Evolution of Galactic Civilizations

from JoeUser Forums

Greetings!

I was thinking the other day on how Galactic Civilizations has evolved over the years.  Let’s take a look:

Feature GalCiv OS/2 GalCiv I GalCiv II GalCiv III
Core 4X mechanics x x x x
United Planets x x x x
Moral Dilema Events x x x x
Anomalies   x x x
Galactic Resources   x x x
Galactic Events   x x x
Galactic Resources   x x x
Starbases   x x x
Ship Design     x x
Combat Viewer     x x
Cultural Conquest     x x
Unique Tech Trees per race     x x
Asteroid Fields     x x
Invasion Tactics     x x
Colony Imp. Map     x x
Ideology Tree       x
Hex Map       x
Multiplayer       x
United Planet Proposals       x
Fleet Combat Decisions       x
Technology Specialization       x
Nebula & Ion Storms       x
Strategic Resources       x
Colony Adjacency Bonuses       x

 

Not all features are created equally, however.  For example, the Starbase addition in GalCiv I was, by far, the biggest change from the OS/2 version.

GalCiv II added the ship designer and meaningful cultural warfare (many of my favorite games were about trying to convert my enemies to my culture via influence).

For GalCiv III, it’s too early to say which features will ultimately be the most game changing.  As an AI guy, I think the ideology tree is going to matter a great deal because it’ll heavily affect how diplomacy works in the game.  I also think the introduction of strategic resources (i.e. if you have resource X, you get access to using component Y on your ships) could be pretty amazing in what people choose to fight about.  Then there’s the fleet combat system which I think people will enjoy a great deal once implemented.

Each new GalCiv expands the features of the game universe more and more.  The key, as always, is how these concepts are executed on.

119,629 views 49 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

"Colony Adjacency Bonuses"

does this mean tiles? or one colony (say manufacturing specialization) giving a bonus to another colony (planet) nearby (by shipping refined materials and such)

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

It's pretty impressive how far this series has come. Makes me curious what the future will bring.

As for the list itself, two things I've noticed:

1. Galactic Resources are mentioned twice.

2. I'm pretty sure, that GalCiv 1 had Cultural Conquest and Invasion Tactics too.

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Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Nebula & Ion Storms

 

I'm curious about this feature.....

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'll be playing the alpha in less than 24 hours, and it still seems too far away

Reply #5 from LittleTinyFrogs Forums Top

Most of the new features won't be in the Alpha. The Alpha will be very very basic. :)

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 5

Most of the new features won't be in the Alpha. The Alpha will be very very basic.

You devs just love dangling this promise of amazing game mechanics in front of me like raw meat in front of a starving dog.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Fate has been good to you. I will be happy to see what Stardock has made. I am really excited about playing a new SD product and...killing everything I see. (Along with all the erra messages for a year. :) )

 

DARCA ;)

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I think the biggest surprise will be the multiplayer.  The nature of GalCiv (on tiny maps in 1 v 1 games) works out remarkably well.

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 8

I think the biggest surprise will be the multiplayer.  The nature of GalCiv (on tiny maps in 1 v 1 games) works out remarkably well.

I hope you make the multiplayer scale well with larger maps as well, preferably with a very strong element of diplomacy. I'm really looking forward to that.

Do it for ParagonRenegade Brad, do it for me.

Reply #10 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting ParagonRenegade, reply 9


Quoting Frogboy, reply 8
I think the biggest surprise will be the multiplayer.  The nature of GalCiv (on tiny maps in 1 v 1 games) works out remarkably well.

I hope you make the multiplayer scale well with larger maps as well, preferably with a very strong element of diplomacy. I'm really looking forward to that.

Do it for ParagonRenegade Brad, do it for me.

It will be my pleasure to bypass any diplomacy with you in a 1v1 on a tiny map.

Reply #11 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting EvilMaxWar, reply 10

It will be my pleasure to bypass any diplomacy with you in a 1v1 on a tiny map.

I remember you said you live in Quebec.

For that... YOU WILL DIE. ALL THAT YOU KNOW WILL DIE.

 

Reply #12 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting ParagonRenegade, reply 9


Quoting Frogboy, reply 8
I think the biggest surprise will be the multiplayer.  The nature of GalCiv (on tiny maps in 1 v 1 games) works out remarkably well.

I hope you make the multiplayer scale well with larger maps as well, preferably with a very strong element of diplomacy. I'm really looking forward to that.

Do it for ParagonRenegade Brad, do it for me.

Me too. I want my 20 hour coop games!

Reply #13 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Tridus, reply 12

Me too. I want my 20 hour coop games!

We seriously need to do that together sometime! Maybe in the beta, when most things are sorted and stable? It sounds really fun

Reply #14 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

A tiny 1 on 1 map can be done over lunch.  A Small 1 on 1 game takes a few hours.  I am not sure if Co-op is in the first Alpha but it is a requirement so it'll get in.

I don't think the first alpha allows large maps yet -- we want to get basic compatibility out first.

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Reply #15 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting ParagonRenegade, reply 11


Quoting EvilMaxWar, reply 10
It will be my pleasure to bypass any diplomacy with you in a 1v1 on a tiny map.

I remember you said you live in Quebec.

For that... YOU WILL DIE. ALL THAT YOU KNOW WILL DIE.

 

I am immune to your petty xenophobic insults. Better save you energies for later, you will need em.

Reply #16 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

If petty xenophobic insults don't work, what kind of xenophobic insults do?  It sounds like you trigger the need for specialized diplomatic tools.

Reply #17 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 14

A tiny 1 on 1 map can be done over lunch.  A Small 1 on 1 game takes a few hours.  I am not sure if Co-op is in the first Alpha but it is a requirement so it'll get in.

I don't think the first alpha allows large maps yet -- we want to get basic compatibility out first.

Okay, cool. Long as its coming before release. :)

Reply #18 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting erischild, reply 16

If petty xenophobic insults don't work, what kind of xenophobic insults do?  It sounds like you trigger the need for specialized diplomatic tools.

You mean like in-game imbedded insult generator? I support this idea. Wanna 1v1?

Reply #19 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Who was that guy on GC3 development team who sat during one of brainstorming sessions and said "Colony building adjacency bonuses!". Big props to that guy and to the rest of the team who went with it, this is something i envisioned for the game and really wanted to happen.

I just cannot wait for tomorrow to start breaking in the game and contributing to its improvement!

Reply #20 from LittleTinyFrogs Forums Top

I'm sure GC1 had pretty effective cultural warfare. I had more than one Party Fun Terrorstar victories, where I just took my culturally maxed terror starbase around from planet to planet taking them over with culture, since Terrorstars were the only starbases that could move. 

Reply #21 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I love all of the additions so far! I can't wait to try them out. :)

Reply #22 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 8

I think the biggest surprise will be the multiplayer.  The nature of GalCiv (on tiny maps in 1 v 1 games) works out remarkably well.

 

Just as I have foreseen. I also foresee multiplayer FFA megagames  will be even better (for people like me at least). :D

 

Everything is proceeding as I have forseen....Muahahahahaha.

Reply #23 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting DARCA1213, reply 7
Fate has been good to you.

 

I have my favourites.

 

The part that has me most excited is resource x granting access to ship module y! That is going to be a brilliant shake up, strategic resources will really define how sharp your military is! A military with access to beefed up modules from strategic resources will be able to be smaller and just as effective, super keen for that.

 

Fate,:beer:

Reply #24 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

In regard to Galactic and Strategic resources....

Will you be able to trade them with other societies like in CIV 5?

 

On a side note, I've been playing a good bit of CIV 5 and an old forgotten gem called Star Trek: Birth of the Federation and I was wondering if you guys had any intent of possibly including other minor civilizations that aren't competing with you for victory like the City States in Civ 5 or the Minor Races in Star Trek: Birth of the Federation?

The minor races in Star Trek: BOF were particularly interesting since you could not only trade with them or form alliances; but also conquer them or convince them to join your civilization which would grant you access to building some cool little race specific buildings.

I know you guys have a lot on your plate now; but its just something to consider for the future.

 

Star Trek: Birth of the Federation

 

 

Reply #25 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Yes it was cool to have other races in your government which had different skills.  Could be an interesting advantage to being nice creating a federation where the Brains could do the science, and the muscle could do the fighting.