Just a brief Update;
MoO3 is still around and still being played.
THE Major problem was; leaving your expectations behind and copeing (sp?) with an extended period of learning the mechanics of gameplay.
I love MoO2 played it hard for 7 years waiting for a MoO2.5. MoO3 was and still is Not MoO2.5. It's as different from 2 as 2 was from 1. Just stating the obvious here.
When you say it *s**ks* what you've really said is, "I have no patience to learn it". "I have no patience to play the same game for extended periods of time."
There were problems and even less support from Atari. BUT those that have dug in have found a game that can be played, enjoyed, and enhanced by modding. Single *games* can last from a few days to several years. Yes that's right there have been *single* documented games that have been played for months and months before reaching a conclusion. Games can finish in 150 turns up to 1200+.
And you can always lose! Especially if you play a standard race without loading up on the bonuses. Or take the restricting *Picks* at game setup. But of course everyone wants to be the Ubber Race! But that's also why ppl get tired of playing any game. *Dumb* down you racepicks take some of the negative or restricted picks and see if you don't get you b*tt handed to you. Regardless of the difficulty level picked.
MoO3 can be macro managed (design intention), but it can also be Micromanaged. That's what I loved about MoO2 and it's still alive in MoO3.
I could go on and on but I won't. MoO3 is not a bust nor a waste of money. It will be or has been to anyone who was not *willing* to learn a complicated game. But it IS and Will be a game enjoyed by many for a long time. No 4X TBS or RTS game put out so far has matched it's depth or complexity, None. And I've bought and played so many of them. But it's the MoO series that I always come back to, All 3 of them.
I love MoO2 that's why I registered here. But I Love MoO3 too. Just visit the MoO3 forums and you'll find my username soon enough.
JosEPh (MoO3 Keeper of the "Roll Call")
Ps. I also Mod MoO3 and endorse ALL of Bhruic's Patches and Patcher for MoO3.