How long have you been playing the Galactic Civilizations series?

from GalCiv2 Forums
It seems like yesterday that my preorder for SimCity for OS/2 got switched over to "Galactic Civilizations for OS/2". At first, I was upset that I wasn't going to get SimCity at that time, but then I started reading up on Galactic Civilizations and figured I'd give it a shot. Once it shipped I had several nights where I wouldn't sleep and I'd play it all night long. The AI amazed me, the gameplay kept me hooked and the multithreaded nature of the product ensured that the technology was far advanced from any other game at the time. It was easily one of my favorite PC games. It gaveOS/2 fans a reason to be proud of their favorite operating system.

After that came Shipyards, Star Emperor, Galactic Civilizations II, Object Desktop for OS/2, Entrepreneur, and then finally Galactic Civilizations for Windows. Now, that I see we are on the verge of a new release, I thought it would be a good chance to reflect back on how far Stardock Systems has come. How many people here have ever played the original different OS/2 versions?

Like always, I'll be picking up a copy of Galactic Civilizations II as soon as it hits a local store.

Thanks for all of your hard work over the years, Brad! The boxart is a little better than the first version that your publisher at the time, stuck you with. You've come a long way! Congratulations!
24,987 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I have been on board since shortly before GalCiv I for Windows. I had bought Object Desktop (for Win) before that. I then lost interest in GalCiv I about a year later and now I'm back for GalCiv II.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ever since GalCiv I for Windows was about to be released. I think it was somewhere around March 2003.
Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Literally, just a week ago!

Came over here from Penny Arcade, and have been looking for a good strategy game for a bit. So I was quite impressed with how GalCiv2 looks. But what to do in the meantime...

Downloaded the demo for GalCiv. after 2 demo games, I bought the full version, pre ordered GalCiv2, and have had a few happy late nights of GalCiv. If I'm enjoying it as much as I am, I can't imagine what GalCiv2 will be like.

[kicking myself for not finding the series earlier]
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
About 1.5 to 2 months after the release of MOO III. Started with Gal Civ 1. Also have Altarian Prophecy. When this forum was fairly new, I pre-ordered and join the beta early. It was amazing to watch it unfold. Feb 21 is going to be like Christmas for me in a way. I've waited a loong time. We all have.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Umm looking at my profile it appears as though i have been arounf since Sept 03 Will b around just as long with the new version as have really enjoyed beta testing and look forward to the full version

Thanks Brad and the team for allowing me to test and for producing yet another fantastic game
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Same here after MOO 3 failure started to look for something enjoble.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
oh ya MoO3 i rebember they destroy the game and i get GC I but i play a lot WoW before i play DAoC so GC I was only for times DAoC - Servers was not on or internetproblems but now i will chance comp. back to SF-strategie-games i am fad up to level like crazy...my favorite game for a long long time was MoO2 of my opinon the best roundbase sf-strategie-game ..but now STARDOCK make with GC2 ture was MoO3 (the makers) promisses an i will enjoy this game for yaers ..ok also Empire at War but there you have not so much "free space" to do what ever you want and only 2 sides
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
About 1.5 to 2 months after the release of MOO III. Started with Gal Civ 1.

Same for me, although I passed on the expansion - there simply was too little time for games at that time.

But now I'm back (... from outer space... )
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Of course I have purchased every game that Stardock has produced. Most have been great. I loved the games under os/2. They were in many ways cutting-edge and only wish that platform had more peominence today, asit stabilty and
interface still in many ways exceed any windows operating system. I still have an up-to-date copy of eCom Station 1.20 the latest release of the os/2 operating system. I occaionally use it as it has up-to-date Firefox and Thunderbird browsers and email readers.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
/me misses OS/2..
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
OS/2 was in germany only for macintosh-pc users a good system but only for work-pc specialy for layout-work the most mean nearly 85% use DOS and than windos / 95 / 98 / 2K / M / XP Mircosoft rules the operating-system-market at well
but is nice to haer that stardock was making a game for a minor-operating-system...the most dosen't do that
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Since the OS/2 version.
And I still think workpace shell beats most of the current OS Shells in terms of functionality and extensability.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I found the OS/2 version at Compumax around 1995-96 and was totally bummed that it was not available for windows. Bought GC1 3-4 years ago looking for something to fill the void of MoO and compare with my all time favorite game SMAC. (I still play it occasionally)

GC1 was a great game but did not surpass SMAC. I think GC2 will do the trick.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
GC1 was a great game but did not surpass SMAC. I think GC2 will do the trick.



Everytime I see someone posting about how addicted they are to SMAC, I wonder if Sid made that acronym on purpose or not..
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, it was a great game...
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
I started with civ1, then many years later SMAC, then galciv 1 from the start and now galciv2
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
I forget how I found out about the GC1 demo - liked it, went looking for the retail version, found it about a year & 1/2 ago.  Then found out about Stardock Central and Dregrin.net/TGN.  Joined TGN last year, never looked back.  Been a wargamer for many moons - cut my teeth (so to speak) on Blitzkreig and other AH boardgames...  Opponents come and go, but a good AI is always there to keep you on your toes.
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Speaking of board games.... Anyone here know Diplomacy?
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Yep. I've got a couple of free web-based games of my own loosely based on Diplomacy and Risk...
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've got a couple of free web-based games of my own loosely based on Diplomacy and Risk...


Same here, but "board" based
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
I don't like Risk since playing Diplo and you can't play Diplo as a board game in reality, but Diplomacy PBEM is great fun!
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Been with Stardock since OS/2, still have the original Galactic Civilizations game on my shelf next to Star Emperor and Links OS/2. Those were the days, brings back memories

Remember the days when Brad was saying this game could only run on OS/2 with its unique multi threading and never would be running as smooth on Windhoos .....
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
I did start with OS/2.

My nickname in this forum is actually a tribute to Stardock. Entrapreneur, Avarice, Links, the GC OS/2 expansions... I had them all.

The whole company had such a fresh approach that it was impossible not to fall in love with them. :CONGRAT
It may be naive, but It always looked like Brad was a friend of ours...

(time passes)

I just browsed in my archive folders and I found a copy of the order of Avarice / Links bundle (90 $ + shipping)... Jan 1998... I guess I printed it out and faxed through...

Btw - does anyone remember the Galactic Stocks that were included with the game? Will take a look in the cellar, they should have some value now!!!
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
The Galactic stock certificates. Yes, Yes. In your dreams will it have any value. But it was a nice gimmick. Too bad Stardock is not publicly traded. Even though I am a communicst, I would love to buy a few shares just to let Syardock know how much I have enjoyed their games.