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Galactic Civilizations II v2.0 Preview

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Galactic Civilizations II v2.0 Preview

from JoeUser Forums

Galactic Civilizations II v2.0 is a major free update to Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar and Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor.

Galactic Civilizations is a turn-based space strategy game set in the 23rd century. In it, humans have begun colonizing the galaxy and have encountered several alien civilizations, some friendly, some hostile. Players must guide humanity by building fleets of ships, researching new technologies, negotiate treaties, fight wars, and much more. It is a game of epic scope and depth. Each game is different since the galaxy is randomly generated, the computer AI in the game behaves differently and the game has an immense number of setup options to give players a great deal of variance.

To get an idea of what a game is like, read the PC Gamer Diary which gives a detailed account of one such game.

Galactic Civilizations II encompasses 3 chapters:

  1. Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords (2006)
  2. Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar (2007)
  3. Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor (2008)

Most of the new features in v2.0 are for users who have Twilight of the Arnor but a few biggies are for Dark Avatar as well.

If you don't have Galactic Civilizations II, you can get the full saga here: https://www.galciv2.com/Purchase.aspx 

PART I: FIRST IMPRESSIONS...

Loading up the internal beta of 2.0 brings up an updated intro screen:

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Players can now design their own star ships right from the main game screen.

Selecting Ship Designer:

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Going back to the main screen I decide to start a game.

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PART II: A BRAVE NEW UNIVERSE

 

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Reply #51 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

First of all let me thank you for a great game and many fun hours of gaming.

I only have two big wishes for the next update.

1. It should be possible to choose how many bonus tiles there would be on your homeworld. This could be achieved by either making it possible to adjust the CustomPlanets file with "bonus tile command" or by giving players a choise for richer homeworlds at the Startup before a new game. Because, I always have to restart a new game several times before I get a homeworld with some good bonus tiles... But, maybee its just me? 

2. It would also be great if you changed the hulls and jewelry for the Terran Alliance, so that one more easily could design ships that had a more Babylon 5, BSG or Star Trek look to them. I know there might be copyright issues at stake. But if you only supply players with some look-alike components, so that players more easily could design their own favourite look-alike shipstyles and use them in the game.

Best regards

Niels Kieldsen

 

Reply #52 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I remember a statement about the metaverse getting attention in 2.0 too...

What is with that?
End of quote

Yes, di55ec7ion I recall some tlc being promised for the Metaverse as well in the v2.0 update, but I can't recall what it was or even if it was mentioned in detail at all or just hinted at.

Maybe someone could chime in and enlighten us further with regards to this tweak.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #53 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Thanks a lot for V2. Clearly a bonus for us.

For V2:

1) race colors on the map are too close to distinguish and there are not too many clarly differente colors: what about adding a second color mapping like in flags?

2) more advanced governors like those we had even in galciv for OS/2

3) other ideas like those

Planets/mines/starbases trading and minimap on diplomatic screen --> https://forums.galciv2.com/173298

Goal based spending optimization --> https://forums.galciv2.com/173854

Reply #54 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Following on from gherardo, when playing a game as Krynn against, amongst others, the Korx and the Korath, it is impossible to distinguish on the stat graphs at the bottom of the screen which line refers to which race.  Its not so bad on the main screen (culture borders are easily distinguishable), but on the graphs its a nightmare

Reply #55 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The color of any civ can be changed when you are setting up the game.  I've done this with some of the stock races so that they are more distinguishable from each other.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #56 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The color of any civ can be changed when you are setting up the game.
End of quote

I've never tried that. Are the changes persistent across games?

Reply #57 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I've never tried that. Are the changes persistent across games?
End of quote

Yes, as with any change, it goes into the customrace files in My Docs\My Games\GC2... and persists until you clear it.

Reply #58 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Developments making Teach imbargo ???

Reply #59 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The color of any civ can be changed when you are setting up the game.

I've never tried that. Are the changes persistent across games?

Yes, as with any change, it goes into the customrace files in My Docs\My Games\GC2... and persists until you clear it.
End of quote
End of quote
End of quote

I feel stupid - I've been playing with my colors trying to find a good one for ages, it never occurred to me to just, change everyone else.

HAH screw you Krynn - try being high and might wearin' Pink from now on! *HOT* pink by god!

Jonnan (aka - the easily amused)

Reply #60 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

@Jonnan

That's actually a really good idea.

I think the Korath might "benefit" more from hot pink though.

(And by "benefit" I mean, be easier to find and massacre.)

Reply #61 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting Jonnan001, reply 9

HAH screw you Krynn - try being high and might wearin' Pink from now on! *HOT* pink by god!
Jonnan (aka - the easily amused)
End of Jonnan001's quote

In my games, the Korx are hot pink. :grin:

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #62 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I tried to change colours but as said, the very different colors are not that much and I have to accomodate many more races.

Reply #63 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

so...that Beta scheduled for today....totally would love to come home from work and spend some time on it :grin:

Reply #64 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I'd love to as well...however the fair is in town for this week and I got my heart set on some nice creen curry to eat alongside a gallon jug of unpasturized apple cider.

My Beta playing will be postponed until tomorow night into this weekend.  I may glance at some of the other new additions, but my main focus will be an in-depth probe into the new espionage system.

Reply #65 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting gherardo, reply 12
I tried to change colours but as said, the very different colors are not that much and I have to accomodate many more races.
End of gherardo's quote

You can also create your own colors by changing the three sliders when you have selected a specific color.  I did this for a couple of my custom races so it would be more distinguishable.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #68 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting gherardo, reply 16
KzintiPatriarch, thanks a lot, I'll try.

Can't understand why very different colours are not a default
End of gherardo's quote

You're welcome. :)  I always wondered that too...

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #69 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Love the ideas.  Hopefully this will get me playing GC2 again.

 

Please please make better use of my quad-core CPU too.  Late in the game it can still start to chug.

Reply #70 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Just to be sure, this new upgrade be intall via stardock?

 

Because my PC is running windows 2000 (and linux when not playing) and impulse don't install on windows 2000 (it ask for xp or newer windows OS).

 

Eridalafar

Reply #71 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I think they said the beta won't be on SDC, but when 2.0 goes live it will be on SDC as well.

Reply #72 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Mr Frogboy sir...

Is there plans for 2.0 to allow us to review the Galactic News Update that shows between turns? It would be very handy to be able to recall this at times during the turn.



Thanks.
End of quote

 

 

I agree

Reply #73 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I have noticed and this might be better in a new thread.  That I can no longer change planet size on vista is it me or did things change with twilight.

Reply #75 from Stardock Forums Top

Part 2 now up.