Yes indeed its a baffling or at least tricky choice in hunting out a new space empire sim game, especially as the title I had earmarked for this position has failed its release and will have to take months before its ready (Sword of the Stars 2 - and sadly as my computer is boarderline for the min spec and the options menu is somewhat missing in the game at present its not really on the cards)

So I've been hunting around and found a few possible titles and would like people opionions on the best choice:

1) Galactic Civilizations II -- probably the most popular of the 3 choices in general and with many more fans. Demo is enticing though I'm on the fence with this one. Custom ships are taken into the realms of the crazy with not just custom equipment but custom appearance as well.

2) Space Empires IV -- I've read more good about this than the V version and tried out the demo; more oldschool than either of the others in its presentation and seemingly a bit more micro management heavy. Custom ships are present, though combat is old school Master of Orion 2 style.

3) Armada 2526 -- not that much written about this title in comparison with the others, and its harder to find people who've played around with this to get an idea of how it compares. There is also *annoyingly* no demo. No custom ships, though a decent sized range of designed ones are present *no custom ships isn't a deal breaker for me*


So those are the 3 I've found and considered thus far - anyone got any others to consider adding to the list or opinions on those already listed?

For reference I've ready got
Imperium Galactica 2
Master of Orion 1 and 2
Sword of the Stars
Sins of a Solar Empire (yes I know its not a proper 4*4 game but I'm sure people will start suggesting it anyway) .

Do not forget Ascendancy - it's very masterorionish and, personally, I like it very much.

Well, that's all you need then ;-)

Seriously though, if anyone knows of a game which might be considered a spiritual successor to Imperium Galactica 2, then I'd like to know about it. That game is absolutely fantastic.

Check Out Distant Worlds http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2010/01/distant-worlds-a-new-real-time-4x-space-strategy-game/

its pretty impressive and in depth :)

Or Star Ruler on Steam

Aye is hard to beat IG2 - such a good solid all round title who's only real weakness was that races tended to have only one superfleet and you couldn't afford to not go that way yourself (if you wanted to actually beat the Krahen super fleet). It's also one of the few with an actual story behind the race which is rare to see in these games (in fact most developers dare not even approach a campaign with these games).

Tried Star Ruler, but didn't like the overall ship control, building design nor combat; loved the music they got for it though!
And Distant Worlds, all the videos I've seen on youtube show rather choppy ship motions?

This. It has builds very nicely on the strenghs of MoO 2 and gets really complex in later games without focusing to much on military conquest. Also, if you are just somewhat of a geek/nerd, you will have hell of a time with hundreds of easter eggs and jokes.

Imo, best 4X out there.

Edit: And I played IG 1 + 2 ;-)

You could always try Master of Orion 3.......

Go on.
I dare you.....

;-}

Deadlock :D

Play IG1, it's not as pretty or balanced but it's different enough. And try Haegemonia, same people I think. Nexus has their heritage but is all about tactical combat.

Ahh got both Haegemonia and Nexus - fantastic games (well Haegemonia suffers from way too small fleets and spies that are way too powerful, but its soo pretty!). Nexus has a history, but honestly its nothing like the right genre , but its a darn fun tactical space sim with proper space movement as well - best thing is that there is a Nexus 2 in the works :)

Hey I might be somewhat crazy but I'm not masochist :P


And this forum needs multiquoting! :P
Aurora looks a little too old school for my tastes though impressive to see it running for so many years still supported.

Deadlock - looks interesting and there is a Deadlock 2 but both seem to be off the market so something to wait for GoG to get (hint hint GoG ;))

I have a legit copy of IG1 somewhere. The game is annoying at times. Like those story events "Darling, I know you've got space to run, so I went shopping" and bam! you lose some in-game cash for your planetary management needs.

Oh, if you plan to learn Russian find Remember Tomorrow. Planetary construction lifted of MoO 2, research is bizarre (you have to invest in theory to unlock applied sciences which in turn grant you specific tech when researched) and ship building is awesome: you get a chart of the hull with multiple decks split into areas for systems, engines and weapons; stick your neat devices and weapon stations there managing power demand, and then pick the type of cannon or missile installed in every turret. Never been translated, AFAIK.

BTW, heard of Star General?

Russian is well beyond me (In fact other languages in general are a grey area and its lucky if I can say hello in them ;)).

Start General looks quite decent for oldschool as well.



Also anyone know what's up with Stardock? I know they sold Impulse to Gamersgate, but what is this site here:
https://store.stardock.com/policy.aspx
its not linked on stardocks main product sites (as one would expect), but it appears to be legit (even getting a trusted green light on my browser - though I know that isn't the best of protections of course).

Edit - wait there it is - hiding their own store link in grey at the bottom of their regular page :P neat way to hide your own commercial option

Just slight info here. Impulse was not sold to GamersGate. Impulse was sold to GameStop. Two totally different entities with very different practices.