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Heh, who was it last night who was hoping someone on here would have an extra copy of Orcs Must Die! to trade? I guess that trade won't be necessary anymore.
Really what would make OMD even better is just longer levels, cheaper traps, and more Orcs. Seeing a hallway go from nice and inviting to a death maze of swinging maces, smashers, pushers, arrow walls, spike pits... it's so cool looking!
Traps don't need to be cheaper; and the ones that kinda do usually are made so via upgrades.
There are a lot of methods to drastically increase income; it just takes some pre-planning on how you set up a map depending on whether you go the trap > income route or magic > income route and how to make sure that you're doing most all early map killing on money plates to further increase it.
It can dramatically change what you have access to in earlier waves and is pretty much required for successful Nightmare maps to maximize your income and not rely on the "base".
Got an extra key for Crayon Physics Deluxe, Aquaria, and Dungeons of Dredmor bundle associated with Humble "Introversion" Bundle. Since I like the silly contests for games, here's an easy one. PM me a picture that incorporates all 3 games! I'll let this run about 6 hours or so in case anyone at work is interested so say 9pm EST I'll choose a winner.
Man King Arthur has come up like 10 times, and I still haven't decided on it. I have lots of fun with strategy games, but it's these almost-greats that make me most fidgety. I always toss like 40 hours in, and if at the endgame it feels cheap I sort of go "Oh man my earlier work was wasted!" even though that's sort of silly.
Hm. Well, I have till Thursday.
We're all in this together
0
INeedNoSaltwith blood on my teethRegistered Userregular
Really what would make OMD even better is just longer levels, cheaper traps, and more Orcs. Seeing a hallway go from nice and inviting to a death maze of swinging maces, smashers, pushers, arrow walls, spike pits... it's so cool looking!
You know, I know it's for the challenge, but the maps where I can't do this make me not want to play.
If using my crossbow or knocking people into lava by hand is the 'right way' to beat the level, I hate it.
Steam, I don't want or need a Total War like game that has no morale effects. I have real TW games that I haven't even downloaded yet, let alone played.
But you are making it hard for me not go buy King Arthur. Stop it.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Really what would make OMD even better is just longer levels, cheaper traps, and more Orcs. Seeing a hallway go from nice and inviting to a death maze of swinging maces, smashers, pushers, arrow walls, spike pits... it's so cool looking!
You know, I know it's for the challenge, but the maps where I can't do this make me not want to play.
If using my crossbow or knocking people into lava by hand is the 'right way' to beat the level, I hate it.
Steam, I don't want or need a Total War like game that has no morale effects. I have real TW games that I haven't even downloaded yet, let alone played.
But you are making it hard for me not go buy King Arthur. Stop it.
I would kill for proper morale effects in King Arthur as opposed to the control point/morale system they have now
I've been slowly playing through Orcs Must Die and love it, but I always tend to get to a new level, look at how its laid out, and decide I don't feel like thinking about how best to set my traps and quit playing for a few days. Then when I do play it, I either do really well, or can't figure out the right placement of traps for another few days.
minor incidentyou can't swim whenyou've been dead a hundred yearsRegistered User, Transition Teamregular
I hate most of the wide open maps on OMD, but the Arena was great. So many pillars with arrow traps on all four sides. An Orc couldn't take a step without setting off six different arrow traps.
Ah, it stinks, it sucks, it's anthropologically unjust
I think don't think we do. Since Steam's own chat mechanism sucks, I took the liberty of registering a chatroom for us, in the only true way: The IRC way.
You can use this link if you want to chat via your web browser. Just enter a nickname, and enter #steamthread as the channel name.
For those of you who own a real IRC client (You can get one here), connect to the server irc.esper.net and join the channel #steamthread (by using your user interface or by entering /join #steamthread)
Would love to see you guys there!
I hope I'm not violating any thread rules by posting this here!
Got an extra key for Crayon Physics Deluxe, Aquaria, and Dungeons of Dredmor bundle associated with Humble "Introversion" Bundle. Since I like the silly contests for games, here's an easy one. PM me a picture that incorporates all 3 games! I'll let this run about 6 hours or so in case anyone at work is interested so say 9pm EST I'll choose a winner.
Is it a key for all three, or individual keys? Just interested in DofD, as I've got the other two. Wouldn't take it as someone who doesn't have Aquaria needs to have it. NEEDS!
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience (Basebuilding and what not). His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience. His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
This isn't steam, but anybody who cares about "traditional RTSs" at all should play Starcraft II. It's mostly known for its multiplayer, but I've played the campaign 2 times now, it's really so well done. After that you have the challenges and achievements you can hunt.
Got an extra key for Crayon Physics Deluxe, Aquaria, and Dungeons of Dredmor bundle associated with Humble "Introversion" Bundle. Since I like the silly contests for games, here's an easy one. PM me a picture that incorporates all 3 games! I'll let this run about 6 hours or so in case anyone at work is interested so say 9pm EST I'll choose a winner.
Is it a key for all three, or individual keys? Just interested in DofD, as I've got the other two. Wouldn't take it as someone who doesn't have Aquaria needs to have it. NEEDS!
Yeah unfortunately it's a key for all 3, or else I'd have just ninja gifted the 3 separately to people that didn't have them.
0
FiggyFighter of the night manChampion of the sunRegistered Userregular
How did I play absolutely none of Cave Story until now? This game is really, really well done. I'm loving it.
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience. His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
This isn't steam, but anybody who cares about "traditional RTSs" at all should play Starcraft II. It's mostly known for its multiplayer, but I've played the campaign 2 times now, it's really so well done. After that you have the challenges and achievements you can hunt.
You know what you really want to suggest. I'll do it for you. AI War. Best single player RTS ever. The only thing that's better is co-op AI War. It's seriously amazing, just the base game alone offers pretty much limitless replay value. You throw in the expansions (which are huge, yes even the "Micro Expansion" Children of Neinzul [whose profits support Child's Play]), and the variety of gameplay and replay value is just fucking staggering.
How did I play absolutely none of Cave Story until now? This game is really, really well done. I'm loving it.
Especially considering the game has been available for free for years now. Don't sweat it though. I just discovered the goodness of Cave Story literally days before Cave Story+ was released. Cave Story+ is definitely getting bought during the Christmas sale. The only question is if I can stand waiting to see if it gets a daily.
My friend has never expressed any interest in starcraft 2, so I'm not sure if thats the game for him. A mutual friend plays it pretty competitively so there have been plenty of times for him to try it, but he hasnt wanted to. As far as AI War, I stay 10 yards away from any RTS so I can only judge based off videos..But it doesnt look like it is basebuilding?
My friend does the following in RTSs: Beats the campaign. Then he will set up random games against NPCs set on easier difficulties. He will spend hours building up his base and smothering the other sides. Then he will wipe them out in seconds. Then he will click "rematch".
starmanbrand on
0
FiggyFighter of the night manChampion of the sunRegistered Userregular
My friend has never expressed any interest in starcraft 2, so I'm not sure if thats the game for him. As far as AI War, I stay 10 yards away from any RTS so I can only judge based off videos..But it doesnt look like it is basebuilding?
My friend does the following in RTSs: Beats the campaign. Then he will set up random games against NPCs set on easier difficulties. He will spend hours building up his base and smothering the other sides. Then he will wipe them out in seconds. Then he will click "rematch".
He can absolutely do that in Starcraft 2. What's more, the campaign/map editor is so fully featured that I'm sure there are tons of maps he can download that scratch exactly that itch.
My friend has never expressed any interest in starcraft 2, so I'm not sure if thats the game for him. A mutual friend plays it pretty competitively so there have been plenty of times for him to try it, but he hasnt wanted to. As far as AI War, I stay 10 yards away from any RTS so I can only judge based off videos..But it doesnt look like it is basebuilding?
My friend does the following in RTSs: Beats the campaign. Then he will set up random games against NPCs set on easier difficulties. He will spend hours building up his base and smothering the other sides. Then he will wipe them out in seconds. Then he will click "rematch".
I'm exactly like your friend, and I enjoy Starcraft II a lot. In fact, I just came from a match where I did just that (ask the guys in IRC ;-)) Its easiest setting is also really easy, which helps guys like me.
But if he already saw it... don't know, maybe he thinks it's just fun competitively?
As for AI War, I love it and recommend it at every chance I get, but from what you describe your friend might or might not like it. It's something different, and that's the beauty of it.
How did I play absolutely none of Cave Story until now? This game is really, really well done. I'm loving it.
Especially considering the game has been available for free for years now. Don't sweat it though. I just discovered the goodness of Cave Story literally days before Cave Story+ was released. Cave Story+ is definitely getting bought during the Christmas sale. The only question is if I can stand waiting to see if it gets a daily.
Jokes on you, the game's been free for a long time.
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience (Basebuilding and what not). His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience (Basebuilding and what not). His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience (Basebuilding and what not). His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
It's not new but how about Rise of Nations?
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience (Basebuilding and what not). His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
Dune II. All he needs.
Edit: Oh, wait, you said new...
Depending on the definition of "new" I would recommend Rise of Legends. I had way too much fun with that game.
My friend has never expressed any interest in starcraft 2, so I'm not sure if thats the game for him. A mutual friend plays it pretty competitively so there have been plenty of times for him to try it, but he hasnt wanted to. As far as AI War, I stay 10 yards away from any RTS so I can only judge based off videos..But it doesnt look like it is basebuilding?
My friend does the following in RTSs: Beats the campaign. Then he will set up random games against NPCs set on easier difficulties. He will spend hours building up his base and smothering the other sides. Then he will wipe them out in seconds. Then he will click "rematch".
A big part of AI War is building up massive defenses at strategic planets. There is a game mode in the latest expansion, Light of the Spire, which is purely defensive. You select how many and which planets you want to defend, build up defenses and then the AI cuts loose. As far as basebuilding goes, that's in there too. There is an insane wealth of static defenses for planets.
True, the game isn't your standard RTS, and it has some pretty interesting and unique mechanics. It doesn't really play much like a traditional RTS where you steamroll your way through the game. You have to fight an asymmetrical guerilla war. When you do attack though, you will usually be doing so with overwhelming forces or specially designed fleets for the task at hand. And every system is a new and different tactical and strategic nut to crack, due to the game's procedural generation there is a ton of emergent interactions. That said, it draws from some of the best traditional RTS games for inspiration, the economic model is almost straight out of Total Annihilation for example. The massive amount of units to play with is another nod towards Total Annihilation.
It'll probably get a daily deal during the Christmas sale, and will most likely be cheap enough to take a gamble on. Or not. You know your pal better than I do, after all. I just love the damn game and get enthusiastic about it. Even though I haven't played lately. Because when I play it, that's all I tend to do.
So with Christmas coming up, I'd like to get my friend a new RTS. I tried gifting him Dawn of War II, but he said he likes the more traditional RTS experience (Basebuilding and what not). His favorite games in the genre are command and conquer and stronghold. He does not give a shit about multiplayer and is content to play solo against the NPCs.
Even though this doesnt really follow the criteria, I'm still just going to say Company of Heroes. Because AWWWW YYEEAAAHHH
Another RTS to add to the maybe list- Supreme Commander (haven't played the sequel but I liked the ability to amass hundreds of units and swarm a poor AI base).
Also, is anyone else getting impatient waiting for the Steam sale. Came into a bit of money today and finished Christmas shopping with some left over, so tempted to buy games you all talk about but there's no point until the sales.
Rise of Nations: I have no idea. I -hate- RTSs so I don't know anything about them other than I played starcraft 1 and a few other RTSs to determine that I hate them. Anything more you could tell me about it?
AI War sounds like something I would like more than him. How RTS-y is it? I love turn based strategy games. Using position and resources to their maximum is fun. But I hate the micromanaging BS that comes with RTSs.
Anyone who gets angry at someone for spreading the love of gaming through trades instead of just giving it away is an asshole. And this is coming from someone who is an asshole (ask anyone in Rift!). Trade, Give away, buy with absolutely no intention of ever playing. Those're the pillars of Serving the Newell.
The Newell offers many paths that one may walk to serve in his honor so that we may all one day have a seat at his table.
AmeN.
GabeN.
It can't be a coincidence.
Anyway, I've been putting in fairly excessive hours (out of those available) and must say that Orcs Must Die is (imo) worth the hype its been getting, the M12 Duel of the Planeswalkers game is plenty of fun (as a long time Magic player), and that Iron Grip: Warlords is fun. There's some minor "oh god, more of this daily play shit that I abandoned Facebook games for", but the gameplay is pretty fun, the resource management is reasonable, and so far I've held back from buying a giant pile of gems to build a multi-faceted throne from, but if there's a winter discount I might just have to snag some to crack open a pile of boosters/boxes/crates/whatever these things are.
First they came for the Muslims, and we said NOT TODAY, MOTHERFUCKER!
Rise of Nations: I have no idea. I -hate- RTSs so I don't know anything about them other than I played starcraft 1 and a few other RTSs to determine that I hate them. Anything more you could tell me about it?
AI War sounds like something I would like more than him. How RTS-y is it? I love turn based strategy games. Using position and resources to their maximum is fun. But I hate the micromanaging BS that comes with RTSs.
Rise of Nations is basically Civ in RTS form in that you work up from stone age to nukes over a game, different factions have different bonuses, etc. Doesn't really have a fixed campaign if I recall but it has both skirmishes and a Risk like campaign that connects various skirmishes together.
It also has logistics, i.e. you need to keep supply units near your combat units or they take damage in enemy territory.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
AI War is so good. I haven't properly given it time, and I really need to. It's basically a macromanaging RTS. You churn out ships by the dozens, and the basic strategy is the application of force in the right amount at the right place.
Your goal isn't just to take all the planets on the map, it's to find the AI, shut off the forcefields protecting it, and bust in to kill it in one final blaze of glory. So you have to pick and choose fights by properly scouting the map, and have a few ships hanging back along with base-defence turrets to take care of the waves of increasingly dangerous AI ships being sent by the increasingly angry AI.
It's such great fun. Weird, kind of ugly as sin, but so worth the time to become invested if strategy is your thing.
The best part is that you can add all sorts of weird random modifiers to the basic formula to make it even more replayable. Up to and including an entire supplemental story arc and method of winning the game.
Edit: Also so... Cave Story+ is literally just paying $10 for the free game Cave Story?
durandal4532 on
We're all in this together
0
DrakeEdgelord TrashBelow the ecliptic plane.Registered Userregular
For all of AI War's scope, there is really very little micromanagement. It's there, under the surface if you want it, but keeping the management down and automated intelligently is one of the things at the top of Arcen's design for the game. Even to the point that when you take a new system and build your Command Center, it automatically builds your resourcing units for you. Once you wrap your head around the interface and the information it gives you, you'll find the bulk of the game is building and organizing your forces, setting your defenses and making interesting large scale strategic decisions. It is fully pausable too, allowing you to issue commands while paused. There are also different combat models that will further allow you to pace the game to your comfort zone. The difficulty is incredibly scalable as well.
Micro in combat is nonexistent if that's how you like it. Units have no special attacks to manage, they attack enemies and objectives intelligently and there are a ton of tools for organizing your forces and capabilities. If a battle is big and important enough, then I may get involved to optimize the pathing or something but for the most part it's fire and forget.
But yeah, Arcen has said that they want the game to be about epic battles and agonizing decisions. Not a bunch of bean counting or a high APM micro-hell clickfest.
For those interested in my current situation, here's today's update:
It's not a decision made by me based on your actions. It's a protocol I must follow everytime an editor fails to use a key for the second time. You're not the first one to get that email. I think **** got those emails too when he was an editor because he lives in Brazil and piracy is rampant in Brazil.
If everything is resolved, then we re-enable your account and send you another email and telling you that you're eligible to receive review copies again.
I know that it can be alarming to read such a notice but those are part of the protocol as *** needs to protect its partners' assets as well.
Let me know if you're in contact with ***** from OVERKILL. I cc'd him everything.
So every time there's a claim about a non-working code, they immediately go into account lockdown? This sounds retarded.
The first response I got wasn't even indicating a suspension or investigation....it straight up said "account termination" followed by "LOL POLICE".
I dunno, I'm still waiting on the outcome before I make any decisions.
You might have already done this, but perhaps you should advise them to adjust their protocol to include "Don't post CD keys to publicly accessible places". It'll have the added benefit of making the rest of the protocol redundant!
0
minor incidentyou can't swim whenyou've been dead a hundred yearsRegistered User, Transition Teamregular
Posts
Said it many times before, but it's a pretty fun but flawed Total War-alike RPG
Would be a much better game if not for the flagrant cheating by the AI late game
My Backloggery
Now to get non-suck at this tower defense stuff....
Traps don't need to be cheaper; and the ones that kinda do usually are made so via upgrades.
There are a lot of methods to drastically increase income; it just takes some pre-planning on how you set up a map depending on whether you go the trap > income route or magic > income route and how to make sure that you're doing most all early map killing on money plates to further increase it.
It can dramatically change what you have access to in earlier waves and is pretty much required for successful Nightmare maps to maximize your income and not rely on the "base".
Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand
Hm. Well, I have till Thursday.
You know, I know it's for the challenge, but the maps where I can't do this make me not want to play.
If using my crossbow or knocking people into lava by hand is the 'right way' to beat the level, I hate it.
But you are making it hard for me not go buy King Arthur. Stop it.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
I'm exactly the same
Twitter: busfahrer -- Quake Live: busfahrer -- StarCraft II: busfahrer.184 (EU)
I would kill for proper morale effects in King Arthur as opposed to the control point/morale system they have now
My Backloggery
Edit: I'll also grab Cave Story too, because even though I know it will be like $2.50 come the Christmas sale, it intrigues me.
Twitter: busfahrer -- Quake Live: busfahrer -- StarCraft II: busfahrer.184 (EU)
Is it a key for all three, or individual keys? Just interested in DofD, as I've got the other two. Wouldn't take it as someone who doesn't have Aquaria needs to have it. NEEDS!
This isn't steam, but anybody who cares about "traditional RTSs" at all should play Starcraft II. It's mostly known for its multiplayer, but I've played the campaign 2 times now, it's really so well done. After that you have the challenges and achievements you can hunt.
Twitter: busfahrer -- Quake Live: busfahrer -- StarCraft II: busfahrer.184 (EU)
Yeah unfortunately it's a key for all 3, or else I'd have just ninja gifted the 3 separately to people that didn't have them.
You know what you really want to suggest. I'll do it for you. AI War. Best single player RTS ever. The only thing that's better is co-op AI War. It's seriously amazing, just the base game alone offers pretty much limitless replay value. You throw in the expansions (which are huge, yes even the "Micro Expansion" Children of Neinzul [whose profits support Child's Play]), and the variety of gameplay and replay value is just fucking staggering.
Especially considering the game has been available for free for years now. Don't sweat it though. I just discovered the goodness of Cave Story literally days before Cave Story+ was released. Cave Story+ is definitely getting bought during the Christmas sale. The only question is if I can stand waiting to see if it gets a daily.
My friend does the following in RTSs: Beats the campaign. Then he will set up random games against NPCs set on easier difficulties. He will spend hours building up his base and smothering the other sides. Then he will wipe them out in seconds. Then he will click "rematch".
He can absolutely do that in Starcraft 2. What's more, the campaign/map editor is so fully featured that I'm sure there are tons of maps he can download that scratch exactly that itch.
I'm exactly like your friend, and I enjoy Starcraft II a lot. In fact, I just came from a match where I did just that (ask the guys in IRC ;-)) Its easiest setting is also really easy, which helps guys like me.
But if he already saw it... don't know, maybe he thinks it's just fun competitively?
As for AI War, I love it and recommend it at every chance I get, but from what you describe your friend might or might not like it. It's something different, and that's the beauty of it.
Twitter: busfahrer -- Quake Live: busfahrer -- StarCraft II: busfahrer.184 (EU)
Jokes on you, the game's been free for a long time.
(I'll buy three)
Dune II. All he needs.
Edit: Oh, wait, you said new...
Look no further!
Twitter: busfahrer -- Quake Live: busfahrer -- StarCraft II: busfahrer.184 (EU)
It's not new but how about Rise of Nations?
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Depending on the definition of "new" I would recommend Rise of Legends. I had way too much fun with that game.
twitch.tv/Taramoor
@TaramoorPlays
Taramoor on Youtube
A big part of AI War is building up massive defenses at strategic planets. There is a game mode in the latest expansion, Light of the Spire, which is purely defensive. You select how many and which planets you want to defend, build up defenses and then the AI cuts loose. As far as basebuilding goes, that's in there too. There is an insane wealth of static defenses for planets.
True, the game isn't your standard RTS, and it has some pretty interesting and unique mechanics. It doesn't really play much like a traditional RTS where you steamroll your way through the game. You have to fight an asymmetrical guerilla war. When you do attack though, you will usually be doing so with overwhelming forces or specially designed fleets for the task at hand. And every system is a new and different tactical and strategic nut to crack, due to the game's procedural generation there is a ton of emergent interactions. That said, it draws from some of the best traditional RTS games for inspiration, the economic model is almost straight out of Total Annihilation for example. The massive amount of units to play with is another nod towards Total Annihilation.
It'll probably get a daily deal during the Christmas sale, and will most likely be cheap enough to take a gamble on. Or not. You know your pal better than I do, after all. I just love the damn game and get enthusiastic about it. Even though I haven't played lately. Because when I play it, that's all I tend to do.
Even though this doesnt really follow the criteria, I'm still just going to say Company of Heroes. Because AWWWW YYEEAAAHHH
Also, is anyone else getting impatient waiting for the Steam sale. Came into a bit of money today and finished Christmas shopping with some left over, so tempted to buy games you all talk about but there's no point until the sales.
AI War sounds like something I would like more than him. How RTS-y is it? I love turn based strategy games. Using position and resources to their maximum is fun. But I hate the micromanaging BS that comes with RTSs.
If this year's sale is anything like last year's, it should begin on Monday the 19th.
AmeN.
GabeN.
It can't be a coincidence.
Anyway, I've been putting in fairly excessive hours (out of those available) and must say that Orcs Must Die is (imo) worth the hype its been getting, the M12 Duel of the Planeswalkers game is plenty of fun (as a long time Magic player), and that Iron Grip: Warlords is fun. There's some minor "oh god, more of this daily play shit that I abandoned Facebook games for", but the gameplay is pretty fun, the resource management is reasonable, and so far I've held back from buying a giant pile of gems to build a multi-faceted throne from, but if there's a winter discount I might just have to snag some to crack open a pile of boosters/boxes/crates/whatever these things are.
Rise of Nations is basically Civ in RTS form in that you work up from stone age to nukes over a game, different factions have different bonuses, etc. Doesn't really have a fixed campaign if I recall but it has both skirmishes and a Risk like campaign that connects various skirmishes together.
It also has logistics, i.e. you need to keep supply units near your combat units or they take damage in enemy territory.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Your goal isn't just to take all the planets on the map, it's to find the AI, shut off the forcefields protecting it, and bust in to kill it in one final blaze of glory. So you have to pick and choose fights by properly scouting the map, and have a few ships hanging back along with base-defence turrets to take care of the waves of increasingly dangerous AI ships being sent by the increasingly angry AI.
It's such great fun. Weird, kind of ugly as sin, but so worth the time to become invested if strategy is your thing.
The best part is that you can add all sorts of weird random modifiers to the basic formula to make it even more replayable. Up to and including an entire supplemental story arc and method of winning the game.
Edit: Also so... Cave Story+ is literally just paying $10 for the free game Cave Story?
For all of AI War's scope, there is really very little micromanagement. It's there, under the surface if you want it, but keeping the management down and automated intelligently is one of the things at the top of Arcen's design for the game. Even to the point that when you take a new system and build your Command Center, it automatically builds your resourcing units for you. Once you wrap your head around the interface and the information it gives you, you'll find the bulk of the game is building and organizing your forces, setting your defenses and making interesting large scale strategic decisions. It is fully pausable too, allowing you to issue commands while paused. There are also different combat models that will further allow you to pace the game to your comfort zone. The difficulty is incredibly scalable as well.
Micro in combat is nonexistent if that's how you like it. Units have no special attacks to manage, they attack enemies and objectives intelligently and there are a ton of tools for organizing your forces and capabilities. If a battle is big and important enough, then I may get involved to optimize the pathing or something but for the most part it's fire and forget.
But yeah, Arcen has said that they want the game to be about epic battles and agonizing decisions. Not a bunch of bean counting or a high APM micro-hell clickfest.
You might have already done this, but perhaps you should advise them to adjust their protocol to include "Don't post CD keys to publicly accessible places". It'll have the added benefit of making the rest of the protocol redundant!
The + indicates new, redone hi-res graphics. Still pixel art, but it scales up nicely to 1080p. You know, for the modern, sophisticated gamer.