New Fleet Commander Reporting for Duty!

[RooksBailey]

Hey all,

I guess you can call me a new recruit to the ongoing Human - AI wars.    I admit, it took me two tries with the demo before I was hooked.  The first time (months back) it didn't really 'click' with me, but this second time it really got under my skin.  To be fair, I don't think I gave it a fair shake the first time - I found the graphics to be off-putting (yes, I can be shallow that way), and I thought the game was all about spamming your way to victory.  But the second time I DL'ed the demo (I was hungry for some fresh spacey action after reading White/Weber's On Death Ground), I finished the beg tutorial all the way through and realized there is a lot more going on here than a "spam your way to victory" approach.  As I worked my way through a three hour demo campaign, I found myself thinking about tactics and strategy even when I wasn't playing - something very few games manage to achieve in this day and age.    So I decided to take the plunge and picked up both AI War and Zenith Remnant over at GamersGate (both in a 20% off bundle - can't beat that!).

I think what I like best about AI War is how it has managed to capture the essence of one of my favorite sci-fi series of all time, Fred Saberhagen's Berzerker Wars.  Other 4X sci-fi games include the requisite machine race, but I think only AI War has managed to truly capture the hostility of a truly implacable AI menace, partly because no diplo is possible with it, and partly because the AI comes across as refreshingly intelligent and flexible compared to other games.  It almost feels like a Chess AI in that regards.  And like a good Chess AI, this game's AI (and the tower defense mechanics, too) makes the experience all the more intriguing because it feels like you're not just playing against the AI, but also with the AI (like an opponent sitting across the game board from you).   This is quite an achievement.  

AI War also reminds me of the classic, old school wargames like Harpoon or TACOPS, where elegant design and deep gameplay were job #1, rather than the layers and layers of glitz that is piled on top of a game these days.  Yeah, at first I was put off by the sprites, but then I came to appreciate them with a bit of nostalgia.    

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for such a great game at such a great price!  I find it ironic that $50 RUSE is sitting on my HD, while $23 AI/ZR is getting all my attention.    I can't wait for 4.0 and Unity!  


BTW:  Were Saberhagen's Berserkers an influence for this game?

PS:  Congrats on the new member of the family, Mr. & Mrs. Park!

[Ozymandiaz]

Welcome to the forums!

I found the "old school" art refreshing in a game now a days, but thats what i get from growing up with 8 bit NES and old games . Besides, AI Wars focus is in gameplay, and it delivers big time, just wait til you get some huge campaigns going, its awesome (and the 2nd expansion is not far off either )

[eRe4s3r]

I agree, pixel art is a pretty cool method to display things and still leave some things for the player to "interpret" - IJI comes to mind, which might easily be the ugliest pixel art side scrolling shooter you ever seen, yet it is remarkable "coherent" in its art style and produces with it one of the coolest, moving and dynamic stories ever.

Meaning, pixel art / old-skool graphics are good!  Which is why the new (ehem, relatively) gfx for the stations don't resonate with me, maybe its because i do 3d-design as well and only pixel art can really wow me in the small resolution details. Though the new guard posts are cute - but they are fractals, a 3rd art style in the game - can't say thats a good thing for coherence. But they do look nice

[Frozen Critical]

i Wasn't Expecting Emote Spam , But it Isn't Time to be Picky

Welcome to the Forums

Saberhagen's Berserkers , in my Option , ain't any Close to AI war , But that's My Option , You don't have to go Spreading it around or Arguing over PMs

Enjoy your Stay , And Watch your Back , Stealth Systems are getting More Common in the Ranks of the AI

[keith.lamothe]

Welcome to the forums, and glad you're enjoying the game so much

Never heard of Saberhagen, actually; I think Chris was largely inspired by Ender's Game.

[Jesterman]

Welcome and salutations!
Its always a good thing to recruit fresh blood. Pray you that it wont be your that is spilt on the celestial battlefield!

If you are ever looking for a friend on the field, any man (or woman) will be perfectly willing to lend a hand including myself!

Do contact me if you'd like another man in a game. This game is awesome single player, but a downright experience in multi player. Being an English major college student, I do have a large amount of free time. (also it would help me grab some nice screenshots for the new game manual I am creating for Arcen)

[snrub_guy]

I'll add my hello too! These are some of the best devs out there. You'll enjoy your stay here. Any questions about the game just ask! Have fun!

[RooksBailey]

Thanks, guys!  Once I get a good grip on the single player game, I hope to jump into a MP game.  

As for Ender's Game being the inspiration, I can see that.  The nature of the fleet command does remind me of the fleet battles.  

I really need to read that book again.  I used to read it regularly but haven't in a while.  

For those not familiar with Saberhagen, check out Berserkers:  The Beginning.  Saberhagan wrote great stories (especially short stories) about mankind's battle against AI killing machines out to destroy all life in the galaxy.  Like the campaign story in AI Wars, the machines were created to win a war between two warring factions.  Well...you could say that they worked too well.   Great stuff.  One of my favorite sci-fi short stories of all time is Saberhagen's "What Do You Want Me To Do To Prove I Am Human <STOP>".  It's in that collection and is worth the price of the book alone (it's part war story, part detective story).  

Anyhoo...see you all around!

[Spikey00]

Hope you find yourself at home within our community. 

[Panopticon]

The game instantly reminded me of Saberhagen's Berserker stuff too.

Also, it's nice to see someone mention TACOPS and Harpoon. It makes me sad that classics like these tend to get lost in the glitz these days. I'll always prefer gameplay over graphics (what we used to call "chrome" back in my tabletop days). It's probably the main reason I'm spending more of my gaming money on indie titles these days.

Finally, I'm a new Fleet Commander too. I've been nothing but impressed with AI War. Seeing the AI react, probe and plan is just awesome. Most appreciated is the approach towards reducing micromanagement. This has really opened up the strategic possibilities while still allowing me to directly influence more important operations. Fantastic job on all fronts guys. I'm really looking forward to the Unity port as well, I think it's only going to make a fantastic game even better, and that can only broaden the appeal.

[RooksBailey]

The game instantly reminded me of Saberhagen's Berserker stuff too.

Right?!?    This game is making me re-read some of those stories.  

Also, it's nice to see someone mention TACOPS and Harpoon. It makes me sad that classics like these tend to get lost in the glitz these days. I'll always prefer gameplay over graphics (what we used to call "chrome" back in my tabletop days). It's probably the main reason I'm spending more of my gaming money on indie titles these days.

I'm starting to feel that way, too.  It feels like the entirety of the mainstream gaming world is stuck in neutral for the last two years.  Even when they come up with a good concept, they seem to botch it by playing it safe and compensating with graphic dazzle.  Or they just botch it.  Indie projects are more often daring passion projects.  I think this is why they often succeed in gameplay even if the production values aren't up to AAA quality.

I think indie games also succeed because they are rarely ever "done".  I know this annoys some gamers, but I've always considered it a strength.  It makes the game feel alive when you know it is constantly being adjusted, expanded, etc.  I think it also helps to keep the community vibrant. 

Finally, I'm a new Fleet Commander too. I've been nothing but impressed with AI War. Seeing the AI react, probe and plan is just awesome. Most appreciated is the approach towards reducing micromanagement. This has really opened up the strategic possibilities while still allowing me to directly influence more important operations. Fantastic job on all fronts guys. I'm really looking forward to the Unity port as well, I think it's only going to make a fantastic game even better, and that can only broaden the appeal.

Hear, hear!  

[TheMachineIsSentient]

Welcome, commander. When you have beaten the AI at least once, feel free to send me a message if you want a partner to take over the galaxy.

[Bonegnawer]

Hallo all,

I  am a new(bie) to ai too, and bought the whole package as RPS Post
reminded me that i allready planned to, but never got to it. Anyway, after
starting the tutorial, and having blast i wanted to try myself at a campaign.

Should i play vanilla AI Wars, or is it better to add both addons from the go ?

[keith.lamothe]

Thank you for the support Vanilla has plenty to be keep you entertained for a while; if you've already bought TZR and CoN may as well enable them, they do add a ton.  If you don't have them yet, you can also play them in trial mode   But might want to try a full vanilla campaign first in that case.

[Sizzle]

Welcome to the forums!

The good news is that if you buy everyone in one shot you can have the best of both worlds.. Have all the content available, and only enable certain ships (basic / complex / full) as you get better at the game during the game setup. Same goes with AI difficulty.  You can set up easier AI's and play on a lower difficulty setting to start with.  So you can purchase it all for more selection and only enable what interests you to a certain extent to get rid of some of the "drinking from a fire hose" aspect of things.  

Hopefully in before Keith / Chris -- forum ninjas that they are  

EDIT dag nab it Keith !!!!