Alstein

Reply to Trade in Galactic Civ 3 ! in GalCiv III Founders GalCiv3 Forums

This is something where I think Civ V did it better than GalCiv2.

Reply to Net Neutrality Revisited in Personal Computing Elemental Forums

I'm skeptical the FCC will do anything. It's going to come down to a bribing contest, or Google's going to have to go national with Google Fiber.

Reply to Some things I like about Distant worlds I would like to see in Galactic civilizations in GalCiv III Founders GalCiv3 Forums

That was somewhat in GalCiv2- Torians and Drengin would start up with a heavy malus to relation. Even in the game where the Drengin turned good the Torians still hated them.

Reply to Next Generation Strategy Games are coming: Oxide’s Nitrous! in PC Gaming GalCiv3 Forums

[quote who="martixy" reply="32" id="3430666"] Wait... YOU guys are behind Oxide? And there I was, thinking - finally someone else is stepping up as well. Ah well. Exciting nevertheless. I loved the AMD demo. Can't wait.[/quote] Firaxis is also in on Oxide- so it's kinda a combined effort. Makes me positive for Civ VI, as you could really tell a poor engine hurt Civ V in many ways. &nb

Reply to Elemental Timeline in Elemental Dev Journals GalCiv3 Forums

Other books? Is that plot points for future sequels in the series (might be a good rename for the franchise as well), or are you planning to write more books?

Reply to Founders discussion topic: Colony control in GalCiv III Founders GalCiv3 Forums

I'm not a big fan of tons of sliders. It's one of things I prefer about the Elemental series to GalCiv. I think planet specialization should be handled by buildings, not sliders. I would allow planets to ratchet down production, which would reduce maintenance costs of buildings. Maybe even "overheat" production- at risk (buildings breaking/bad events/unrest) I also think the two build queues should be back.&nbs

Reply to The evolution of the Drengin in GalCiv III Dev Journals GalCiv3 Forums

I think the Drengin are pretty much Stardock's mascot at this point.

Reply to Ignore trolls at your own peril in Everything Else GalCiv3 Forums

Is there ever a time when trolling/mass downvoting is legitimate? One situation that came up recently: A game "journo" (sorry Adam), and some music guy from MIT write what is pretty much a hit piece on the FGC. They try to sell their book. Folks from that community (many of which tried to point out the inaccuracies , both civilly and uncivilly, but they were ignored/mocked) despite to downvote the book. Legitimate downvote or troll?

Reply to Ignore trolls at your own peril in Everything Else GalCiv3 Forums

[quote who="Frogboy" reply="25" id="3429630"] Quoting Alstein, reply 24 That's fine. I thought you meant actually astroturfing reviews, which I thought was massively out of character for you- but I'm sure those two have irritated you than most folks ever have. we might just have different definitions. I think of astroturfing as organizing people to vote on something. I.e. The p&r qt3 nuts getting together

Reply to Ignore trolls at your own peril in Everything Else GalCiv3 Forums

That's fine. I thought you meant actually astroturfing reviews, which I thought was massively out of character for you- but I'm sure those two have irritated you than most folks ever have.

Reply to Ignore trolls at your own peril in Everything Else GalCiv3 Forums

[quote who="Frogboy" reply="14" id="3429539"] Quoting Alstein, reply 11 Astroturfing positive reviews- you would have been found out (especially as obsessive as some people were at the time) , and it would have made things worse. It was a good call to not do what you were thinking of doing. A couple of years after all that mess, I actually did get to read the book. I have no clue what those two were on about. That said, th

Reply to Ignore trolls at your own peril in Everything Else GalCiv3 Forums

It's not the internet, it's pretty much information in general- people even choose the news they agree with. (Fox/MSNBC in the US)

Reply to Ignore trolls at your own peril in Everything Else Elemental Forums

Astroturfing positive reviews- you would have been found out (especially as obsessive as some people were at the time) , and it would have made things worse. It was a good call to not do what you were thinking of doing. A couple of years after all that mess, I actually did get to read the book. I have no clue what those two were on about. That said, the best revenge is living well when it comes to these sorts of folks.&nbs

Reply to DLC control for GalCiv3 with Steam in Galactic Civilizations III GalCiv3 Forums

Stardock doesn't go overboard with the DLC- a startup screen or an options screen where you can check DLC on/off, and on opponents screen, being able to check factions on/off (if that is DLC in GalCiv3) would suffice, and the latter would only be needed if AI can't play a faction.

Reply to GalCiv III Founder's Vault! in GalCiv III Founders GalCiv3 Forums

[quote who="antibor" reply="94" id="3426436"] I like the "new slider" too. Unless it is too sensitive so I will be unable to move it in a straight line. Well, on the other hand it is only half of the picture. The other half is the specialization on planet level. Let's see. I assume the switch is still immediate, does not take time as in Haegemony.[/quote] I do like the look of the new slider, I just wonder about whether it's a mechanic tha

Reply to War of Magic, should it be brought back? in Elemental Dev Journals GalCiv3 Forums

[quote who="DsRaider" reply="102" id="3426746"] The problem with adding the dynasty system to LH is it doesn't really fit. Diplomacy in LH is very rudimentary, there are only a few tightly scripted treaties and trade goods. Mostly you just fight everyone else. As is adding in dynasties would simply be another way of bribing other civilizations into liking you, until you decided to kill them or they allied you. It wouldn't add a whole lot to the game beyond the obvious hey

Reply to AI coding, I can’t even begin to express how excited I am in GalCiv III Dev Journals GalCiv3 Forums

Hopefully such AI tweaks aren't needed in GalCiv III, and the AI can compete with said asymmetrical information. Purple stars I remember having the best planets (class 26s) on occasion, but those were rare.

Reply to DLC control for GalCiv3 with Steam in Galactic Civilizations III GalCiv3 Forums

Stardock should do it the way Paradox does it in CKII/EUIV.

Reply to My appreciation for the pizza delivery service in Life, the Universe and Everything Elemental Forums

Actually had this moment last weekend with the ice storm. Ended up just not getting Pizza that day and cooking instead.

Any way to disable undead faction from being picked by the CPU? in Fallen Enchantress Elemental Forums

The AI can't play them, so I'd rather it not try to.

Reply to Comparing Sweden/Finland/Denmark vs. other countries in Life, the Universe and Everything Elemental Forums

True, even if a country is homogenous, make it large enough and it will stop being homogenous. (See the differences between Northern and Southern culture in the US- it really is two Americas)

Reply to Start Menu to Return in “Threshold”? in Personal Computing Elemental Forums

I doubt there are laws against this- because Microsoft and Stardock have worked together before, (Wasn't it on W7?) and I believe Dell has at one time used a pre-bundle of SD products (At least in some form) Hopefully Microsoft gets it right, but W7 is just fine as an OS, and still avaliable, so W8 isn't necessary , and won't be for a few years. Microsoft won't make W8 and W9 both stink, that would threaten Microsoft's position- they ca

Reply to Comparing Sweden/Finland/Denmark vs. other countries in Life, the Universe and Everything Elemental Forums

So you're saying the South was completely annihilated in 1860? Some areas were, but nothing like modern warfare, and the level of infrastructure in the South was poor enough that it didn't do all that much. A victorious CSA would have been ruled by tinpots with high levels of inequality. There would be no democracy, and the economy would collapse within 20 years. (and they'd probably try to start a war and get stomped to boot) T

Reply to War of Magic, should it be brought back? in Elemental Dev Journals Elemental Forums

Warlock isn't the main competition next year- it will likely be AOW3 instead. This is another reason why I don't think this is a particularly good idea. I'd rather see Stardock concentrate on GalCiv3, and plan a new fantasy IP for 2016 or so. (Fall From Heaven remake might have name value, or a full-fledged sequel. I wouldn't mind some silly faux-Japanese fantasy strat game either)

Reply to AI feature I want in GalCiv3 in Galactic Civilizations III Elemental Forums

Exploits to me are things a human can do that an AI cannot.