LIFE AFTER THE SEQUEL
(8 September 2005, 23:16 | GalCiv) It`s a long-term plan that Stardock Systems has in store for its in-house developed Galactic Civilizations for the PC, says the company`s Founder and President. Brad "Frogboy" Wardell made this announcement early last week. [We are going to] treat [GalCiv] and [sequel] Galactic Civilizations II[: Dread Lords] as very seperate things. The idea has been to ensure that gameplay, strategy, and other elements are different enough between games that people who like strategy games, particularly turn-based ones, will find reason to play GalCivI or GalCivII depending on their mood at the time.
As such, Stardock is commiting to keep enhancing GalCiv once there`s enough development resources available to do so. [B]ecause the games are so different, Wardell adds, we think that GalCivI may have a long-lasting appeal to strategy gamers.
Wardell served as Project Lead on the first GalCiv for the PC, and is now doing the same on GalCivII. - DanQ
GRAPHICS `HIDEOUS`, BUT OTHERWISE `GREAT`
(26 August 2005, 23:33 | GalCiv) In the second season of Video Game Radio now archived, show co-hosts David "GoldLeader" Swan and Jeremy "StoneGold" Goldstone host a one-and-a-half hour awards show for the best computer and video games released in the year 2003. In the `Turn-Based Strategy` (`TBS`) category, Galactic Civilizations is up against Age of Wonders, Heroes 4 and Shadow Magic. GalCiv comes out on top. Below is the transcribed exchange on the game between Swan and Goldstone:
David "GoldLeader" Swan: Heroes 4... was an astounding game, but [this] really stood out in my mind because it really combined all the great elements from other games like Civilization III... Warcraft... from every classic game out there and kind of combined them in one gigantic mess of a great game.
Jeremy "StoneGold" Goldstone: "[I]t sacrificed display for gameplay.
DS: Oh, the graphics are hideous. The graphics are hideous as of, like, 1994 standards, you know. I mean it`s just disappointing looking, but...
JG: ... how good the game is...
DS: Yeah...
JG: With the graphics as bad as they are.
DS: Well yeah. The game is astounding. I mean, it really has everything you want. It has diplomacy where you actually have to get along with your enemies and your friends alike. You have to worry about trading, researching new technologies. [..]
You gotta worry about so much at once, it`s a great challenge... a great game.
GalCiv was developed by Stardock Systems and published by Strategy First, today a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings Ltd.. - DanQ
PUBLISHER PARTNERS TO STREAM ON DEMAND
(26 August 2005, 23:25 | GalCiv) The publishers of the Stardock Systems developed Galactic Civilizations and its Altarian Prophecy expansion have partnered up with Stream Theory Inc. (STI) to provide a "Games on Demand" (GoD) service for their titles. Broadband Internet users will now be able to play Strategy First (SF) published titles including GalCiv for a monthly subscription fee.
STI and SF are wholly owned subsidiaries of Tadpole Technology plc and Silverstar Holdings Ltd. respectively. - DanQ
SURPASSING COMPETITORS AND PREVIOUS LIMITS
(25 June 2005, 23:58 | GalCiv) It's been some time since game developer Stardock Systems released its Altarian Prophecy expansion pack for Galactic Civilizations, and a new review published this past week may be seen by some as better late than never. GamesFirst!'s Chris Martin gives the add-on four out of a possible five stars, saying that this has enough surprises to get a [GalCiv] fan back into the swing of things. Further, as it retails for $20US it won’t break the bank and all that it has to offer provides players with more than reason enough to pay up and boot up. If you’re a fan of Galactic Civilizations, [AP] is a no-brainer.
Martin also takes a brief moment to compare the state of GalCiv with its primary competitor in the computer space-strategy field, Master of Orion. MoO has had enough time to develop into a space-strategy one-stop through two sequels, he holds, while the comparatively speaking newcomer has been able to take what MoO does and improve upon it, effectively creating a tighter, more playable space-strategy game. - DanQ
REWRITE THAT TIRED FORMULA
(21 April 2005, 19:38 | GalCiv) Those tired of formulaic Roleplaying Games (RPG) and First-Person Shooters (FPS) are the target of Ars Technica`s Carl in his "A New Protagonist" piece. A little more than halfway through the write-up, the author introduces the first Turn-Based Strategy (TBS) game into the mix. Galactic Civilizations, released in 2001, has received accolades from critics and its fan-base, but it has yet to be put on the pedestal it deserves, he writes. It’s one of the best 4X games [("Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate")] ever to plant its feet on my hard drive, and I still play it to this day.
Carl highly recommends GalCiv for fans of of Civilization and Alpha Centauri. - DanQ
`GREAT DEAL FOR... DEPTH`, SAYS REVIEW
(1 April 2005, 23:28 | GalCiv) For Galactic Civilizations and expansion Altarian Prophecy all rolled into one title, players will be want to purchase Galactic Civilizations Deluxe Edition. Tyler Whitney reviewed this combination for Game Chronicles in mid-March and endorses its consumption by the strategy gaming public.
With enormous replay value, a many faceted interface that combines politics, economics and warfare, [this] will make any strategy fan content to conquer space again and again, he writes. Even without multi-player options, this title is solid in so many ways [--] especially the crafty A[rtifical] I[ntelligence (A.I.)].
Accompanied by eleven screenshots, the article`s text covers gameplay, graphics, sound and value before coming to a summary. True to it’s name, it’s basically Civilization in space. This game offers lots and lots of options. [..] Combat itself is very simplistic and direct... Gamers who are more comfortable with leaner strategy... may want to head elsewhere as the depth and options are staggering to say the least. [..]
As with the graphics, the sound is not a major focus on the developers, thusly it is subdued and scarce. [..] [W]ith the adaptive A.I. and innumerable situations that can occur, you should have months and months of action. [..] Truly a massive amount of value to be had for all.. Categorically, `Value` receives the highest score with a 9/10. `Gameplay` follows closely behind with 8/10 with 7/10`s for both `Graphics` and `Sound`. The non-averaged `Overall` score is 8.3/10. - DanQ
OF FEATURES SPOKEN AND UNSPOKEN
(6 March 2005, 00:31 | GalCiv) It`s four out of five sharks for the second Galactic Civilizations add-on, Altarian Prophecy, in its review on GameShark published this past week. Writer Will `Rhoam` Lally praises the new races the expansion brings, but finds the new ships derivative and the Galactic Encyclopedia superfulous given its pre-existing online availability. Ultimately, he cites the three new editors AP brings to the gaming table -- map, scenario and campaign -- as the biggest stars of the bunch. He offers the following comments in his closing paragraph:
[GalCiv] is a superior game and while some of the elements to the [AP] don’t make [it] a fundamentally better title, serious players should run out to the store immediately and buy this expansion pack without hesitation. The editors alone are worth the cost, but what really sells it is the community. That’s right, the community. This is exactly the type of tools which can infuse a game community with drive and passion. Players can craft their scenarios and share them with other players. Now that is really cool.
Three screenshots accompany the article. - DanQ
ALL BUT AN EXPANSION ON `METACRITIC`
(5 March 2005, 23:57 | GalCiv) On Metacritic, Galactic Civilizations for the PC is number 201 out of more than 1,100 PC games rated on an ongoing basis by participating, recognized critics. Based on eighteen total reviews, its average score stands at 83/100. Expansion pack Expanded Universe is not listed, but second add-on Altarian Prophecy is. With a 77/100 average score over ten total reviews, it places in 398th place. - DanQ
NOT REVOLUTIONARY, BUT `IMPRESSIVE`
(13 January 2005, 15:40 | GalCiv) Yesterday, Steve Butts had his preview of Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy published by and on PC|IGN. I mistakenly assumed that the game was a simple mission pack, he begins. After spending a few days digging around... I see that it has quite a bit more to offer. [This add-on] doesn`t revolutionize the game and it[s] gameplay additions are virtually negligible but [it] does represent a pretty impressive content boost for the popular 4X [(explore, expand, exploit, exterminate)] game.
From developer Stardock Systems, AP [has] still got the same witty tone... the same 90[`]s graphics and... the same compelling galaxy-conquering mechanic as the original GalCiv for the PC. The fun doesn`t end once you`ve completed the campaign [central to this release], Butts adds, and goes onto discuss expansions to the "Metaverse" and the new scenario editor. In closing, the IGN writer comments that this is a great deal for fans of [Galciv]. It doesn`t really add much to the game mechanic, but the added content definitely extends the live of the original and makes a nice way to pass the time until [GalCivII] is released.
Twenty-eight screenshots accompany the article where AP is given a non-averaged `Overall` score of 8/10. Categorically, `Presentation` and `Gameplay` match this rating. `Sound` and `Graphics` come in lower at 7.5/10 and 7/10 respectively, while `Lasting Appeal` tops the listing with a 9/10. - DanQ
MINI-CAMPAIGN BETA AVAILABLE
(19 December 2004, 23:29 | GalCiv) This past week, Galactic Civilizations developer Stardock Systems (SS) made a beta version of the promised "Prelude to War" mini-campaign available for series players with the game`s second expansion pack Altarian Prophecy installed. Free of charge, this release was set to be fully complete and distributed on December 17th, but no confirmation has yet come forth from SS.
"Prelude" sets the back story for [GalCiv II] which is due out at the end of 2005. - DanQ
