Valentine82 Valentine82

What was Stardock Thinking?

▼

What was Stardock Thinking?

from Elemental Forums

I understand that the guys at Stardock are programmers and not gamers, but what were they thinking? Why didn't they incorporate all the great ideas modders were working on and updating patch after patch? This game is written like it's made entirely from a coder's perspective, not at all from a gamer's perspective. All the factions are boring, the game is just bland.

 

I shouldn't have to decipher all their code or struggle trying to find all the right mods at all the right versions with all the right compatibility to play a decent game. I went out and bought elemental on Day 1, and it's still beta, and it's still BORING as hell.

 

Disciples II wasn't boring, Age of Wonders 2 wasn't boring, Might and Magic wasn't boring. Those games were immersive, that's not just nostalgia I played Age of Wonders Shadow Magic just the other day and it's still immersive in ways this game will never be. It's immersive because for all it's flaws, for it's practically nonexistent diplomacy, you actually feel like you're in control of a kingdom. You have choices that effect the type of kingdom you see on the map, there's more diversity, it's more immersive because everything has hidden layers of depth, everything has a description or a backstory, and you get to choose from almost any race any unit any school of magic you can even try to combine them all and use diplomacy to try to learn all the spells if you choose.

But in Elemental you have two choices, Empire of Kingdom, making a wizard is the best part but all the wizards are ultimately boring once you start playing, and the two dumbed down faction types are all pretty much identical not just in mechanics but in asthetics as well. One empire may as well be another, they look exactly the same and they play almost exactly the same they even have the same environment and there's nothing you can do to change it.

You can do little things that don't feel like they have any major impact, and even the meaningful decisions seem meaningless, because the game just lacks immersion. It's completely lacking in the way the user end aesthetic interact with the player, it's built entirely around mechanics and it has no soul.

221,990 views 80 replies
Reply #76 from Stardock Forums Top

That's why I didn't want to write. Once you start, you may be trapped ;)

It's just a game. And games are for enjoying, not to getting mad.

Reply #77 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Schweiz, reply 36
Sounds like a party pooper to me. Shitting on Starcraft because it delivered what little of it he expected it to deliver. Pro Starcraft players are celebrities. The game focuses on solid base mechanics. Its not about depth, but the lengthens you go to optimize the base mechanics. It's an overall good game but I don't like it because it uses strategy on a smaller scale. Compared to something like Total Annihilation/Supreme Commander which supports broad level strategy-strategy, even if its not competitive.

Maybe you just don't how to have fun if its not fed to you? (regretful person attacks achieved). All the sand box features and faction creator allow you to make whatever race you want, which plays however you want. Want to be Rohan from lord of the rings? Defensive/Archer/Lucky?/Masterwork Chainmail. Want to make a faction of ridiculously big conclaves, take Enchanters and research benefits.

It seems you're failing to play the strengths of each race, taking them all as the same. Thinking outside the box and playing to your races strengths is what makes them unique. YES Altar has bonuses that give them 'nothing unique'. I can get heroes and extra exp playing Tarth, useless. OR you can use these bonuses to come up with tricks. Altar can fuel diplomacy off of quest map influence, gaining resources to produce better units or even technology. They can even produce the unit (Henchmen) to run quests, training themselves and your standing army in between wars or front line action. What other race can do that?

 

I own Warlock and was looking forward to it so much, but the game is not half as good as Fallen Encahntress.

 

** Sorry this was for the OP, i quoted the wrong msg**

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #78 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting ntino, reply 75

#Half the game doesnt even matter - you dont really need the city portion of the game to win

 

No you don't need them, but you can go the city building route if you choose.  Having this choice of avenues to take is a good thing.

Reply #79 from Elemental Forums Top

Funny how he uses Age of Wonders as his prime comparison, I always found that series to be extremely bland.

 

Reply #80 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Glazunov1, reply 58

quoting post
I understand that the guys at Stardock are programmers and not gamers...

 

Everything else aside, I interviewed Brad a couple of times, for articles--and during the first one, he told me about how he missed his firstborn's birth because he was too preoccupied playing a game in the waiting room.


And from what I've been given to understand the rest of his team enjoys playing games as much as he does.  I only hope that doesn't include all the women on it, or they would miss the birth of their own children as well, causing all manner of paradoxes.

LOL

Frogboy, et al, a cool bunch!