2 Graphics that need improvement: Invasions and Planet map

from GalCiv2 Forums

Some aspects of the game look good -- the universe map is nice, the starship battles look alright. But two things look like games I played 15 years ago: the map of where impvovements are on each planet (reminds me of a computerized version of Risk I had 15 years ago) and the land invasion screen. What I'd like is something that brought more of a sense of what the planet actually feels like and that seems a bit more like an actual battle (honestly, it reminds me of ant war -- I played that about 20 years ago).

I'm not saying these are the most important things to work on (I would like a civlopedia, the ability to click on a tech and know what it does for you, in general more user-friendly controls), but I think it would add a lot. I'm not normally one to care much about graphics, but these feel really cheap to me.

-- hintikka (Edited to protect my true identity)
4,150 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
seconded on that one
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I dunno... I think the graphics mentioned are adequate.

Invasions are not resolved tactically - essentially they are just statistical comparisons. The "battle" animations are therefore fitting, if less than enthralling.

The 2-D planet maps are again, functional. What more is necessary? The "tile" system is a basic gameplay mechanic, and is well-implemented on the maps.

I don't mean to be overly challenging or confrontational, but it seems to me that the graphics aren't "cheap" as much as they are appropriate.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think the planet maps are fine, and I don't think any changes are needed.
With that said the invasion screen does look rather, bad...
Maybe it shouldn't be done in 3D at all.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I admit the invasion is worse than the planet map. I think a good still picture of a land invasion -- or perhaps a sequence of frames -- would be much better.

What I would like for the planet map -- or somewhere on the planet screen -- is something more evocative of the planets. Is this a jungle planet? Give the planets more personality. Right now I'm likely to think of the planet as that number 12 in the corner. I'd rather think of it as the place where I have research parks built on the top of 10 mile high mountains that are clad in mist.

If anyone has played the playstation game Romance of the Three Kingdoms (in any of its incarnations, especially the last), that is a game that evokes a lot of atmosphere without sophisticated graphics. Good still paintings, a picture of your town in the background (it is set in ancient China) and you feel like you are there.

-- hintikka
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
agreed
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah, the invasion graphics are rather cheesy. In my opinion it would be better to not have them at all, as they are not nearly as polished as the ships. They look cheap and cobbled together. I always just skip them as they are rather painful to watch. And I'd agree with want to see some varity to the planets, they do look almost all identical.

But, inspite of those minor things, the game rocks.