How I’d Like to See 4X Development Evolve Part 1: An eXposition
The world of 4X is changing. The genre is innovating like never before. Endless Legend brought a revelation in faction differentiation. Thea: The Awakening showed that card-based combat can be done properly. Sorcerer King proved that there’s nothing wrong with a 4X game having a preset climax to make the endgame interesting. Star Ruler 2 […]
Strategic eXpanse #21: The 4th X
Join Rob, Nate, Troy and Dallin as they discuss the 4th X, eXtermination, and provide examples of games that both do it well and leave much to be desired. We also discuss ideas that we’d like to see developers consider in future games. Show Notes: What is a 4X Game? Civilization: Beyond Earth Rising Tide […]
The 4X DLC Crutch: An eXposition
Back in the good ol’ days, one could would walk into a store, find a game, purchase it, go home, and immediately get the full experience. However, today’s games receive all kinds of additions, patches and DLC (Downloadable Content) post-release. Gamers benefit from the continued support, but they also have to shell out repeatedly to […]
Family Gaming: An eXposition
I am a gamer. I am proud of it. My family knows of my gaming habits and over the past year has grown to support me. My wife is an angel, and my video gaming habits are as natural to her as the air we breathe… as long as what needs to get done at […]
Depth Charge: An eXposition
Language is kind of a funny thing. If you stop and think about it for a moment, you start to see that language is entirely made up. Letters and words are really just symbols with agreed upon meanings that we humans have devised to make communication easier. It is an excellent system in many ways, […]
Age of Wonders 3: Eternal Lords Review
Disclosure: I purchased Age of Wonders III on release and was later invited by Triumph Studios to join the closed testing group to help beta test the Golden Realms expansion. I’ve continued to be a part of the closed testing group for the second expansion and have received one copy each of Golden Realms and […]
Strategic eXpanse: Triumph Studios Interview
Devildog and Nasarog speak with Lennart Sas, co-founder of Triumph Studios, about the upcoming expansion to Age of Wonders 3, Eternal Lords. We pick his brain about some of the gameplay mechanics, Nasarog pushes his empire-management agenda, and we try to figure out what they’re up to next.
Age of Wonders III Review
Age of Wonders III was released in March 2014 after nearly a decade without a new entry in the series. Developed by Triumph Studios, the game presents an interesting mix of 4X elements and a strong tactical combat system. The game takes place in a lush fantasy world where the player is tasked with controlling […]
Age of Wonders III: Golden Realms Review
The Age of Wonders series has always occupied a strange gray area in the world of turn-based fantasy games, falling somewhere between Heroes of Might & Magic and Civilization when it comes to “4X-iness.” As one of the many pretenders to the Master of Magic throne, the Age of Wonders series is a fantasy based […]