NGC7000

Congratulations on your good taste. You've taken the first step to a more consistent, secure and pleasant computing experience. I don't personally know a single Mac user who worries about security, nor a single one who has ever had any problems on that front. You will be disappointed if gaming is a priority, but that's about it (You can always use boot camp if you need access to windows for games.) Apps: uTorrent and Google Earth are both available on OS X, as is Steam (th

Nice review. I need an antivert just looking at that thing. [e digicons]x_x[/e]

[quote]- Manual control over ships and ground units.[/quote] I prefer hands-on combat as well, with the option to auto-resolve. [quote]- fully 3D environment to build you cites in, fight the ground battles RTS style in those cites.[/quote] The scale of the game could make this tedious, especially on larger maps. [quote]- RPG elements to you spies, level them up, and send on intelligent, sabotage, steal, counter-intelligent ect. missions.[/quote] I think so

I'm probably painting with a broad brush, but I think people who are heavily swayed by visuals alone are unlikely to enjoy playing a 4x game. They're slower and more methodical, broader in scope and larger in scale. The tradeoff is that they will never likely compete with something like Crysis in the graphics department. I think GC3 looks quite nice for what it is, but even the current level of detail is more than I need. I'm sure Stardock could increase sales by prioritizing grap

Interesting. I've always wondered how developers test ai in a game like this. It seems like it would be a time consuming process.

I'm not convinced that Steam Machines will have any appreciable impact on anything. They're a niche within a niche. They're also trying to solve a problem that for many people has already been solved. I've been playing pc games from my couch for years. The last thing I want after being tethered to my desk at work is to come home at sit at yet another desk. The cheap streaming boxes could be compelling, but they're just convenient space shifting devices, like Chromecast for

Moo2, Alpha Centauri, Galciv2, HoMM2, Civ2/4, Stars!, Final Fantasy Tactics, X-COM, XCOM.

Thanks for the heads up. Lot's of great stuff on offer.

[quote quoting="post"] Why GalCiv II was the way it was The thing about GalCiv II that I would like you guys to understand is that I wrote nearly all the economic, diplomatic, AI and other code personally. I enjoyed doing it but it also meant that *I* wrote it. It wasn’t data driven in any way. If I wanted the Drengin to focus more on getting some tech, I modified C++. [/quote] Was this due to time/budget/manpower/performance constrai

I like this idea, but I'll echo Gilmoy that HOI3-style theaters would be even better. It would be great to assign commanders to user-defined theaters to carry out your orders, provide bonuses to military, econ or espionage, etc. It would add another strategic layer to the game.

[quote who="Frogboy" reply="3" id="3532013"] Thanks. This game is not about APM. It is about your strategy in terms of territorial control and unit composition. [/quote] Sounds like my kind of game. I suppose I shall have to buy it. [e digicons]:grin:[/e]

[quote quoting="post"] I have to say, the game looks a lot like GC2 with hexes. [/quote] I had a similar first impression of GC3, having spent ridiculous amounts of time playing GC2, but I'm very pleased with the new game. It's certainly familiar, but improved and modernized. Going back to GC2 after playing the new beta really highlighted the improvements. I expect dlc and expansions to make an even bigger difference. I just wish I had bought the founders elite editi

Excellent. This is as much an accessibility feature as a gameplay feature for me and I'm glad I won't have to miss out on the game. Thanks!

I've never played Star Control. It's my secret shame. I don't know how I missed out on the original(s), but I'm looking forward to this new incarnation. Would it be worthwhile to play 1-3 first?

I stopped playing RTS's and MOBA's a couple of years ago (RSI), but I still play pausable real time games on occasion. Is a pause button currently planned?

[quote who="starkers" reply="95" id="3530842"] I use Windows for everything.... cos CRApple products suck saveloys big time, what with [near] Chinese slave labour and suicide prevention nets rather than improve workers employment conditions.... not to mention massive tax avoidance all around the globe. Yup, CRApple can go jump.... and hopefully there's no nets. [/quote] Show me a massive global corporation that doesn't engage in unethical behaviour and

[quote who="benmanns" reply="93" id="3530820"] Also a good way to waste money [e digicons]:thumbsup:[/e] [/quote] No more expensive or wasteful than a comparably equipped Wintel laptop, of which i have owned dozen over the years.

Hideous. I can't think of a company more inept than Microsoft when it comes to interface design. Their incompetence caused me to buy a Macbook, and now I only use Windows for games.

[quote who="maniakos" reply="1" id="3530479"] I completely agree that their military projection range must be at least double the base range, and it should also be affected by map size. [/quote] Absolutely. I think everything should (optionally?) scale with map size. Trade in Galciv2 was a chore on the largest maps because nothing scaled.

[quote who="JamesM1053" reply="9" id="3529934"] there are legitimate reasons not to put absolute faith in one company. Hell, even EA used to be looked on as a leading company in the industry, a shining beacon of what could happen if artists were given the influx of cash necessary to make their creative dreams into reality. Times change, companies change. Just ask Maxis, and Bioware, and Westwood, and Mythic, and so many others what happened after they put their blind faith into one compa

[quote who="Raevn" reply="6" id="3529721"] You're missing the key difference here though (I'm aware of the "buy the game" vs "buy the license" distinction). If you purchase a license from a non-steam source; you own the license (even if it has DRM). If you purchase a license from Steam, Valve owns the license. [/quote] I get the difference; my point is simply that the real world result is the same, except that buying through Steam provides a lot

[quote who="SanderBuruma" reply="9" id="3529830"] I think the mohawk policy is working, the community is being made of mostly dedicated fans due to the pricing policy. [/quote] If that's their plan, it's working. I have a passing interest in the game, but not enough to pay $40 for it. It would be an impulse buy at half that price. I can wait.

[quote who="Raevn" reply="4" id="3529676"] You don't legally own any games in your Steam account. If you read the steam EULA, you are buying the game licenses on behalf of Valve, who then own them, but make them available to your account. There is no further ongoing obligation by valve to ensure that you retain the rights to these indefinitely, in the event of ... well ... anything. [/quote] That's true whether you use Steam or not. You don't buy software,

[quote who="Frogboy" reply="5" id="3526450"] I'm pointing out the hypocrisy. They don't really want these types of games. They don't really care. Their "issues" are just a fig leaf to give their cause some semblance of legitimacy.[/quote] I've seen enough to believe that some of the issues are real, but you might be right about certain groups or individuals seeking to exploit real problems for personal gain. The message, at least in broad strokes, is one that I ag

This seems to be a major sore spot for Stardock, I wonder why that is? If you're doing such a great job representing women (I'm not saying you aren't) then why do you even feel the need to post a passive aggressive article like this? Congratulations, you're doing a good job. Feel better? I'm simply confused by this dismissive attitude toward discrimination or objectification and those who comment on it. Has Anita Sarkeesian singled out Stardock for unfair trea