Sins of a Solar Empire - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 24th Feb 2008, 08:18

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2008/...solar_empire/1

Andy takes a gander at Sins of a Solar Empire, the new multiplayer focused RTS and simulation from Stardock. Will Andy return to us as ruler of a galactic empire, bringing good tidings of the game - or will we shoot him and the game both out the airlock?

Amon · 24th Feb 2008, 08:40

Cataclysm was a good continuation. I'm into the spacey stuff, so this will definitely make its way to my hard drive. Would be even better if it were Steam-distributed.

By the way, you might want to revise most of the image thumbnails.

Cadillac Ferd · 24th Feb 2008, 09:59

The game looks amazing, I'm off to Google where I can find it.

airchie · 24th Feb 2008, 11:43

Yeah, having this on steam would be excellent.

Any idea if that will be a possibility in future?

Flibblebot · 24th Feb 2008, 12:02

I doubt that it'll be available on Steam, but I believe that it's available to download from the Sins site via TotalGaming.net. Download only version is $50.

ssj12 · 24th Feb 2008, 16:38

Its games for windows.. doesnt that mean online is Windows Live PC only. No matter how good of the game i refuse to support it if it has Live PC features.

ZubaZ · 24th Feb 2008, 17:17

Been a Stardock customer since the OS/2 years.

Sins does not use Windows Live PC. IronClad has it's own IronClad Online thing.
And Stardock has Stardock Central, its digital distribution service. Install and enter your email and you can manage your downloads, archives, and updates (also integrated IRC and forums). No need for the CD, no DRM, install as many times as you want on as many PCs (too many will alert Stardock and you'll need to verify authenticity.)

Features of Sins I love:
* Being able to save long-running muti-player games
* The Empire tree to manage everything
* The AI's ability to micro-manage battles while I'm zoomed out (although I tend to zoom in to manage because it's fun)

C-Sniper · 24th Feb 2008, 17:47

Stardock has made some great games, currently i play Galactic Civilizations 2 which i find to be fun. Kudos to the no copy protection too, saves a lot of headaches when you have them on 2 different PCs.

Kipman725 · 24th Feb 2008, 17:52

is this fully 3d like homeworld or pseudo 3d?

chrisb2e9 · 24th Feb 2008, 19:37

its pseudo 3d.
I didn't really like this game too much, I find its too slow. I'm sure that there are people who would rather have the slower pace game, but its not for me.

DarkLord7854 · 24th Feb 2008, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisb2e9

its pseudo 3d.
I didn't really like this game too much, I find its too slow. I'm sure that there are people who would rather have the slower pace game, but its not for me.

You can change the research/game speeds... >.>

Veles · 24th Feb 2008, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipman725

is this fully 3d like homeworld or pseudo 3d?

It is fully 3D, but by default to stop your brain exploding you don't have full 3D control over the camera, the ships often move around on the Z axis. However the game isn't so much about the actual maneuvering of units but about the large scale. The AI handles the nitty gritty of the battles itself very well, however, I like to deploy some of the special abilities of units myself as they don't always do it at the best time.

I disagree with your views on the pirates, I think they work great (and for anyone who doesn't like them, the latest patch has added versions of the random maps without pirates). The bounty isn't just for pirates, it's for everyone, I can put a bounty on a player so another player is tempted to start picking off his units to get some extra cash, but the main use of the bounty system is for the pirate raids. I like how every 12 minutes you get an eBay style auction to stop the pirates attacking you and to hinder another player. Once you learn how to deal with them though, they are a welcome asset, I actually sometimes let them attack me, as they'll attack my nearest system I'll put a few capital ships I want leveling up there.

A tip to anyone who is beginning to play, you start off with 1 capital ship crew and your first cap ship is free, what I usually do is build a cap ship factory (then the asteroid mines when that's done) then build the cap ship that can colonise planets, send a few scouts out to explore while it builds with auto scout on. That cap ship is able to take the small asteroid planets on it's own at the beginning. I'll then max out the rest of my fleet capacity with light frigates (usually around 8 of them depending on the race), those and the cap ship can capture any proper planet (in the initial phases of course, once a player gets hold of it, then it's completely different).

Make sure to save some money so you can bid on the first pirate raid, the raiders are a PITA at the start, you can kill them but they'll stunt your growth. By the next raid you'll probably have enough defences in the closest colony to deal with the pirate raids, I found 1 capital ship and about 5 or so defence turrets could kill the highest level pirate raid without too much bother.

kosch · 24th Feb 2008, 22:35

I bought this on day of release via their storefront. I only wish the research and ship building was more like Masters of Orion but its a great game with alot of depth. I just finished playing a 28 hour game!

Cant wait for the 3rd party babylon 5 mods woot!

airchie · 25th Feb 2008, 00:39

So its worth buying the game then?

Think I'll take the plunge soon.

<ninja edit>>
Was just thinking, does this have a demo out?

chrisb2e9 · 25th Feb 2008, 01:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkLord7854

You can change the research/game speeds... >.>

yeah, I did. still really wasn't fast enough for me. Like I said, I'm sure that the game is perfect for some people, but for me, its too slow to really enjoy.

Veles · 25th Feb 2008, 01:16

No demo unfortunately, you can always "acquire" a copy to try out before you buy it, no point wasting money on a game you don't like

BlueTrin · 25th Feb 2008, 01:40

Bought it, really liked it but it is one of these kind of games that you would better try before to buy ...

Veles · 25th Feb 2008, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisb2e9

yeah, I did. still really wasn't fast enough for me. Like I said, I'm sure that the game is perfect for some people, but for me, its too slow to really enjoy.

Yeah it's definitely not for everyone, not your typical fast paced RTS. There are also people complaining that it's too fast, even on the slow settings.

DarkLord7854 · 25th Feb 2008, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by airchie

<ninja edit>>
Was just thinking, does this have a demo out?

Think I read somewhere on their official forums that a demo is arriving *soon*

BurningFeetMan · 25th Feb 2008, 01:52

I'm a steam whore. Is this game coming to steam?

24th Feb 2008, 08:18	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Sins of a Solar Empire http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2008/...solar_empire/1 Andy takes a gander at Sins of a Solar Empire, the new multiplayer focused RTS and simulation from Stardock. Will Andy return to us as ruler of a galactic empire, bringing good tidings of the game - or will we shoot him and the game both out the airlock? __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

24th Feb 2008, 08:40	#2
Amon inch-perfect Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: cannoning into the reds, Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,456	Cataclysm was a good continuation. I'm into the spacey stuff, so this will definitely make its way to my hard drive. Would be even better if it were Steam-distributed. By the way, you might want to revise most of the image thumbnails. __________________ Defunct Socket 939 San Diego 4000+::2GB PC3200::Radeon 9600 SE 128MB::200GB HDD::24" Dell 2407WFP-HC::WinXP x64/x86 dual boot Dell Vostro 1500 laptop::Socket P Merom T7100::2GB PC5400::Go 8600m GT 256MB::660GB HDD::15.4" WXGA+, 24" Dell 2407WFP-HC::WinXP::Fanatec 911 Wheel+Pedals

24th Feb 2008, 12:02	#5
Flibblebot Free from artificial flavourings Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here, right now Posts: 2,229	I doubt that it'll be available on Steam, but I believe that it's available to download from the Sins site via TotalGaming.net. Download only version is $50. __________________ My uber-system: 66Mhz 486DX2, 8Mb RAM, 20Mb hard drive, 256 colour VGA adaptor (goes all the way up to 800x600!), keyboard AND serial mouse

24th Feb 2008, 16:38	#6
ssj12 VGChartz PR Manager Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 232	Its games for windows.. doesnt that mean online is Windows Live PC only. No matter how good of the game i refuse to support it if it has Live PC features. __________________ http://thebladeclan.com

24th Feb 2008, 17:52	#9
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	is this fully 3d like homeworld or pseudo 3d? __________________ Sn45g game server mod My Electronics Site Hardware: 3400+ Sempr0n, 1GB RAM, 1.28TB local storage, x1950pro,Razer Viper,M$ comfort curve 2000,L70S + 17", Fujitsu 17" CRT Audio: HD-650's, PE congress amp, Sound Blaster AWE64, Soundblaster 24bit

24th Feb 2008, 09:59	#3
Cadillac Ferd Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maaaaryland, USA Posts: 219	The game looks amazing, I'm off to Google where I can find it.

24th Feb 2008, 17:17	#7
ZubaZ What's a Dremel? Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Been a Stardock customer since the OS/2 years. Sins does not use Windows Live PC. IronClad has it's own IronClad Online thing. And Stardock has Stardock Central, its digital distribution service. Install and enter your email and you can manage your downloads, archives, and updates (also integrated IRC and forums). No need for the CD, no DRM, install as many times as you want on as many PCs (too many will alert Stardock and you'll need to verify authenticity.) Features of Sins I love: * Being able to save long-running muti-player games * The Empire tree to manage everything * The AI's ability to micro-manage battles while I'm zoomed out (although I tend to zoom in to manage because it's fun)

24th Feb 2008, 19:37	#10
chrisb2e9 Dont do that... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,068	its pseudo 3d. I didn't really like this game too much, I find its too slow. I'm sure that there are people who would rather have the slower pace game, but its not for me.

24th Feb 2008, 22:35	#13
kosch Trango in the Mango Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 192	I bought this on day of release via their storefront. I only wish the research and ship building was more like Masters of Orion but its a great game with alot of depth. I just finished playing a 28 hour game! Cant wait for the 3rd party babylon 5 mods woot! __________________ [b]Really needs updating! - http://www.kosch.co.uk/

25th Feb 2008, 01:40	#17
BlueTrin Supermodder Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London Posts: 305	Bought it, really liked it but it is one of these kind of games that you would better try before to buy ... __________________ Selling an Iwaki RD30

25th Feb 2008, 01:52	#20
BurningFeetMan Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 91	I'm a steam whore. Is this game coming to steam?