Is it worth to go beyond Earth?

[Yitzi]

Especially if proper social engineering (perhaps even as an extension of the affinity system) could be implemented

Other way around.

You mean affinities as an extension of social engineering?  I would call the social engineering the extension since the affinities are what's already there...but yes, in the mod taken by itself the social engineering would be the more fundamental level, with affinities as an outgrowth of it.

[Sawelios]

I just read BE reviews and recommendations of Russian speakers on Steam (I hate Steam and I don't plan to purchase BE, just curious). Almost every one DOESN'T recommend it and in very unpleasant words, by the way... More interesting thing is that NO one of them has even mentioned SMAC(X), and overall style of reviews portrays them as rather young gamers.
And what makes me wonder in this connection: if even youngsters do feel the s**t, so why are so many posts and topics about BE here? ;P

[sisko]

.., so why are so many posts and topics about BE here? ;P

I guess we had expectations..

[Geo]

SMAC(X) and BE seem to have at least one thing in common though: the possibility for an almost logarithmic expansion of your faction/colony.

[BlaneckW]

And what makes me wonder in this connection: if even youngsters do feel the s**t, so why are so many posts and topics about BE here? ;P

They were from before the release.  I began disparaging it before the release.  I don't bother disparaging Starships because it's not really a TBS, other than the RPG kind.  I guess one could wish it had a decent tactical side.

[Yitzi]

SMAC(X) and BE seem to have at least one thing in common though: the possibility for an almost logarithmic expansion of your faction/colony.

This is not actually something so notable, though; any time the amount of increase is proportional to the amount that already exists, you're going to be looking at exponential growth.

[vonbach]

I tried Beyond Earth I wasn't impressed. Its a modpack for Civ V with 30% of the content removed.
SMAC is a better game.

[BlaneckW]

I tried Beyond Earth I wasn't impressed. Its a modpack for Civ V with 30% of the content removed.

Less work for modders 

[Kolbeg]

Not worth playing.

It has potential but if you are looking for a Smac successor its not that.  I´m not playing it again unless the next super patch from Firaxis will be AMAZING (not likely).  On the other hand there is a promising Alpha Centauri mod for Beyond Earth being worked on and probably only it will ever get me back to the game.

[Yitzi]

I tried Beyond Earth I wasn't impressed. Its a modpack for Civ V with 30% of the content removed.

Less work for modders 

Yeah, but I'm sure it comes with a EULA, so less options for modders too...

[Mart]

I tried Beyond Earth I wasn't impressed. Its a modpack for Civ V with 30% of the content removed.
SMAC is a better game.

Only less people play SMAC and more try that civ5 modpack.
Graphics makes that, in some part.
It will be interesting to see what is going to happen to CivBE in 1, 2 and 3 years.

[Yitzi]

I tried Beyond Earth I wasn't impressed. Its a modpack for Civ V with 30% of the content removed.
SMAC is a better game.

Only less people play SMAC and more try that civ5 modpack.
Graphics makes that, in some part.
It will be interesting to see what is going to happen to CivBE in 1, 2 and 3 years.

Bah, graphics.  Master of Orion has even worse graphics than SMAC...and is SMAC's major competitor for the "best 4X game ever made" title.  (I would argue that SMAC wins out based on non-gameplay issues...but MoO is well worth paying attention to nevertheless.)