DevCor

By Brad Santos
June 10, 1999

Note: This is the Developer's Corner, a part of the C:CTP section of Apolyton, where members of the C:CTP development team discuss ctp-related topics.

In the stillness of an ancient morning, the oar driven ships of a mighty war-fleet drive across heaving channel seas to scrape against the sands of a foreign shore. Wooden ramps crash down into foaming surf. The clatter of hooves and the ringing of iron fills the air as your invasion force thunders ashore.

Your army looks magnificent: Cavalry and Archers arrayed in stacks of nine. Samurai and Pikeman eager to storm the enemy's walled cities. You can already taste victory… picture the face of your mysterious internet opponent as your sandaled foot crashes down on his hopes of world conquest….

By Winnie Lee
June 4, 1999

Note: This is the Developer's Corner, a part of the C:CTP section of Apolyton, where members of the C:CTP development team express their views on ctp-related topics.

It's a wee bit lonely out here, since more than half the team's away on holidays, so I thought I'd sneak in a little bit more information on SLIC. Mind you, this is not aimed at programmers and programmer-type people - this is just a little bit of random easy stuff. It's for those who may not necessarily want to go through the whole rigmarole of writing a scenario, but would like a couple of little cool SLIC things in their games. So advanced users, don't flame me for the simplicity - this isn't for you!

By Brad Santos (a.k.a Dr. No)
May 27, 1999

Note: This is the Developer's Corner, a part of the C:CTP section of Apolyton, where members of the C:CTP development team express their views on ctp-related topics.

Turn 472. The World teeters on the brink of another catastrophic war.…

Turkish Fusion Tanks are massing along your Southern Border. The ominous sound of descending Space fighters fills the air as the powerful Egyptian technocrat makes yet another outrageous demand. Your depleted treasury can't afford to foot the bill for an Alien Life Project, let alone a two-front war. Then, just as things are starting to look really bad, the Ozone layer gives way and you are forced to watch in stunned horror as the gleaming towers of your capitol city disappear beneath the waves of a titanic flood.

By Celestial_Dawn
May 20, 1999

Note: A discussion on the recent column by William Westwater begun on our forums. WW in response posted an example with numbers. We post it here, along with Celestial Dawn's reply.

Main Article
Follow up by WW

Mr Westwater

Section I - Your initial Assumptions

I'm afraid that your concrete example isn't quite concrete.

By William Westwater
May 20, 1999

Note: A discussion on the recent column by William Westwater begun on our forums. WW in response posted an example with numbers. We post it here, along with Celestial Dawn's reply.

Main Article
Follow up by CD

Let’s consider a concrete examples:
Civilization:
Rations 7.5 per pop
Happiness: 75
Crime: 10%
Science contribution: 50%

City 1:
Pop 5. Pop are currently on:
Forest 20 P, 5 F
Forest 20 P, 5 F
Shallow with Net 10 P 20 F, 5 G
Shallow with Net 10 P 20 F, 5 G
Shallow with Net 10 P 20 F, 5 G
Total: 70 P, 70 F, 15 G
Total after crime: 63.5 P, 63.5, F, 13.5 G
Food Eaten: 22.5 F

Should I build a marketplace, marketplace with merchant, an academy, or an academy with scientist if I want science?

By William Westwater
May 18, 1999

Note: This is the Developer's Corner, a part of the C:CTP section of Apolyton, where members of the C:CTP development team express their views on ctp-related topics.

Follow up by WW
Follow up by CD

The temptation of business

For game makers, E3 is business, and after spending the end of last week at E3 surrounded by noise, gamers, computers, and more noise, I couldn't help think how glad I was to be in this business and not to be in school. School is after all one of the quietest, most restrictive places I've ever spent my time. School led to a job, but I never made a penny when I went there. And, unlike games, if I ever ran in the halls, I'd get a ticket straight to the principal's office.

or Tips and Tricks for Call to Power...
By William Westwater
May 11, 1999

Note: This is the Developer's Corner, a part of the C:CTP section of Apolyton, where members of the C:CTP development team express their views on ctp-related topics.

A Good Week for New Things

For many of you, this week is E3 week. If you're here in LA, you've hopefully lined up a pass to the show, and if you don't have a chance to go, you've set a web shortcut to your favorite gaming magazine. For the rest of you, who put the dreams of Call to Power over dreaming of future games, I thought I'd share a few strategies that might make Call to Power a whole new ball game.

By William Westwater
May 4, 1999

Note: This is the Developer's Corner, a part of the C:CTP section of Apolyton, where members of the C:CTP development team express their views on ctp-related topics.

As many players of Civilization: Call to Power have noted, a large number of low tech units can gang up and destroy a higher technology unit. Players have asked, how can guys with spears beat up guys in a tank? Is this a bug or are the designers crazy?

The short answer is: no, it is not a bug, and we hope we're not crazy (though after months spent hidden from sunlight we have questioned our sanity).

Here's the big reason we did what we did: