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GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #46 - Expanding the Drengin Empire

In the previous episode of this short series covering the races of the Centauron sector, we covered the cautious and wary Torians, an unfortunate aquatic race that were once enslaved and turned into a tasty food source by today’s featured Galactic Civilization, the oppressive and malevolent Drengin Empire! Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the unique tools that the Drengin bring to bear in their attempts to subjugate those around them! As one of the oldest Civilizations in the gal... [read more]

2/13/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #12 - Shrimp Syndicate's Economic Banzai!

The Shrimp Syndicate: Masters of Eco-Economics in a Hostile Galaxy In the vast expanse of the cosmos, the survival of a civilization hinges on its economic prowess and industrial strength. Today, we delve into the remarkable journey of the Shrimp Syndicate, a faction that has risen from the ashes of ecological disaster to become a beacon of economic success in the galaxy. I've had the unique opportunity to witness their story unfold, and I'm here to share with you how this civi... [read more]

2/9/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #45 - The Torians' New Toys

In recent developer journals, we’ve examined some of the new Improvements and homeworld Events added to the original Centauron sector races introduced in the first Galactic Civilization’s games way back in the mid 1990s. This week, we’ll ask the Torian Regime to step forwards into the spotlight and take a bow, as we examine some of the new tools and toys they get to use in their own efforts towards becoming the greatest galactic civilization! The Torians were a peaceful Aquatic species t... [read more]

2/6/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #44 - New Improvements for the Arcean Republic

A couple of weeks ago we took a look at the synthetic Yor Singularity, a civilization of organic-life hating robots with an axe to grind against… well, basically everybody else other than themselves. Playing the bad guy can be fun, but sometimes a civilization can be dangerous without necessarily being so fundamentally malevolent. This time around we’re going to look at another of the original Civilizations from the Galactic Civilizations series: the Arcean Republic, a carbon-based speci... [read more]

1/30/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Steam Weekend Deal: 20% Off Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition

Steam Weekend Deal: 20% Off Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition Ends January 29, 2024, at 1PM EST Get it Now Galactic Civilizations IV continues the legacy of the series, allowing players to guide a civilization to interstellar glory. With a rich strategic layer, numerous alien races, and a galaxy teeming with opportunities and threats, the game offers a complex and engaging experience for strategy enthusiasts. We've been hard at work improving the game. Recent ma... [read more]

1/25/2024 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #43 - Diplomacy & Surrender

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova version 2.3, titled “War & Peace”, is now available, and brings a host of balance changes and bugfixes right across the game. Primarily, this update aims to reduce the occurrence of what 4X gamers call the “everwar” problem , where a civilization became locked into a war with a rival and had no logical benefit to disengaging or calling for peace. Consequently, the warring civilization had to fight it out and destroy the belligerent faction completel... [read more]

1/22/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Galactic Civilizations IV: v2.3 War & Peace Update Now Available

War & Peace Update Brings Peace Negotiations, AI Enhancements, and Expanded Accessibility in v2.3 Stardock released another big update for its popular space 4X strategy game today. Galactic Civilizations IV v2.3, dubbed the "War & Peace” update introduces new lore based diplomatic features, enhances gameplay balance, and broadens accessibility. New features include: New Peace Negotiation Events: Players can now engage in a variety o... [read more]

1/18/2024 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #42 - Spotlight on the Yor Singularity

Perhaps one of the most terrifying ideas to come out of science fiction is the concept of an artificial lifeform bereft of compassion, basic human morality or sentimental feeling, driven to replicate itself to the ends of the galaxy, and crush or assimilate anything standing in its way. The Yor Singularity are certainly one of the most unique threats amongst the many cosmic horrors lurking in Galactic Civilizations series, and while they’ve always had their own playstyle to match their them... [read more]

1/15/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Vasari Exodus: Invaders from the Dark Update - Sins of a Solar Empire II

The Vasari Exodus: Invaders from the Dark Update Now Available Unleashing Mobile Civilization Capabilities, Planet-Devouring Resource Tactics, the Formidable New Starbase and Exodus Titan The Vasari Exodus isn't just another faction; it represents a fundamental shift in gameplay. With the ability to become a fully mobile civilization, the Vasari Exodus challenges conventional tactics and strategies. Once players unlock the necessary technology, they can mobilize their entire ... [read more]

1/11/2024 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #11 - Your Opening Moves

4X Strategy Games: A Deep Dive into Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova for Beginners I've seen my fair share of strategy games, but few genres offer the depth and complexity of a good 4X title. These games, known for their emphasis on eXploration, eXpansion, eXploitation, and eXtermination, demand a strategic mind and a willingness to immerse oneself in the intricacies of empire-building. However, this complexity can be daunting for newcomers, and even seasoned 4X aficionados may need tim... [read more]

1/10/2024 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #41 - Managing a Large Game

A common complaint found in the 4X genre among its player-base, old and new, is that eventually their large and expansive empire becomes a chore to manage, with many military units to individually control and too many colonies or cities to build, leading to the player losing their connection with the game as it begins to feel more like work than play. We still see some complaints about this in our games too, and while we’re not claiming to have solved the issue forever in the GalCiv series, ... [read more]

1/8/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #40 - Return of the Korath

I hope by now that you’ve all had a chance to check out both the free v2.2 Ethnology update, which brought in a host of new features (including a greatly improved and better looking user-interface) and the first paid content DLC for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova: Tales of Centauron . Frogboy and I have detailed the highlights of the v2.2 update in the past three developer journals, so today we’re going to take a quick look at the Return of the Korath mission included with Tales ... [read more]

1/3/2024 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV v2.2 Holiday Update

Hat tip to @Cephandrius for sending us his saved game. There was a case where you could get a stuck AI turn because it assumed it would always be able to build a designed ship. But in 2.2, we introduced the concept of the AI building the BEST ship even if it couldn't be built right then. So in rare cases, the AI wouldn't have any ships it could build. This update fixes it. And since we were fixing that bug, we decided to include something many of you have asked for: Better map generation. Thi... [read more]

12/27/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #39 - Fleet Management Tools

In last week’s dev-journal #38, Frogboy touched on an important change to the way Fleets are handled that we’ve implemented in Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova’s v2.2 “Ethnology” update. Today we’re going to take a closer look at the new Fleet Management user-interface. v2.2 was an update largely driven by player feedback and managing large fleets, often comprising of dozens of individual ships, wasn’t always the smoothest experience, particularly in the late game when a GalCiv game t... [read more]

12/27/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Steam Winter Sale is Here - Up to 80% Off Stardock Titles

The Steam Winter Sale is Here - Get Up to 80% Off* STEAM KEYS ARE PROVIDED WITH PURCHASE FEATURED TITLES ON SALE: Galactic Civilizations IV $49.99 Now $39.99 PRE-PURCHASE BONUS: The Political Machine 2024 Free DLC w/Pre-Order $19.99 Star Control: Origins $29.99 Now $10.19 Galactic Civilizations III ( Includes FREE: Crusade and Retribution Expansions, Mega Events DLC) $39... [read more]

12/21/2023 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

Stardock Releases the Galactic Civilizations IV: v2.2 Ethnology Update

Ethnology update gives each civilization and custom civilization far more uniqueness and lore Stardock Entertainment released its much-anticipated update to its newest space strategy game, Galactic Civilizations IV today. Dubbed “The Ethnology Update”, this new version focuses on making different civilizations feel more distinct and unique in both cultural and biological ways. “Galactic Civilizations has always had to wa... [read more]

12/19/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Stardock Releases "Tales of Centauron" for Galactic Civilizations IV

Tales of Centauron: A new story-driven DLC expanding the lore of Galactic Civilizations IV Stardock released "Tales of Centauron", the eagerly awaited DLC for Galactic Civilizations IV today. Set in the game’s Centauron quadrant of the Milky Way galaxy this DLC introduces an array of new content: Lore-Driven Gameplay: Players can delve into events tailored to the unique traits of each civilization. Engaging in these scenarios while leading a specific civilizat... [read more]

12/19/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Galactic Civilizations IV v2.2 for Epic

Greetings! I wanted to give an update to our Galactic Civilizations IV (base game) customers on Epic. We are just about complete with the v2.2 update for the base (non-Supernova) game but ran out of time to put it through QA before the holiday break. We anticipate putting out v2.2 for the base game on Epic in early January. It's a huuuuuge update. It's everything we did in Supernova (other than new content) plus everything up to 2.2. So it's a pretty massive update.... [read more]

12/18/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #38 - UI Updates Coming to the v2.2 Ethnology Update

Since the launch of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition in mid-October, we've been hard at work, rolling out updates to enhance your gameplay experience. Following the initial post-release patch (v2.01), addressing those last-minute QA touches, we introduced the significant v2.1 update, packed with features already in our pipeline. But here's where it gets thrilling: Version 2.2 is all about you! This update is a creative blend of your insightful feedback and our vision, transformin... [read more]

12/18/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #10 - Play Your Way

Greetings, fellow gamers and strategists! Today, we delve into the intricate universe of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova, exploring how this 4X game redefines difficulty through its innovative blend of Organic and Traditional Difficulty Modes. Join us as we unravel the secrets behind crafting your own gaming experience and find the challenge that suits you best. Organic Difficulty vs. Traditional Difficulty Modes In the vast realm of strategy gaming, preferences vary... [read more]

12/14/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #37 - New Biomes in the v2.2 Ethnology Update

Another big change coming this Holiday season for GalCiv players in v2.2 (Ethnology) is a massive expansion of the number of biomes that make up worlds. Today we’ll take a look at some of the new ones. First, a recap: The humans of Earth have a specific planet layout that loosely matches the continental layout of Earth (minus Australia – you guys didn’t send the bribe money!!). Earth. Obviously. We did, however, add a lot of new special tiles that have a chance to show up. I see ... [read more]

12/11/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #36 - v2.2 Preview

Greetings! So we have been working on GalCiv IV 2.2 which we are tentatively calling Ethnologies. What’s an ethnology? It’s a branch of anthropology that focuses on the uniqueness of different peoples or even species. And thanks to the overwhelming support we’ve received on the Expansion Pass for GalCiv IV we were able to bring on more people to work on 2.2 and the results, we think, will make players pretty happy. One criticism of GalCiv has always been that the different races in the ga... [read more]

12/7/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #35 - The Juggernaut of Culture

One of Galactic Civilization’s biggest selling points is the ability to play and win in a way that isn’t entirely focused around war and conquest. Sure, you always need to keep a few fleets around as a “Get off my lawn!” signal to potentially unfriendly neighbours, but the 4X genre has always had a bit of a problem with an over-reliance on conquest mechanics and, right from the very first game, the GalCiv series has always put peaceful victory options front and center. Galactic Civilizati... [read more]

12/4/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #34 - v2.1 Genesis Update

Alrighty folks, today we’re going to take a look at some of the changes brought in with our Genesis update (version 2.1) for Galactic Civilizations: Supernova. This is a meaty update full of bugfixes, enhanced features and tweaks to existing mechanics to facilitate a smoother gameplay experience for the player. To kick off, we’ve added 22 minutes of brand new music to GalCiv4’s existing soundtrack, and the midgame music will kick in at 60 turns now instead of 100, so you’ll get to hear it a ... [read more]

11/27/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Steam Autumn Sale is Here - Up to 75% Off Stardock Titles

The Steam Autumn Sale is Here - Get Up to 75% Off* STEAM KEYS ARE PROVIDED WITH PURCHASE NEW TITLES: The Political Machine 2024 Free DLC w/Pre-Order $19.99 Galactic Civilizations IV Now Available $49.99 FEATURED TITLES ON SALE: Star Control: Origins $29.99 Now $10.19 Galactic Civilizations III ( Includes FREE: Crusade and Retribution Expansions, Mega Events DLC) $39.99 Now $13.... [read more]

11/21/2023 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #33 - Mod Manager

Modding has been around as long as video games have existed. The earliest games were really only played by other programmers or nerdy academic types with access to university mainframe computers, who were happy to jump in and improve the software made by their colleagues. Nobody called it modding back in the late 70's as far as I can tell, but we can see that same hacker spirit infusing the video gaming community right up to this day. Hell, some genres are almost entirely comprised of ga... [read more]

11/20/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Epic Edition

We are currently working on the base game of the Epic edition. This will come out at GalCiv IV 2.2 next month. To make it easy for future updates to it, we are going to be bringing the code-base up to the Supernova edition. So in essence, GalCiv IV 2.2 base game on Epic will be the same as Supernova except for the new content (and things like AlienGPT). [read more]

11/17/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

v2.1 Genesis Update and Expansion Pass Announced for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova

Stardock announces the release of the Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition v2.1 Genesis update, alongside the exciting launch of its first Expansion Pass. Limited Time Discount on the Expansion Pass Get in now and gain immediate access to the Soundtrack today, and the remaining 5 as they release. The v2.1 Genesis update of the Supernova Edition introduces a wealth of new features and enhancements, including: Steam Workshop integration for Steam user... [read more]

11/16/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #32 - It's the Little Things...

Last week we talked about some changes made to the way the game AI played when at war, which has gone some way towards addressing the lack of pressure and difficulty some players were experiencing in the mid to late game. We’ve not stopped there, and Frogboy has recently dropped some hints at what will be coming in the upcoming v2.1 . For now though, we’re going to examine some of the smaller changes that came in with v2.01 that you might have missed, but we feel add something significant t... [read more]

11/14/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #31 - The AI Strikes Back!

One of the most common questions I see asked in the 4X gaming communities online is “What are the 4X games with the best game AI?”, and inevitably someone will mention one of the Galactic Civilizations games in amongst some of the other greats of the genre. Usually, it’s GalCiv2, but the original PC game and Galactic Civilizations III pop up occasionally too. With such a respectable heritage, Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova had big boots to fill. We think the AI is pretty good now and u... [read more]

11/9/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Stardock Announces The Political Machine 2024

Stardock Announces "The Political Machine 2024" Pre-order now and get the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' DLC free Stardock announced the latest iteration of its hit political strategy series, The Political Machine 2024 today. The game, which allows players to simulate a run for the American presidency, features an updated roster of politicians and introduces new gameplay mechanics that reflect the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. politics. The Political Machine 2024 ... [read more]

11/7/2023 By redskittlesonly in Political Machine News

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #9 - The Secrets of the Galaxy

In the vast expanse of space, Galactic Civilizations offers players the chance to embark on a grand adventure. The opening moves of this strategy game introduce a sense of wonder and excitement as you explore the sector, discovering star systems and resources, all fuel for the imagination and helping to shape your plans for building a great galactic civilization. But the fun doesn't stop there, as in-game events present you with meaningful choices that can have long-lasting consequences. ... [read more]

11/3/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Vasari Rebels: Echoes of the Past Update - Sins of a Solar Empire II

Vasari Rebels: Echoes of the Past Update Our November 'Echoes of the Past' update brings a number of new player-requested features to try out! Fleet formation and engagement ranges allow players to fine-tune how their ships behave. Create picket-lines or wide formations to avoid area-of-effect damage. When capital ships and titans are destroyed, they now leave behind wreckage that you can harvest - space recycling at its finest. We've also added structure repositioning, allowing you t... [read more]

11/2/2023 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #30 - Ability Visibility

One of the most common complaints that we’ve received regarding the user interface in Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova is one of visibility of the various characteristics for each Civilization in play. Most notably, players were reporting that after selecting a Civilization, there was no way to check their own Civilization Abilities, Traits and other attached information, without exiting to the main menu, starting a new game and checking those details in the game-setup screens there. Th... [read more]

11/2/2023 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

v2.01 Update Now Available for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova v2.01 brings tons of community requested fixes and updates Now Available: Buy Now The Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova v2.01 update features tons of fixes and updates. Experience a revamped AI with superior decision-making skills, an influx of new in-game events and anomalies for an unpredictable galaxy. Enjoy improved multilingual support, refined multiplayer stability, and balanced gameplay mechanics. Plus, check out the rei... [read more]

11/1/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition Released!

Stardock’s award-winning turn-based strategy game series gets its biggest release ever Buy Now: Steam | Epic Stardock announced the release of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition (Supernova) today. Stardock is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this month with the sequel to the game that started the company back in 1993. “This is, by far, the biggest game release we’ve ever done,” said B... [read more]

10/19/2023 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

Stardock Turns 30: Anniversary Sale & Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Launch

Stardock's 30th Anniversary Event Galactic Civilizations IV - Supernova Launch & Up to 80% Off Celebration! STEAM KEYS ARE PROVIDED WITH PURCHASE GalCiv IV: Supernova Edition | Now Available Take command of a civilization that has just achieved faster-than-light travel in Galactic Civilizations IV, the newest entry in the award-winning space 4X strategy game series. Explore the galaxy, colonize worlds, shape cultures, make alliances, fight wars and pi... [read more]

10/19/2023 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #8 - Playing Tall vs. Wide

In the vast and intricate realm of 4X gaming, empire management takes center stage. Traditionally in this genre, the cardinal rule was simple: the bigger the empire, the better your chances of victory. Resources were tightly intertwined with territory, making rapid expansion a key strategy for acquiring as much land and resource production as possible. But recent times have ushered in a shift, with 4X games offering players the possibility of success with smaller, more focuse... [read more]

10/17/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #29 - What's new in Supernova

There is more new and changed in GalCiv IV: Supernova than all the changes coming from GalCiv II through GalCiv IV (base game) combined. The chart below doesn’t really do justice to the magnitude of the changes. This journal entry will talk about it. First, let me introduce myself. I’m Brad Wardell. I designed the original Galactic Civilizations for OS/2 back in 1992 which went into beta in (wait for it) October 1993 which is when I incorporated Stardock from my dorm room in college. ... [read more]

10/16/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #28 - Replacing the Tech Victory in 4X

Since the first Galactic Civilizations game, we’ve always had the technology victory condition. When the player researched this very expensive technology, they won the game. Simple enough right? Unfortunately, while it was straightforward to win that way, it was very unsatisfying to lose that way. In Galactic Civilizations II, we tried a host of different options including having a warning letting the player know that “Player X is nearing a technological victory.” That doesn’t really work tho... [read more]

10/6/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

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