Galactic Civilizations IV News

Welcome to the realm of 4X games, a genre that blends strategy, empire building, and immersive gameplay. In this dev blog, we'll take a deep dive into the world of 4X games, discovering their unique elements, iconic titles, and the reasons why they have captured the hearts of gamers worldwide.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]In this week's video we'll go over:[/h2]

• Unveiling the 4X Genre
  
• Three Thematic Sub-Genres
  
• The Journey of Empire Building
  
• Intricate Gameplay and Replayability
  
• Iconic 4X Titles
  
• Challenges and Rewards
  

The immersive universe of 4X games beckons players to embark on thrilling journeys of empire building, strategic mastery, and epic battles. Whether you are a seasoned strategist or a budding explorer, the 4X genre offers a vast array of possibilities and endless hours of entertainment. So, gather your wits, chart your course, and delve into the captivating world of 4X games.

We currently have a challenge when it comes to designing ships in GalCiv. Most players are less into the cosmetic aspect and more into the functionality of ship design. And some players are really into the cosmetic design of ships.

For GalCiv IV: Supernova, we are going to give up on trying to have one UI to rule them all and instead begin to have two different UIs. One for those who want to design the look of the ships and have a lot more tools available and one for players who are more focused on configuring a ship.

[h2]Ship classes and how they work[/h2]
We have gone through a lot of theory craft on how the different classes should work. When the player chooses to design a ship they should get this:



However, in OPTIONS we want to add a button called “Enable Freeform Design” which would unhide a button in the middle here that would let players design a ship without having to deal with any rules at all.

• This UI needs to eliminate the Combat Role as that’s confusing.
  
• Equipment Slots should be renamed Equipment Space.
  
• Tactical Speed should show the actual speed in KM/s (we have this under the covers)
  
• Acceleration should be added as well (we have this too) in KM/s^2 which tells you how maneuverable they are.
  
• If they don’t have weapons, targeting priorities should be hidden.
  
• If they have weapons a new section should be a section called Combat Abilities which describes, in text how they work (which I’l l describe below).
  

[h2]The classes of ships for GalCiv IV: Supernova are intended to be:[/h2]

1. Probe. Probes are also ignored by monsters and pirates btw and this should be added to our description.
   
2. Miner. No one will really change this except for modders who want to create a custom look.
   
3. Flag. We need to add a late game tech that lets people build ships with Survey Modules.
   
4. Fighter. Fighters should be updated to get a 50% evasion bonus and they should target Bombers->Fighters->Capital Ships->Cruisers->Frigates (note that we need to update targeting priorities to get away from the old combat role naming).
   
5. Bomber. Bombers should be added to the game and also get a 50% evasion bonus. They should target in this order: Capital Ships->Cruisers->Frigates->Fighters.
   
6. Frigate. Frigates should get a 50% Accuracy bonus and target in this order. Bombers->Fighters->Frigates->Cruisers->Capital Ships.
   
7. Cruisers wouldn’t get any special bonuses but target Capital Ships->Cruisers->Frigates->Bombers->Fighters.
   
8. Capital Ships also don’t get any special bonuses but target the same as Capital Ships.
   
9. Supply Ships. Generally won’t be adjusted by players but are needed to be there for people wanting to make cosmetic changes.
   
10. Siege. Some players will want to add engines to these to make them faster.
    
11. Invader. Same.
    

[h2]Now, let’s say we pick a Cruiser…[/h2]

(ignore the little propulsion box in the UI, that’s from a thrown away idea)



[h2]The game should pick a random hull to start with and go right to the Equip mode with these 4 options:[/h2]

1. Weapons (default tab – not drives as it is now for some reason)
   
2. Defenses
   
3. Propulsion
   
4. Special (combine “modules” and “support”)
   

There’s a currently a bug where Helios Rockets and Gauss Cannons show up as enhanced Kinetic weapons. I’m not sure why but we need to fix this.

There are NO hard points shown in this mode. Instead, players simply drag and drop components they want (or double click on it or press the “Place” button).

Now, if they do want to cosmetically change the ship, they can press the Visual Edit button in the top right which will take them to the Appearance, cosmetic pieces area.



And this screen should be set up so that people who want to really go town on the creative aspect of ship design have all the tools they need to do whatever they want.

[h2]Improved strategic AI, refined ship construction, balanced ship combat, and enhanced battles[/h2]

The latest early access update for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova, v1.61 is here. Immerse yourself in a galaxy teeming with enhanced strategic gameplay and thrilling battles.



https://store.steampowered.com/app/1357210/Galactic_Civilizations_IV/

View full changelog

[h2]
Here's a brief overview of the exciting features included in this update:[/h2]

[h2]Major Strategic AI Improvements[/h2]
Experience an evolved AI that strategically defends its worlds by utilizing its fleets effectively, even if it means sacrificing ships to weaken enemy forces. The AI now prioritizes gaining space superiority before launching sieges and invasions, ensuring a formidable challenge. Additionally, the AI's fleet management has improved, enhancing its territorial control.


[h2]Major Strategic Update to AI's Starship Construction[/h2]
The AI's ship construction capabilities have received a significant upgrade. When faced with resource scarcity, the AI dynamically recalculates ship design strategies within the same turn. It now assembles balanced fleets by leveraging the advantages of different ship classes. You'll encounter larger AI fleets strategically positioned to control various territories. Moreover, the AI has diversified its ship designs and improved weapon layouts for more cost-effective and lethal ships.


[h2]Ship Balance Updates[/h2]
We've conducted a comprehensive balancing pass on weapons, defenses, and hull sizes, making larger ships more cost-effective. This adjustment adds a new layer of strategy to your fleet composition choices, allowing for more diverse and impactful gameplay.


[h2]Enhanced Battle Experience[/h2]
The battle viewer has been refined to provide more visually captivating encounters. Camera adjustments have been made to improve battle visibility, ensuring you don't miss any thrilling moments. Ships' layouts and positions have been carefully adjusted, granting each ship type a distinct placement and reinforcing their unique roles in combat.


Get the Galactic Civilizations v1.61 early access update now and explore an improved strategic AI, refined ship construction, balanced ship combat, and exhilarating battles.

As many of you know, the GalCiv III Elite Founders had the ability to name their own star in game. We wanted to extend a similar offer to our beloved fans of GalCiv IV: Supernova Edition through this contest, where up to 100 lucky winners will have their star name added in-game. Immortalizing them forever in Supernova!

Anyone with a Stardock account (new or existing) is eligible to submit a star name. All submissions will be approved by myself and the team at Stardock, and approved contenders will be publicly displayed on the website.

Finally, Stardock staff will vote internally on their favorites as winners to be placed into the game forever.

We look forward to seeing your submissions, what will your immortalize in the stars above? A fun joke, a loved one, a wish, or maybe even yourself?

Good luck commanders.

Submit your name now

Submissions end date: 1PM EST, July 19th
Winners will be announced: Wednesday, July 26th


[h2]Rules/Guidelines: [/h2]

• Must have a Stardock account to submit a name.
  
• Only ONE entry per user. You may change your entry once it has been submitted, but it will need to be re-approved.
  
• Any inappropriate, trademarked, or copyrighted content will result in the entire entry being rejected.
  
• Star names are limited to 30 characters (letters/numbers/spaces), no punctuation or special characters. Star names will be converted to title case in-game (only first letter capitalized).
  
• If more than one instance of the same star name is submitted, the first submitted will remain approved and the second will be rejected.
  

[h2]German Language Beta, New Anomalies, Updated Culture Traits, and Enhanced Battle Viewer Await Players in Early Access v1.6[/h2]

Assume the role of a space commander and delve into a vast and immersive universe. Witness epic space battles with an enhanced battle viewer and conquer the cosmos with the added advantage of German language support. Explore the potential of anomalies to enhance your empire's capabilities and customize your path by adopting culture traits. Prepare for an exhilarating journey as you chart new frontiers, engage in strategic warfare, and shape your interstellar empire in unprecedented ways. 

View the Full Changelog

[h2]Top Features in Early Access v1.6[/h2]

[h3]German Language (Beta) Support[/h3]
Stardock Entertainment brings a beta version of German language support to Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova v1.6, inviting a wider audience to join the intergalactic adventure. Players from German-speaking regions can begin to enjoy the captivating storytelling and immersive gameplay in their native language.




[h3]New Anomalies[/h3]
In response to the feedback from our community, version 1.6 introduces exciting additions that greatly enhance your empire's capabilities. One highly requested feature is the ability to add survey abilities to your ships. Now, your vessels can explore uncharted territories and gather valuable information. Expand your fleet's mobility, extend ship range, reduce crime, or grant enhanced evasion capabilities. These new anomalies offer strategic opportunities, empowering players to shape their interstellar empires according to their preferences.




[h3]Improved Civilization Designer[/h3]
We've refined the civ designer based on your feedback for a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. Enjoy the updated layout as you create the civilization of your choice.




[h3]Revamped Culture Traits[/h3]
Some culture traits have been reassigned to new cultures that align more appropriately. This adjustment aims to enhance the overall gameplay experience. But that's not all! Stay tuned for upcoming changes that will continue to refine and expand the cultural dynamics in Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova.


[h3]Enhanced Battle Viewer[/h3]
The enhanced battle viewer provides a deeper appreciation of the scale and intricacies of each engagement, ensuring every encounter is an exhilarating and visually captivating experience.


[h3]The Vault Additions[/h3]
New ship modules that can be added to ships at any time.




View the full changelog


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1357210/Galactic_Civilizations_IV_Supernova/