First off - I want to say hi to everyone here. Looks like LucasArts has some really great fans lined up. The conversations on this board have been full of enthusiasm and excitment. This forum is off to a great start!
Secondly - a little on who I am. I am a hardcore Age of Kings player. Together with a fellow named Mr_Fixit, we run arguably the best Age of Kings site on the web. We certainly are the unquestioned Kings of Age of Kings when it comes to strategy. I have been playing Age of Kings since the day it hit the shelves and I was a beta tester for Age of Kings:The Conquerors.
So what does that have to do with Star Wars: Galatic Battlegrounds? Well - since SWGB is based on the AoK engine - they were looking for some top AoK players to test out the game and give them some feedback. Mr_Fixit and I flew out to California for two intense days of SWGB gaming (we logged in a good 29 hours :) )
After that - we have some thoughts on how this plays out. This preview isn't like the ones you will find at Gamespot or IGN. We are serious players who spent a lot of time *playing* the game and not just looking at it. As such, we went into depth and really got into what makes SWGB different from AoK. It is somewhat geared towards Age players, but I tried to keep it easy to follow. If you do have any questions, don't be shy about contacting me either on this forum or through email.
Anyways - that was *certainly* too much talking - here is the link to the preview:
http://www.mrfixitonline.com/readPosting.asp?PostingId=485937)
Enjoy!
Thanks, I'm an AoE fan, though I'm not that good. :)
Thanks for the news. LucasArts must have had a full house when you were there.
Granted the intention is for all the civs to be balanced, did you find any civ that dominated or was easier to play?
Two civs were a little off in my opinion, but Lucas was aware of the issues when we arrived. They did appreciate us confirming their thoughts.
Right now the fambaa shield generators are a little TOO tough and the Naboo econ bonus is a bit too good. Both are being reconsidered a bit.
thanks for the input blue,
were there any other "weaknesses" you saw in the game? some other raters mentioned inaccuracies involving air units.
Well any problems that are in the game now are more on the order of "action items" rather than "weaknesses" in my opinion. Lucas is still several weeks away from being done. I would guess that most of the testing of the game occurs as it gets more and more polished.
In my opinion Air units seem to be in pretty good shape. We played a fun 3v3 where I stayed in TL2 (tech level2) and pumped boats to control the seas. Mr_Fixit advanced to TL3 and then pounded on me with air units which my ships were 100% ineffective against. This wasn't a balance problem - this was simply him outsmarting me and using better tactics.
Once air defense is in place - the planes drop quick.
So it seems to me that if you play smart you can tackle air units. If you don't play so smart expect to pay the price. All in all - I found the air units to be a "component" in the game rather than a dominating factor.
blue,
i totally understand whta you're saying. if you've ever played starcraft, air units are great for support but the real battles occur on the ground. by the way, do sea units have any defense at all for air units? and do the air units have air to air and air to ground weapons? thanks for the info and informative review of the game. by the way, AoE rocks, and i still need to get the expansion pack, the Conquerors...
The sea has strong air defense, but only in TL3 (tech level 3). This is a nice element that keeps the seas from being overpowered.
Definatly pick up the expansion pack. There were a number of balance issues and changes that they made which really bring a lot of life to the game.
Originally posted by Compa_Mighty
Thanks, I'm an AoE fan, though I'm not that good. :)
Same here :o
Originally posted by blue_myriddn
Once air defense is in place - the planes drop quick.
NOOOOOO!!!!!!! :eek:
I actually think i like that better. That way, i can just set up air defese and forget about planes and focus on the ground. Then i can use planes just for backup.
Yeah... *sniff sniff* I guess so :(
Works that way in Starcraft. I like the Air Units being support not ultra powerful thingys. But beware of the all power Z-95! ;)
I don't like Z-95's, they kinda sucked when I played them in X-wing vs. Tie
z-95 headhunters sucked in xwa too. talk about kamikaze fighters! what is this, the remake of WWII? i don't know if they should make those planes.
Are they even going to have Z-95 in the game?
I think so... there supposed to be the first rebel fighter you get
When I say awesome power of Z-95 I'M BEING SARCASTIC!!!!!
Hey tie,
thanks for the info on the name of that vessels/vehicles guide. i got for 8.50 on ebay.
Do not raise your voice when your talking to me young man, Do you understand me? Up to your room this instant
No sir.
People seem to think I like Z-95's I hate the dumb things their almost as bad as Tie Fighters..
Good Cannon Fodder though :)
Thanks a lot for the info Blue and keep it coming......:)
yeah, nice preview. i just wish i could see a LOT more screenshots..
think, like, tons of 'em ?!?
I prefer movies my self, they give you a taste of how the game works. Screenshots are just eye candy for the most part
the first E3-video i saw was actually a little disappointing.
i thought units were moving very clunky.
screenshots allow you to fantansize more.
and they make nice desktops..
:D
A very nice preview, I have to say. Good work! :)
No doubts there!
Leon, the E3 movies are the same as the early screenshts, not as good as tehy are now. They should have changed that by now.
yeah, i can't wait to see 'em. hope they're not too big in size though. that E3-movie took very, very long to download. (we don't have cable here until october)
that's when the network is done. they do it by neighborhood in our town.. our neighborhood gets the treatment in october.
or i could move...
...just to play it faster...
...but i'm never that desperate..;)
there are more new screenshots at gamespot.com. check it out. they look really good.
:violin:
Yes. i've seen those already, they seemed to have improved even since last time.
I like the Gungan aircraft :p
That floating whale is ugly, but i like the flapping things.
Originally posted by Clefo
People seem to think I like Z-95's I hate the dumb things their almost as bad as Tie Fighters..
Good Cannon Fodder though :)
Yeah they are almost as bad as Y-wings ;)
Ya Y-Wings and Z-95s SUCK !! They are to slow that you cant manuver with them.. I like X-Wings and A-Wings..:)
Yeah, if the Y-Wing wans't decently shielded and could be used as a bomber, no one would use it at all, period.
...but since it is decently shielded and can be used as a bomber....
:D
yeah, or probably disable something with those ion cannons just like in starcraft where in a few missions you were to disable but not destroy stuff........
ywings are okay
In X-wing vs. Tie, the Z-95's are the same speed as the X-wing :(
same speed, but not even close in the shield department. those are more like kamikaze planes. if the unit cap is above 200, then i guess they could be a welcome addition.....
Hey, you as a famous Age Crack (seriously ) already found some possible tactics for BG ??
;) ;)
nope, but play xwing alliance and talk to me again.....