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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

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #7 - Managing Your Space Cats

In the vast cosmos of gaming, we often find ourselves leading empires, commanding armies, and forging alliances. But have you ever wondered about the individuals who make up these galactic civilizations, and the leaders who steer their destinies towards triumph? In this episode, we embark on a cosmic journey to meet the Citizens and Leaders of the Purrshan League, a civilization of peaceful, friendly cat-like creatures navigating the challenges of a universe filled with passi... [read more]

10/4/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #27 - Localization

One of Stardock's big challenges has been localizing our games. GalCiv IV has over 180,000 words in it. That's a lot to translate. But that's not really the biggest issue. The biggest issue is that we are constantly adding new text to the game which makes it hard for our linguistics team to keep up. We typically use Trados for this sort of thing. It's very powerful but it is not fast. So I decided to write my own app called GC4TranslatorUI. ... [read more]

10/2/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Vasari Rebels: The Empire's Arrival Update - Sins of a Solar Empire II

The highly anticipated Vasari Rebels are now available as a playable faction in Sins of a Solar Empire II. Vasari Rebels: The Empire's Arrival After a long journey of 10,000 years the vanguard of the Vasari forces arrives in Trader space. You must quickly establish a foothold and then expand outward to collect the resources you need. Will you ally with the locals or destroy them? Many choices and dangers await in the darkness of this new region. The Vasari feature mor... [read more]

9/28/2023 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

v1.9 Early Access Update - Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition, currently in Early Access on Steam, adds the Modding Workshop, Galactapedia, Missions, and New Civilization Launching October 19, Steam Wishlist Now Highlighted Features: NEW! Korath Civilization : The Korath Clan returns, vicious as ever! NEW! Modding Workshop : Players can now browse, download, and manage custom community created content. NEW! Galactapedia : An in-game encycloped... [read more]

9/27/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #26 - The Animals of AI

When utilizing Stardock's AlienGPT, one might naturally ponder the question: which animals are the most sought-after choices for building a civilization around? Well, here's the answer. Nearly 40% of users opt for cats, followed by foxes, fish, dogs, snakes, and more. Animal Number of Mentions Percentage (%) cat 1445 30.90 fox 331 7.08 fish 320 6.84 dog 319 6.82 snake 258 5.52 bird 251 5.37 tiger 219 4.68 wolf 190 4.0... [read more]

9/25/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #6 - What Kind of Civilization Are You?

The Galactic Civilizations series is known for its rich tapestry of civilizations, each with its own lore and gameplay mechanics that create a symphony of diversity in the intergalactic arena. These civilizations are more than just backstories; they're the driving forces behind the epic narratives that unfold in the game. In this article, we'll delve into the intricate mechanics that define civilizations in Galactic Civilizations and explore how they shape your playstyle and strategies when faci... [read more]

9/20/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition Launches October 19

Stardock announced the release date of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition , the latest entry in its award-winning space turn-based strategy game will be October 19, 2023 and will coincide with Stardock’s 30-year anniversary. Currently in Early access on the Steam and Epic Store, the game is currently available for purchase at a discount over the final release price. Beginning shortly after humanity has discovered faster-than-ligh... [read more]

9/19/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Sins II: Dev Journal 10 - The Vasari Kultorask Titan

We diverge in this dev diary for a special report on the Vasari Rebel’s Kultorask-class titan. The Kultorask is a true behemoth, with the ability to deal vast amounts of damage to enemy forces while also providing support to its own. In its initial configuration, the Kultorask features an impressive weapons arsenal: 3 Phase Missile Arrays comprised of 16 launchers (fore and aft). 8 Heavy Beam Cannon turrets (forward only). 16 Medium Wave Cannon turrets (fore and aft).... [read more]

9/18/2023 By Yarlen in Sins Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #25 - A Galaxy for Everyone

Greetings! We are coming to the finish line for GalCiv IV: Supernova! Our once reasonable scope has, of course, exploded over the Summer as we got our hands into making this the best space 4X game we've ever made! The next major BETA update, 1.90 will be focusing on making the game more appealing to a much wider group of people. Galactapedia This feature is expected to expand significantly in the coming weeks. We're excited about its potential and... [read more]

9/14/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #5 - AlienGPT

Greetings, fellow gamers and intergalactic strategists! Today, we delve into the fascinating world of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova, where we explore the cutting-edge addition to the game, AlienGPT. This groundbreaking feature, developed by Stardock, leverages the power of GPT technology to redefine the way we create custom civilizations in this iconic space 4X gaming series. Wishlist on Steam In this blog post, we'll take you on a journey through the exciting universe of Galact... [read more]

9/12/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

v1.8 Early Access Update - Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition, currently in early access on Steam, gets a major beta update. Wishlist Now | Full Changelog Below Version 1.8 adds hundreds of new changes, improvements, fixes and new content including: New Major Civilizations: The Cosmic Contaminate and The Seeing. Multiplayer (competitive and cooperative). Major combat system update: Ships automatically use weapons on the main map from a distance. ... [read more]

9/7/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Spheres of Influence Update - Sins of a Solar Empire II

The latest update has just dropped, bringing with it a host of bug fixes, gameplay enhancements, and tantalizing hints of what's to come. Brace for smoother planetary development as underdevelopment penalties vanish, while capital ships and titans gain immediate access to all slots. UI and tooltip improvements enhance usability, and captivating visual effects intensify battles. Get Sins of a Solar Empire II Now | Changelog Below No More Underdevelopmen... [read more]

8/29/2023 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

Up to 75% Off Stardock Games During the Steam Strategy Fest

Save up to 75% on Stardock Games STEAM KEYS ARE PROVIDED WITH PURCHASE ( Includes FREE: Crusade and Retribution Expansions, Mega Events DLC) $39.99 Now $12.79 - 68% Off $29.99 Now $9.89 - 67% Off $39.99 Now $12.79 - 68% Off $14.99 Now $5.99 - 60% Off $19.99 Now $9.99 - 50% Off Game Bundles: Up to 73% Off Up to 70% Off Up to&nb... [read more]

8/28/2023 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #24 - AIs Drinking Coffee on Planets

Generally speaking, in GalCiv games there has been three types of players: The first player is the relatively new or casual player who finds the AI ridiculously hard and will post "The AI is cheating" (the AI doesn't cheat unless you make the settings super high). They say this because the AI is able to expand fairly quickly because it is quite good at scouting (the AI tends to build a lot more scouts than players) and finding planets. It has no idea where the planets are. The second... [read more]

8/28/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation - v3.2 Now Available

The latest update for Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation has just landed, introducing changes that promise to enhance your gaming experience. Let's delve into the details of what this update brings to the table. Get it Now | Full Changelog Below New Map: Frenzy: A Fresh 1v1 Battleground The brand-new Frenzy map, purpose-built for exhilarating 1v1 encounters. This map is a playground of rapid decision-making and cunning strategies. Brace yourself... [read more]

8/24/2023 By redskittlesonly in Ashes of the Singularity News

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion v1.98 Now Available

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion v1.98 introduces extended ranges, refined abilities, and more. Forge alliances, sharpen your tactics, and rise as the ultimate cosmic conqueror. Get Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion now Enhanced Firepower and Tactical Tweaks Anti-fighter frigates from the TEC, Advent, and Vasari factions now come with extended weapon ranges, enabling you to engage enemies from a greater distance. Abilities have been adjusted, including the TEC Light Fr... [read more]

8/23/2023 By redskittlesonly in Sins News

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #4 - The History of Galactic Civilizations Games

Galactic Civilizations: A Journey Through the Stars Discover the captivating history behind one of gaming's most iconic 4X series! From its groundbreaking launch on IBM OS/2 in the 1990s, featuring innovations like multi-threading and customizable starships, to its progression on Windows with expansive maps and refined mechanics. Galactic Civilizations III's leap to a 64-bit engine brought unparalleled ship customization, while Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Edition showcases Stardo... [read more]

8/18/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

v1.7 Early Access Update - GalCiv IV: Supernova

v1.7 Early Access Update Unveils New Factions, Enhanced Ship Designer/Diplomacy Screen, and Player-Contributed Stars Brace yourself for a celestial adventure enriched with new factions, a revamped ship designer, an enhanced diplomacy screen, and a shining constellation of player-contributed stars. Wishlist Now | Changelog Below Two (3 more to come!) Factions Unlocked The Phalenoid Advance Embark on a celestial journey with The Phalenoid Adva... [read more]

8/10/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #3 - The Lore of Galactic Civilizations

Today, we embark on a journey into the vast expanse of 4X gaming and explore the rich lore and captivating background story of the Galactic Civilizations series. 4X games, with their procedurally generated content, offer fertile ground for imagination, but there's something truly magical about an epic narrative that breathes life into emergent stories. Join us as we activate the databanks and take a trip back in time to the origins of this captivating universe. &nbs... [read more]

8/1/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Sins II: Dev Journal 9 - The Ankylon Titan

The TEC Ankylon-class titan is the pinnacle of loyalist Trader wartime technology. Literally a mobile fortress city, the Ankylon is a flexible cornerstone for loyalist forces. As the newest warship in the loyalist arsenal, the Ankylon features powerful defensive abilities and 18 medium autocannon turrets around the ship. Optional Defense Upgrades for the Ankylon-class Titan Hull Plating (3 levels): Greatly increases the Armor, Hull Points and passive Hull Point regeneration of the ti... [read more]

8/1/2023 By Yarlen in Sins Dev Journals

WIP: YouTube Embedded Test Post

[confluence title=""]https://stardock.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/SHC/pages/1544355846/NETDEV-2660+Test+Page[/confluence] [read more]

7/31/2023 By WithinRafael in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #23 - A Weekend of Polishing

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #23 - A Weekend of Polishing GalCiv IV Beta 1.66 Test Game So what did you do on your Summer sunny day? Oh, you know, I um…played GalCiv and made tweaks! Let’s see how it worked out. Play Test Time I created a custom civ of explorers. Humans. Change #1: We spell out that the survey modules came from a Precursor dig . That’s why you can’t just crank these out. Change #2: Planet screen gets better fonts. Statistically, you reading this ha... [read more]

7/31/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

v1.65 Early Access Update - GalCiv IV: Supernova

The Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova v1.65 Early Access Update introduces new alien and robot images within AlienGPT, revamped culture traits, thrilling events, and galaxy enhancements. With new technologies, planetary options, and improved user interface, players can enjoy an even more immersive and dynamic 4X space strategy experience. Wishlist Now Enhanced Planet Screen Experience diverse and challenging planetary governance with new planet types, terrain tiles,... [read more]

7/27/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Omens of Conflict Update: Sins of a Solar Empire II

The Omens of Conflict update brings forth a host of exciting features, including the Future Orbit System, which grants players the ability to glimpse orbits up to one hour ahead. Alongside this, there are several new maps including the Twin Giants scenario, where colossal gas giants and their moons traverse the inner orbits, challenging your strategic finesse. With the addition of 2, 3, and 4-player random map types, the galaxy is now your oyster. Engage in epic battles, embrace cosmic wonders, ... [read more]

7/27/2023 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

Winners Announcement for Name a Star Contest - GalCiv IV: Supernova

Hello everyone, We wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their entries! Choosing the winners wasn't easy for us here at Stardock, but it was a grand time all the same. We saw entries ranging from names, references, mythologies to memes and jokes, you all really brought us the entire gambit! Everyone's enthusiasm and participation makes us hopeful for future events and contests to involve the community further. Now through a series of selections we've narrowed down the 100 w... [read more]

7/26/2023 By RammaStardock in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #2 - The Basics of Galactic Civilizations

Today, we embark on a thrilling journey into the heart of the Galactic Civilizations universe, uncovering the core mechanics that make this 4X strategy series so captivating. Galactic Civilizations, developed by Stardock, is a renowned series of 4X games set in the vast expanse of space. Your ultimate goal is to guide your civilization to interstellar dominance amidst a galaxy teeming with formidable rivals. The gameplay is a harmonious blend of economic and industrial development, ... [read more]

7/25/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Video Dev Blog #1 - What is a 4X Game?

Welcome to the realm of 4X games, a genre that blends strategy, empire building, and immersive gameplay. In this dev blog, we'll take a deep dive into the world of 4X games, discovering their unique elements, iconic titles, and the reasons why they have captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. Unveiling the 4X Genre The term "4X" was coined to describe games that embody the principles of "eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate." These games encompass empire b... [read more]

7/18/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #22 - Improving the Ship Design Screen

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #22 - Improving the Ship Design Screen We currently have a challenge when it comes to designing ships in GalCiv. Most players are less into the cosmetic aspect and more into the functionality of ship design. And some players are really into the cosmetic design of ships. For GalCiv IV: Supernova, we are going to give up on trying to have one UI to rule them all and instead begin to have two different UIs. One for those who want to design the look of the shi... [read more]

7/17/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

v1.61 Early Access for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova Now Available

Galactic Civilizations v1.61 Early Access Update Improved strategic AI, refined ship construction, balanced ship combat, and enhanced battles The latest early access update for Galactic Civilizations, v1.61 is here. Immerse yourself in a galaxy teeming with enhanced strategic gameplay and thrilling battles. View the Full Changelog | Add to Steam Wishlist Here's a brief overview of the exciting features included in this update: Major Stra... [read more]

7/13/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Name A Star Contest - GalCiv IV: Supernova

Hello all! As many of you know, the GalCiv III Elite Founders had the ability to name their own star in game. We wanted to extend a similar offer to our beloved fans of GalCiv IV: Supernova through this contest, where up to 100 lucky winners will have their star name added in-game. Immortalizing them forever in Supernova! Anyone with a Stardock account (new or existing) is eligible to submit a star name. All submissions will be approved by myself and the team at Stardo... [read more]

7/12/2023 By RammaStardock in GalCiv News

Save up to 80% on Stardock Games, DLC, and Software in the Steam Summer Sale!

Save up to 80% on Stardock Games and Software Games for under $5 STEAM KEYS ARE PROVIDED WITH PURCHASE GalCiv IV: Supernova $39.99 Early Access Pricing or Wishlist Star Control: Origins $29.99 Now $11.99 - 60% Off Galactic Civilizations III ( Includes FREE: Crusade and Retribution Expansions, Mega Events DLC) $39.99 Now $12.79 - 68% Off Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation $... [read more]

6/29/2023 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

The Pirates, Planets, and Plunder Update: Sins of a Solar Empire II

Sins of a Solar Empire II: Pirates, Planets, and Plunder Update Updated bounty system, added Pirate Raid events, modified planet components, updated UI, deploy more capital ships early in the game, increased number of collectible derelicts. View the full changelog Pirates at Large: Bounties are now visible to all players, and those with the highest bounties better brace themselves for relentless pirate raids! But don't fr... [read more]

6/27/2023 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

GalCiv IV: Supernova - v1.6 Early Access Update

GalCiv IV: Supernova Early Access v1.6 - German Language Beta, New Anomalies, Updated Culture Traits, and Enhanced Battle Viewer Await Players in Early Access v1.6 Assume the role of a space commander and delve into a vast and immersive universe. Witness epic space battles with an enhanced battle viewer and conquer the cosmos with the added advantage of German language support. Explore the potential of anomalies to enhance your empire's capabilities and customize your path by adopting culture... [read more]

6/22/2023 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #21 - What to do about Space Bugs in Battle

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #21 - Pretty vs. mechanically satisfying space battles Forget realistic space battles. In a real space battle, the ships would be incredibly far apart and only missile weapons that are flying at relativistic speeds would matter. So putting that aside, let’s talk about the challenge of making space battles look pretty. The Mechanics We want kinetic weapons (guns), direct energy weapons (beam weapons) and payload weapons (missiles) to have very different ran... [read more]

6/5/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova v1.55 Early Access Update

v1.55 - Introducing New Features and Major Balance Overhauls Greetings! We're excited to announce the release of GalCiv IV: Supernova v1.55, a significant step forward. This update brings a collection of new features, key balance changes, and improvements that will transform your intergalactic adventures. Here are some of the highlights: Gameplay Overhaul : Expect a major rework of the technology tree, including an entirely new approach to Exotic World colonization, Interstellar cabi... [read more]

6/1/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #20 - How people use AlienGPT

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #20 - How people use AlienGPT The Generative AI feature of Galactic Civilizations IV seems to be the breakout feature so far. To recap: When a player wants to create a custom civilization, they can choose to enter in a short description and then press “Generate”. There are two parts of this. The first part uses OpenAI’s ChatGPT which generates the text and code for describing the civilization as well as quests in the game. The second part uses AI... [read more]

5/30/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

The Titan Onslaught Update: Sins of a Solar Empire II

Greetings, Sins II players! We have been receiving valuable feedback from our players, which has enabled us to make numerous improvements to the game. We appreciate the input and will continue to use it to enhance the gaming experience for everyone. Before we talk about what's in the new update, here's an important note: this update is NOT save game compatible with prior versions! This means you'll need to start fresh games to play with the features in this update. For the highlights i... [read more]

5/25/2023 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #19 - Culture is your Civilization's Character

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal #19 - Culture is your Civilization's Character The feedback we got from Beta 1 of GalCiv IV: Supernova was that the Cultural Progression tree was too big and too “soft”. Soft meaning the choices didn’t have meaningful consequences. We read all the feedback and used it to rethink the concept of culture in a 4X game. Here’s what we’ve come up with. Culture vs. Influence Influence affects how far your borders go from your planet. Culture is the input that ... [read more]

5/24/2023 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

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