Topic: Really old subject but I feel like a semi-rant (Read 2995 times)

Vipre · « **on:** August 29, 2006, 07:21:09 pm »

WTF is the deal with Birth of the Federation? I've heard of but never actually seen it until last night when I found a copy. I knew that it used a TNG setting due to licensing issues with Paramount over TOS or something.

Still I expected a game based on what, oh I don't know the beginnings of the federation or something. What do I get after it's installed and loaded? A lameass MOO2 clone set in the Star Trek universe!! Again WTF, for a second I thought I'd downloaded a MOO2 Mod so I double checked that I had the right cd in the drive and tried again. Nope same thing "Star Trekker of Orion"

What's next on the list of crap "Warcraft: The Next Generation"?
I'll be the Klinkgones you take the Bombulans.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2006, 08:23:01 pm »

Hey, I loved BotF. Interestingly enough I loved the original MoO. ABSOLUTELY COULDN'T STAND MoO2, and even moreso with MoO 3.

However I do like Space Empires 4, and Galactic Civilzations 2.

Vipre · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2006, 08:27:37 pm »

I don't mind Master of Orion, I just can't believe that anyone would try to pass off this obvious ripoff as a trek game.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2006, 10:18:19 pm »

I liked it.

Hey if it makes you feel any better they passed off Elite Force as a game, Galactic Battle grounds as a game, and even the Icewind Dale I as a game...

All modifications of other originals.

They even passed JK2 and JKA off as games instead of mods to the engine.

So I have no problem with BotF. In fact completely loved it. Hated some of the changes they made to MoO2, so maybe its the modifications that BotF made that actually made me love BotF...since I did really enjoy MoO the original, and typically like the Turn based space games in that genre. (which also reminds me if you haven't tried Galactic Civilzations 2 you should...then again maybe you shouldn't, it's a LOT like Space Empires 4 in many ways, but a lot simpler...which would be the only complaint I had.

Vipre · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2006, 08:34:08 am »

Seriously Dash I've no real issue with game designers ripping each other off, otherwise I'd never be able to play RTS games at all. In fact no FPS, RPGs, nothing

But you must acknowledge that with an established franchise like Star Trek or Star Wars something like this isn't acceptable.

Imagine this:

Take the show "The Love Boat" recast it with trek actors and put it on tv as "Star Trek: New Horizons"
Nothing wrong with that, show formats are copied all the time. And besides it'll be a new Trek series to watch.
Maybe no one will notice it's set on a cruise liner and not a starship

Dash Jones · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2006, 06:58:29 pm »

Isn't that sort of what they did for the last two seasons of Star Trek Enterprise?

Ducks before getting hit...

Dracho · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2006, 10:02:02 am »

The Quicksilver team that did MOO 2 also did BoTF. It wasn't exactly a rip-off so much as reusing the game engine.

Sirgod · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2006, 10:39:51 am »

Dash about a year ago sent me a copy of BoTF, and I have to admit, I kinda liked It. Well, I did a double take, It was Starfleet Academy. Wrong game I was thinking of.

Anyway, It can't posibly be as bad as New Worlds.

Stephen

762_XC · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2006, 05:28:03 pm »

I just started replaying BOTF. My major gripe is the amount of micromanagement it takes to get a new colony doing something useful. Build Lvl 1 assemply plant, upgrade it 8x, build more, all while micromanaging the food supply. PITA.

I also wish you could leave the random events on without having a Borg cube come and conquer the entire galaxy.

Vipre · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2006, 05:44:24 pm »

Nothing at all wrong about reusing a game engine, but it's just MoO2 with ST pictures for the races instead of MoO universe ones.
The Setup screen is nearly identical, pick your level of development your race and the size and shape of the universe and research tree that has nothing to do with ST.

Sure games are going to look alike but when they do you better at least throw in a good story to cover your ass.
No sorry not this time, just explore the galaxy encounter aliens and conduct diplomacy and combat.

What's the plot? I couldn't find it. You remember plot right? It's that thing old people used to include in movies, books and games to create a sense of purpose to the endeavor.

Unless I'm completely wrong in which case I'm going to go lay down on the railroad tracks now.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2006, 10:33:49 pm »

Difference of opinion then. MoO2 had more micromanagement and a slightly different playstyle. BotF had the Federation as peacemongering wussies, the Klingons as warmongering lovers, the Romulans as a spy network, the Cardassians as just evil, and the Ferengi as completely merchants. Similar to some of the races in MoO2, but waaaay overboard. Not to mention the ships were more startrek, and designed more around what the Star Trek ships were like without as many options as MoO2 overall from what I recall.

Those differences were the things that made me absolutely HATE MoO2, but completely Love BotF.

Due to the vast difference of how I enjoyed each, I see them as playing differently.

As I said, difference of opinion.

I gave MoO2 away to my aunt (bought around 4 years ago, hated it when I played it). Still have a copy of MoO original from a Game Demo disc from a magazine, love the game, but the game codes are difficult to track down at times.

Sorry that you were so disappointed with BotF. To each their own I suppose. As a consolation prize you should seriously try to download the demos to Space Empires 4 gold and Galactic Civilizations 2 and see if you do or don't like them.

Vipre · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2006, 10:47:03 pm »

I'll give GC2 & SE4 a look, I've heard nothing but good things about those two anyways.

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, I guess I'm just more disappointed with the potential BotF could've had rather than the game itself.

On a different topic, I have MoO3 but haven't really played it. What is it people hate about that one? Just opinions on it would be cool.

Dracho · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2006, 09:19:38 am »

I think SE V is due out this fall.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2006, 10:50:37 am »

Quote from: Vipre on August 31, 2006, 10:47:03 pm

I'll give GC2 & SE4 a look, I've heard nothing but good things about those two anyways.

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, I guess I'm just more disappointed with the potential BotF could've had rather than the game itself.

On a different topic, I have MoO3 but haven't really played it. What is it people hate about that one? Just opinions on it would be cool.

It sucks...

Truthfully...hmmm, where to start...there are sooooooo many things to say about how bad it is...it's somewhat overwhelming. I mean...you've NEVER played a strategy game that bad...

Really, I have no idea where to start in about this one. I'll have to brew upon it for a while to figure out how to start and how long/how many pages to write on that subject.

But that's all in my opinion of course...soooooo

I would suggest trying Civ 4 or even Civ 3 instead. You'll feel better about yourself.

Heck if you haven't played it try Alpha Centauri instead...you'll feel much happier if you do.

Or at least I would if I had to choose, In MY OPINION of course. There ARE those who love MoO3 and they could give you a better view of what's good about it. Come to think about it, due to my dislike of the game (all time worst strategy game ever), I'm probably NOT one who should influence you about it, you should probably ask a more neutral party.

MoO 1 was good though...in fact it was awesome.

Dracho · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2006, 11:01:50 am »

MOO 3 tried to simulate being the Emperor instead of being the Commander-in-chief of an Empire, but it didn't quite get either right. The combat is too hands-off to be fun, the colony management is too hands on, yet abstract, to be fun (you have to move a bunch of sliders, but you don't get the gratification of making the sliders produce results).

The combat AI was basically out of your control once fighting started.

My opinion is that the game had a very poor project manager who never articulated a goal for the game and therefore instead of a project team, he or she had 40 people doing their own thing, with their own priorities, and the end result was a game that bore an uncanny resemblance to the political situation in the Balkans. MOO3 developed an indentity crisis and suffered from poor parenting. The result was an unfocused naer-do-well.

Vipre · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2006, 10:57:50 pm »

I reinstalled MoO3 and reminded myself why I haven't played it. There's so much stuff, so many subscreens and tabs for everything.
All I end up doing is exploring systems and answering diplomatic messages.

I've gotten GC2 and I like it. Detailed video tutorial, a gameplay system that doesn't make me feel like I need a degree to understrand it and a tech tree that is complex and still easy to use and comprehend.

Thanks Dash I'd have missed out on this game.

Dracho · « **Reply #16 on:** September 06, 2006, 04:08:24 pm »

Has anyone seen anything on this game?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7986432&type=product&id=1155069776819

Dash Jones · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2006, 05:15:03 pm »

I put it on, I think I might have even tried it...if I did, the experience wasn't all that memorable I suppose. When I have more time in the next few days I suppose I could give it another whirl.

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