Personally that's what I want.  Galciv2 with more content and better graphics.  They don't have to re-invent the wheel.

I am completely WITH Charon on this. That is exactly what I want as well. As i stated in another post about hexes, I have played GCII for many years. It is one of the best 4x space games ever made (in my opinion). I have always wanted GCII redone in native 64bit, better graphics, more AI players and MEGA maps. The rock/paper/scissors move was genius and works well in a game like this. Furthermore many folks always wanted a multi player game where you could play each other or Co Op against the AI. 

I would rather sacrifice 'innovation' for the sake of better game play any day of the week. This formula really works and I am happy to see the game is on track as next step in the series. 

I agree with Larsenex and Charon on this as well... I'm looking for an improved Galactic Civilizations II by the end of the day, better graphics expanded gameplay more options.  To this point, that is where it appears to be be going, which is why I'm excited about it

There is a lot of subtle changes. When I play GalCiv 3, I think this is Gal Civ 2 with better graphics. But then I play Gal Civ 2 and go... well why can't I do this... why doesn't this work... and the differences start to become apparent.

1. The adjacency bonuses on the planet tiles are a big difference. Where you build your buildings makes a difference.

2. The updated shipyard designer is not just a prettier version, there is a lot more capability than the last one.

3. There are star ports on the actual gameplay map. In Gal Civ 2, you built ships and structures on a planet. This now has moved to building ships in space and structures on planets. Where different planets sponsor the starport to add to the starports production capabilities.

4. In order to build some ships you need particular resources like Durantium.

5. Ideology tree is new and can give your civilization major bonuses depending, if you are Malicious or Benevolent (or somewhere in the middle)

6. Multiplayer

There are other things, but you can find lists of these things around. I don't know if these changes are just called tweaks. But there are some definite core changes here that you know are not from Gal Civ 2, but they integrate nicely with the game. Also, since Gal Civ 2 was a good game, it would follow that the next iteration should model itself after that game and only add things that worked and remove very little, if anything at all.

I'm not sure what you would consider tweaks here and there. We'll see what new things are being added, but the initial alpha release was a close copy of Gal Civ 2, then they add new things and it's becoming a little more substantial as we continue down the path of development. I can't wait to see what the combat system will bring to the game.

Well said Parrotmath. For a 4x game we all need to realize this is now being coded IN 64bit! The sky is the limit on memory and map size, something that no other 4x game can currently boast it can do!

Personally i am more worried whether they are going to reach their goal of feature complete or close to it by the time beta comes around. Seeing the size of the previous content patches compared to the feature list on the store page, that's a lot of stuff they still got to get in. 

4 races

black holes, possibly galactic resources

4 victory conditions

fleet design (distinctly mentioned as different from ship design)

combat (technically this is in tho but presumably they mean a bit more fleshed out version)

diplomacy

Quite a lot for 1 content patch. 

They already have mentioned that the beta will not be feature complete to start. For one, they will not have diplomacy until late beta by their tentative schedule.

Yeah but wasn't the whole reason to delay the beta to be close to feature complete?

That was informative. Thanks. 

For sure that GC2 was a good game, and that all the good stuff should be included in the new one. But instead of hexes for squares there could have been a full 3D map - it would've been a greater impact taking the idea from SINS or SOTSII than CIV V - which would fit more nicely in a next generation 4x in space (but still being turn based). 

The more of the same feel will likely be a point of contention with reviewers and their scores, and this eye-candy generation of players will likely be put off with the seemingly simpler graphics. Another gut feeling I'm having is that sales will hurt due to this "outdated" feel of the game.

Sins was a 2D game.  The ships moved a little up and down off of the 2D plane, but that's all.  It was still played in 2D.  I can't think of an "innovation" that would destroy GC more than a 3D map.

Meaning that they hope to have most of the game play features in by beta, such as all resources, and black holes. 

Most likely we won't get more races until later in beta, as those will be finalized as we approach the release date (simular to how previous versions were released in beta)

As stated above by parrotmath diplomacy will be late beta as well. 

Basically they want to get the game functional prior to adding more races, even larger maps, diplomacy, fleet battle screens, invasion screens ect...

Thus, is the purpose of the Alpha's & Beta's to test the game to get it ready for the release of the fully game

Alap, you are certainly entitled to your opinion and I am glad you are investigating the game. However, to generalize that everyone will be put off by the look is a bit of an overstatement. Currently (I feel) the graphics are amazing. The ship detail is far better than anything I have seen so far. I had endless space and it was 'meh'. GCII was amazing but was limited in 32 bit. 

As for features, somethings will change. This is after all a 4x game. The basic mechanics are in play and anyone who knows of this type of game will (in my opinion) find this iteration well worth looking at.

I also happen know of 6 personal friends who are waiting on Beta to pick up the game. They are nerds like me who happen to be in the gaming industry. One friend is a CS guy for EVGA, and another is Network guy who goes to business to install OS and get the net running. Both of them are really excited about GCIII and they have friends looking at it. 

I personally think we will see a surge in purchases when we go to the first beta. 

From what I remember it was to include a better AI so people won't dismiss the game outright.

here you go

https://forums.galciv3.com/456257/page/1/#3481732

Somebody is reading our thread...

"Innovation in an existing series is a tricky thing. We have players here on the Galactic Civilizations III forums who are outspoken about their desire for an updated GC2 with bigger maps and fancier graphics, and others who constantly question why they should invest in a new game if they don't see dramatic steps forward.

We do have answers to these questions -- in some ways, these are the central questions Stardock has struggled with since we started production on Galactic Civilizations III years ago, well before it was announced to the public. We've been thinking about the dichotomy of innovation versus faithfulness for some time."