[Xyvik]

Basically, this is to notify my fellow gamers about some interesting developements in the gaming world and to get their opinions on the following games.

First up, is Galactic Civilizations: Dark Avatar. While the release date almost everywhere is plugged as "February 14", I actually managed to pick it up the other day at Gamestop.

If you've never heard of GC, it's a 4X game (if you've never heard of 4X, it stands for eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) on a massive scale, conquering whole galaxies through diplomatic, cultural, technological, or military means. The X-Pak, Dark Avatar, adds to this formula with quite a list of awesome achievements. Take the Galactic Conquest mode of FoC and expand it a million times over a million turns and put in a seriously crazy level of customization, and you have Dark Avatar. I recommend anyone with strategic interests to pick it up. I beleive there is a demo but at the moment I can't find it.

Second up: The demo for Supreme Commander has been released, and you can find it on Fileplanet or several other sites. If you have any doubts about the game I suggest you pick it up. I think fileplanet's is only for subscribers, but I do beleive you can find it elsewhere. It only lets you play as Cybrans on skirmish on just one map, but it is a glorious taste of the game to come.

Third, an MMO I've been keeping tabs on has released a mini-trailer. Check it out.

So in conclusion, I'd like to hear (non-flaming) opinions on Dark Avatar, the SupCom demo, and even the crazy Pirates of the Burning Sea trailer. Game on!

[Klarin]

As for Dark Avatar: if only there were a RTS that good. I despise turn-based games, but GalCiv II and DA are still worth playing, even being turn-based - which says quite a bit about them.

SupCom doesn't interest me too much, though I might look at the demo.

As for MMOs, if I despise turn-based games, then there are no words for how much I hate MMOs.

Klarin

[Xyvik]

Apparently StarDock is making a 4X RTS called Sins of a Solar Empire. It actually looks like quite a game.

[Klarin]

I recall the name... but that's all. I'll have to look into it.

Klarin

[Loth Don]

GalCiv II has been very good, IMO, and Dark Avatar looks to improve on it.

My brother introduced me to a similar game a long time ago called VGAplanets. The game is way out dated, but has many things I wish GalCiv II had like making the different races have more individuality, and various other systems that made the game very complicated, but not overly IMO. But Dark Avatar looks to give those races more individualilty.

I haven't noticed, but does Dark Avatar improve on the invasion system? I always found it to be rather bland.

[Admiral_Antilles]

YOUR FORGETING HALO 3

And C&C 3

[(DoV) Tokakeke]

I don't know if it was just me, but I found the SupCom beta one of the most terrible RTS gameplay demos I've ever seen. The UI was terrible, the building was confusing, several important buttons were hidden or nearly inaccessible, and the resource system was completely out of the blue.

[Xyvik]

The early beta of SupCom did indeed need a lot of polish, but after a couple of games you got used to the UI (i'm actually quite fond of it now that I know how to stick it up on the side) and the economics actually make a lot more sense than most games...once you figure it out. I will admit that, since I'm not familiar with TA, I didn't get the economy at first, but after you raise a shield generator it becomes very obvious. If you're open-minded enough to give the demo a try, I could give you a few pointers.

Loth Don: Unfortunately, not in any way that I have been able to notice. That was one of the things I didn't like myself, but the many pros of the game outweighed that small quibble. There are tons of new event styles and things to choose...so much fun.

Admiral_Antilles: I consider the Halo series to be absolute junk outside of their multiplayer, and I'm not going to go into the long list of why (horrid level design, terrible story, obnoxious gameplay progression...oh wait I just got started). Compared to PC FPSs, the Halos don't even deserve a footnote, and compared to console FPSs...well, Goldeneye64 is still better, and from what I've heard so is Gears of War. Heck, I'd even play Resistance before I'd play Halo 3.

As for CNC3...I'm watching it with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Anticipation because Kane rules and I want to kick butt as the brotherhood again...but dread because this is, afterall, EA...and from what I've seen already they're doing a bang-up job of screwing the gameplay and the story over. So I'll have to wait and see on that.

[HissingNewt]

Halo isn't trash. And Crackdown is another that should be watched. It will be released in one week from today.

[BOTA:99]

I'm really looking forward to SupCom myself. Cannot wait!

[Elegy]

SupCom = most moddable game created.

[Gray__Fox]

not sure if that means anything... but I liked Sup commander it's very STRATEGIC which is something that's been lost in current RTS games... the only downside is the economics, and the way you build things...

The game I really am interested in is L.A. Noire.. the whole idea sounds good!
MGS4 too...

[Xyvik]

Ah yes, the strategy of SupCom is what draws me to it as well. Nothing quite like a three-way battle between land, sea, and air forces over a huge map!

But give the economics another chance. It really makes sense once you figure it out. Granted, it took me all this time since the beta came out til the demo for me to figure it out, but economics has never been my strong suit hehe.

[Gray__Fox]

I only played it about 4 times I got the gist of it... I just need to play it, I will be getting Sup Com though for sure...

[Loth Don]

Xyvik:


I'm looking to get Dark Avatar soon, but since I'm trying to finish up my little FOC project, not sure if I have the time.

How is the whole asteriod thing going, and the different planet types?

[HissingNewt]

You'll should watch Crackdown. The game can be beaten easily on tough difficulty, but if you raise difficulty it should be more of a challenge. It's out now.