Recommend Me Some Games...

[Duvelthehobbit666]

Maybe look into the Roller coaster tycoon series. You need to build stuff so that fits into one of your categories. It might not have a storyline but the goals in 1 and 2 are varied enough to keep you busy for a while.

 

[Lallapalalable]

Pharaoh
Homeworld
Alpha Centauri

My top 3 pc games. Pretty much meet all your requested play styles.

 

[DepricatedZero]

Star Ruler.
It's only just come out and is very good. Basically it's a real-time strategy where you build an empire across a galaxy of unlimited size. There is no limit to how big your fleets can be (and I mean that when I say it) and the size of the galaxy is limited only by your PC's capabilites-you can have billions of stars if you really want (but be prepared for a crash if you go over about 100,000 stars).
On top of that, the technology and research aspect is very well done and original. You can modify the galaxy itself when you get to the higher tech levels, being able to destroy planets and even stars entirely, and build ringworlds around stars. You can also custom-build ships (again of unlimited size once you reach certain tech levels). To top it off, the diplomacy system is very well done-you can make just about any conceivable treaty.
The game focusses on the military aspect more than societal, but there is a very good economy system with 6 different resources (or seven, if you count manual labour as one) which works like Supreme Commander in that you can build stuff as the resources come in and so can set up build queues that repeat, churning out ship after ship for your fleet.

There is a demo on steam and at their website. Try it, it's only 100MB download I think.

I just got the demo off steam and...

so far it's everything that Masters of Orion 3 SHOULD have been, it seems like.

 

[Gnug215]

I see someone mentioned Supreme Commander, but without actually recommending it, sort of.

Well, I recommend it.

Before you try that, though, you may want to try out Total Annihilation, which is its spiritual predecessor. It's a bit old, but that means you can get it really cheap somewhere.
The games are both RTS games, but there is (if you want to do well) emphasis on building. You can really build up some incredible defenses, and just enjoy the sight of the enemy dying as he charges them.


Anyway, It took the thread a few posts, but eventually they got to some of my fav games, such as Half-Life (1-2), Portal, Bioshock and Alpha Centauri, which is Civ in space with a cool story. (I loved the story, anyway...)

 

[nasher168]

I just got the demo off steam and...

so far it's everything that Masters of Orion 3 SHOULD have been, it seems like.

One of the good things about it is that it's constantly being updated with new features and stuff. The game is a work in progress, and the demo is already several patches behind the actual game, which includes things like better fleet control, no more annoying graphics glitches and stuff like that. And RINGWORLDS which are a bitch to build unless you're ultra-powerful, but they are very much worth it, giving you loads of extra stuff. The galaxies can also be made different shapes other than just spirals as well.

 

[Gnug215]

I just got the demo off steam and...

so far it's everything that Masters of Orion 3 SHOULD have been, it seems like.

One of the good things about it is that it's constantly being updated with new features and stuff. The game is a work in progress, and the demo is already several patches behind the actual game, which includes things like better fleet control, no more annoying graphics glitches and stuff like that. And RINGWORLDS which are a bitch to build unless you're ultra-powerful, but they are very much worth it, giving you loads of extra stuff. The galaxies can also be made different shapes other than just spirals as well.

I won't play it until I can build a Dyson Sphere.

 

[DepricatedZero]

One of the good things about it is that it's constantly being updated with new features and stuff. The game is a work in progress, and the demo is already several patches behind the actual game, which includes things like better fleet control, no more annoying graphics glitches and stuff like that. And RINGWORLDS which are a bitch to build unless you're ultra-powerful, but they are very much worth it, giving you loads of extra stuff. The galaxies can also be made different shapes other than just spirals as well.

I won't play it until I can build a Dyson Sphere.

mmmm Dyson Sphere. That would be epic.

 

[nasher168]

You'd build it and then think "oh fuck, where's it gone" after it blocks out the star's light.

 

[Gnug215]

You'd build it and then think "oh fuck, where's it gone" after it blocks out the star's light.

I'd just get one of those car-keys with a beeper on, you know...

"Hmm, where did I park my Dyson Sphere?" *bleep bleep* "Ah, right..."

 

[DepricatedZero]

a billion solar powered LEDs making a giant peace sign towards another star would help me find it XD

 

[DepricatedZero]

just bought Star Ruler....


mmmmmm deliciously good game.