How does this Game Compare to Space Empire V

Give us a day, the next beta is out tomorrow which should add allot of new stuff for us to consider when answering your question.

If I had to tell you right now though, it is much more RTS then 4X, though 4X isn't much more than RTS that isn't Real Time. Expand, Explore, Exploit, Exterminate = Nothing New.


Now give me a space empire game where you role play more than 4X and I'm very interested... Gal Civ II comes closest to that IMO.

It mixes 4X and RTS decently, and is developing quite nicely. It needs more work on diplomacy (we're getting a new model "soonish"), and a different research system, to truly be "4X" but its very close to a RT4X.

Unlike the space empires games, this one doesn't get bogged down nearly as readily with micromanagement, and the "tactical AI" is actually quite decent, very rarely do you need to micro your ships to get the best effect out of them (though there are some clear flaws they're working on).

1. Sins uses a single 3D map that encompases an entire chunk of the galaxy. Of course, distances aren't to scale...but they are closer than any other game I can think of (and can be easily modded for more a realistic scale). Anyway, everthing happens on that single map in real time.

This contrasts with Space Empires having a seperate galaxy map, star system map and combat map.

2. Graphics and effects in Sins are modern (still in beta stage though), while Space Empires V are SERIOUSLY outdated.

3. Sins is also real 3D and has a Z axis you can use. Space Empires V is more 2.5D that does allow ships to stack/pass over each other (in combat only), but in an extremely messy way.

4. Space Empires V has a greater focus on research and diplomacy than Sins (so far). Sins is more about fleet manuevers and battles. Don't get me wrong, Sins diplomacy plays a tiny part (hopefully a larger part once it gets polished) and research is pretty important as well...just not to the same extent as Space Empires V. Sins however does have a culture system (think Galactic Civ II culture) that Space Empires V totally lacks.

Anyway, if I had to define Sins in one sentence, here is what I'd say: It is a real time merging between Galactic Civilizations II and Homeworld, where everything is contained on a single 3D map.

The largest difference between Space Empires V (SEV) and Sins of a Solar Empire (Sins) is content. SEV has almost everything you can include into a 4x game while Sins has much less.

In SEV you've got stars, planets, asteroid fields, black holes, nebulae, dyson spheres and ringworlds, planet creation and destruction, sun creation and destruction, etc. etc.

In Sins you've 5 types of planets and 3 types of asteroids, 4 types of suns. No planet creation and destruction (destruction may be possible, creation surely not).

In SEV you can outfit your ships yourself and there are lot's of different things to outfit with. Although most of the equipment doesn't make very great changes how battles play out. There are also mines, drones, fighter/bombers and carriers, star bases, ground troops. You can capture ship, destroy every equipment in ships separately with special weapons. The battles themselves are in 2D and quite weak with a bad AI.

In Sins you only have three categories of ships (frigates, cruisers and capital ships) which can't be customized much. But ships have very different role, making very different battles depending on ship type. Also combat is more WarCraft like with "spell casters" ie. ships with special abilities.

Generally speaking, battles are a much higher priority and a larger part of the game in Sins than in SEV.

As said above, Sins has a very small research and diplomacy part compared to SEV. The research has much less impact than it has in SEV. Your ships get maybe 50% better trough research. Not the 1000% increase you can get in SEV through larger hulls, stronger shields, heavier armor and new weapons. Also there is no espionage in Sins.

But of course you can't just compare content. Implementation is also very important. Here Sins is much better and more polished then SEV.

There are almost no bugs in Sins. The AI in Sins is not very good, but a hundred times better then the AI in SEV. The AI uses all things that are available in Sins.

Sins is quite balanced atm. compared to SEV.

Sins is real time, thus much faster then SEV. Still, Sins matches can to on for hours after hours. Sins user interface is clearly superior to the SEV interface.
In the end, Sins and SEV are too different to be really compared. SEV plays in the hardcore 4X category and content wise it shines. There is no other 4X with so much possibilities available. Sins on the other hand plays much more in the RTS genre, with real time tactical battles and all that.

excuse me but 4x4=16. so in a sense if you multiply 4x4 you get 16 but if you put 4+4 then you get 8. i think i'd rather stick with 4x4  

Thanks Guys for the analysis. I think until they bring in a variable time Speed for SP AND Multiplayer games I will sit this one out...........if they do well they just sold another 5 copies (10 player LAN group   )