Surviving Aven Mars ENDLESS Colony Space....

Three more to reconsider, three more that I've tried but long-term haven't passed the test of time.

Surviving Mars

A game that I looked forward to getting; A game I splashed out on pre launch. A game that I did play but one that never fully clicked(here and here), even with all the patch updates and changes. 

In thinking about it there was a lack of long-term enjoyment. It is what it is. A game from the same creators of Cities Skylines, which I had been very much into. Surviving Mars should have been a game I was 100% engrossed in(WALL-E clones and all).... And so it's lingered. Installed but not played. 

I've had fun, not as much as I feel I should have had or wanted with selecting an all in buy option; I think enough time has passed that if I was going to play it more I'd have done so by now.... Uninstall it is.

 

Aven Colony is a game I picked up in a Steam winter sale in 2017; A game that ticked a lot of gameplay boxes. Part of which were more options to play in a sandbox way. A very alien planet colonization game and a lot more futuristic when comparing it to Surviving Mars. A lot to like about it; And a lot more challenges to take on than in Surviving Mars. Like needing to be reelected to carry on your game. Very interesting scenarios, from filtering toxic gas for air quality to 'discouraging' giant worms and 'alien' plants.

If Surviving Mars is more simulation, Aven is more Sci-Fi and 'fun'. Both difficult in their own ways.

Aven is a good game I've played and enjoyed but one I've not been back to in a while. That's a me thing; Other games have taken my interest long-term. I've not found any motivation to go back to other games never mind Aven... It's not you Aven, it's me! 

A game my wife saw me play and picked up herself; She's been more into long-term than I ever was!

The game was free on Xbox's June freebies as part of their subscription. I've only played it's tutorial there but it seems to handle well once you get used to the selection of sub-menus.

Endless Space

A 4X space strategy game. Not one I've blogged about because it's been one of those games... A surprise find, a surprise buy and a surprise I've not been into it. 

Another game that screams all the good 'play me' vibes...... Great art, music and overall style. Just no motivation to play it.

A game that's been sat installed and not really played..... I think 10 years and two PC's is long enough for consideration... Time to let it go.

That said I think the reason I've never looked into Endless Space 2 is that I've never really 'gotten into' the first game. Not sure that will change going forward but worth a mention.

Also worth the mention; Siphon ships in the game I think were a design influence on ships in the Orville series. Just saying...

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right:

Siphon ships - 

Orville - 

Surviving Mars....

I was into Cities Skylines in a big way and when that games developers brought out Surviving Mars it seemed that I'd be into it just as much as well. Surviving Mars is a game that should tick all the boxes for me. Especially on the micromanagement front.

How can the little cute drones not be enticing!

The drone ballet!

Yet for(over?) two years I've not played it on any serious level. Despite getting the dev's discount(if you played Cities Skylines) and the all singing dancing version of the game with all(the then) future content.

Over the last two years I've seen yet more updates and freebies but none have gotten me to start playing never mind keep me playing. It's a bit of a mystery.

Everything in the game is a positive for me. Paradox Interactive games in general have been a great gameplay experience. Cities Skylines was a game I got massive value for my time spent in it. Yet Surviving Mars hasn't drawn me in as it should have. No to harp on about it but I'm really puzzled as to why.

Each time I've gone back to it I faff about for a few minutes and then bail.

With the DLC content alone there's a lot to go through. Looking at howlongtobeat.com the game takes between 20 to 200 hours ranging across complete to completionist.
I don't find the timings daunting. There's many a game akin to Surviving Mars that I've sunk hundreds of hours into.

I don't seem to be accepting that a game that screams everything I like when played has no hook on me.

Paradox Interactive

So with a gap since the last time I played and such a long time since I've bought the game originally; Time for one more try before sweeping it away for a spring clean.

Over the last few day's I've dedicated some time to the game to 'get back into it'. Starting off with that video above. I went full noob and followed it step by step. To start fresh with a basic run of the game.

So I followed the tutorial and carried on from there, exploring, mining/gathering, researching and growing a colony.

It's further than I thought I'd get. It was interesting but in the end I was doing it more for a blog post than to 'play' it as a game. That's the realization of it. Not a waste of time but there is still no hook for me to play the game. I've still got no answer or reasoning to say why. No amazing revel or understanding to help, noting I can point a finger at and say 'that's' the problem. I'll happily play more Cities Skylines, endure the RNG of Darkest Dungeon and drive 2500 kilometers in Euro Truck Sim 2. Surviving Mars should be 'my jam'..... But it's not. Time to let it go.

Surviving Mars....

So many games so little time. A game I've sadly neglected a little after I got it has a great new update.

One thing I really like about Paradox Interactive games is that they include free items and quality of life changes to patch the game that also goes along with the DLC.

That's a trend with a few other developers that I hope grows.

I might make a bit of time to get into it again. Then again that's what I said last time.

Paradox Interactive

Surviving Mars....

With all my travels submerged in Subnautica I've not had a chance to fully blast off in Surviving Mars... Soon(TM). What I have noticed is another patch for the game(Curiosity Patch). 2.9 Gig's worth with some great additions and changes.

Surviving Mars...

That's a lot of nice changes to the game.... Again with the epic patch.

The changes to the game rules are fantastic.

Surviving Mars....

Guilt trip....

Surviving Mars....

While I've only been back to the game for a few minutes here and there I'm glad to see the latest patch changes and updates:  Spirit Update

Surviving Mars....

With Surviving Mars due out in less than two weeks I've been weighing up the pre-purchase options.

Of the three listed there are only two real options. The base game or the all the extras version.
The difference between the two top end versions is €20 for the season pass. That season pass contains two expansion and two content packs. So for me (a lover of this type of game) after doing some homework in the form of youtube I'm all in.

Angory Tom

That homework has confirmed that I'd be massively into the game and would no doubt buy all content. So no surprise I'll be going all in on the full, bells and whistles version.

Because Paradox Interactive are making the game they have decided to allow a -10% discount to all owners of their other game Cities Skylines. I'm a massive fan of that game as well as my blog posts will attest to. The discount is a nice touch on the loyalty front.

 Paradox Interactive

Surviving Mars....

It's been a while since I first saw Surviving Mars, it's good to see some more recent information:


Surviving Mars dev explains how we'll set up shop on the Red Planet

Another game to watch out for....

The last few day's has been thick and fast on the announcement of games front, lots to keep an eye on. The latest for me is Surviving Mars, a survival sandbox city builder. Quiet a mouthful but as it's being developed by the same people behind Tropico I'm sure it will be a winner.
I've had fun in Planetbase but time will tell if Surviving Mars beats it out as the planet builder of choice. I had to laugh at the end of the announcement trailer, the "best and brightest" as well as the "box" references are a clear digs at Planetbase.