Well hello dc_alpha, before i begin i must announce that this is also my first post, although i bought the game about three months ago and can often be found reading on this forum. So yay first post of many i imagine
I went through much the same steps as you did making my decision to purchase, although i did have a "preview" of the game first i reasoned that the degree of after-sales support, development and interaction with players here on the forums was above and beyond anything else i had seen. Thus it warranted a purchase even on my very meek budget, im currently a fourth year student at Edinburgh university, wondering how i am gunna pay my rent.
My essays of late will also attest as to its addictiveness, it can be a REAL struggle to force my mouse pointer away from the ever inviting next turn button.
Have to say it was most definitely worth it, given the hours ive invested, and to summarize my thoughts with few words instead of half a page of reasoning, its a great game !
Ive seen a few comments on the ai here, and i have to add that yes the ai is superb, but it is also imperfect and i have found that my playing style has adapted such that now i have to give the ai bonuses to make a tough game.
One of the great things about the game and stardock as a whole is that generous thought, care and effort goes into continually making the game better, playing a newly released patch can completely change the game experience and techniques needed to win, meaning it hasn't gotten stale... yet
Also id like to point that is very seldom you see the proper use of an apostrophe as in {'Net} kudos my friend, kudos.
Well have fun and come back and post your thoughts.....
Alex
