GalCiv Preview on IGN

[Lemmy]

here:
http://pc.ign.com/articles/384/384930p1.html

Most of it was known, but there are still some interesting parts.

You'll also need to select a galaxy size and the likelihood of habitable planets. The final consideration is in picking the opponents you'll face. You can not only name the enemy races, but also set their intelligence and morality levels. A number of minor civilizations will spring up during the game as well to act as spoilers/fodder.

Can one interact with these civs as if they were great civilizations? Possibly helping a minor civilization to become a great civilization?

You'll need the advantage to keep up with the multi-threaded AI. Since the enemy leaders calculate their moves while other players are making their turns, they benefit from deeper, more robust strategies. The varying difficultly levels in the game don't necessarily improve this thinking however; they merely increase the amount of resources that the AI has to work with.

More resources, is that system resources, like CPU time, or game resources, like bonusses to production?

[Harry Seldon]

More resources, is that system resources, like CPU time, or game resources, like bonusses to production?

I think I remember Draginol saying the AI would be harder on higher difficulty levels. I think they're trying to avoid the massive resource bonus cheats of other TBS, although I think the AI does get a modest boost on impossible. Draginol slums around over here occassionally; maybe he'll enlighten us?

[Tytan]

On genius level the AI is given 2x the starting resources that you are, but that is as far as it goes. The AI still plays the same game we do, it just means they can crank out 6 or so ships instead of just 2 or 3, which means you'll have to find means to catch up......like trading techs with minor races for cash......

You can interact with Minor races like major races, and they do at times become major races though it is a rarity. Their basic limitation is that they can only colonize the planets within their own star system, unless of course they are helped.....which may come in handy if you want a buffer empire between you and the drengins........

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Tytan
You can interact with Minor races like major races, and they do at times become major races though it is a rarity. Their basic limitation is that they can only colonize the planets within their own star system, unless of course they are helped.....which may come in handy if you want a buffer empire between you and the drengins........

Sweet!

[moomin]

Sweet indeed. Conflict by proxy has always been sorely lacking from the current 4x offerings.