May 15, 2010, 12:34 AM
So, for the ones that already played Distant Worlds what do you think about it? Do you like it, don't like it? What Pros and Cons do you point out? I'm very curious to earing your opinions.
May 15, 2010, 12:34 AM
Jul 27, 2010, 06:39 AM
Well I have just got the game and only have few days on it. So first impression. I find a big problem in that I do not feel that I am in control, everything is automated when you start the game and it recommends that you turn off auto on parts you want to control. Technology research is all but totally automated -you really can't do much to change it. Ship design is bland- they are pre-built you can add a new updated component when it is researched or let the computer auto update- again you are not really controlling the design of your ships. You can put your ships in fleets if you turn the auto fleet builder off and sent them to a system to attack or defend at will. Advice on what to do and where to send them pops up even if you turn the auto manage off. There is a private sector in your empire-you cannot interact with it, it builds cargo, passenger ships at will and sends them all over the place, these tend to get attacked by pirates, enemy empire ships if at war. Some of your ships can be assigned in an escort roll, the AI will again do this for you. Your private sector really manages your economy for you.
Its real time so it can take a while for ships to reach a system. On the whole I feel I am just watching the AI play itself. Removing the ship building and research parts from real player control is a huge mistake. I am sure RTS fans will enjoy it, 4x fans not so much.
Its real time so it can take a while for ships to reach a system. On the whole I feel I am just watching the AI play itself. Removing the ship building and research parts from real player control is a huge mistake. I am sure RTS fans will enjoy it, 4x fans not so much.
Jul 27, 2010, 08:13 AM
I'm with you LastWarDog. I also find the game like watching a story unfold rather than a game. Its seems much more like a 4x simulation than a game you can feel in control. Yes there is depth, yes there is complexity but as you say most of the stuff gets automated like research and ship building. Graphics are not pretty, sound and music are poor. I really wanted to like this game but to my furstration I'm not having fun with it 
Strangely there seems to be many people that (say) are enjoying the game a lot ..
If you're undecided on what to buy right now Armada 2526 is the latest title I recommend for 4x space strategy fans, at least the ones that loved MOO, MOO2 and GalCiv2.
Strangely there seems to be many people that (say) are enjoying the game a lot ..If you're undecided on what to buy right now Armada 2526 is the latest title I recommend for 4x space strategy fans, at least the ones that loved MOO, MOO2 and GalCiv2.
Apr 03, 2011, 09:12 AM
Well, I'll add to the discussion that the expansion really improved the interface. Game is quite a lot of fun now. Just wish they would add modding *sigh*
Apr 03, 2011, 01:42 PM
I'm on it now. Shakturi does improve the interface, a lot. I expect to have the review finished soon ...
Apr 04, 2011, 06:31 PM
Yeah, and so much potential!!! just needs a bit more of.. something. And also, the game becomes much more fun if you just turn off most of the automation. Especially that diplomatic crap and suggestions for war 
Apr 04, 2011, 07:00 PM
That was my next move, to turn off all automation, or most of it and see how it goes.
One thing I still couldn't get used to is that so much is going on in the background that I get distracted. I also have the constant feeling of not being in control (a pirate ship attacks my poor mining bases and I get frustrated by not knowing what to do...). Let's see if shutting down all the automation resolves this ...
One thing I still couldn't get used to is that so much is going on in the background that I get distracted. I also have the constant feeling of not being in control (a pirate ship attacks my poor mining bases and I get frustrated by not knowing what to do...). Let's see if shutting down all the automation resolves this ...
Apr 27, 2011, 06:08 AM
I have recently been playing this. I like many things about it, while other things give me issues. I have only played for maybe 10 or 15 hours so some of my complaints are from lack of understanding of the game.
LIKES
1. I really like the look and feel of the game. I think it looks nice and pleasing to the eye.
2. I like the scale. It can be large and epic.
3. I like the many resources and how they impact your empire.
4. I like the idea between the STATE and PRIVATE sectors. I think this is a pretty cool idea to split certain portions of the game.
5. This game seems to have some depth and that is good.
6. Different galaxy structures.
DISLIKES
1. I have no idea if this is possible as I haven't looked for it yet: Turning off the notifications on the right. They are great but eventually so many events are happening the only thing I hear is that annoying warning sound.
2. If you expand too fast and (I guess) are in war, your Empire can split apart. I found this out the hard way.
3. While the events for discovering planets are cool, I have found that I do not particularly care too much about them and they are not too interactive.
4. Some things are very difficult to figure out - such as the resources and the impact on your Empire. I am still learning how this works.
5. I find that even though the scale of the galaxy is large, the amount of war ships able to be built is greatly hampered by the upkeep cost of them. This is more a personal preference: some people like a smaller amount of ships. I simply modded the costs to be much lower and it solved my problem.
6. Automation. I know you can turn this off and I do but I feel as if, because it is there it somehow detracts from my personal involvement in the Empire building. I want to build a personal connection to my Empire so when something happens (good or bad) it really means something to me. One thing that really annoys me is that all built ships are (it seems) that by default are turned on to be automated. So trying to put them all in fleets is a chore as they are all over the place doing automated tasks. Having an ability to turn this off would be great!
7. Popup suggestions are a modal dialog box, which prevent you from clicking on anything behind it. As such, it completely interrupts your current train of thought. If you were trying to do something important (which is often the case mid game when you have a large Empire), this dialog box places an unnecessary burden on the player. It makes me annoyed.
I suppose that many of my issues can be summed up with usability attributes.
Overall, the game is very good and I'd give it a 7 or 8.
LIKES
1. I really like the look and feel of the game. I think it looks nice and pleasing to the eye.
2. I like the scale. It can be large and epic.
3. I like the many resources and how they impact your empire.
4. I like the idea between the STATE and PRIVATE sectors. I think this is a pretty cool idea to split certain portions of the game.
5. This game seems to have some depth and that is good.
6. Different galaxy structures.
DISLIKES
1. I have no idea if this is possible as I haven't looked for it yet: Turning off the notifications on the right. They are great but eventually so many events are happening the only thing I hear is that annoying warning sound.
2. If you expand too fast and (I guess) are in war, your Empire can split apart. I found this out the hard way.
3. While the events for discovering planets are cool, I have found that I do not particularly care too much about them and they are not too interactive.
4. Some things are very difficult to figure out - such as the resources and the impact on your Empire. I am still learning how this works.
5. I find that even though the scale of the galaxy is large, the amount of war ships able to be built is greatly hampered by the upkeep cost of them. This is more a personal preference: some people like a smaller amount of ships. I simply modded the costs to be much lower and it solved my problem.
6. Automation. I know you can turn this off and I do but I feel as if, because it is there it somehow detracts from my personal involvement in the Empire building. I want to build a personal connection to my Empire so when something happens (good or bad) it really means something to me. One thing that really annoys me is that all built ships are (it seems) that by default are turned on to be automated. So trying to put them all in fleets is a chore as they are all over the place doing automated tasks. Having an ability to turn this off would be great!
7. Popup suggestions are a modal dialog box, which prevent you from clicking on anything behind it. As such, it completely interrupts your current train of thought. If you were trying to do something important (which is often the case mid game when you have a large Empire), this dialog box places an unnecessary burden on the player. It makes me annoyed.
I suppose that many of my issues can be summed up with usability attributes.
Overall, the game is very good and I'd give it a 7 or 8.
Apr 28, 2011, 10:42 AM
Short answer: I quite like it, that means that I have played it more and with more satisfaction that Civ V.
Long answer: I discovered DW after the 'Return of the Shakaturi' expansion so I can't speak of what it was before. The final galactic war against the big bad guys is a major point for my appreciation of the game.
Granted it is far from perfect and I went to the game forum to offer my ideas of what could be bettered.
There I found that behind the game there is, if I have understood well, a single developer.
Now, a far from perfect Civ V with at the resources they had is one thing. A far from perfect DW from a single developer is a fantastic accomplishment.
After I learned that I stopped to pester him with my wilder desiderata and I moved to the Space Sector game design forums.
I'm still looking forward to my next DW game, to the next patch and to the next expansion that I will pay without problem.
About the automation I'm leaving to the game the fleets management and the research management. Keeping to myself diplomacy and colonization is enough to enjoy the game an consistently win.
When the big bad guys do not shows up it is a little boring but on par with GalCic2.
When they grace the game it is a notch better. Far from perfect, not better in any aspect but overall better.
Long answer: I discovered DW after the 'Return of the Shakaturi' expansion so I can't speak of what it was before. The final galactic war against the big bad guys is a major point for my appreciation of the game.
Granted it is far from perfect and I went to the game forum to offer my ideas of what could be bettered.
There I found that behind the game there is, if I have understood well, a single developer.
Now, a far from perfect Civ V with at the resources they had is one thing. A far from perfect DW from a single developer is a fantastic accomplishment.
After I learned that I stopped to pester him with my wilder desiderata and I moved to the Space Sector game design forums.
I'm still looking forward to my next DW game, to the next patch and to the next expansion that I will pay without problem.
About the automation I'm leaving to the game the fleets management and the research management. Keeping to myself diplomacy and colonization is enough to enjoy the game an consistently win.
When the big bad guys do not shows up it is a little boring but on par with GalCic2.
When they grace the game it is a notch better. Far from perfect, not better in any aspect but overall better.
Apr 29, 2011, 12:31 AM
I have done the story lines yet because I am still learning how the play the game. But it surely sounds fun. I should try that out as my next game. I'm just trying to get to a point where I can take over the entire 1,400 star galaxy with my powerful empire, mwhahahaha. I haven't been successful yet.
On fleet management, do you know how to make it so newly built ships are not automated right away? I'd prefer to have control over that.
On fleet management, do you know how to make it so newly built ships are not automated right away? I'd prefer to have control over that.
Apr 29, 2011, 03:52 PM
Fleet and ship direct management is far from easy, especially the refuel strategy.
As I'm really not a micromanager I never even tried it.
As I'm really not a micromanager I never even tried it.
May 01, 2011, 01:07 AM
(Apr 29, 2011 03:52 PM)bertipa Wrote: [ -> ]Fleet and ship direct management is far from easy, especially the refuel strategy.
As I'm really not a micromanager I never even tried it.
Thanks!
I have another question: do you know how to turn off/filter the events that scroll from the right side of the screen? I only want to get notified for certain events.
I am starting to find the refueling aspect is really really really annoying. While I understand there should be some sort of logistics involved, it doesn't seem to be adding much to the game for me. I think I will try to see if I can mod the fuel tanks and increase the capacity by large amounts so I only have to refuel once in awhile. So I still have to worry about it, but it does not consume me.
May 01, 2011, 02:53 AM
(May 01, 2011 01:07 AM)dayrinni Wrote: [ -> ](Apr 29, 2011 03:52 PM)bertipa Wrote: [ -> ]Fleet and ship direct management is far from easy, especially the refuel strategy.
As I'm really not a micromanager I never even tried it.
Thanks!
I have another question: do you know how to turn off/filter the events that scroll from the right side of the screen? I only want to get notified for certain events.
I am starting to find the refueling aspect is really really really annoying. While I understand there should be some sort of logistics involved, it doesn't seem to be adding much to the game for me. I think I will try to see if I can mod the fuel tanks and increase the capacity by large amounts so I only have to refuel once in awhile. So I still have to worry about it, but it does not consume me.
To win the game quickly seems the best way to stop the right side notifications. Training your eyes to ignore them while you pester the overburden developer is the other option.
Let's not speak about your advisors propositions to backstab all your closer allies...
As I said... flawed and yet compelling.
May 01, 2011, 01:06 PM
(May 01, 2011 02:53 AM)bertipa Wrote: [ -> ](May 01, 2011 01:07 AM)dayrinni Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks!
I have another question: do you know how to turn off/filter the events that scroll from the right side of the screen? I only want to get notified for certain events.
I am starting to find the refueling aspect is really really really annoying. While I understand there should be some sort of logistics involved, it doesn't seem to be adding much to the game for me. I think I will try to see if I can mod the fuel tanks and increase the capacity by large amounts so I only have to refuel once in awhile. So I still have to worry about it, but it does not consume me.
To win the game quickly seems the best way to stop the right side notifications. Training your eyes to ignore them while you pester the overburden developer is the other option.
Let's not speak about your advisors propositions to backstab all your closer allies...
As I said... flawed and yet compelling.
Well, thanks for your input on my issue. I shall be a silent player in this matter then and hope for filters eventually!
May 06, 2011, 08:15 AM
When I finish with my Armada 2526 Supernova Review (I'm waiting for a patch the devs promised to release soon) I'll move on to DW Return of the Shakturi. Planning to finish my review of it soon also.
May 12, 2011, 02:45 PM
The ROTS addon is what DW was meant to be, with many helpful additions like fleet management, UI updates, FIGHTERS, and a better tech tree among many others.
The only thing DW has turned to something that I like to play, and not must play. If Codeforce ever does a follow up, maybe they can achieve something magical.
The only thing DW has turned to something that I like to play, and not must play. If Codeforce ever does a follow up, maybe they can achieve something magical.