Comments on: A New Way to Explore Planets

By: alphaniner

alphaniner — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:12:19 +0000

I just discovered Distant Worlds last weekend, but set it aside almost immediately because I found the explore and expand aspects unbearably dull. So I’ve spent the last week thinking about this very topic. I think the first problem is that most (all?) games in this genre just consist of sci-fi veneers over traditional wargame concepts. The fact that the final X stands for exterminate pretty much says it all. I’d say the four Xs are not only listed in chronological order, but also in order of ‘increasing importance’ if you will. I think this is partly a consequence of human nature. But it’s also a consequence of the second problem: making exploration and expansion truly compelling requires _a lot_ more work (both in terms of ‘inspiration’ and ‘perspiration’) than making a similarly compelling conflict/combat dynamic. It’s hard enough in a scripted game, but in a game where the setting is randomly generated and the progression largely free-form, it really is quite daunting to even consider. What’s more, if at any point the details of exploration are likely to become ‘routine,’ I think it would do more harm than good to the gaming experience overall.

By: Adam Solo

Adam Solo — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:28:17 +0000

Your idea reminds me of Galactic Civilizations 2. Some times when you colonize planets you are presented with a choice (normally with 2 or 3 different outcomes with impact on your reputation). I remember that you could keep a pre-existing populace and benefit from some bonuses and increased reputation, decide to move them or exterminate them completely. I liked that GalCiv2 feature a lot, and a miss it in recent 4X space games.

But in GalCiv2 that happened when you were preparing to colonize a planet. I think the best would be for that information to be acquired during survey with your exploration ships. DW does offer some of this by letting you decide if you want to investigate ruins present in planets, but that’s about it.

I like your idea. The player should be presented with choices, maybe even not all the results will be known beforehand when you’re presented with a choice, it would be “your best guess” and then see the result of your choice evolve flourishing into a super asset or a super disaster, and that’s the beauty of strategy, you never know completely what you need to do but you try to decide the best you can. After all strategy is all about choices and decisions, but not many people actually realize this I think.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:47:13 +0000

Sounds like an idea worth exploring. Pun not intended. My only problem with the idea as it stands is that while the results of exploration sound compelling, the mechanic does not. I’m reminded of Mass Effect 2 and its survey system. The players all wanted to survey planets to get the best upgrades, but they did not enjoy actually surveying the planets. The developers went so far as to reduce upgrade requirements in a patch.

So what can make the process as enjoyable as the rewards? I don’t know. This is something I haven’t thought about yet. Off the top of my head maybe exploration can involve interesting choices. Suppose you encounter a biodiverse planet teeming with life, but your advisors tell you that over time it could be come an industrial powerhouse.

Do you preserve it as it is and devote resources to explore and catalog the life? If so, maybe you can discover medicines, genetic breakthroughs, biological weapons, and new sources of produce.

Do you develop it into an industrial powerhouse? Aside from the obvious benefits of production and regular nonorganic resources, maybe you can discover special resources and deep alien ruins.

Not sufficient, but maybe a step in the right direction.

By: Adam Solo

Adam Solo — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:17:03 +0000

No much has been done in recent 4X sci-fi games regarding eXploration. I think the most recent game that does the best in this phase is Armada 2526 with the Supernova expansion pack. Sword of the Stars 2 also seems to innovate in this area with the introduction of “surveying missions” with explorer characters. But SotS2 has many problems at the moment.

By: Ged

Ged — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:43:51 +0000

I think (most) of the 4x games games coming after MOO2 want to be MOO2. But they only became it’s somewhat distorted shadow. Planetary exploration is maybe the most superficial feature in MOO2 and so it went like that in the following 4xers.

The features you just told would be really AWESOME. A game that surprises, now that sounds really good. By the way, it’s more then 2 years since you wrote that essay. Aren’t there any news on this front ?

By: Adam Solo

Adam Solo — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:53:07 +0000

Exactly! Some games already feature some exploration features but there’s little mystery, surprise or excitement about it. Some games offer ruins, derelicts, and a broad number of resources but it’s not yet enough! We need to get surprised, we need mystery. The eXploration phase of 4X games has still plenty of room for improving. This is an area new games should focus on in order to innovate the genre.

By: jean

jean — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:04:44 +0000

These are all very good ideas. I think a massive game that does both star exploration and planetary exploration (with a solid research, economy, and graphics) would be a smash hit. Imaging being able to discover vastly different planets and have a party (automated) report back on scouting, new life form, new materials, all can lead to new research suggestions….WOULD BE AWESOME!!!!

By: Adam Solo

Adam Solo — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:04:14 +0000

That’s what I’m talking about :) eXploration should have more depth. A scout service with first contact units as you say, special capital ships (survey ships) that would go explore the galaxy for many years and bring valuable information.

By: bertipa

bertipa — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:46:10 +0000

Being a big Traveller fan and collector I have to ask: why not a Scout service with related subsystem?
It could be automated but with rules to signal anything out of the ordinary for your direct micromanagement.

It will have also a First Contact Unit and programmable procedures.

It can also have capital ships who go around for five years missions in unknown space and multiracial crews.

By: Adam Solo

Adam Solo — Tue, 31 May 2011 13:05:38 +0000

All very good points. My point behind this post was to give my 2c that space strategy games should invest more on the exploration part. Not only the star systems exploration but also the planetary exploration it self. It is as you say. Ruins could be there not immediately found or a civilization could come back. Very interesting idea by the way.

By: Paolo Bertiglia

Paolo Bertiglia — Tue, 31 May 2011 09:27:18 +0000

I see two distinct kinds of games: one with a lot of planet and a simplified exploration phase and one with a more reasonable amount of colonisable/terraformable game with much more emphasis on them.

Exploration surprise can come out even years after a colony is established.

Planet can be balkanized and the different state can ally with different interstellar civilizations or multiple colony can be established.

Precursor ruins can be there in plain sight or well hidden.

Ruins sometimes can be not abandoned but just temporarily vacated… what will happen when the owner is back?

By: Adam Solo

Adam Solo — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:42:26 +0000

Hi brevatevi, can you be a little more specific? Which games are you referring to? Armada2: Star Command? Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula? …

By: brenatevi

brenatevi — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:52:51 +0000

This sounds like an expanded version of Star Flight 2 or Star Command 2.

By: Pett

Pett — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:25:22 +0000

Ugh, I liked! So clear and positively.