Empire Enhanced, a review

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Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

I've enjoyed every Empire and Empire Deluxe game since it came out
around 1989 and was very much looking forward to the latest from Killer
Bee Software and the developer Mark Kinkead.

The game has many positives for Empire fans. You can now play on
larger maps against more opponents. There are more units that seem to
really add to gameplay. The graphics are an improvement. The few bugs
are in the process of being squashed. And best of all, the game is
open ended. You can make more units, edit existing ones, change sounds
and terrain and just about anything else in the game including the AI.

The AI is the only serious problem I found after two complete games.
It has some major flaws. It has a very poor selection of units,
doesn't expand well and doesn't defend well. Those three are enough to
make it so weak that it's really not worth playing against the
computer. I also noticed a couple of minor glitches. Enemy transports
moved toward my battleships instead of away. An enemy destroyer moved
next to my transport and ignored it. There may be others but I only
played two games.

When I and others brought these AI problems to Kinkead's attention on
the Killer Bee forum he informed us he would not fix them because it
would take him a minimum of three full time months and even then he
couldn't guarantee an improvement. But he suggested that since the AI
is open ended, although there are no instructions, some of his
customers who are programmers might like to take the time to do this.

Bottom line is - If you want to play other humans, this is a nice game.
But if you like to play solo against the computer, you'd be better off
looking elsewhere.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

You can get it at Killer Bee Software.
I don't think the problem is the way you state it. It isn't just added
units, it's a whole new game with a whole new AI. The problems are so
serious I won't play it and Empire is one of my all time favorite games.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

You can get it at Killer Bee Software.
I don't think the problem is the way you state it. It isn't just added
units, it's a whole new game with a whole new AI. The problems are so
serious I won't play it and Empire is one of my all time favorite games.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

I love this game. The AI is not fabulous but I don't think it is any
weaker than the AIs of the earlier Empire games. And this game has a
lot more units which complicates the task of building an AI enormously.

Rich12 has gotten into a tiff on the killer bee website with the
creator Mark Kinead. I am not interested in starting a flamewar. But
readers here should be aware of it.

This game is obviously a labor of love for Mark. He has revised the
game virtually on his own for a year or so. I am sure the money coming
in is hardly paying him minimum wage.

Most of those playing the game love it.

Eventually we suspect that users will build new ai's for the game.
Other users are building new units and new icons and new terrain.
Very moddable.

So don't let Rich12's viewpoint stop you from checking it out.
You can try the demo for free.
http://killerbeesoftware.com/

And no, I am not a paid endorser. Just a loyal player. And I have
played Empire
since some of the first versions where the units were represented by
letters. It definitely doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a
Civ type game produced by a ton of programmers. But there's a lot of
strategy built in.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

I might add the Rich12 has said a number of very positive things about
the game and that his position on the AI is not completely
unreasonable.

I think most of the users have not found the AI to be all that bad
compared to what can be expected in these kinds of strategy games.

A new patch is expected out by early next week.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

rich12545@yahoo.com once tried to test me with:

> I've enjoyed every Empire and Empire Deluxe game since it came out
> around 1989 and was very much looking forward to the latest from Killer
> Bee Software and the developer Mark Kinkead.
>
> The game has many positives for Empire fans. You can now play on
> larger maps against more opponents. There are more units that seem to
> really add to gameplay. The graphics are an improvement. The few bugs
> are in the process of being squashed. And best of all, the game is
> open ended. You can make more units, edit existing ones, change sounds
> and terrain and just about anything else in the game including the AI.
>
> The AI is the only serious problem I found after two complete games.
> It has some major flaws. It has a very poor selection of units,
> doesn't expand well and doesn't defend well. Those three are enough to
> make it so weak that it's really not worth playing against the
> computer. I also noticed a couple of minor glitches. Enemy transports
> moved toward my battleships instead of away. An enemy destroyer moved
> next to my transport and ignored it. There may be others but I only
> played two games.
>
> When I and others brought these AI problems to Kinkead's attention on
> the Killer Bee forum he informed us he would not fix them because it
> would take him a minimum of three full time months and even then he
> couldn't guarantee an improvement. But he suggested that since the AI
> is open ended, although there are no instructions, some of his
> customers who are programmers might like to take the time to do this.
>
> Bottom line is - If you want to play other humans, this is a nice game.
> But if you like to play solo against the computer, you'd be better off
> looking elsewhere.

Where can I get it? Is this retail or a webstore thing?

So he added new units to the game without respect to how the AI could
handle it?



--

Knight37

The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

The AI is not fabulous but I don't think it is any
weaker than the AIs of the earlier Empire games. And this game has a
lot more units which complicates the task of building an AI enormously.


I played Empire, Empire Deluxe and Kinkead's Empire Deluxe. It's not
so much the AI is that much worse, it has specific flaws mentioned
above that make it virtually unplayable solo. Other players brought up
these same problems on the forum.

Rich12 has gotten into a tiff on the killer bee website with the
creator Mark Kinead. I am not interested in starting a flamewar. But
readers here should be aware of it.

LOL. Yeah, a tiff. I, and other players, brought up the AI problems.
Then I asked Kinkead if he was planning to fix it. He said "no" for
the reasons outlined above. I expressed my displeasure. So he said I
had a poor attitude and banned me.

I might add the Rich12 has said a number of very positive things about
the game and that his position on the AI is not completely
unreasonable.

Problem is I really like this game. Empire has always been one of my
favorites and this game makes it betterr. It's just too bad Kinkead
stopped development before he made a decent AI.

Eventually we suspect that users will build new ai's for the game.

Kinkead made a game with an AI that has so many problems it's dumber
than a rock. If you play a typical expansion game you'll find that the
AI's choice of units is so bad it can't do anything much. Now, Kinkead
has acknowledged these problems. He just won't fix them. What he
wants is for the "mod community," aka his customers, to do the job for
him. Such a deal.

I have Kinkead's previous Empire Deluxe as well as his Perfect General.
Both are good games and the AI, although not brilliant (what AI is?)
is more than adequate. Too bad he can't do the same with Empire
Enhanced.

My purpose in doing this review wasn't to slam the game, it has some
very good points, but to give an honest review and I believe I've done
that.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

"JHawk" <brycej@truman.edu> once tried to test me with:

> And no, I am not a paid endorser. Just a loyal player. And I have
> played Empire
> since some of the first versions where the units were represented by
> letters. It definitely doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a
> Civ type game produced by a ton of programmers. But there's a lot of
> strategy built in.
>

I remember the old text versions of Empire heh. I didn't really get into it
though until Empire Deluxe and I loved that game to death. Still play it
from time to time actually.

I'll check it out, thanks for the link.


--

Knight37

The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
 
Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic (More info?)

"Knight37" <knight37m@email.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9608CE943516knight37m@130.133.1.4...
> "JHawk" <brycej@truman.edu> once tried to test me with:
>
> > And no, I am not a paid endorser. Just a loyal player. And I have
> > played Empire
> > since some of the first versions where the units were represented by
> > letters. It definitely doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a
> > Civ type game produced by a ton of programmers. But there's a lot of
> > strategy built in.
> >
>
> I remember the old text versions of Empire heh. I didn't really get into
it
> though until Empire Deluxe and I loved that game to death. Still play it
> from time to time actually.
>
> I'll check it out, thanks for the link.
>
>
> --
>
> Knight37
>
> The gene pool could use a little chlorine.


I have both "Empire Deluxe" (Win 3.1 Ed.) and the new "Empire Deluxe
Enhanced Edition" on my PC now. Dont really need The older ver. any more
but it takes up so little space that I can't bring myself to delete it. ;o)

Elrikk
 
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