Dave Long wrote: "With all this MOO talk, it sounds like you all NEED to play Starships Unlimited."

Allow me to second this. I just turned in a review for Computer Games Magazine and gave it 4.5 stars.

www.apezone.com

I've been fiddling with it for about two weeks, which included one point where I blew two entire days doing nothing but playing Starships Unlimited. I'm talking the sort of wasted days I haven't seen since I uninstalled Diablo II. I'm waiting on the developer to put out the next update; as soon as he does, I plan on holing up for another few days.

-Tom

I was wondering who got the review. When I saw your posts on USENET I figured it might have been you, Tom. I asked about it the moment I played it the first time to see if there was any interest in a review. Imagine my surprise when I found out someone was already on it! :)

Can't wait to read your review. I found it to be a great game though I've had to backburner it while playing The Moon Project (which ain't too shabby either).

--Dave

I'm really glad CGO/CGM is open to pitches for games that other pubs would have laughed at me for suggesting. I can just imagine trying to explain to a typical editor that I found this really great shareware level strategy game. But when I told Ben about it, he was all ears and had no problems going with a 4.5 star rating.

Bah. Moon Project is a lame excuse for a gold version of Earth 2150. Aside from the zoom level, the graphics are the *exact* same as Earth 2150! Most of the "new" weapons are basically old weapons given to new sides and the truly "new" weapons are of limited use. If I were an Earth 2150 owner who shelled out $45 bucks for this "sequel", I'd be majorly pissed.

But, yes, Earth 2150 is excellent.

As for The Moon Project, ugh, don't get me started. I almost jumped into your thread on Usenet. I'm sure I'm violating some message board copyright law, but here's what I just posted on the CGO forum:

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Bah. Moon Project is a lame excuse for a gold version of Earth 2150. Aside from the zoom level, the graphics are the *exact* same as Earth 2150! Most of the "new" weapons are basically old weapons given to new sides and the truly "new" weapons are of limited use. If I were an Earth 2150 owner who shelled out $45 bucks for this "sequel", I'd be majorly pissed.

But, yes, Earth 2150 is excellent.

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-Tom

Heh heh... yeah, I noticed that the game was VERY similar to Earth 2150. I haven't played the campaign in E2150, therefore I don't know if the missions are the same or not? I might have to go to Best Buy and get E2150 for $15 before the review is due on Thursday to confirm or deny that fact. You've got me worried now.

Since it's going for $29.99, Moon Project is probably an ok deal. But yes, I see your point. Nothing has essentially changed from what I remember in the original game. The interface especially (with all its quirks) is exactly the same and annoying as hell at times. I also really dislike the way the campaign will surprise the heck out of you with another twist mid-mission that you cannot prepare for at all. I didn't have any base defense while on a mission (it hadn't been needed up to that point) and then all of a sudden I need to defend it when my forces are all on the mission. ARGH! I tried to send units back but the attackers took out my landing zone for the transporter and I had no money to speak of at the base to build any kind of defenses. Not to put too fine a point on it but...

Fucked.

I reloaded from an old save. One thing the game teaches you is to save a hell of a lot. The missions are long and drawn out at times. I'm enjoying it otherwise, but that's because I didn't play Earth 2150 enough apparently. I dabbled with it... Multiplayer is especially fun.

As for StUn and CGM. You're right on. You might remember I reviewed Rail Empires: Iron Dragon for CGM. Another shareware game that deserved coverage. I was contacted out of the blue for that one. I really enjoyed the multiplayer aspect of that game though the computer couldn't play worth a damn.

--Dave

Dave,

The Moon Project campaign is all new from the Earth 2150 campaign (and in some ways improved). As for the interface of MP/E2150, I'm quite fond of it. There are some unique tricks in there that I really wish other RTSs would do!

Where are you seeing Moon Project for $29.99? Amazon.com has it for $39.99 and EBWorld is listing it for $44.99.

-Tom

I gotta admit, Starships Unlimited has a lot to recommend it. As soon as I get off my Kohan fix (that game is pure strategic crack-cocaine), I'm going to have to register my demo version.

So if someone hasn't played either title, would it be okay to pickup Moon Project only?

If you haven't played Earth 2150, it's a tough call. You're basically just as well off getting one of the $20 copies of Earth 2150 rather than shelling out $40 for The Moon Project. Either way, it's an excellent RTS.

-Tom

Best Buy has The Moon Project for $29.99 this week. EB had the same price in store I believe. The price on the web site in this case is quite a bit higher than you'll find at retail. Best Buy also had Earth 2150 for just $14.99 as well.

I agree that it's a tough choice if you haven't played the first since the games seem very similar and as with anything, when the sequel comes out, the community around the game (such as it is) usually moves on no matter the improvements as long as there are some.

I agree with Tom though that there's a lot to reccommend in either box based on my findings with regard to gameplay and graphics.

BTW Tom, did you notice the bug with Platoons? Sometimes when you disband them, there are units that become immobile and unselectable. Unless you somehow force the AI to move them (or blow them up), you can't use them AND they count against your unit limit. Unfortunately, I really like the Platoon feature.

I also ought to note here as I did on USENET. This game is the poster child for the Microsoft Strategic Commander. It allows fantastic camera control and of course you can map whatever you'd like to the buttons. There's a bare bones preset in the MSSC software that's a good starting point too.

Oh, and just to put an on topic in here... Starships Unlimited kicks ass! :)

--Dave

I don't care for the Strategic Commander myself, but I agree that it you were to use it, E2150/MP would work well with its 3D camera. However, I don't fiddle with the camera a lot while playing. As with most games, I tend to zoom out, cant down, and not touch.

As for the platoon bug, I didn't notice it. I don't use platoons mainly because I'm not sure what, if any, purpose they serve! You can put units in formations, but I tend to do that with number keys. And it's easier for me to keep track of individual units when they're not in platoons, which locks out some of the interactivity with individual units.

-Tom

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The interface especially (with all its quirks) is exactly the same and annoying as hell at times. I also really dislike the way the campaign will surprise the heck out of you with another twist mid-mission that you cannot prepare for at all. I didn't have any base defense while on a mission (it hadn't been needed up to that point) and then all of a sudden I need to defend it when my forces are all on the mission. ARGH!

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