TridenT feedback from installation to few hours gameplay
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:10 pm
Pandora Beta test
V0.12.1
1. Installation
Quite fast, this is a standard installer.
Launching game
When first launching game it has downloaded an update in a simple but clear interface.
Then I launch again the game.
The loading screen is minimalist, with just percents (%), but this takes about 30 seconds to complete. I would like to see some text, like gaming tips, or background story lines just for me to wait !
Menu are clear without many options, just enough to start!
The intro scene is nice, but music is quite ordinary, I will not remember the theme as ‘Master of Orion 2’ theme just to give an example.
First impression (5 minutes)
First of all, i’m very impress by the game ambient : smoothness of the game when you select menus, when DOING ALT-TAB (fast), when hitting NEXT TURN. This is reinforce by the ‘black crystal’ menu, minimalist but with all I need. It’s also mysterious, and the music, not the best I’ve heard, is in line with the main theme of the game.
30 minutes gameplay
Game is quite fluid, turns are quick and it is easy to progress through the game thanks to regular tips for each new game concept (alien form, discovery, colonization …).
The help content is small but has a relevant content with a bit of game history, that’s good !
1 hour gameplay
I created few colonies, found various ruins (with only few bonuses), meet other players, fight few aliens … After the first 30 minutes of games, I’m continuing to expend in a routine way, there is no real challenge, as if I’ve already seen the big part of the game.
I will see during the next hour if this impression is confirmed!
Conclusion after ~2 hours gameplay
The game is very promising, the user interface, even if not finished is really pleasant and useful, the game is simple but with a high potential.
There is a evident lake of unexpected event and discovery during game. Events are missing by now, and I was waiting more of the extra-terrestrial story, its involvement with other players …
Note that the game is very stable and fluid on a modest configuration on Windows 7 x64.
Bugs and improvements
Here are the bugs and improvements I've found during my game.
IMPROVEMENT (minor): in the Workshop, there is no confirmation to delete a new design.
IMPROVEMENT (minor) : Ruins could contains other things than ‘simple’ bonus. Ancient technologies, old mecha units, just some rumours …
IMPROVEMENT (minor) : Have an information panel when taking a city from enemy. Today, there is no text, no explanation, no visible consequence when taking a city.
IMPROVEMENT (minor): it’s not possible to easily rename a unit prototype (workshop) as the cursor can’t be moved (stick at the end of the string) outside the DELETE key. Enable arrow keys or move cursor to the mouse position in the name of the unit.
BUG (minor) : AI player never take the ruins !
BUG (minor) : AI won’t accept a trade treaty I proposed but in the next turn, they ask me the same treaty
BUG (minor): tool tip on unit for power icon is ok, but when hovering the power value, it switch to the ‘movement’ help.
Thx for sharing this BETA with us, have courage, this game start to look very good
V0.12.1
1. Installation
Quite fast, this is a standard installer.
Launching game
When first launching game it has downloaded an update in a simple but clear interface.
Then I launch again the game.
The loading screen is minimalist, with just percents (%), but this takes about 30 seconds to complete. I would like to see some text, like gaming tips, or background story lines just for me to wait !
Menu are clear without many options, just enough to start!
The intro scene is nice, but music is quite ordinary, I will not remember the theme as ‘Master of Orion 2’ theme just to give an example.
First impression (5 minutes)
First of all, i’m very impress by the game ambient : smoothness of the game when you select menus, when DOING ALT-TAB (fast), when hitting NEXT TURN. This is reinforce by the ‘black crystal’ menu, minimalist but with all I need. It’s also mysterious, and the music, not the best I’ve heard, is in line with the main theme of the game.
30 minutes gameplay
Game is quite fluid, turns are quick and it is easy to progress through the game thanks to regular tips for each new game concept (alien form, discovery, colonization …).
The help content is small but has a relevant content with a bit of game history, that’s good !
1 hour gameplay
I created few colonies, found various ruins (with only few bonuses), meet other players, fight few aliens … After the first 30 minutes of games, I’m continuing to expend in a routine way, there is no real challenge, as if I’ve already seen the big part of the game.
I will see during the next hour if this impression is confirmed!
Conclusion after ~2 hours gameplay
The game is very promising, the user interface, even if not finished is really pleasant and useful, the game is simple but with a high potential.
There is a evident lake of unexpected event and discovery during game. Events are missing by now, and I was waiting more of the extra-terrestrial story, its involvement with other players …
Note that the game is very stable and fluid on a modest configuration on Windows 7 x64.
Bugs and improvements
Here are the bugs and improvements I've found during my game.
IMPROVEMENT (minor): in the Workshop, there is no confirmation to delete a new design.
IMPROVEMENT (minor) : Ruins could contains other things than ‘simple’ bonus. Ancient technologies, old mecha units, just some rumours …
IMPROVEMENT (minor) : Have an information panel when taking a city from enemy. Today, there is no text, no explanation, no visible consequence when taking a city.
IMPROVEMENT (minor): it’s not possible to easily rename a unit prototype (workshop) as the cursor can’t be moved (stick at the end of the string) outside the DELETE key. Enable arrow keys or move cursor to the mouse position in the name of the unit.
BUG (minor) : AI player never take the ruins !
BUG (minor) : AI won’t accept a trade treaty I proposed but in the next turn, they ask me the same treaty
BUG (minor): tool tip on unit for power icon is ok, but when hovering the power value, it switch to the ‘movement’ help.
Thx for sharing this BETA with us, have courage, this game start to look very good