Could someone explain for me what an RTS is and what it stand for?

Real Time Strategy.

Examples:

Starcraft.
Warcraft.
Dune II.
Dune 2000.
Emperor battle for dune.
age of empires.
Command and Conquer.
Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds (based on age of empires)
Star Wars Force commander (the worse rts I have seen so far)
etc. etc. etc.

Galactic Battlegrounds uses the AOE2 engine, its not based on it. Theres a difference. If it were based on it, it would be, well, based on it (as in have about the same story line)
It uses the AOF2 engine, which means its just like AOF2, except for the sounds/sprites (which I suppose makes it ALMOST an entirely new game, but thats a pretty cheap way to make a game :|)

"I''ve learned something today: It doesn''t matter if you''re white, or if you''re black...the only color that REALLY matters is green"
-Peter Griffin

Why is using a previously successful engine cheap? Granted, it costs less, but you made it sound as if it was cheating. This is done all the time. I haven''t tried to make one, but my understanding is that a good engine is hard work. I see nothing wrong with using one someone else made.

Is it cheating to code the game in MSVSC++? It''s "cheaper" than writing your own compiler...

ShadeStorm, the Day_Glo Fish

I think he means that it is cheap that they sell both games at the same price (battlegrounds more?) as I can attest, owning both. Also it seems that they added so little to the game from AOE2 that I wished I hadn''t bought it.

And a more proper analogy than the one you gave (which really was hardly an analogy at all...or you just don''t understand his argument) is why don''t we take the source to MSVSC++, change the colors, add some different pictures to the menu and cool sounding effects (x-wing/tie battle on compiling?) and sell it to people as a new product?

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Every servant has his place, no matter lowly or modest. To know it is his greatest comfort, to excel within his greatest solace, and his master''s contentment is his greatest reward.
-
Serve Microsoft today, tomorrow you may be dead.

No, I just think its cheap because I've played the game, and it really doesn't add much element to the original AoE2.
Now, Quake 2 to Half-life (or Half-life to Counterstrike), THOSE are good examples how they add lots of elements to not just the engine, but the game itself (and the gameplay as a whole). Its more than just a change of textures/models.
Play Quake2, then play Half-life, and you can FEEL the difference (same goes with Half-life to Counterstrike, even more-so). Now play AoE2, then play Galactic Battle grounds...Its like going from Megaman 1 to Megaman 2! (ok, bad example - I'm not in my most creative mood today).

"I've learned something today: It doesn't matter if you're white, or if you're black...the only color that REALLY matters is green"
-Peter Griffin

Edited by - matrix2113 on February 10, 2002 9:27:57 PM

Yes, I know, I meant based on the age of empires (2) engine, which I never bought, but did bought Battlegrounds, to me is a great game, but I have heard what you have said, same thing different graphics, I dont know, it seems to me a lot like the original AoE too, and a friend of mine made a point when he said there is no real difference between using one side or the other, its almost the same if you use the revels, the empire, gungans, wookies, the naboo, etc, unlike my all time favorite Starcraft, where there is an actual difference between races.

You lost me in the "differences among the FPS''s" part. I don''t get the attraction of those games. They all feel the same to me. The vast majority of FPS''s are exactly the same as the first Doom. Slicker graphics, fancier weapons, more intense sound...and that''s about it. (Now, I haven''t tried Half-Life yet, and I''ve heard great things about the storyline. I''m waiting for the local GameStop to drop the price for the 4-pack.)

Anyway, if that''s what you meant by Galactic Battlegrounds being "cheap" then I suppose I understand. Not that I necessarily agree. Is Icewind Dale cheap because it used the Infinity Engine from Baldur''s Gate? (I know it was the same guys. That doesn''t invalidate the point.)

Anyway, it sounds like fun to me. I love the AoE games and I have always loved Star Wars, so I''m gonna pick it up...after it hits the bargain bin.


PS- I stand by my analogy. I was asking if "cheap" meant not re-inventing the wheel. Apparently this isn''t what was meant, so it''s all good.

ShadeStorm, the Day_Glo Fish

Yes, I agree, the majority of FPS''s are just revved up Doom-clones (Duke-nukem, Quake, Serious Sam..the list goes on..), but SOME of them require more then just holding down the SHOOT button the entire game, pumping bullets into the heads of 500 monsters that all look exactly the same..
Such is the case with Half-life: the game is even more about strategy than it is skill (why do you think it won 50 Best game of the Year awards in one year?)
CounterStrike adds on to that, with a sort of Secret Agent feeling to it (its a mixture of stategy, skill, and OVERALL, teamwork, which is what makes it such a good game; 1 on 1 games of CounterStrike tend to get pretty boring Pretty fast)




"I''ve learned something today: It doesn''t matter if you''re white, or if you''re black...the only color that REALLY matters is green"
-Peter Griffin

dune 2 started them all!!!