NationStates Jolt Archive

I was thinking I'd while away a few hours playing a computer game, when I realized just how bored I am with the few games I do play. Thing of it is, I'm really out of touch with games, not just the type I prefer (strategy, for the most part), but in general.

My wife is thoroughly addicted to City of Heroes & City of Villains, and though I'll sometimes play along, I have to admit I'm really not 'into' it like she is.

I like 'galactic empire'-type games, where I can build up fleets, colonize planets, fight wars, spy on friends & foes, et cetera. I was a huge fan of Master Of Orion I and II. But MoO III sucked, and from what I can see, those Sid Meier games all look alike. Interesting perhaps, but not really what I'm looking for.

My feeble attempts at Googling it haven't given much result, other than sites trying install spyware on my computer. On a recent visit to my nearby media outlet, all I saw were action/adventure 1st-person-perspective shoot-'em-ups and Historically-themed 'sim'-type games.

Anybody have a bead on what's out there? I'm looking for a single-player, hopefully turn-based interstellar strategy game which might or might not have an online component. Not looking for MMORPG stuff, really.

If you know a reputable link to a site detailing such a game (available for XP, btw), either post it here or... oh, wait is this kosher? Is it okay for people to post links about computer games here - I know there's been some trouble with this sort of thing in the past. Well, maybe you could post it here (assuming it's okay to do so) or maybe you could just TG me the info.

I think my next destination will be the one-stop rules shop. Be right back.

I was thinking I'd while away a few hours playing a computer game, when I realized just how bored I am with the few games I do play. Thing of it is, I'm really out of touch with games, not just the type I prefer (strategy, for the most part), but in general.

My wife is thoroughly addicted to City of Heroes & City of Villains, and though I'll sometimes play along, I have to admit I'm really not 'into' it like she is.

I like 'galactic empire'-type games, where I can build up fleets, colonize planets, fight wars, spy on friends & foes, et cetera. I was a huge fan of Master Of Orion I and II. But MoO III sucked, and from what I can see, those Sid Meier games all look alike. Interesting perhaps, but not really what I'm looking for.

My feeble attempts at Googling it haven't given much result, other than sites trying install spyware on my computer. On a recent visit to my nearby media outlet, all I saw were action/adventure 1st-person-perspective shoot-'em-ups and Historically-themed 'sim'-type games.

Anybody have a bead on what's out there? I'm looking for a single-player, hopefully turn-based interstellar strategy game which might or might not have an online component. Not looking for MMORPG stuff, really.

If you know a reputable link to a site detailing such a game (available for XP, btw), either post it here or... oh, wait is this kosher? Is it okay for people to post links about computer games here - I know there's been some trouble with this sort of thing in the past. Well, maybe you could post it here (assuming it's okay to do so) or maybe you could just TG me the info.

I think my next destination will be the one-stop rules shop. Be right back.



Try Civ 4 its the best for government building, watching neighbors, fighting wars w/other then just military weapons. Also Age of Empires 3 is good. The Total War Series are good (Medieval Total War, Rome Total War.)

Yeah, but I wanna fight aliens, not pobucker human cannon fodder.

Yeah, but I wanna fight aliens, not pobucker human cannon fodder.


Try Starcraft, thats along those lines, HomeWorld too.

I've got a great recommendation for you, and it's freeware. It's called The Ur-Quan Masters (also called Star Control II).

All your bump are belong to us

Play starcraft.

DOOOO-IT!

If you're looking for an RPG, it doesn't get any better than Neverwinter Nights. For an RTS, Starcraft, Warcraft, and the more recent Dragonshard are all good choices.

I've been looking at ORB (http://www.o-r-b.com/). Seems interesting.

RPGs.. I personally liked KotOR 1's story to NWNs. NWN, however, was much more interesting in terms of what you could do with it (mods etc).

Galactic Civilizations might be something to your liking, though it isn´t that great. Strategic Command is a very nice turn-based stragetic game set in WWII;
and I really like the Paradox game series (Crusader Kings, Europa Universal, Victoria, Hearts of Iron) - choose a nation and steer it in semi-real time from 1066 to 1950 - :D

I've got a great recommendation for you, and it's freeware. It's called The Ur-Quan Masters (also called Star Control II).

Best. Game. EVAH!

I remember playing it for hours on end back in the day. And then Windows 95 came out and it was no longer compatable. I seriously need to download it and see how the conversion is. There is supposedly a LOT of improved stuff. And I think I still have a star chart....and a "green space" chart around here somewhere...maybe even one of those cool lists that show the mineral/biological wealth of each solar system.

Based on your requirements:

Interstellar: (Too numerous to mention)

Strategy: Starcraft; Homeworld, Cataclism, 2; Masters of Orion, 2, 3.

Turn-based: Masters of Orion, 2, 3(?)

And that's all the more I know about the subject.

I've been looking at ORB (http://www.o-r-b.com/). Seems interesting.

RPGs.. I personally liked KotOR 1's story to NWNs. NWN, however, was much more interesting in terms of what you could do with it (mods etc).
Now, this Orb thing is more along the lines of the combat portion of the game I'd like to see, but I like the screenshots from Ur-Quan Masters. I like the idea of being able to colonize and develop resources and tech.

Spying is always fun, too.

Now, this Orb thing is more along the lines of the combat portion of the game I'd like to see, but I like the screenshots from Ur-Quan Masters. I like the idea of being able to colonize and develop resources and tech.
Spying is always fun, too.

Meh. If UQM is anything like Star Control II, the game it is a freeware version/windows translation of, colonizing isn't any part of it. You basically have to explore the galaxy. Humanity and it's former allies (from Star Control I) has been overrun by an evil race of aliens (and their allies). Basically, you have to search for allies, old and new, while avoiding hostile races. There are a LOT of different things you have to do, including mining planets for resources and biological data, buying research from a mysterious race, finging a way to bring down the slave shield emprisoning earth, taking on your mortal enemy race...

I second the Homeworld recommendation.

Just not World of Warcraft. I've seen many otherwise smart, and social people cast into the endless pit of WoW. I've heard some dropped out of school, some never left their house for years, and still some just vanished all together.:eek:

Starcraft. It'll cost you five bucks(I don't know Euro equivalents...maybe 3?) It's old though, and if your into better graphics...Idk.

...Or I could just hang around NS more, I suppose.

Just not World of Warcraft. I've seen many otherwise smart, and social people cast into the endless pit of WoW. I've heard some dropped out of school, some never left their house for years, and still some just vanished all together.:eek:
Yah during football me and my friend would talk about all kinds of computer and video gmaes on the way to football games, or waiting in line for drills etc. You know, Armor Core, Halo, AVP, Warhammer 40k (which might not be bad for you...), etc. Then he got WoW and now that is the only gmae he ever plays:(

Starcraft. It'll cost you five bucks(I don't know Euro equivalents...maybe 3?) It's old though, and if your into better graphics...Idk.

Starcraft is good, but I think the OP is looking for something more like turn-based. MOOII would be the obvious choice of course. Star Trek: Birth of the Federation was based on the MOOII interface, but was extremely disappointing. I think Star Control II(whatever the freeware version is called), and it's "isolated" combat combines real time and turn based very well. You get some challenging action, but you don't get an anurism from being attacked on ten fronts at once.

I like Homeworld, Cataclysm and Homeworld2, but they don't have any sort of real managment or control. It's mainly fleet tactics (Homeworld2's is freaking sweet looking though, especially with some mods like Point Defense).

Starcraft is good, but I think the OP is looking for something more like turn-based. MOOII would be the obvious choice of course. Star Trek: Birth of the Federation was based on the MOOII interface, but was extremely disappointing. I think Star Control II(whatever the freeware version is called), and it's "isolated" combat combines real time and turn based very well. You get some challenging action, but you don't get an anurism from being attacked on ten fronts at once.
Starcraft is a decent game. Only problem is that the graphics are poor, its 2D in low resolution, 256 colors I do believe. Its still an addicting RTS though.

I agree that Star Trek: Birth of the Federation was disappoinging. It just gets boring to play, very repetitive after awhile, has multiplayer but the game is too long to ever finish.

I could suggest Homeworld. Has the elements of a RTS and a space warfare game. Its not turn based though.

Anacreon 2 (http://neurohack.com/anacreon)

Freeware sequel to an old DOS space strategy game. Hates my old system, but you probably have a high speed high memory engine that'll handle it well.

But MoO III sucked, and from what I can see, those Sid Meier games all look alike. Interesting perhaps, but not really what I'm looking for.

Give Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri a try - though the "aliens" in the original are limited to the native planetlife. The alien crossfire expansion adds two factions of an advanced alien race that try to exterminate eachother - while you as human are caught in the crossfire (or can play as one of the aliens yourself) and still have to dispose of all the other human factions too.
Additionally, you can design your own factions if you want more alien gunmeat.

Of course it is old, and the graphics are poor...

Give Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri a try - though the "aliens" in the original are limited to the native planetlife. The alien crossfire expansion adds two factions of an advanced alien race that try to exterminate eachother - while you as human are caught in the crossfire (or can play as one of the aliens yourself) and still have to dispose of all the other human factions too.
Additionally, you can design your own factions if you want more alien gunmeat.

Of course it is old, and the graphics are poor...


God just killed a kitten for that remark. Go with Alpha Centauri. There is a reason why it was rated so high by PC gamer.

I've bought most of the Civilization series, and dont regret it. Total War and from what I've heard Total Warrior are fun to.

I've seen many otherwise smart, and social people cast into the endless pit of WoW. I've heard some dropped out of school, some never left their house for years, and still some just vanished all together.

Saw that with Everquest
:rolleyes:
Tripe.

I think you would love Galactic Civilizations; it's the one true successor to MoO2, not that sorry excuse known as MoO3 (actually, I don't mind MoO3, but I prefer Galactic Civilizations). GalCiv 2 is coming out soon, actually.

Although none involve science fiction, the games from Paradox Interactive (mainly Crusader Kingdoms, Europa Universalis 2, Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun, and Hearts of Iron 2) are the most complex and rewarding games I've ever seened. With excellent historical accuracy and superb fan communities, I highly recommend all those games except possibly CK, which I haven't played. I also advise downloading the AGCEEP mod for EU2, the VIP mod for Victoria, and (when it ever comes out) the CORE mod for HoI2; both offer a plethora of new events and refinements for increased fun and historical accuracy.

Note on Victoria- this is the hardest of the games to get into, due to an awful manual and the lack of a tutorial. However, with the aide of the forums, the game can eventually be mastered; of the games mentioned, Victoria is now my favorite, and may be my favorite video game of them all- and I have over 100 PC games.

When i'm bored and short on cash, I turn to abandonware and freeware.

Try Star Control II. There is an identical freeware version of it ported to windows (the source code was released) called the Ur Quan Masters. It's a game that is impossible not to love. It can be found Here. (http://sc2.sourceforge.net/)

It's not an empire building sim, but a space-captain sim. One of the best games I have ever played. It's a little old, but no less fun. :)

I think you would love Galactic Civilizations; it's the one true successor to MoO2, not that sorry excuse known as MoO3 (actually, I don't mind MoO3, but I prefer Galactic Civilizations). GalCiv 2 is coming out soon, actually.

GalCiv is good and a solid recommendation, but...I miss the ship designing that was so much fun in MOO and MOO2. I especially like the alignment system and political-type choices in GalCiv though. It's definitely worth checking out.

I recommend checking out Space Empires IV, but it's a bit..."bland", and I usually go back to MOO2.

Although none involve science fiction, the games from Paradox Interactive (mainly Crusader Kingdoms, Europa Universalis 2, Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun, and Hearts of Iron 2) are the most complex and rewarding games I've ever seened. With excellent historical accuracy and superb fan communities, I highly recommend all those games except possibly CK, which I haven't played. I also advise downloading the AGCEEP mod for EU2, the VIP mod for Victoria, and (when it ever comes out) the CORE mod for HoI2; both offer a plethora of new events and refinements for increased fun and historical accuracy.

Note on Victoria- this is the hardest of the games to get into, due to an awful manual and the lack of a tutorial. However, with the aide of the forums, the game can eventually be mastered; of the games mentioned, Victoria is now my favorite, and may be my favorite video game of them all- and I have over 100 PC games.

Seconded. Brilliant games. :D

Give Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri a try - though the "aliens" in the original are limited to the native planetlife. The alien crossfire expansion adds two factions of an advanced alien race that try to exterminate eachother - while you as human are caught in the crossfire (or can play as one of the aliens yourself) and still have to dispose of all the other human factions too.
Additionally, you can design your own factions if you want more alien gunmeat.

Of course it is old, and the graphics are poor...

Brilliant recommendation.

Best. Game. EVAH!

Quite right!

BTW, there's a project (http://www.medievalfuture.com/precursors/), to remix the game's music, that's been going on for a few years. Some of the remixes are really good.

Quite right!

BTW, there's a project (http://www.medievalfuture.com/precursors/), to remix the game's music, that's been going on for a few years. Some of the remixes are really good.

LOL, shit....I should read the thread before posting in it, hey?

Oh well. Good to know that people still worship the game. :D

Try Civ 4 its the best for government building, watching neighbors, fighting wars w/other then just military weapons. Also Age of Empires 3 is good. The Total War Series are good (Medieval Total War, Rome Total War.)
Civ4, seconded. it may not be aliens but that game will steal hours from you like you didn't know what hit you

that, or the slightly aged Haegemonia: Legions Of Iron (crappy title i know). awesome space-based empire building RTS where you start with colonising the solar-system and end up fighting intergalactic wars with aliens. very cool and great graphics dispite its age.
i could neve finish it tho cos it always crashed at the same point about 3 missions away from the end :(