Concidering this game but a quick question first

[Djayc85]

I'm always cautious about Early Access Games as I don't want to spend money on a buggy game that the developers give up on, this doesn't seem to be the case at the moment with this game from what I've read on here.

I enjoy city/town/sim builders I realy like Tropico games, City Skylines, Two Point Hospital, Civilization etc and I love Populous and then Black and White games back in the day.

How close is this to these games? Are there any game breaking bugs I should be aware of that could limit my gameplay and/or enjoyment.

Thanks

[Kerby84]

To builder games, close. But unfinished.
To a god game like Black & White... it couldn't be further away.

To compare it to those games listed... it's mostly like Tropico. Indirect building. You place blueprints and the nuggets build them. except for residential huts. You have no control where they build those huts.

[grapplehoeker]

Originally posted by Kerby84:

To builder games, close. But unfinished.
To a god game like Black & White... it couldn't be further away.

Sorry, but I beg to differ. Universim is very much in the same genre. I wouldn't compare it to B&W, but it certainly owes a lot to that game's predecessor Populous. The influence is undeniable.
However, while both Populous and B&W dealt with fixed technological eras for the inhabitants, Universim is focusing more on the progression/evolution of a civilization over time, from the stone age to the space age.
You provide more than a little godly manipulation to steer them right or wrong. Far less so than those games it owes so much to, but then Universim gives lot more thought about global ecology and the nugget's effect on their world than in those older games.
As for city building, it's not what I would class it as and in fact as I discussed above, it's more of a civilization builder with global consequences (eventually) ;)
In any case, buy it now if you wish to participate in the early development or put it on your watch list and buy it when development is complete.

[Kerby84]

It's only little godly modification because every god power is exchangeable trough a building. God could be deleted from this game and no one would notice. You could replace creator with leader or el presidente... you have to manage them you have simple options they have too... trees, recreation and so on... and no. i would not call this like civilization. sid meier would be angry about you. ;-) "how dare you to compare my game with this...." ;-)

There are no global consequences because you can refill water, you can replant trees and this is more a promotional thing... like "every bit of sand is simulated and water flow is important" in godus. ;-) and once you plant a acorn it will grow to a tree in fable ;-)

don't talk about your wishes, talk about what is in the game. there are no ecological consequences and there is no real technological progression. ;-) but fact was... is this focused on god gameplay. no. it is not and won't be. god is replaceable. god was not replaceable in b&w and populous ;-)

misread... you said you would not compare it to black & white. I agree. :-) because it's a city builder. like tropico. long live el presidente... ;-)

... but it was and still is promoted as god game.... which it definitely is not and can't be in the future.

[grapplehoeker]

Originally posted by Kerby84:

It's only little godly modification because every god power is exchangeable trough a building. God could be deleted from this game and no one would notice. You could replace creator with leader or el presidente... you have to manage them you have simple options they have too... trees, recreation and so on... and no. i would not call this like civilization. sid meier would be angry about you. ;-) "how dare you to compare my game with this...." ;-)

There are no global consequences because you can refill water, you can replant trees and this is more a promotional thing... like "every bit of sand is simulated and water flow is important" in godus. ;-) and once you plant a acorn it will grow to a tree in fable ;-)

don't talk about your wishes, talk about what is in the game. there are no ecological consequences and there is no real technological progression. ;-) but fact was... is this focused on god gameplay. no. it is not and won't be. god is replaceable. god was not replaceable in b&w and populous ;-)

misread... you said you would not compare it to black & white. I agree. :-) because it's a city builder. like tropico. long live el presidente... ;-)

... but it was and still is promoted as god game.... which it definitely is not and can't be in the future.

I dislike making comparisons to other games or genres. I far prefer to treat every game on its own qualities and merits. Universim owes a great deal to games like Populous and far less to games like Simcity or Tropico. Stating this distinction doesn't help anyone though, but is just a simple observation of what it is.
Crytivo is pitching our role as the player as a god or as a director of a civilization of nuggets. Note director, not dictator, el presidente ;)
In addition to our ability (duty?) to direct the path of technological progress, we are, through our divine abilities, able to pair up couples to copulate, encourage growth where no growth would take place either on the land or within the population. There are many ways we may make manifest changes to the physical world and also greatly influence the mood and well being of the nugget race. The manner in which we display these powers does have an impact upon the nuggets and as such these acts go beyond the more pragmatic plopping of roads, amenities and buildings that typify the city builder role.
But to say our role is of no consequence isn't true. In fact and certainly in the early game, the nugget species would not survive without us, or at least never leave the stone age.
Yes, we may now fix depleting water reserves and may now effect climate control by ensuring that deforestation does no irreperable harm to the weather and ecosystem. However, we have also been forced to choose for the nuggets options that may or may not have far reaching ecological impact in the future such as the type of energy production the nuggets will use. This choice is locked in. So too with the ministery manifestos that introduce political doctrines. These will have far reaching consequences. Not very godlike is it? But, that's how it is pitched in any case.
That said, the nuggets do possess a semblance of independence and this latest update introduces their ability to choose and go their own way. Or at least, by allowing 'non-believers' to exist and rival your devotees, Crytivo has created a semblance of social competition albeit a bit contrived. This is a quite distinct difference to the city builder norm.
So, god game or city builder? Take your pick, it doesn't matter.

[Kerby84]

Originally posted by grapplehoeker:

...

It's a really important Information because it shows the main gameplay. A builder game with resource management. If people like such games... good. But it's not a classical god game or god game at all in any sense.

Oh it depends on your playstyle. You can be a dictator as well and sacrifice all your nuggets. It won't get you far but your decision. El Presidente of a planet without Nuggets. ;-)

They reproduce without le cupidon. It's an obsolete power like any other godpower in the game. Le cupidon (they form families on their own)... useless. Tree planting... useless... (building does the same) jolt of joy... (buidings do the same thing... sure you can start rain and tornadoes but you can do that in cities skylines as well. ;-)
The "impact" is really not present and won't be in the future. Those "manifest" changes or elections are short time buffy you would gain in every "trading route bonus" game... nothing special or new.

The early game is tediously designed with repetitive boring tasks and it's simply not fun.

So the "effect" from choosing other energy options is not in the game yet. you're talking about the future. You have no clue how they implement it. Maybe the only difference between eco energy and power plants is that nuggets cough from time to time and get a health debuff... ;-) speculating is not reality. ;-)

and the game was pitched as indirect god sim... you lead a civilization from stoneage to space... as GOD with resource management... it was intended as ant farm... they do all the stuff alone and you lead them trough the eras and influence them with godly powers and help in research by providing a development road for the civilization. (yours not the game civ. ;-) )

For example... you give them the knowledge to build wells... they build them if they need them on their own... because they learn...

now this was cut from the beginning and put to the late mid endgame with "ministers".

What remains? a god without influence and gameplay because they did not introduce godly focused gameplay, the building part and space part will be sorta a expensive screensaver if you use ministers to the max. It's a spore.... ;-)

But my 2 cents. :-) It's alwasy good to have different opinions and discuss in a good way. :-)

[ChaosCalu]

My tipp is to watch a youtube let's play. There is one from "Geekism" that is explaining and gives a good overview for example.

[ECD_420]

This game has its value. with the crowd-sourced input, It will become more enjoyable and more valuable. If you like all the games that you listed. I believe that you will enjoy this game. Try to remember that it is an EA game and that you are only seeing partial development of it. Now that being said ....... IMO if the DEV's gave us EA testers some great add on bonuses or other super cool stuff on with the full game release over those who wait for said release. I personally would be super appreciative of such said things.

[Djayc85]

Thanks for your replies