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Author Topic: AI War 2  (Read 3471 times)

Martok

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on: March 17, 2022, 12:59:13 AM
It's yet another game I've not really played, but would love to dive into at *some* point... 


https://arcengames.com/aiwar2/
https://www.gog.com/en/game/ai_war_2
https://store.steampowered.com/app/573410/AI_War_2/







Am curious if any of you gents have played this one at all.  I'm generally not a big fan of strategy games with asymmetric gameplay, but this series has long fascinated me, at least on a conceptual level.  While I confess I found the first game to be a bit too much, I've always read that the second one is markedly easier to get into (though it apparently still has a somewhat steep learning curve). 



I finally thought to give AI War 2 its own thread, as the game has popped back up on my radar for two reasons:  First off, v4.0 dropped a couple weeks ago, with an absolutely mind-bogging amount of improvements & features: 

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/573410/view/3095666762722538880


Second, Chris Park has officially announced The Neinzul Abyss, the 3rd (and final?) DLC, which is scheduled to be released next month: 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466780/AI_War_2_The_Neinzul_Abyss/



"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Undercovergeek

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Reply #1 on: March 17, 2022, 01:38:49 AM
I think huw’s your man for this one



Huw the Poo

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Reply #2 on: March 17, 2022, 11:15:31 AM
I'm generally not a big fan of strategy games with asymmetric gameplay, but this series has long fascinated me, at least on a conceptual level.

The asymmetric gameplay is its greatest feature in my opinion (as it was with the first game). It makes the game more strategic in some ways, forcing you to pick your moves a lot more carefully than in a lot of games. The idea of trying not to rouse a sleeping giant has always appealed to me.

I've actually only played one campaign all the way through - the reason being the game has been getting, and continues to get, constant massive updates, as you say. I know I won't complete a game before the next one drops and I don't like that in any game. However you might have inspired me to get it installed again...

But anyway, yeah, big fan here. I basically buy everything Chris puts out but the AI War series was always his magnum opus. I rate The Last Federation very highly too.



Martok

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Reply #3 on: March 17, 2022, 10:47:12 PM
The asymmetric gameplay is its greatest feature in my opinion (as it was with the first game). It makes the game more strategic in some ways, forcing you to pick your moves a lot more carefully than in a lot of games. The idea of trying not to rouse a sleeping giant has always appealed to me.

Agreed, that aspect really appeals to me as well. 

I also appreciate the scale of the game -- who doesn't like the idea of hundreds of spaceships hurtling themselves at each other and exploding?  :rockon: 




I've actually only played one campaign all the way through - the reason being the game has been getting, and continues to get, constant massive updates, as you say. I know I won't complete a game before the next one drops and I don't like that in any game. However you might have inspired me to get it installed again...

Heh.  Yeah, Chris Park puts out new patches/updates at a ridiculous rate; and like yourself, is one reason I haven't really delved into AI War 2 yet.  I keep waiting for it to be "complete" before wanting to jump in. 



"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Huw the Poo

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Reply #4 on: March 18, 2022, 02:57:46 AM
There's a long-running joke in the Arcen community that Chris is an AI himself. I'll never forget posting a bug report then a new build which fixes it being released less than five minutes later!



Martok

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Reply #5 on: March 19, 2022, 01:55:01 AM
^  Ha, that's fantastic. 

I'd heard that joke as well (about Chris being an AI), but I never understood it until i started noticing how frequently he releases patches & updates to the game.  I'm not sure that man sleeps! 



"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Martok

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Reply #6 on: April 12, 2022, 02:51:36 AM
We're finally getting to see a bit of public footage of the Neinzul Abyss DLC.  Damn if it doesn't look pretty good. 






"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Martok

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Reply #7 on: April 23, 2022, 01:44:33 PM
The Neinzul Abyss DLC has officially released, alongside v5.000 of the main game: 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466780/AI_War_2_The_Neinzul_Abyss/



The main game itself is on sale, as are the first two DLC, The Spire Rises and Zenith Onslaught.  The Complete Edition (main game + all 3 DLC) is also one sale: 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/573410/AI_War_2/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1196420/AI_War_2_The_Spire_Rises/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290340/AI_War_2_Zenith_Onslaught/




In addition, Chris Park wrote up a massive post about reaching this milestone -- "the end of an era", as he calls it.  I found it a worthwhile read; he has a *lot* to say, most of it quite interesting (at least the bits I understood ;D ): 

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/573410/view/3180113694781365187


« Last Edit: April 23, 2022, 02:57:57 PM by Martok »

"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Yskonyn

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Reply #8 on: April 24, 2022, 04:35:28 AM
How does AI War 2 play these days? Can you play it at a slower pace as well?

I remember from AI War 1 that I always felt super rushed.


Martok

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Reply #9 on: April 24, 2022, 01:24:40 PM
^  No idea, as I'll admit I've not played either one (despite having owned both games for I don't know how long)  :-[  I'm planning to finally take a dip into it during my days off this week, however. 



"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Yskonyn

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Reply #10 on: April 24, 2022, 02:25:06 PM
Ok let me know! I was interested in 2, but wanted to wait for some DLC’s first.
Very interested to read your impressions!


Martok

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Reply #11 on: May 09, 2022, 02:51:58 AM
An extensive interview with Chris Park and Willard Davis (actual discussion begins around the 3:50 mark).  They do a post-portem/retrospective on AI War 2, discuss the future of Arcen Games, and more: 






"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Martok

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Reply #12 on: June 10, 2022, 02:42:48 PM

"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Martok

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Reply #13 on: June 14, 2022, 03:41:03 AM
Arcen Games signs with Hooded Horse (also, a book deal): 


https://steamcommunity.com/games/573410/announcements/detail/3345625420650344511




Sounds like this is for a sci-fi strategy title currently in the works (to be announced later).  No word on whether the deal gives Hooded Horse publishing rights to AI War or any of Arcen's existing games. 



"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike


Martok

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Reply #14 on: July 09, 2022, 02:51:17 AM
Another major update (version 5.500): 


https://steamcommunity.com/games/573410/announcements/detail/3339998634780732674




In addition to an absolute crap-load of bug-fixes and balance tweaks (seriously, the list is huge), this update integrates several major/popular mods, including one ("Classic Fusion") that essentially ports over the ship designs & stats from the first game.  So for anyone who enjoys the 2nd game's mechanics/features, but was missing the "flavor" of the 1st game, this might be what you've been waiting for!



"I like big maps and I cannot lie." - Barthheart

"I drastically overpaid for this existence." - bbmike