sins of the solar empire

No. Sins is based on a totally different storyline from that of Galactic Civilizations. It's not a sequel to this. It's totally new.

Nope.

Different developer, different storyline, different engine, different game. Gal Civ 2 has a lot of life left in it (and at least one, probably more expansion packs coming) after which we're likely to see a Gal Civ 3 (still turn based) sometime in the next decade.

Thank goodness, too, because you're right that it's getting harder and harder to find a good turn based game, or a game that's genuinely good for single player play.

Why would it be taking over?

why would it be taking over? Well it being a 4x space strategy game by stardock. But maybe you're right maybe they are just offering another, an alternative, to consult other taste, for those who want RT and mulitiplayer.

I knew it had a different story and engine, but other than that how else is it different does it still have you building ships?

Its new I preordered it and am beta testing it.
Very fun RTS game 4X in spirit but lacks the depth of a true 4X.

Besides I do not want anything to replace the design idea's of GALCIV series.

In fact I fully look forward to seeing Galactic Civilizations 3.

* All the game truly needs is a better ship editor than the already great ship editor the game currently comes with.

* Newer updated graphics as with all newer games.

* More random events and add a true exploration aspect to the game.

* Better planet building UI. Not icons but actual buildings and being able to possibly see your race living on your planet.

* Although Races SHOULD have there own tech tree and abilities. The game should deffinately feature "plenty" of random "rare" resources that are minable and can be used to further create different technologies only opened up through harvesting these resources to create an even more diverse race/game.

The rest are minor
Editable races
Planet Side Military Units for battles on the Planet

ect.

Later

Aaron

Thanks for the run down Aaron.

I was just at the site as I've been visiting it since I was email an offer to try the beta a few months ago. But what I recently read is that the AI is non aggressive and the ships are kind of valueless, that they don't have their own special abilities and unique uses. Is this true? AI is like the most important element in a game to me as well as unite balance, specific role and usefulness.

Well the AI is still being worked out by Stardock; however it is my understanding that the AI and the recent maps/random maps effect the AI in some negative way. I have experienced it myself. The AI "tends" to conquer its own solar system but doesnt travel to other solar systems.
Example: In one of my games I went to a star system where (2) AI had been fighting for domination to control it. I left that system alone and just kept a bounty high on those civilizations to let them keep fighting it out and keep the pirate attacks on them to keep them busy.

I finished conquering my system and eventually went back to that star system. When I arrived I was sort of stunned to find that one of the AI (which took control of the system) was just sitting idle in their star system. They did not venture out to expand their empire or anything just had one massive fleet in orbit around the star in the system just hangin out. I scouted the rest of their territory and found a few defensive fleets but that was about it.

That sort of made me lose interest in the game because there was nothing to fight for IMO. I like responsive/active AI they need to have the appearance that they have a goal/purpose.

Iron Clad stated that they are preparing a hotfix for this issue so I am not worried about it but also from what I read in the Forums I am not the only person to experience the weak AI in the current state of Beta 3.

Great game but some people are wanting to speed up the gamespeed. Personally I think that for Multiplayer it is a good idea but I hope they dont speed up the gameplay for the single player. I like epic long games, and it will allow the developer to actually add true 4X features (Like Galactic Civ features, but so far I dont see evidence of that). If you speed it up then you get what most RTS games ARE or have become, a RUSH fest.

Also on a side note - the features I put in my last post apply to my wish list for GALCIV 3 someday! After Stardock finishes thier fantasy game endeavor.

Later

Aaron.

I was concidering joining the beta the past few days, but now I think I'll wait to see what they can do to improve the AI and how much more aggressive they can make it.
Also, I care more about the single player than the multiplayer. Don't even know if I'll ever want to play a multiplayer game like this.
So the AI has to be clever.

Thanks Aaron