Galactic Civilizations II and What's Important in Video Games

Some companies just don't get it. Some of the big players just keep taking the same idea and putting new graphics and effects on them. We keep seeing the same games coming out of companies like EA. Other companies just get it. They realise gameplay is the key. The perfect example is Stardock, esspecially in Galactic Civilizations II.

First, I will say, they have used a pretty old concept: Civ. However, they put it in a creative enviornment (Space). The key to the entire game is the gameplay. Every improvement they make is centered around that. It has good graphics, none that will blow you away and sometimes there are tiny visual glitches, but they work. The music sets the mood but is nothing to write home about. But gameplay, that is top notch. They are currently working on their fifth patch (six if you count the expansion pack but that you had to buy) and each improved them game. They didn't just fix the game, they improved it. New options were added, setting tweaked etc. The amazing thing is how they did it; they asked (dun dun dun) gamers what they wanted to see added. Go figure, a gaming company asking its clients what THEY want. How common and low, I know.

Let me also say that Galactic Civilizations II is a great game to give a whirl. The AI plays a fun game that you can both work with and against (again, Stardock looks to players with the highest scores and asks them for strategy to make the AI better). The trade system is great, as everything has value to the computer. You must design your ships and the ship builder alone is a sort of game in itself. There are plenty of technologies to research and improvements to build. Further, they had no problem trying to put humor in the game with funny descriptions and strange events. If you ever had fun playing a game from the Civ series, you will love Galactic Civilizations II (and I highly recommend the expansion pack for some natural improvements that fight right in).