Is the game worth buying yet?

If you are a huge fan of 4x and want to get the jump on the game, sure go for it.

Just know that not all the features are available yet, patches are coming. If you're a "cup half empty" type, you might want to wait and lurk here. If you're chomping at the bit for even a half finished 4x game, like I am, then go for it.

1) It is still pretty difficult to get hold of inside the EU.
2) It's bound to get better within a month or two.
3) I just checked out the Caesar IV demo.

There'll be more patches to come. It's standard operations for MM...

You should note though that many players are not having problems either outside of 1 or 2 bugs, so just reading forums gives a more negative impression... you know squeeky wheels and all.

Anyways waiting is just as good if you if you prefer to do something else in the meantime - more mods and stuff will be available then too.

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Space Empires Depot | Space Food Empires!

The game comes packaged with SE IV Deluxe, which is an excellent, rock-solid bug free game in it's own right. I have been playing it for YEARS and I have yet to get bored with it. The sheer number of custom races people have designed is staggering, and keeps you interested almost without end.

All that is done before the naked stars is remembered

That's true - but even SE:IV Deluxe has a few bugs kicking around - but most players would never notice them.

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Space Empires Depot | Space Food Empires!

I’d dispute the "half done" generalization; let’s go with 86% done. To borrow the analogy from the first post: the iceberg was the last patch, now we are waiting on the tip.

but that's not the main reason I'm holding off. I'd probably not notice most of them. And the patches Aarom publishes does not only contain bug fixes, they also contain improvements. So the game will only improve over time.

I can't play two games at one time, however, and buying SE5 locally where I live is still quite difficult.

Why do you feel bad for all the people who purchased it already? Seriously. The game has an amazing amount of bugs and obviopusly had a way too small (or dare I say inadequate) beta testing team. But, if SEIV was any indication, the developers will work on patching and fixing those bugs for a long time and release those patches so these bugs will be fixed at some point.

I'd rather play it now than having to wait for months more. Yes, while Im amazed the game has such game-destroying bugs like the happiness bug, or those heavy lockups in-between-turns that basically mess the game completely up unless you've made a save game, at least I can play it, find those bugs and have the chance reporting them here if needed.

I just have hope in devs that they only not fix existing bugs and problems with the game, but that they also -improve- the game as far as balance goes, and who says some new elements won't be added to the game? Like a jump-warp module for ships, that would be sweet.

I personally haven't encountered any deadly bugs thus far, and I have to say that I think the game is pretty great (granted, only 2 days playing). The diplomatic options are staggering and glorious. The 3D layout doesn't bother me much, and while the interface is clucky, I get over it. All of these things are minor complaints for the option to play the game as is.

But man, I wish they had a Reduce Flag Size option. Plantery flags are foolishly massive. Or did I miss that option somewhere?

There is an option for that - I think it's under empire options somewhere. I dislike it because it makes them too tiny for me!
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I think I just had an evilgasm.....
The (now official?) Space Empires 4 Mod Launcher V2.26

Might want to try just turning off the increase size with distance for the flag(also in empire options) this made the flags about the right size for me.

[quote=JTesla
I’d dispute the "half done" generalization; let’s go with 86% done. To borrow the analogy from the first post: the iceberg was the last patch, now we are waiting on the tip.