Comparisons are inevitable for any space opera looking game. Especially since GE has hexes and TI3 has hexes. It just flat out looks the same. But besides the hexes, the space opera feel, space ships, and the fact is has a Puerto Rico mechanic in the game - what has TI3 given us? Nothing!Anyhow, for those of you who dispute the claim that Galactic Emperor is completely different from TI3 (and you know who you'll be even before you are that person!), I say give GE a looksee for yourself. It plays way faster, scales much better and is far easier to learn. So much easier - you can learn GE in about 20 minutes. Much faster - you will finish a game in 2 hours or less. And that's a point - but it's not the *only* point. I've followed (now) much of the debate - pro and con - about TI3. I'm following and figuring.GE has different play mechanics too. It's a tighter game. It is very balanced (play testing is demonstrating very close contests - even when newbies are involved). Industrialist, Politician, Marine, Engineer, Scientist, Merchant - it all flows fast and furious. I know, I know. This is all stuff and fluff until you see it for yourself. Hopefully that will be soon.
Now as to the extent of my dislike or not of TI – Mr. Lewis has it right: what does it matter? The only reason I mentioned TI at all is because it has, during several play tests, more than a few times (!) been called to my attention as a comparator. As I said, comparisons are inevitable and they can be helpful. In this case, I’m not sure that it is. Personally, TI3 doesn’t fit my gaming needs at this point in my life. I have to play in two hours or less – it’s simply the time we have allotted on our gaming group nights. As a point of fact, I have played TI2 and TI3 (one time each at GenCon and yes, now own a copy of the latter – geek updated) because I so love the concept of 4X space conquest – planets, ships, technologies, economies – I love it all. But to play this theme often, I need it done in two hours or less. And I need fast play with little down time as my gaming group is enjoying Euro-game mechanics – not just to be trendy, but because we truly enjoy the stuff. Therefore, being a bit of a game enthusiast and game developer, I set out to fill my own gaming gap – not to make a TI3 “one better” (perish the thought!) but to make a galactic empire game fun, fast and well crafted.Have I succeeded? I love game development. I’m enthusiastic and cautiously optimistic. I continue to play test. I’m hopeful. We’ll see!
My "gripes" with TI are the duration and the complexity as I said.
Plastic minis are in the plans. What I'm trying to find is a good (reasonably cost effective) way to get this done. They are clearly the single most expensive component. But I still have hope!On victory counters, they are indeed in a pool and allocated - much like many other games. This is a point of continual tweaking (I only a few play tests ago increased the number), trying to have a sufficient amount to allow a good, satisfying play session and yet also dial the time into around 2 perfect hours.
I think of BGG folks highly. Although each have games they hold in high regard, in the end, what has joined us here together, is our passion for games. So I'm not fearful of tapping into their passion by lambasting a game occasionally. But! I must repeat myself: I don't think negatively of TI3. I only hold out what I believe is an unfilled gap in board games with a 4X theme: play time and complexity. I also am fascinated by Euro-mechanics and their application to this problem. Thus, my game.It shouldn't be a problem to state the motivation for a game. And it shouldn't be a problem if said motivation is stated by comparing to another game. In fact, I don't believe it is a problem. I trust BGG is filled with gamers who love games and so try out new games and those far outweigh some who are fixated on a single game (whatever game that may be) to the exclusion of all others.
Actually, I was trying to uncompare to TI3 - i.e. contrast, not compare. I do feel bad that it still appears as if I'm 'trashing' TI3. I *like* TI3 for what it is - the superlative epic space empire game! I'm just describing the inspiration for my game as I've tried to make plain.
I give credit where due, but it's only *somewhat* due to TI as I've tried to make clear. I certainly did not sit down with TI3 and figure out how to trim it down. I took as much (if not more) inspiration from Masters of Orion (II especially) and Space Empires (IV especially). So let's give them some credit too!
Thanks! I completely expect people will continue to compare GE to TI3 for the reasons you mention. I also expect people to play the game and say it *plays* nothing at all like TI3. It's all good to me
en relacion al TI3 es barata economicamente hablando oyes. pero que como juego 4x esta bien logrado oyes.
Forofo27, sí que dice algo sobre el Puerto Rico, porque habla de la "herencia" del mecanismo de roles... lo que pasa es que eso lo toma del TI, y el TI del PR Lo de los componentes no lo he podido verificar por mí mismo. Tximoton, que te comparen con otro juego no es malo... que digan que has hecho una copia barata de ese otro juego sí lo es