Well i have been on the forms for a while now and have seen the words "EPIC" and "4x" and the like thrown around a lot. However i have never seen any actual formal definition of how a game moves from the the realm of ordinary to epic.

What aspects of a game elevate it to such a level. Is it the battles, the number of units in a battle the size of the game. the diplomacy. is it the empire management. maybe the technology. or perhaps something i have yet to mention. granted i know that it is a combination of all these factors but what is the most important to you.

your answer does not necessarily have to pertain to sins however, if you wish to comment that fine.

for me its the technological progression of a game, in something like sins starting with barely capable star craft shooting slingshots at each other progressing all the way up to planet-shattering Juggernaut's slugging it out. anyway what is the most important part to you.