-out logistical aspects. City Planner Plays has a few series on YouTube in which he leverages his map's natural resources with the various industries. The industries aren't super deep since they're only an addition to the game, but the DLC makes it far more interesting than vanilla.

Just downloaded Block'hood for US$3 on Steam. Looked intriguing (and there had to be at least $3 of gameplay in there!). Anyone else ever try it?

Yes. It's a decent game for what it is. Didn't hold my attention for too long but definitely worth $3.

Mind Elemental wrote:
Gremlin wrote:

I'm really in the mood for a city builder that focuses on logistics. Like Factorio or something but about supplying ancient Rome with grain. But all of the games I can think of tend to be smaller-scale stuff. Sure Pharaoh has an economy and supply chains but its ultimately really local-focused and constrained. Is there any game I'm overlooking that has this?

Anno 1800! It’s tailor-made for what you want:

Anno 1800 does a good job of fitting the bill!

It became a little less overwhelming when I decided to avoid doing all of the DLC exploration at once.