Space Sims/Strategy Games Catch-All

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I was really hoping GalCiv2 and SotS would be the new and updated space games that replaced MoO2 in my heart, but it was not to be. I could not get into either one. And Nightmare hates me for it. :cry:

That's not the only reason, but it's certainly towards the top of the list.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

Sword of the Stars I just don't get. I know I need to sit and read/watch how everything in the game works, because I jumped in initially and I felt completely lost. Last game I built some scout ships with weapons that I figured would be useful for feeling out whatever enemies I encountered, except they did nothing (combat, like GalCiv2, is all automatic) and just sat there while enemy ships dragged them into a planet with tractor beams. So the problem now is that my aborted attempts to play the game have sapped all my motivation to learn to play it. It's a catch-22.

At the start of the game, you cannot fight tactical battles, because you do not have the tech to direct your ships. Research up the CCC tree and you will find a plethora of tactical combat options opening up, like designing your own formations and gathering better tactical intelligence.

SotS does not give you everything on a silver platter at the start of a game, which makes sense: you are a nascent stellar empire, you know nothing about how to make war in space at the beginning of a game. You have to research better tech to get better capabilities.

Also, when you start exploring around, you *will* find stuff that kicks your ass (swarms, monitors, derelict ships and the like). Space in SotS is a dangerous place.

My recommendation when starting out is to play as human (they travel point-to-point via "node drives", so they can't go anywhere (quickly at least) except between stars that have node points - think Alderson points from The Mote in God's Eye) or Tarkas (they travel in more mainstream sci-fi "hyperspace" and can go anywhere, even though it takes longer than node travel). Set the map to 2D or disc. Make one enemy empire, set it to easy. Focus research on industrial tech, CCC tech and a smattering of weapons techs, but feel free to explore.

A good resource for SotS information is the wiki

Don't be intimidated Quintin, I know you can do it if you just try.

Nightmare wrote:

Don't be intimidated Quintin, I know you can do it if you just try. :)

I dunno, tboon, I'm not all that bright.

Played some Tarr Chronicles. It's a bit like Starlancer, but the shooting doesn't feel right and story isn't very good. I might continue to play it, but I've got other games in this thread that need playing.

I'm going to add some games that I picked up from a GamerGate sale a while back.

Flotilla
Steam
IMAGE(http://cdn.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/55000/ss_efa6b21bbb4fb02ebda681f9728059483cdd4f6e.600x338.jpg?t=1299725032)

I didn't love Flotilla in the way I think I was supposed to, but I did like the cute animal-themed RPG elements. Not a perfect game, but well worth a look at the demo.

Star Fury
GG
IMAGE(http://www.counterfrag.com/screenshots/space%20empires%20starfury/3.jpg)

All that I know about this game is that I own it. I don't know why I bought it or why I should play it.
It's in space?

Tarr Chronicles and its sequel, Dark Horizon
GG1
GG2
IMAGE(http://www.dignews.com/legacy/screenshots/tarr_chronicles_13.jpg)

Space combat game along the lines of Freespace. I think I'll be playing these games this weekend. Will provide updates.

Now something for Android users:
Star Traders RPG (free) / Star Traders RPG Elite (not free)
Site
IMAGE(http://www.corytrese.com/games/startraders/images/screen_2.png)

A very simple space trading/combat sim which is pretty simple, but also scratches that space sim itch. Worth a try of the free version.

Flatspace II
Impulse
IMAGE(http://www.yupgames.com/gf/img/flatspace-ii-rise-of-the-scarrid-lrg3.jpg)

I have Flatspace for the iPod touch, but am not too impressed with it. Anyone have any thoughts on the PC version of the sequel available on Impulse?

Finally, Space Miner: Space Ore Bust
Link
IMAGE(http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/space-miner-space-ore-bust-0.png)

A great and surprisingly deep space sim for the iPhone that I would say definitely fits in with the other games in this thread.

That's all I've got for now!

garion333 wrote:

Starpoint Gemini
Thread
GamersGate
Out of Eight review

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/mTcdw.jpg)

You command a ship along the lines of Star Trek games. There's trading, combat and missions ... and some role playing aspects.

Purchased.

SpyNavy wrote:

Purchased.

The tutorial is incredibly boring and you may get randomly killed. Save your game while playing the tutorial so you don't have to start over. Trust me.

think Alderson points from The Mote in God's Eye

Um, yeah. I went from "meh" to "AWESOME!" with that line alone. I love that book.

The game is so-so, I am a tad disappointed given the review from Out of Eight whom I usually agree with. Its more a 3-4 of 8 for me. The tutorial is absolutely abysmal and a real turn off. Also I was looking for a 3D Plane - it isnt.

Light of Altair is the impulse daily deal. I picked it up for ~$3.50

http://www.impulsedriven.com/lightaltair

Nightmare wrote:

My recommendation when starting out is to play as human (they travel point-to-point via "node drives", so they can't go anywhere (quickly at least) except between stars that have node points - think Alderson points from The Mote in God's Eye) or Tarkas (they travel in more mainstream sci-fi "hyperspace" and can go anywhere, even though it takes longer than node travel).

I love the idea that different empires have different methods of FTL travel. From a game-design perspective, that must have been quite a headache to balance, though.

It's full of stars! Errr, I mean good games. I have Light of Altair and Sword of the Stars on my machine that I got on cheap download sales, but haven't put much time into them, yet. I do love Darstar One, though.

I would think about killing someone just for an updated version of MOO with the same mechanics but better graphics, some UI and tactical combat refinements and a few new races thrown in. While they're at it, they could go on and do Alpha Centauri as well.

Anyway, based on recommendations here I will be picking up SOTS Complete Pack once I'm done with Portal 2.

Grubber788 wrote:

Star Fury
GG
IMAGE(http://www.counterfrag.com/screenshots/space%20empires%20starfury/3.jpg)

All that I know about this game is that I own it. I don't know why I bought it or why I should play it.
It's in space?

My memory sucks, but I have it and invested about 20-30 hours into it 3-4 years ago. I worked up to a purchase of a big honkin ship, lots of guns, usually could kill or scare away 1-2 other capital ships. There are a few different races, and their ships are different, with different ratings for mountpoints, maneuverability, speed, defense points, etc. It was kind of cool, but as maneuvers were only 2d on the plane of the solar system. Large multi-system map, with jump points interconnecting the systems. Overall, it just didn't immerse me. I think it was sort of an isometric view. Ship maneuvers looked somewhat cool.

Most questions asked would probably at this point be answered one of two ways. "I think so..." "I don't think so..."

So, gang, what is going to immerse me? I want to pilot a single ship. I want to be on the bridge. I want to be excited to dig out my Thrustmaster gear and setup macros. Some of my favorites in the sim genre just make me forget about anything else. MechWarrior 2, original X-Wing, IWar 2, Freespace 2, Elite. Sandboxes and freedom are usually better than scripts and rails.

Or, I want to be turn based or pauseable with queued instructions, if I have responsibility for multiple ships or planets. MOO2 is still the one to beat, here. Still play it from time to time.

wickbroke wrote:

So, gang, what is going to immerse me? I want to pilot a single ship. I want to be on the bridge. I want to be excited to dig out my Thrustmaster gear and setup macros. Some of my favorites in the sim genre just make me forget about anything else. MechWarrior 2, original X-Wing, IWar 2, Freespace 2, Elite. Sandboxes and freedom are usually better than scripts and rails.

X3 Terran Conflict.

Prozac wrote:
wickbroke wrote:

So, gang, what is going to immerse me? I want to pilot a single ship. I want to be on the bridge. I want to be excited to dig out my Thrustmaster gear and setup macros. Some of my favorites in the sim genre just make me forget about anything else. MechWarrior 2, original X-Wing, IWar 2, Freespace 2, Elite. Sandboxes and freedom are usually better than scripts and rails.

X3 Terran Conflict.

Seconded. Give yourself the time to learn the game, and it is very deep and rewarding.

AUs_TBirD wrote:

That describes my situation with Starshatter (re-released with "The Gathering Storm" subtitle and DX9 support in 2006). It used to be available from Matrix Games, but has since been discontinued according to their website.
The store page from which you cannot order it.

That's Matrix for you. "You'd like to have this game, wouldn't you? You can't!"

This has been driving me crazy since I started reading this thread:

Back sometime back in the 00's, I ordered a game from...some company. Have no idea who now, and it's not in my e-mail. It cost about $5, and it was an impulse purchase that I made after buying some other more expensive title. So, to sum up, space strategy game with unknown title, uncertain date from uncertain retail outlet. Cost: $5.

What I do remember is that I ended up playing it as much if not more than its more expensive boxmate. It was very similar to Nexus: the Jupiter Incident in terms of visuals and story line. In fact, Nexus may have been the more expensive title that I originally ordered. It differed from Nexus in that you controlled a wider array of ships in a manner more similar to Homeworld or a top down RTS. I also seem to remember that in the early segments of the game, your only ships were fighter and bomber squadrons. In the early game, you directed a series of fighter squadrons to intercept enemy bombers between Mars and Earth. Each time you successfully completed a level, you gained access to bigger ships, and the scale grew greater. So you went from inter-lunar to interplanetary to the entire solar system eventually to inter-solar, at which point you were leading missions against alien aggressors.

I'm tempted to say that I've just gotten Nexus so mixed up in my memory that I'm remembering it as two games, but those fighter squadrons seem to be pretty solid memories. Does anyone have a clue what I'm talking about?

So I'm going to be bold and be the one to try out Impulse's deal of the day:

The Tomorrow War
IMAGE(http://games.gs1.net/system/assets/images/1/000/501/193/0004-1025_Tomorrow_War_012.jpg)

I hope the entire game isn't in Russian!

Holy crap, that game uses Zoroastrianism as a religious basis. That's a bit out of left field.

Ooooh, they're based off of books. Gotcha.

Wow. Now that is a busy-ass screen.

[size=4](Yes. Busy ass-screen. I know.)[/size]

Grubber, after looking around at what's been said of that game I'd be surprised if it's something worth your time. That said, you might enjoy it, but I'm can't recall if you've played an Evochron game or not because I'm pretty sure you would like those. The demos for those games are timer based, I believe. So everything is open to you to do from the get go, just with the timer.

garion333 wrote:

Grubber, after looking around at what's been said of that game I'd be surprised if it's something worth your time. That said, you might enjoy it, but I'm can't recall if you've played an Evochron game or not because I'm pretty sure you would like those. The demos for those games are timer based, I believe. So everything is open to you to do from the get go, just with the timer.

I have Evochron Legends, but I'm honestly too lazy to deal with the license key. It's a simple matter of writing on a piece of paper and entering the code on the prompt (no good cut and paste function). I'll get to it eventually.

I do have a soft spot for two kinds of games though:
1) Eastern European/Russian
2) The promise that it will be like Starlancer.

Plus, it was only 5 bucks!

Wow.... No idea, Kazooka. Nexus came out in 2002 or 2003, I think, but that's the most I can tell.

Maybe it's one of Derek Smart's efforts?

Robear wrote:

Maybe it's one of Derek Smart's efforts?

Be careful... that's like saying Beetlejuice or Candyman into a mirror...

garion333 wrote:

Holy crap, that game uses Zoroastrianism as a religious basis. That's a bit out of left field.

Ooooh, they're based off of books. Gotcha.

Grubber788 wrote:

Now something for Android users:
Star Traders RPG (free) / Star Traders RPG Elite (not free)
Site
IMAGE(http://www.corytrese.com/games/startraders/images/screen_2.png)

A very simple space trading/combat sim which is pretty simple, but also scratches that space sim itch. Worth a try of the free version.

I played the free version for a while and forked over the $2 for the really nice version (devs seem really cool, frequent updates, two brothers that made the game) and while it's not as deep as GalCiv2 I think "very simple" doesn't give this game enough credit. Lots of different ship types, occupations, clans/guilds, etc. Very cool and the free version is definitely worth a look if you own an Android device.

I don't know how I haven't tagged this yet, but I've been reading it.

Bought X3:TC a few days ago and its on its way.

The mention of Empire of the Fading Suns made me look it up; wow, I wish someone would remake that. Looks cool.

Hmm that Star Traders looks interesting. Any interesting games similar to that one available for iOS?

kazooka wrote:

This has been driving me crazy since I started reading this thread:

Back sometime back in the 00's, I ordered a game from...some company. Have no idea who now, and it's not in my e-mail. It cost about $5, and it was an impulse purchase that I made after buying some other more expensive title. So, to sum up, space strategy game with unknown title, uncertain date from uncertain retail outlet. Cost: $5.

What I do remember is that I ended up playing it as much if not more than its more expensive boxmate. It was very similar to Nexus: the Jupiter Incident in terms of visuals and story line. In fact, Nexus may have been the more expensive title that I originally ordered. It differed from Nexus in that you controlled a wider array of ships in a manner more similar to Homeworld or a top down RTS. I also seem to remember that in the early segments of the game, your only ships were fighter and bomber squadrons. In the early game, you directed a series of fighter squadrons to intercept enemy bombers between Mars and Earth. Each time you successfully completed a level, you gained access to bigger ships, and the scale grew greater. So you went from inter-lunar to interplanetary to the entire solar system eventually to inter-solar, at which point you were leading missions against alien aggressors.

I'm tempted to say that I've just gotten Nexus so mixed up in my memory that I'm remembering it as two games, but those fighter squadrons seem to be pretty solid memories. Does anyone have a clue what I'm talking about?

Haegemonia?
I used GameSpot's review system to start at 2006 and work my way back (assuming the game came out a while before Nexus, if you bought it for just $5). Sounds similar at least, from what I could find on it. I remember I wanted to play it, but never got around to getting it.

I didn't really see anything else even remotely close to your description, so hopefully that's it.

PurEvil wrote:
kazooka wrote:

This has been driving me crazy since I started reading this thread:

Back sometime back in the 00's, I ordered a game from...some company. Have no idea who now, and it's not in my e-mail. It cost about $5, and it was an impulse purchase that I made after buying some other more expensive title. So, to sum up, space strategy game with unknown title, uncertain date from uncertain retail outlet. Cost: $5.

What I do remember is that I ended up playing it as much if not more than its more expensive boxmate. It was very similar to Nexus: the Jupiter Incident in terms of visuals and story line. In fact, Nexus may have been the more expensive title that I originally ordered. It differed from Nexus in that you controlled a wider array of ships in a manner more similar to Homeworld or a top down RTS. I also seem to remember that in the early segments of the game, your only ships were fighter and bomber squadrons. In the early game, you directed a series of fighter squadrons to intercept enemy bombers between Mars and Earth. Each time you successfully completed a level, you gained access to bigger ships, and the scale grew greater. So you went from inter-lunar to interplanetary to the entire solar system eventually to inter-solar, at which point you were leading missions against alien aggressors.

I'm tempted to say that I've just gotten Nexus so mixed up in my memory that I'm remembering it as two games, but those fighter squadrons seem to be pretty solid memories. Does anyone have a clue what I'm talking about?

Haegemonia?
I used GameSpot's review system to start at 2006 and work my way back (assuming the game came out a while before Nexus, if you bought it for just $5). Sounds similar at least, from what I could find on it. I remember I wanted to play it, but never got around to getting it.

I didn't really see anything else even remotely close to your description, so hopefully that's it.

YES! That's it exactly!

Ha, and it's on GOG!

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/haege...

I'm officially adding it to the discussion. Very worthy of a twirl if you're at all inclined towards blowing up people in space.