Game like Sins of a Solar Empire, but for older hardware?

I know Sins can run on some pretty modest hardware configurations, but its minimum resolution is 1024x768. In particular I am looking for something similar that would run with the Asus Eee's 1024x600 resolution and GMA 950 graphics.

Any suggestions on a similar game from the past?

Thanks.

 

You know, i thought Sins was an RTS but I guess not. More turn based? If that is the case, Privateer was an interesting space game.

 

Privateer was more of an Elite type game. Sins is RTS but the pace is so slow it's almost turn based.

 

Got ya. Spent many hours wasting away in front of Privateer. May end up getting Sins soon.

 

Well, for older hardware like what is used in the Eee PC, I would recommend installing a disc virtualization program that allows you to make virtual optical drives and run ISO images of discs. Then you could make images of games such as Red Alert 2, Tiberian Sun, Europa Universalis, Civilization, and Age of Empires. Also, for MMORPGs, I believe WoW should run alright on an Eee PC. I run it on a 1 GHz Pentium III with an ATi Radeon 9200 and it runs alright. I have also run it on a 1.6 GHz Celeron with the Intel GMA 950 graphics chipset and it ran alright on that as well. It all depends on your resources too.

 

I haven't actually played Sins, but the games I hear it compared to most often are those in Sid Meier's Civilization line. Lord knows how many hours I've whittled away in front of the PC, going "just one more turn, and I'll head to bed...".

 

star wars empire at war is sorta similar. it has planets, ground and space battles etc. it runs on just about any hardware. or try homeworld 2

 

Rise of Nations is pretty similar to Sins. It's also an empire-building RTS with a tech tree, some light diplomacy, etc.

 

The only other space-based RTS I can think of predating Sins is the homeworld series, unfortunately for the EEE PC only the 1st one is likely run acceptably.

 

homeworld 2

 

That needs T&L support which the GMA950 may or may not pull off, I played the 1st game on an Intel 830MG which is the same or one generation behind what the EEE PC uses for graphics.

 

If you're looking for more 4X games, then go for the Master of Orion Series and the Galactic Civilizations Series. Galactic Civilizations was even made by Stardock. The older Master of Orion games even run on DOS. Galactic Civilizations series is just about old enough to where should do fine on an intel integrated.

 

I found Sword of the Stars published by Stardock who also do Sins and Galactic Civilizations. Seems to have favorable reviews. Perhaps this is a good pick?

 

I found Sword of the Stars published by Stardock who also do Sins and Galactic Civilizations. Seems to have favorable reviews. Perhaps this is a good pick?

 

I'm not familiar with Sins of a Solar Empire, but if it's an space based RTS like Homeworld/Cataclysm/Homeworld 2, then Nexus: Jupiter Incident was also in that vein...but I don't know if it supports the resolution you're wanting...

If it's more turn-based, then Galactic Civilizations or Master of Orion (use DosBox)...Galactic Civilizations and its successor are more detailed, but I prefer the original Master of Orion (if you haven't been spoiled by high end graphics)...design your own ships...decent tech trees even by modern standards...good and simple diplomacy and the ever-satisfying incite planets to revolt...random disasters...the game is just easy to learn and fun to play...a game can last anywhere between 30 minutes and several hours depending on the size of the starmap and the number of alien races involved...

 

Thanks. I wasted I don't know how many evenings with Civilization on my old Amiga 500 during college. I fell in love with that genre in general, however, I prefer space based games.

I have yet to find anything as engrossing as Civilization was.

 

If you enjoyed Civilization in its early incarnations, then you'll really like Master of Orion...

But scifi-based Civilization is Alpha Centauri...it can be difficult to find...and it takes a bit of work to get my original disc running with XP without issues (Firaxis has an XP compatibility patch on their website...kudos to Firaxis for supporting a game long after its sales have declined...), but it's worth it...

Find yourself a copy of Alpha Centauri...it's not necessarily space-based (planet-based), but I think you'll enjoy it...

 

Homeworld 2 definetely. Sins of a solar empire could be considered the spiritual child of HW2... And there is plenty of mod to play around with, like star wars or babylon 5 or even BSG ^^.

 

Also, if the Star Trek universe doesn't bother you too much, then either one of the Star Trek Armada or one of the three Starfleet Command games might interest you...Armada is in the RTS vein...Command is turn-based but centers on epic-type space battles...just not a whole lot of ship customization...the games can be difficult to find...

 

I think Sins bills itself as a mix of the Supreme Commander, Civilization, and Homeworld series, or as Gal Civ2 in real-time. Any of those 4 games would have elements of what makes Sins so great.

That said, the latest games in all those series (except possibly Homeworld2) have system requirements that are moderately high. However, the earlier incarnations of those games have moderate requirements - Homeworld 1, Total Annihilation (possibly), anything below Civ4, and possibly Master of Orion 2.

Jupiter: Nexus Incident as mentioned is a good space rts game, although it's more tactical than strategic.