The Flat Earth Society
Other Discussion Boards => Arts & Entertainment => Topic started by: Particle Person on September 29, 2014, 04:22:28 AM
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I very much recommend this game to all of you fans of the 4X genre. I know there are a few Civfags here. For the most part I enjoy the mechanics of the Civilization IV and V, but the games also make me feel like I'm playing out the cartoonish fantasy of a stoned junior high history teacher. I can see how that might appeal to some, but as a super fucking serious person I prefer more thought to go into the settings of my games. The Endless universe (which consists of Endless Space, Endless Legend, and Dungeon of the Endless thus far) has a lot of very interesting history, races, characters, and locations. Amplitude Studios is pretty good at subverting standard sci-fi/fantasy tropes. There's even a race of draconian neckbeards who win by boring their opponents to death through tedious discussions about lore.
An ancient and venerable race, the drakes and dragons of the Drakkens prize lore, history, and wisdom above all things. Few in number but exceedingly powerful, they do not seek war but rather relationships, information, and knowledge.
In other words, they are euphoric because they are enlightened by their own intelligence, not because of some phony god's blessing (this is actually a poor example of the creativity of the races. I just think it's funny). All of the races play very differently. There's also a rather expansive and non-linear research system.
Oh, also, the game is very beautiful. I know that might not matter much to fans of the genre, but I feel it's worth pointing out. Here's a screenshot I took of a smaller city in my most recent game. The district on the far right is under construction.
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/548635112002771585/71805AE01EB270214F8F6977E1E467602CB13076/)
The soundtrack is also great. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhG6Qaij7VE) Anyway, has anybody else played this?
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So, you traded in the "cartoonish fantasy of a stoned junior high history teacher" for a game that looks like it was rendered in Minecraft. Gotcha.
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So, you traded in the "cartoonish fantasy of a stoned junior high history teacher" for a game that looks like it was rendered in Minecraft. Gotcha.
Epic meme dude
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You should ask the lore dragons why their world resembles a poorly written java game.
I might actually buy this. I never looked at it because I saw the name and thought it was dumb.
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If you're a fan of Civilization and similar games, I can practically guarantee that you'll enjoy this game equally or more. I also recommend Endless Space, but I shouldn't get ahead of myself.
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All fantasy universes are equally generic.
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sadaam, pls. Quit quoting old arguments.
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That is a pretty dumb name.
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Because video games have such edifying and ironic titles usually.
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That is a pretty dumb name.
If it helps at all, the Endless are an extinct race that play an important part in the setting. It's a "Legend" because by the time Endless Space takes place, the lost planet of Auriga (the planet EL takes place on) has become the focus of several galactic myths and legends. You can actually find and colonize the planet in Endless Space (with the Disharmony expansion), which is pretty cool.
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So tell us all about the lore.
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The Endless fill the role of the ridiculously advanced progenitor race (inb4 tropes), and remnants of their society are spread throughout the galaxy. Perhaps the most important thing they left behind is a very useful substance called Dust, which is composed of nanobots. Dust is the most important resource in every Endless game, although some races have learned to exploit it better than others. The Broken Lords actually need Dust rather than food to physically sustain themselves, whereas the less euphoric races mostly just use it as a currency to trade with. The more technologically advanced races use Dust more elegantly to enhance their research and technology, which is how it was originally used by the Endless.
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The Endless fill the role of the ridiculously advanced progenitor race (inb4 tropes), and remnants of their society are spread throughout the galaxy. Perhaps the most important thing they left behind is a very useful substance called Dust, which is composed of nanobots. Dust is the most important resource in every Endless game, although some races have learned to exploit it better than others. The Broken Lords actually need Dust rather than food to physically sustain themselves, whereas the less euphoric races mostly just use it as a currency to trade with. The more technologically advanced races use Dust more elegantly to enhance their research and technology, which is how it was originally used by the Endless.
Whenever I see Dust, it just makes me think of His Dark Materials trilogy.
Sounds cool though.
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I haven't bought a game in years because I only really get immersed in strategy games and they seem to dumb them down more and more every year. I like the complexity of Civ4. I like its balance and that you can ring the neck out of your advantages but no civ is far better than any other. Civ 5 was prettier but more basic. I lost interest in no time and went back to civ 4.
Does this game have an in depth economic system and fine nuances to it? I mean does it have a 200 page manual like civ 4 did? If so, I may blow the moths out of my wallet.
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That is a pretty dumb name.
If it helps at all, the Endless are an extinct race that play an important part in the setting. It's a "Legend" because by the time Endless Space takes place, the lost planet of Auriga (the planet EL takes place on) has become the focus of several galactic myths and legends. You can actually find and colonize the planet in Endless Space (with the Disharmony expansion), which is pretty cool.
Well that makes a lot more sense. I'm gonna add this to my wishlist and wait for a sale.
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I haven't bought a game in years because I only really get immersed in strategy games and they seem to dumb them down more and more every year. I like the complexity of Civ4. I like its balance and that you can ring the neck out of your advantages but no civ is far better than any other. Civ 5 was prettier but more basic. I lost interest in no time and went back to civ 4.
Does this game have an in depth economic system and fine nuances to it? I mean does it have a 200 page manual like civ 4 did? If so, I may blow the moths out of my wallet.
The current version of the manual is a mere 70 pages. You can read it here. (http://www.multimondes.net/Amplitude/EndlessLegend/Manuals/User%27sManual.pdf) Maybe Amplitude Studios is simply more succinct than Sid Meier and his cronies. Anyway, yes, there is a complex economy. There are lots and lots of different strategic and luxury resources around the map that can be harvested and sold, traded, or put to use improving your society or military in various ways.
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Erm, graphics ... intel HD 4000 going to cut it? :'(
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I suppose that might work if you set most of the graphical settings to poo.
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This actually looks quite good. I stopped playing games, not because I turned 97 and grew out of them. Because games changed and have been significantly dumbed down by mass-pleasing production houses, not made by dreamers in a small team wanting to make the best thing they could.
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This actually looks quite good. I stopped playing games, not because I turned 97 and grew out of them. Because games changed and have been significantly dumbed down by mass-pleasing production houses, not made by dreamers in a small team wanting to make the best thing they could.
No. You're just playing the wrong games.
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This actually looks quite good. I stopped playing games, not because I turned 97 and grew out of them. Because games changed and have been significantly dumbed down by mass-pleasing production houses, not made by dreamers in a small team wanting to make the best thing they could.
It sounds like it's all your generation's fault.
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This actually looks quite good. I stopped playing games, not because I turned 97 and grew out of them. Because games changed and have been significantly dumbed down by mass-pleasing production houses, not made by dreamers in a small team wanting to make the best thing they could.
No. You're just playing the wrong games.
I like strategy and in particular 4x.
I'm not interested in FPS or role play or platform or anything else that requires repeatedly trying to perform a series of key pushes based on coordination until I get it right. I find that incredibly dull, in fact I feel like I'm doing a menial task for zero money.
When I play a game, everything has to be about considered decisions. That's the game for me. Not hammering buttons for an end result.
This actually looks quite good. I stopped playing games, not because I turned 97 and grew out of them. Because games changed and have been significantly dumbed down by mass-pleasing production houses, not made by dreamers in a small team wanting to make the best thing they could.
It sounds like it's all your generation's fault.
It is more to do with your generation's lack of will to do anything that requires brain power.
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I'm not interested in FPS or role play or platform or anything else that requires repeatedly trying to perform a series of key pushes based on coordination until I get it right.
One of these is unlike the others.
Speaking of which, there's a hero system that allows for a great deal of customization of a hero's equipment, accessories, and skills. Heroes can be assigned to cities to act as governors, giving the city all sorts of bonuses, or they can lead armies. Or you can just send them out on their own. Each race also has a "main quest", which is a series of objectives and story to be carried out by hero units.
This actually looks quite good. I stopped playing games, not because I turned 97 and grew out of them. Because games changed and have been significantly dumbed down by mass-pleasing production houses, not made by dreamers in a small team wanting to make the best thing they could.
Yeah. This game was made by a small team of starry eyed French artistes.
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You lost me, Thork.
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This actually looks quite good. I stopped playing games, not because I turned 97 and grew out of them. Because games changed and have been significantly dumbed down by mass-pleasing production houses, not made by dreamers in a small team wanting to make the best thing they could.
No. You're just playing the wrong games.
I like strategy and in particular 4x.
I'm not interested in FPS or role play or platform or anything else that requires repeatedly trying to perform a series of key pushes based on coordination until I get it right. I find that incredibly dull, in fact I feel like I'm doing a menial task for zero money.
When I play a game, everything has to be about considered decisions. That's the game for me. Not hammering buttons for an end result.
lol, there's heaps of powerhouse games that require those things from players. Shit, even the scrubby MOBAs fit that description well.
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Name some games. I'll tell you why I don't find them interesting. If you pick ones I do like, I might go play them.
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I can't really tell you what you'll like. I'm just saying that the market is filled with games that require some level of careful thinking, across various genres. So basically, play anything that isn't a big dumb FPS or a hack n slash game.
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I have found it increasingly hard. Age of empires screwed up strategy. Real time became the thing. I hate real time. Clicking all over the place and not pausing for a piss and a cup of tea.
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Name some games. I'll tell you why I don't find them interesting. If you pick ones I do like, I might go play them.
Many role playing games have deep combat and/or customization systems. Many also require strategic thinking to complete. Are you sure you don't like RPGs? If you do, I could suggest a couple hundred of them that you might enjoy. Many of them might be Japanese because of my weeaboo nature.
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I have found it increasingly hard. Age of empires screwed up strategy. Real time became the thing. I hate real time. Clicking all over the place and not pausing for a piss and a cup of tea.
I typically despise turn based games. Endless Space was the first one I ever enjoyed. I never would have tried Civilization had it not been for that game.
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Name some games. I'll tell you why I don't find them interesting. If you pick ones I do like, I might go play them.
Many role playing games have deep combat and/or customization systems. Many also require strategic thinking to complete. Are you sure you don't like RPGs? If you do, I could suggest a couple hundred of them that you might enjoy. Many of them might be Japanese because of my weeaboo nature.
No, the last one I played was Final Fantasy VII. I found it moronic. Slashing at an enemy for over 8 hours! 8 sodding hours! I also hate games where you run around looking for things. I get annoyed if I can't find my house keys after 2 mins. 3 hours hunting for a hat to give to a tramp so he will tell me I need to find a bucket which I can give to a maid so she can milk a cow with a bell I need to ring to summon a pixie with a riddle about going back to where I started to ask the tramp for one of his old socks and I'm deleting that shit from my hard drive. I hate RPG.
I have found it increasingly hard. Age of empires screwed up strategy. Real time became the thing. I hate real time. Clicking all over the place and not pausing for a piss and a cup of tea.
I typically despise turn based games. Endless Space was the first one I ever enjoyed. I never would have tried Civilization had it not been for that game.
I may have to investigate this game now.
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No, the last one I played was Final Fantasy VII. I found it moronic. Slashing at an enemy for over 8 hours! 8 sodding hours! I also hate games where you run around looking for things. I get annoyed if I can't find my house keys after 2 mins. 3 hours hunting for a hat to give to a tramp so he will tell me I need to find a bucket which I can give to a maid so she can milk a cow with a bell I need to ring to summon a pixie with a riddle about going back to where I started to ask the tramp for one of his old socks and I'm deleting that shit from my hard drive. I hate RPG.
Final Fantasy is not a good example at all, especially VII which is easily the most overrated one in the bunch.
Have you tried Final Fantasy Tactics for the Ps1? There are no fetch quests. It's all turned based chess-like gameplay. It's very strategic.
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No, the last one I played was Final Fantasy VII. I found it moronic. Slashing at an enemy for over 8 hours! 8 sodding hours! I also hate games where you run around looking for things. I get annoyed if I can't find my house keys after 2 mins. 3 hours hunting for a hat to give to a tramp so he will tell me I need to find a bucket which I can give to a maid so she can milk a cow with a bell I need to ring to summon a pixie with a riddle about going back to where I started to ask the tramp for one of his old socks and I'm deleting that shit from my hard drive. I hate RPG.
Final Fantasy is not a good example at all, especially VII which is easily the most overrated one in the bunch.
Have you tried Final Fantasy Tactics for the Ps1? There are no fetch quests. It's all turned based chess-like gameplay. It's very strategic.
Honestly, I have zero interest in this.
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No, the last one I played was Final Fantasy VII. I found it moronic. Slashing at an enemy for over 8 hours! 8 sodding hours! I also hate games where you run around looking for things. I get annoyed if I can't find my house keys after 2 mins. 3 hours hunting for a hat to give to a tramp so he will tell me I need to find a bucket which I can give to a maid so she can milk a cow with a bell I need to ring to summon a pixie with a riddle about going back to where I started to ask the tramp for one of his old socks and I'm deleting that shit from my hard drive. I hate RPG.
Final Fantasy is not a good example at all, especially VII which is easily the most overrated one in the bunch.
Have you tried Final Fantasy Tactics for the Ps1? There are no fetch quests. It's all turned based chess-like gameplay. It's very strategic.
Honestly, I have zero interest in this.
How about Superman 64? Really great classic game.
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jRPGs are all really terrible. Really, really terrible.
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jRPGs are all really terrible. Really, really terrible.
But Thork is terrible. If a terrible person hates a terrible genre, doesn't that cancel out the terribleness?
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jRPGs are all really terrible. Really, really terrible.
But Thork is terrible. If a terrible person hates a terrible genre, doesn't that cancel out the terribleness?
Not at all. If something is so terrible that even Thork think's it's terrible, then it must be terrible beyond human comprehension.
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jRPGs are all really terrible. Really, really terrible.
But Thork is terrible. If a terrible person hates a terrible genre, doesn't that cancel out the terribleness?
Not at all. If something is so terrible that even Thork think's it's terrible, then it must be terrible beyond human comprehension.
How can we trust the judgement of someone as terrible as Thork?
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Well, if anybody knows terrible, it's... wait a minute. No, I won't allow this to become yet another fucking Thork thread.
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Too late. Its mine now.
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PP2, since I'm too lazy to do research on my own, could you give me a rundown of how this game is different, or more importantly, better, than the Civilization series? (other than your opinion on the graphics) I'm torn between buying the new space-age Civilization and this game.
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I'm torn between buying the new space-age Civilization and this game.
Get a better job with more money.
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Get a better job with more money.
When it comes to these kinds of games, it isn't a question of money, so much as it is a question of time.
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Time is money! >o<
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Time is money! >o<
Incorrect. Time is the byproduct of mass bending spacetime.
Duh.
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PP2, since I'm too lazy to do research on my own, could you give me a rundown of how this game is different, or more importantly, better, than the Civilization series? (other than your opinion on the graphics) I'm torn between buying the new space-age Civilization and this game.
I think you misunderstood my criticism of Civilization. My problem isn't with the graphics, but with the setting and civilizations themselves. The fact that they're just real civilizations from throughout history lead by seemingly randomly chosen iconic figures from that era/nation (I find it particularly funny that Gandhi leads the Indians) is really boring and seems lazy. Also, all of the civilizations play very similarly. They are all fundamentally the same, with the meager unique features tacked onto that foundation. In EL there are fewer races, but they are fundamentally different. For example, the Roving Clans build their cities atop giant scarabs, so they can relocate them at will. They're skilled merchants, so they're likely to try and dominate the market to achieve an economic victory. The Cultists, on the other hand, can not found new cities. Their entire empire is run from their capital where their queen resides. They expand by building upon their monolithic capital city and converting the populations of minor factions, which are similar to Civ V's city states.
Combat in EL is actually an interactive process. When two armies engage, the individual units spread out across a delineated portion of the overworld. You determine the placement of your units on your side of the field, and once the battle begins you can order your units around individually. Things like topography and city infrastructure matter during battle, because you get bonuses when fighting from high ground or from within city walls. Impassable cliffs can also shape the battlefield in important ways. Of course, you can also just automate the battle if the outcome is obvious and not deal with any of that.
I really haven't played much of any Civilization game, so I can't give a very detailed comparison. As I said, I dislike turn based games, so one has to be very good to hold my interest.
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I wasn't saying your only criticism was the graphics, I was simply noting that it's not really relevant to the game.
But you do make the game sound very interesting, so I think I'll buy it. I hope it supports 4k. You'd think a company named 4x would support 4k well.
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4X hates 4K. Take a look at PP2's original image:
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/548635112002771585/71805AE01EB270214F8F6977E1E467602CB13076/)
Now take a look at an in-game image at 4K:
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/536250213151337946/503D487BD0F7FFA5902807A1E63C21BCFC162193/1024x576.resizedimage)
Tiny UI is tiny.
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/536250213151396871/14DB1F9A4F95499826AC60DE9A4D6D67C9500616/1024x576.resizedimage)
Turns out enabling "big screen UI" fixed the problem. While I don't think it was intended for that purpose, it worked well enough. A UI scale slider would be a preferable choice, though.
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The developer is called Amplitude. 4X is the genre. I see you chose the wannabe space marines as your first race.
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The developer is called Amplitude. 4X is the genre. I see you chose the wannabe space marines as your first race.
I'm playing the tutorial you dolt.
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Ah, right. So by now my marketing has probably sold more copies of the game than Amplitude's has. Apparently they just don't care if people buy their game or not, because they haven't really tried to advertise it at all. The haughty French morons.
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Just use 1080 like a normal person.
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Ah, right. So by now my marketing has probably sold more copies of the game than Amplitude's has. Apparently they just don't care if people buy their game or not, because they haven't really tried to advertise it at all. The haughty French morons.
The problem is whoever made their advertisements. I remember actually watching the first video on Steam and being annoyed that it doesn't explain what the game even is, so I never visited this game's steam page again.
Just use 1080 like a normal person.
I have a 4k monitor, which entitles me to be annoyed when people don't tailor their games to me. Also, if you didn't know, 1080 looks like ass on a 4k monitor.
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Get a second monitor that outputs in 1080p. They are everywhere these days.
Game devs aren't as hip as you yet. You're going to have to find a workaround.
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I have high hopes for the new Civ game. Alpha Centauri is by far my favourite 4x.