I'm 30, but feel like a kid again with RoN...

Knavery · June 2, 2003, 12:05

This game amazes me and I can't count how many ways this game blows other RTS's out of the water. I should be doing my job. I'm at work, but I am reading RoN forums to get the latest info on strats and patch info.

Sorry for the meaningless thread, but does anyone else feel this way about a game?

I really haven't felt this way since Diablo 2 came out and before that Halflife.

yin26 · June 2, 2003, 12:13

Well, I'm 32 and have played most games worth mentioning. With RoN, I'm thrilled that I've got a single-player RTS experience that offers a good challenge! I just don't have the time to go on-line to play anymore, so thank God (err, Brian?) that the SP AI in RoN got a lot of obvious attention.

Then, as you say, the tweaks to the RTS formula are outstanding. While the twitch-fingers among us might not appreciate the additions here, they are profound in their own ways and make the game much more fun.

I suppose the only 'criticism' I have here is that at the end of the day we are still talking about an RTS, which I've had my fill of lately. But that RoN even got me back into the RTS thing is a testament! I do hope, though, that the next game from BHG will *not* be in the lines of AoE, etc. Something like Colonization, etc., would be great!

albiedamned · June 2, 2003, 12:59

Wow. I'm 30. I'm at work. I should be doing my job. But I'm sitting here reading the forums instead. Hmmm. . . if everyone else is doing it, it must be ok?

And of course, I agree with Yin that an update to Colonization would be the ideal next project for BHG.

GodSpawn · June 2, 2003, 13:37

Yeah me too (posting from work & 42)

alva · June 2, 2003, 13:41

Wow, all thirty-something (34 here)

, not posting from work though

-

Quote:

I just don't have the time to go on-line to play anymore, so thank God (err, Brian?)

HalfLotus · June 2, 2003, 14:04

Totally. I havent been this impressed with many games. Half-life and the original zelda come to mind.

Finarfin · June 2, 2003, 14:04

Quote:

Originally posted by alva
Wow, all thirty-something (34 here)

, not posting from work though

I'm 35 and posting from work. Why post from home when you can be playing RoN? Hmmm, now there's an idea -- install it on my work system....

Solver · June 2, 2003, 14:14

As for me... I have stayed up long in the nights to play this game. This is the first RTS game about which I can say that - thus far, only Civ managed to keep me awake.

Inverse Icarus · June 2, 2003, 14:20

you old farts. i still got a ferw months of teenagerdom left in me

JimMac · June 2, 2003, 15:01

Quote:

Originally posted by Uber KruX
you old farts. i still got a ferw months of teenagerdom left in me

Yes, sometimes that is so obvious

ColdFever · June 2, 2003, 16:20

I am Dino-40 and feel exactly the same way, it's like a little switch in the head turned on. Perhaps it is a form of age "resonance" - Brian also is a mature player and with RoN IMHO the dev team revived the classic spirit of the originals that is not noticeable anymore in many current stream-line titles.

Unfortunately I have the feeling that (at last here in Germany) the game is too complex for many younger players, as I regularly hear complaints from this audience about having trouble to follow the game, for example to handle particular units in big fights.

Perhaps it would be a wise move to revive the good old CivII advisors to help those players a bit. I think it even would be fun for experienced players to have a general as battle advisor who even could lead the troops if you'd want to, or a governor as town advisor who even could manage the towns if you'd want to.

As this already must be in the game anyway via AI routines, it could be helpfull to be able to active this support via some interface buttons through levels:

Adivsors: Domestic, Military, Science
Levels: off - advise - acting
Level 0: off
Level 1: "Beloved King, do not forget about this:..."
Level 2: "Dear King, I will lead your troops to glory!"

It could help to have a possibility here to grant each advisor a certain share of resources to use. Example: if you grant your Military advisor a resource share of 30%, he takes this share from all your ressources for his own needs, so that the player has an own share left of 70%. This way you could split the BIG HUGE game into smaller parts handled by your advisors if you'd want to.

yin26 · June 2, 2003, 16:44

Hey, nice idea!

SKev · June 2, 2003, 18:39

Thirty-five and monitoring the forums at work. It is nice to see a few other RoNners out there similarly situated.

My productivity plummeted about three weeks before the game was released and has yet to recover. Unfortunately, I can't keep up on game developments, read other players' comments, play the game at night (using what I learned at work), take care of the rest of my life AND add my own voice to the dialogue here at Apolyton. So I, for the most part, anonymously read the posts.

The fact that other gamers manage to play the game enough to have intelligent insights, post those comments while at work, and remain gainfully employed (see Yin's major tomes) makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong.

albiedamned · June 2, 2003, 18:43

It's probably not your fault. You need to have a desk/cube arranged such that your monitor faces away from everyone else.

SKev · June 2, 2003, 18:48

That's not it-- I have walls and a door. The problem is that I always have things that need to be done, preferably yesterday. The documents in my in box won't throw themselves away.

Stupid time-hogging job.

albiedamned · June 2, 2003, 18:59

Just delegate.

SKev · June 2, 2003, 19:02

I'm trying, I'm trying. I've somehow recently developed the nickname "turnstile." Is that a problem?

albiedamned · June 2, 2003, 19:11

Not if it refers to your love life.

One_Dead_Villy · June 2, 2003, 19:29

35 here

alva · June 3, 2003, 06:36

Quote:

That's not it-- I have walls and a door. The problem is that I always have things that need to be done, preferably yesterday. The documents in my in box won't throw themselves away.

Stupid time-hogging job.

Go on a strike, claiming the workpressure is killing you, start doing loads of overtime.."I don't can't get my work done

"

Azrikam · June 3, 2003, 08:58

30 and at work. (shocking, ain't it)

Just thought I'd chime in because this is my first post at Apolyton since the Civ III "fiasco." (I was expecting the brilliant SMAC interface with historical units... silly me)

But, even though I generally prefer TBS over RTS games, Brian's name (along with a few glowing reviews) convinced me to pick up Rise of Nations. I've only given it 1 solid day of play, but to say I'm impressed is an understatement.

For me, the single most important thing about a game is the interface, and this one is rock solid. Also, in an age where most newly released games are unplayable on all but the most ninjae of machines, RoN glides along with nary a hiccup. And I haven't even tried out online play yet. Great game all around.

I expect most RTS games in the future to build (rip?) off what BHG have done here. RTS games have been in desperate need of an overhaul, and it looks like someone finally did it right.

Makeo · June 3, 2003, 10:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Finarfin

I'm 35 and posting from work. Why post from home when you can be playing RoN? Hmmm, now there's an idea -- install it on my work system....

I tried that but the game used to much of the networks resources.

Finarfin · June 3, 2003, 11:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Makeo

I tried that but the game used to much of the networks resources.

Even playing single player from a local CD drive?

Jeje2 · June 10, 2003, 07:32

Count me in as well. 30 years and posting from work.

RoN just seems to have something that makes me to start a new game almost every day and that "just-one-more-turn" syndroma that keeps me infront of the computer until the game ends.

Tomsawyer · June 10, 2003, 07:39

32 and thinking if i could just get those pesky 6 numbers for about 6 million then I could get out of this job.

Better yet let me win that mil from pepsi and then go on to win the billion

Prothero · June 10, 2003, 08:03

29 here, also from work.

I played sunday for 13 hours. Finished a moderate CtW campain with the French.

Poogas · June 10, 2003, 10:16

15 and posting from home during Summer Vacation

Ha, i'm a bit out numbered, but I have to agree with a couple things in this thread,

1 - Posting from work is fine, I plan on doing it

2- This game is up there with Diablo 2, and Half Life considering how much it has been able to inthrawl the people who play it. ( I know people that live in the world of Diablo 2 and Half Life)

all for now, later

lockstep · June 10, 2003, 11:24

33 years, posting from home, but printing out RoN strategy guides when at work.

Caesar Brad · June 10, 2003, 11:40

Teenagers rule the world! lol, im just kidding but Im 16 and I think thats its "cool" that you guys still play these games, I hope Ill have time to play agmes when Im around 30. Anyways, good luck with your mid-life crisis'! Later.

One_Dead_Villy · June 10, 2003, 11:44

its not really that we still play video games...
its cause we grew up when we grew up, in the information age. The older generation from us, didnt grow up with video games, and so there would be less of them who would be playing. But the older generation had their form of amusment as well that was appropriate for the time when they grew up. I guess bridge or some kinda card game or gambling would be more likely. But its essentually fulfilling the same niche.