Anno 2070 Released

[EzeKieL]

aha found it!

'Zoom into the desired city and you should be able to locate several highlighted people, walking around.'

Basically it's a search and find quest ^^.

[baelthazar]

aha found it!

'Zoom into the desired city and you should be able to locate several highlighted people, walking around.'

Basically it's a search and find quest ^^.

Yeah, it took me forever of clicking buildings to realize this. After you see the blue dudes, these quests are quick and painless.

[EzeKieL]

It's a good way of making people zoom in from time to time and admire the close-up graphics ^^

Otherwise I'd never zoom in.

[persself]

I noticed in the requirements section that laptops are not supported; anyone running game successfully on laptop?

[Kraken]

Am I right to assume that the game is not really as scripted as the demo? It looks well-made, and I appreciated the tour of the interface, but the fedex missions are tedious.

[Lordnine]

Been waiting for this one to go on sale and it finally did! $30 on Steam if anyone is interested.

I only have about an hour’s playtime but I have to say the presentation of the game is awesome. I love games that put you in control as opposed to watching the person in control and this game has that in spades. The last game that really gave me this feeling was Alpha Centauri.

Gameplay seems complex enough that I don’t really know what I’m doing but not in a bad way. The tutorial is rather vague at times, not to mention that the game throws you into the command seat and doesn’t give you a tutorial until you start the first mission. Graphics are gorgeous but the voice acting is not very good which is made worse by repetitive quotes. Still, I’m very intrigued by the game.

On the negative side of things it took me three tries to get the game to even start. The Ubisoft launcher failed to patch and was continuously crashing.

[Lordnine]

Well, I’m 10 hours into the game now and it continues to impress. I’ve never played any of the other Anno games but the amount of depth is quite remarkable. I’ve stuck pretty much to the campaign so far and find it addictive. The funny thing is early on I was annoyed by how much the campaign leads you around by the nose but when the training wheels came off I immediately bombed my economy and had to restart a couple times.

The biggest shortcoming I have for the campaign is that it doesn’t explain features until it thinks you need to know them. There is a lengthy “instruction manual” inside the game you can pull up at any time but simple tool tips on buildings the first time you build them would alleviate a lot of the learning curve. Another problem I had early on is that the game frequently tells you to build something only to have it buried in the build menu under the prerequisite that it never mentions. Also, a faster way to sell off surplus goods would be nice.

To the games credit none of these problems bother me enough to stop playing. In fact if you can get past the sheer cliff learning curve I would recommend this highly to any fans of the genre or any newcomer with a bit of patience.

[Lordnine]

One final sad bump since no one seems interested.



They just started a global multiplayer event. Looks like everyone got three new free missions and everyone in the world is working together to achieve a goal. As people complete the missions they earn points to a global pool and if enough points are raised everyone is rewarded with career points which you can reinvest into your faction for better upgrades and promotions.

Seems like a very cool way to incorporate multiplayer interaction into a single player game to add to the feel of being a faction architect.

[Kraken]

I'm interested. If it's still $30 I will probably download this weekend.

[Reemul]

I have been enjoying your updates keep it up. I have this installed ready to play however I need to finish Amalur and ME3 first. I have 2 weeks off from next week so hopefully get some play time then.

[DD*]

$50 on Steam is too steep for me...

[Paingod]

I have no feelings about 'Global Multiplayer' in a single player game. I don't think I'd feel one way or another about it while I played.

The game looks amazing, on the other hand, and I've loved the other Anno titles I've got. I was this (| |) close to picking this up on sale for $30 but wanted to wait for a Christmas sale kind of price, mostly because my gaming budget is pretty thin and $30 could get me 12 games during one of those sales.

[IceBear]

One final sad bump since no one seems interested.



They just started a global multiplayer event. Looks like everyone got three new free missions and everyone in the world is working together to achieve a goal. As people complete the missions they earn points to a global pool and if enough points are raised everyone is rewarded with career points which you can reinvest into your faction for better upgrades and promotions.

Seems like a very cool way to incorporate multiplayer interaction into a single player game to add to the feel of being a faction architect.

Yeah, I love these games...find them very relaxing compared to the normal stuff I play. I got it for Christmas, and this is the third (or forth?) global event. They had one with some terrorists about to launch nukes, then one with the eden initiative building some terraformers and now this one; I feel like there was another one, but I can't remember right now. Since they want you to be online for DRM purposes, I think that rewarding the players with these global events is a smart thing. You're essentially getting a free mini-DLC that you can play on your own and in peace (if you hate dealing with people online), but you're working towards a global goal. I also like that every few weeks you can vote for the faction you want in power or who is president and that impacts (in a minor way) what bonuses you have access to in your game.

[Chaz]

Still interested, still hate the DRM on principle. With it in place, I can't see myself paying more than $20 for it, which is too bad, because the game itself is worth more than that to me.

[IceBear]

Agree, I do dislike the DRM on principle, and in all honesty don't know if I could play it offline. I know HoMMVI you could play offline, so suspect that you can in this one too, but like HoMMVI they do reward you for playing it online, which is at least something.

[Fretmute]

Another problem I had early on is that the game frequently tells you to build something only to have it buried in the build menu under the prerequisite that it never mentions.

I picked this up Sunday evening. I want to like it, but the way the build menus are structured damn near had me tearing my hair out the first night. It looks as if it will be fun once I build my mental callus.

[Chaz]

Agree, I do dislike the DRM on principle, and in all honesty don't know if I could play it offline. I know HoMMVI you could play offline, so suspect that you can in this one too, but like HoMMVI they do reward you for playing it online, which is at least something.

I'm fairly sure Anno still has the always-on DRM, so you wouldn't be able to play it offline. A month or so ago there was a period of days where Ubi was doing server maintenance, so the game was unplayable. That's no good. I can live with a limited number of activations, as long as it's well-handled, but always on DRM is a DRM too far.

[Lordnine]

Actually, I think I read that the limited number of installs DRM has been mostly removed. You get 3 installs but after you use the 3rd it regenerates every three weeks. It’s technically still limited but if you change your hardware every two weeks you have other problems.

That doesn’t help with the always on thing though…

[Kraken]

Agree, I do dislike the DRM on principle, and in all honesty don't know if I could play it offline. I know HoMMVI you could play offline, so suspect that you can in this one too, but like HoMMVI they do reward you for playing it online, which is at least something.

I'm fairly sure Anno still has the always-on DRM, so you wouldn't be able to play it offline. A month or so ago there was a period of days where Ubi was doing server maintenance, so the game was unplayable. That's no good. I can live with a limited number of activations, as long as it's well-handled, but always on DRM is a DRM too far.

Hmmm, count me out then. Reluctantly. I'd like the game but I don't want to support that business model.

[Lordnine]

Crap! I’m on the last set of missions in the campaign and things have become ridiculously complicated. I have 6 trade routes transferring goods between 4 islands and anytime there is a shortage of goods somewhere I get a feeling of dread while I try to rearrange supply lines. Things were going great until the game insisted I keep both Eco and Tycoon civs happy at the highest tier AND build a large military force.

Looking at the complexity of the path of goods distribution I think I’m playing Spacechem now…

[Lordnine]

I persevered past my previous wall. If anyone is still playing keep in mind as the missions go on is that it’s in your best interest not to try to rush through the quest log. If you do so and only build the bare minimum you are going to find yourself stuck later on because the missions keep your persistent bases.

I learned that the hard way in the last set of missions where I was able to complete an objective but didn’t have enough income potential which completely screwed me when the enemy started attacking my trade ships as soon as the task was completed.

[IceBear]

Yeah, I had the same issue there too...had to restart the missions in the final campaign with design towards the last mission in mind on the previous maps

[tgb]

I just discovered that Impulse Gamestop is offering the Deluxe Edition for less than $19. I've been waiting for a good sale, and at that price I will live with the DRM (cross-posted in the Bargain Bin).

Not that it matters (I bought it and am downloading right now), but can someone tell me what the Deluxe Edition has that the regular doesn't?

[Isgrimnur]

Steam's answer

The Deluxe Edition includes two in-game items, Breona Ibori and Sonic modulator, two game soundtracks, a 152-page art book, and the Tree of Technology poster.

In-Game Items:
Breona Ibori - Intelligent and charming, Breona belongs to the Tech faction. Her development of Nano technologies is legendary.
Formula: Sonic modulator - Special ark item in the academy. These sonic modulators will attract dolphins, which will follow your ships and cut impressive capers.

[tgb]

OK - I just learned that the sale is good only for the first 500 copies. So if you want it at that price, you'd best get the lead out.

[hepcat]

Got it...then promptly discovered that ubisoft DRM is even more atrocious than I remembered. It asked me for my code before installing and activated fine. Then it asked me for the code again when the game started...and then told me it was already in use under a different account. Thankfully, I posted my frustation on the impulse forums for ubisoft and gamestop sent me a new code that worked fine. But man, that is friggin' annoying.

[tgb]

Got it...then promptly discovered that ubisoft DRM is even more atrocious than I remembered. It asked me for my code before installing and activated fine. Then it asked me for the code again when the game started...and then told me it was already in use under a different account. Thankfully, I posted my frustation on the impulse forums for ubisoft and gamestop sent me a new code that worked fine. But man, that is friggin' annoying.

Yeah, that happened to me, but after exiting out of the game and restarting it took the code.

It really does feel like little more than a Dawn of Discovery mod. I'm glad I paid less than $20 for it.

[hepcat]

ditto. i had the same thought after playing for 30 minutes.

[tgb]

I have to admit now that I'm onto the third chapter of the first campaign (which I am going to be restarting AGAIN because I fucked up), there appears to be a bit more depth than DoD in terms of deciding what to build and whether you want to support the industrialist or the hippie faction. I'm starting to appreciate the meta game a bit more as well, as I learn how that works.

This game is growing on me (but I'm still glad it was < $20).

[Lordnine]

Dawn of Discovery was called Anno 1404 in Europe should have made it pretty obvious that it would be similar. It’s just a sequel in the same vein of SimCity 4 following SimCity 3. That said I think it still stands well on its own.

As for the campaign I think it’s really something you will appreciate more the further you get into it. I started out thinking it was kind of neat but nothing spectacular but around hour 3 something clicked and I became completely entranced by it. Now I’m over 20 hours in and despite some unforgiving mission designs I absolutely love it.

[Lorini]

Well encouraged by posts here about the campaign, I tried to play it, something I don't normally do, just because of exactly what happened. I can't proceed further in the "on the trail of the truth" quest. it says to make this document and I left click it as instructed and nothing happens. So the campaign is now dead. Yuck, what a waste of time.

[Lordnine]

Well encouraged by posts here about the campaign, I tried to play it, something I don't normally do, just because of exactly what happened. I can't proceed further in the "on the trail of the truth" quest. it says to make this document and I left click it as instructed and nothing happens. So the campaign is now dead. Yuck, what a waste of time.

The campaign can be very confusing at times. A complaint I had earlier in this thread is that the game often only tells you that you can do something at the moment it thinks you will need to know it, as opposed to when it might first be useful. This might help. Sounds like you either need to build a lab or bring the document somewhere.

[tgb]

Now that I've finished the first chapter of the campaign/tutorial I have to throw in a mea culpa. This is not your father's Anno game. I LOVE how the meta-game impacts everything you do, and the undersea stuff is gorgeous. Plus it actually makes UBI DRM important in ters of game play.

[Sepiche]

Plus it actually makes UBI DRM important in ters of game play.

Yeah I thought that was about as good a move as they could have made short of getting rid of the DRM. At least there's some modicum of benefit to having it.

[Isgrimnur]

I would like to know more about how the DRM is integral.

[tgb]

I would like to know more about how the DRM is integral.

Every once in a while (I haven't had the game long enough to know how often) the Ubi server generates "crises", that are sent out to all players. These are small scenarios that, once played, generate a persistent bonus that remains with you (except for the campaign, which is scripted). Similarly, there are also "elections", where everybody votes for the faction that will head the World Council, or some such nonsense. Each faction also confers certain bonuses for as long as it remains "in power".

[hepcat]

Guess I should give it some more time if it gets better as you play.

[tgb]

Guess I should give it some more time if it gets better as you play.

It does.

[Fretmute]

Guess I should give it some more time if it gets better as you play.

Once you get a good feel for how the economy needs to develop, it gets pretty engrossing.

[Lorini]

I didn't realize I needed an additional item that was in my boat. Once I got that straight I was able to proceed. Thanks guys.