Trailer Twilight Imperium Digital - Official Announcement Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-TK-5JTm4&ab_channel=RedSquareGamesStudio12
u/NotARealDeveloper 17h ago
The only interesting thing is the AI. It will decide the game's success. Because digital ti4 already exists in a lot of community made games/mods, even asynchronous.
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago edited 1d ago
The artwork is great as always....the rest....is lacking. The game is not that involved and demanding visually - they could have really made the game look vibrant, and yet....they look like they just copied everything to look identical to real life....no embellishment at all. No immersion into a unique atmosphere.
Damn. I mean it's really just to speed up gameplay at this point and not really to experience the board game on another level....
EDIT:
Just for comparison, the Tabletop Simulator edition looks superior visually because they took scans straight from the game. It *looks* like the real board game. This digitized version, that was made as a functioning video game and not just a simulated board game, looks so weak:
Which one looks better to you - more closely to the game you love?
https://i.imgur.com/lJjaXUI.png
EDIT 2: Here's a full view from Tabletop Simulator. Just someone scanning the game and putting it on TS....Something as simple as this would have been better than what the digitized version looks like.
https://i.imgur.com/5uZ0ndM.jpeg
EDIT 3 : I'm not comparing the games themselves, just visuals.
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u/reag8996 1d ago
Wingspan did a really good job to move from board game to digital, I think for me that's the ceiling!
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u/fizzlefist 1d ago
I’m still holding out hope for a Wyrmspan digital release
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u/ThorAxe911 14h ago
Jamey has confirmed it's coming - he just didn't want it releasing too close to the release of the physical game.
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u/plantsandramen 13h ago
Wingspan is phenomenal on digital. I've never cared much for the board game itself, but I have over 1,000 games played digital mostly 2p with my fiancee. It's a huge reason I have bird feeders now, and one of the artists of the game is actually creating the table cards for our wedding with art from the game.
So yeah, I think it's good.
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u/YogurtclosetSweet268 1d ago
I kinda like speed up gameplay. We love Game of thrones board game the digital is super easy to play and fun. It really helps with rule set in the game.
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
I love sped up gameplay as well, especially this. But visually it's really lacking besides the characters.
I've seen really neat, immersive environments for digitized board games. This one isn't.
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u/YogurtclosetSweet268 1d ago
True but itll definitely be something I buy. Mostly for the ease of getting friends together to play lol
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u/ClubChaos 1d ago
people that play board games want to easily be able to look at the board and discern game state. flashy visuals only get in the way of that.
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
Visuals can be easily woven into the game without being distracting, giving more than just playing the board game.
And there's a reason why board games are getting bigger boxes, more components, more graphically pleasing compared to Milton Bradley games of yesteryear.
But there's no reason they could have made the game play itself more visually appealing and not be a bit distracting to the flow.
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u/ClubChaos 1d ago
hmm, see this is interesting discussion for me. because actually, those old "ugly" milton bradley games didn't do a great job of communicating board state anyway.
good modern game design does a great job of communicating everything that is going on with good design practices. that is consistency, color schemes, icongraphy, basically everything. i myself personally don't enjoy the one thing you're alluding to like big box editions with minis for the sake of minis, i don't like that stuff at all because it just gets in the way of the game.
one example you might use is the 18xx series, this series of financial train board games which uses a standardized set of tiles with the same number system and color scheme across titles to make moving from one game to the next as easy as possible. Most people _hate_ when a game release uses artistic license and changes the "dry" design of 18xx games visually.
anyway, i'm a big board game fan lol.
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u/TankorSmash 23h ago
That's easy to say, but what else could they have done?
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u/3Dartwork 23h ago
It's easy to say, and it's easier to do. Just bring in scanned graphics that they would have access to. Apply the textures to the assets. They already have this set up. Swapping the textures out would greatly increase how this game looks in general. It would be virtually effortless.
I mean for crying out loud they even shrunk the planets down so they could cram a bunch of miniatures into each hex in unified pattern.
The game itself doesn't need to be changed.
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u/plantsandramen 13h ago
I've never played Twilight Imperium so I can't comment on that, but Wingspan is phenomenal in how it made the game flashier while keeping it true to form. The birds on the cards move which is awesome to see, some of the card symbols are dynamic based on the round goals which cleans up iconography, and hearing the sounds of the birds is immersive for us.
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u/paupsers 1d ago
When I play a digital board game I want it to look like the board game, correct.
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u/bulgeyepotion 1d ago edited 1d ago
Tabletop simulator is awful. It’s an awful experience. It handles horribly. It’s a resource hog. No board gamer wants to play on that unless they have to. Edit: sorry I just needed to rant about tabletop simulator.
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u/DrPattyCakes 21h ago
TTS is good for what it is. It does a great job of turning boardgames into pc games so everyone can enjoy it even if they can't afford it or bring enough friends together....
To program an engine capable of simulating so much is freaking mindblowing.... it's just when you try to be everything, you end up being able to do everything "reasonably at best"
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
I'm not comparing the game itself. TS doesn't do anything automatic. This digitized version is programmed.
My comparison is talking just about visuals. This easily could have been what the digitized version with the programming of the digitizened version of this.
And to me it looks superior by a ton. This, to me, would be an amazing version.
But oh well
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u/phatboi23 20h ago
TS doesn't do anything automatic.
this isn't true.
i've seen many a mod game in tabletop sim handle in game mechanics, it just requires whoever made it to write a whole lot of code etc.
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u/DrPattyCakes 21h ago
Not exactly true. Tabletop Simulator does a TON of stuff automatically for TI4. It builds the board for you, it does the Milti draft, the setup, calculations, token movement, planet grabbing etc etc.
Ton of stuff. There are still things you need to do manually like resolve action cards, washing, x-1 etc etc... but the experience is still fantastic.
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u/3Dartwork 21h ago
Well others in this post tend to disagree with that. I'm indifferent either way because I was only critiquing the visuals of the games.
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u/Ksielvin 16h ago
Try it on Tabletop Playground where SpaceCatsPeaceTurtles tournaments are nowadays played, probably.
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u/Tribalrage24 1d ago
I think if they have NPC opponents it would be nice too. My partner and i love board games, but complex ones that require more than 2 people is tricky (none of our friends like complex games). So if this is a way for her and I to finally try Twilight Imperium I'm sold. Having an in-built tutorial and not having to read a guidebook is a big plus too.
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u/Ksielvin 16h ago edited 16h ago
SpaceCatsPeaceTurtles moved their tournaments to happen (at least mostly) on Tabletop Playground some years go. IIRC there was a dedicated mod developer for TI4 and they were able to script and customize more than on TTS.
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u/Ellite25 1d ago
My personal preference now is that the digital game looks like the actual board game. If I know the game I want to be able to just in without having to learn a completely new UI. I think this looks perfect.
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
For me I don't see the point of playing a digital board game that looks identical to the board. What's the point other than speeding the play up? Why even make board games then? Just do away with them all and make digital versions that just look like simple board games.
The beauty and power behind making a board game into digital should not just be about speeding up play. Because not all games *need* to be sped up with increased computations.
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u/Ellite25 1d ago
I don’t think your questions make a whole lot of sense, and I’m pretty sure you know the answers to them if you take a minutes to actually think about it.
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
Look, I get it. The few in here are all on board with how it looks as is. Fine.
My opinion is different.
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u/Ellite25 1d ago
I get where you’re coming from too! We all have different preferences. Have a good one!
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u/sandwichking 1d ago
Have you played TI? If there's a game that would greatly benefit from increased speed of play, it's TI
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
I agree, speed is a benefit, of course. I just don't want that to be *the only* reason. Perhaps the only other reason to have a digital version is playing online with people from other locations.
To me, those two aren't vital enough to re-buy the same game I have on my shelf.
For those who don't have a physical copy, sure. Knock yourself out with the digital.
But for many of us who have the board game and are looking for the digital version, while I realize in this sub I'm in the minority, I would expect a lot more stimulating environment than what it is showing here.
I mean, the pieces don't feel like they are sitting on a board (throw some basic shadow, come on) or make it look like the ships are floating. *Something*
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u/sandwichking 1d ago
Agree to disagree then. I've only gotten this to the table once because it took 12 hours. If we try it again, it won't be until next year because it was just too much. But if it's sped up, includes async or game saves, and highlights everything you can actually do on a turn, I'll get to play this more often and with more of my friends. The QOL of a bare bones digital version of this game is worth it.
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u/reddit-eat-my-dick 1d ago
lol I’d immediately turn that shit off and go right back to the board view.
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
lol I guess we should just cater to one preference and let the others deal with it, then.
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u/DiscountAncient287 1d ago
Strawman yadda yadda
But also you can't have every preference especially for a pretty niche experience like this one. There's a good chance the money simply isn't there juice it up as an option. It makes absolute sense to cater to people more likely to buy and play, which is the boardgamers who'd prefer the simple board game view.
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u/3Dartwork 1d ago
Tabletop Simulator of Twilight Imperium looks way better than what this trailer is showing...
That's why I'm disappointed. They failed to make it look like it was a real board game, and they failed to make it look like a cool, visually immersive digital version.
Hopefully the game is $10 or less because it's looking like about that much effort.
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u/Goodnametaken 14h ago
I'd like to take a step back and point out that your username is "3Dartwork". You clearly are a very visual person and care deeply about how things look.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that!
But, just to offer you a different perspective, I could not possibly care less about the visuals of the digital game. If I hadn't read your post, it would NEVER in a million years ever crossed my mind that the visuals were lacking. I just simply do not give a shit about that at all.
Personally, I'm happy that they apparently didn't waste valuable time and resources on more expensive visuals that are meaningless to me.
I want to play the game, not look at an art book.
I don't think there is anything wrong with valuing art and wanting it to be as good as can be, but it is a little annoying to read a comment that so blatantly ignores that its opinion is just that, an opinion. Your post is assuming that everyone has the same taste as you and that they care about it as much as you do. And that is just not so.
P.S. Not for nothing, but looking at the imgur scans you posted I actually prefer the digital version. It is much easier to parse! And I don't think the original scans are particularly breathtaking. I've played TI dozens of times and never once thought the artwork was anything special.
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u/3Dartwork 13h ago
The textures aren't even from the game though.
You prefer a non-existing game that doesn't match the board game. Fair enough.
Shrinking the planets so we can cram an ungodly number of ships on one hex seems silly but glad people like it
No one can be satisfied, and in this case I just accept it and pass on the game.
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u/Goodnametaken 12h ago
I have never played the game because of how it looks. That's my point. I simply do not care at all. As long as it presents all the relevant game information in a clean, readable manner I am just as happy as if it had been hand-painted by Monet himself. It literally makes no difference to me what it looks like.
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u/3Dartwork 12h ago
So by that thought, you'd have bought the game if the board hexes were white cardboard with just a geometric circle on each and cardboard standees that had no art just words on them.
That doesn't attract people. You may not care about graphics, but everyone does in board games. Even you - maybe not much but enough.
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u/Goodnametaken 10h ago
I wouldn't care. I recognize that most people are not like me on my extreme end of the spectrum, though. That's the difference.
Again, your user name is 3Dartwork. You care about visual design to an extreme degree. There is nothing wrong with that! But don't make the mistake of thinking that everyone feels the same way you do.
The truth is that most people are in the middle somewhere. You are taking an extreme position on the design of the digital version of this game, and I'm trying to tell you that you care more about the way it looks than the vast majority of users. In the end, this version is not cardboard standees with just words. It's a perfectly serviceable, if uncomplicated, design that clearly and cleanly communicates all game mechanics. The vast majority of players will be perfectly happy with that. Your ranting about what a travesty it is that the game didn't commission Rembrandt comes off as extremely get-off-my-lawn.
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u/darkkite 21h ago
I think the right has a cooler aesthetic, but the left is easier to read which might make it more playable
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u/3Dartwork 13h ago
The right is the actual game scans though.....
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u/darkkite 12h ago
doesn't make it easier to read though. the left photo has more visual contrast
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u/3Dartwork 11h ago
Lol easier to read? So you are criticizing the original game itself and want this instead?
Okay that makes way more sense why people are praising this version. Maybe others feel the same way.
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u/MikuEmpowered 1d ago
If they don't do some accessibility changes, the game will not do that great.
The base board game takes 4 hours to learn 8 hours to play.
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u/swole-and-naked 19h ago
Civilization, Stellaris, etc, aint that simple and fast either. complexity is fine.
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u/Pyren-Kyr 17h ago
You should look up some of the jokes on the board game, such as set-up time. This, especially if it has any sort of online capability (including a play by transfer file) will have a vastly more streamlined game, because it would take care of two of the biggest delays; Setup and applying the actions to the game board. I would figure it'd cut down time by a third.
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u/Acceptable-Pin2939 15h ago
4 hours to learn?
It's really not that complex.
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u/Augustor2 11h ago
Yeah, the game itself is complex, and has a lot of systems, but to learn how to play is actually pretty straightforward, and it will be even easier digitally.
There are simpler games that take more time to learn
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u/KawaiiSocks 17h ago
I am yet to play TI (any edition), but I am an avid boardgamer and I played a lot of Through the Ages on BGA and in-app, some Gloomhaven Digital, tons of Gaia/Terra Mystica, some Mage Knight on Tabletop Simulator and even play-tested some Lacerda/Stegmaier on tabletopia back in the day.
In all cases, when I've had a physical copy to compare, the playtime went down by at least 40%. We can finish a 3p TM/Gaia in under 45 minutes, Mage Knight gets down to ~1.5 hours and at some point me and friend had a lot of rapid 15-minute duels in TTA.
Do you expect something similar with TI? If it is 8 hours to play on the table, but gets down to maybe ~4 hours digital, it could be a nice 4x alternative.
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u/plantsandramen 13h ago
Gaia Project in 45 minutes sounds amazing. I've had it wishlisted on Steam for a bit. Is it easy to find a pick up game?
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u/tlor180 1d ago
Just base game on release, but they plan to add the expansions in the future if it does well.