Overview:
Astro Empires, or AE, is a free* web based massive multiplayer online (MMO) game. The player takes on the role of a manager of a space empire, colonizes new worlds, manages their economy, builds fleets and destroys other players' fleets. All this occurs in real time.
The playing world consists of a universe made up of 90 galaxies. Each galaxy is divided into 99 sectors, each sector has a random number of stars and each star can support a random number of colonizable planets. There are currently 9 universes with new ones opening about once or twice a year. Players can move between galaxies in the same universe, but cannot move between universes. To play in a different universe players require what is in effect a new account. Upgrades paid for in one universe do not cross over to others.
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Free play vs. upgraded play:
Upgrades come in 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and 1 year increments ranging from 3.99 to 19.99 Euros. There are significant bonuses for upgrading an account, such that a player with a free account could never compete with a player with an upgraded account. So while it is possible to play for free and have some enjoyment, most serious players upgrade their accounts. Upgraded accounts have unrestricted building, unlimited number of bases, longer queues, scanners that detect incoming enemy fleet and a host of tools that make managing your empire easier. Free accounts also have ads, which can actually put players at a major disadvantage in combat where page load times are crucial.
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Real Time:
When I say real time, I mean real time. It can take months of real time to construct a building on a planet. It can take many months to construct the largest ships, or to research new technologies. It is not uncommon that a player will lose a hundred days' worth of fleet in less than a minute of combat. For many people this is frustrating enough to quit the game over, for others it provides a rush of high stakes play.
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Game Play and UI:
The game play is somewhat similar to Tribal Wars, but slightly deeper and space themed. Actual game play is very simple, and often times frustrating. I would describe AE as a slow rock paper scissors in space. Each type of ship (and there are 20) has another ship that tears it apart, while it destroys other types with minimal losses. As such, combat is a simple matter of choosing the best ship to tear apart defending fleet. Ultimately, I find combat dull and repetitive.
But to make matters worse the user interface is terrible. For example: In order to move a fleet (arguably the most basic action in the game), a player needs to click on the location with the fleet, then click on the fleet, then click the move button, then find the coordinates of the landing zone, then copy those coordinates into a box, then choose how much fleet to move, then click send. Yes, a minimum of 7 steps to do the most basic action. There are many instances where the UI could be greatly improved. The good news is that AE admins are ever so slowly improving it.
Why would anyone play such a horrible game, you may be wondering? It is a social game. Like most MMOs it is the meta-game that keeps people playing. There is always heavy politics. Players can form, join and leave guilds at will and the political intrigue this creates is where the game comes to life. People need you, and you have to log on for all your virtual space friends, and so you are hooked.
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Service:
AE has, in my experience been fair and forthright. They have always charged the agreed upon amount. They have never auto charged my credit card. They have never taken away my upgrade. They do have the power to suspend or fine players for rule breaking, which they do frequently. I have never seen a case where someone was suspended without cause. They have never sent me spam, or sold my email address as far as I can tell.
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Summary:
AE is a horribly slow paced game with simple strategy and horrible UI. People play because they form bonds with other people. UI is improving, but too slowly and the major gripes will likely never be addressed. The game play is somewhat similar to Tribal Wars, but slightly deeper and in space. The price for an upgrade is fairly cheap, but fluctuate based on the exchange rate. Over all, AE is among the most solid free MMOs online right now, despite the free option being crippled. I give it a 3 of 4 stars.