HAHA LOVE IT!!!

as for teh diplomate faces... i think they should be over exagerated in order to help us better see their attitude. also, who ever just frowns when they are mad? i mean it doesnt really look exactly like thats more for when you are upset, not angry. so i think a "snarl" is quite fitting - imo

quote: Originally posted by Harel on 03-01-2001 11:03 AM Dan, how final are those leader graphics? Both leaders look quite good in the normal posture, fairly well in the smiling mode but down-right silly near angry... they looking like they are snarling apes more then just dignified political leaders fuming... :-)

They're pretty close to final. Keep in mind that the original Civ (and to a lesser degree, Civ II) had a very light-hearted tone. We're trying to recapture some of the wit and fun attitude that the original Civ had, so you'll see that reflected in the leaders and some of the other parts of the game.

Dan
Firaxis Games, Inc.

Will the leaders mouths move, as if they were talking? I think that would be a neat touch, although actual speach obviously wouldn't work very well, considering the number of things they'd have to say, and the fact that you can change city and civilization names.

Actually, that makes me think of something neat I thought would be fun in Alpha Centauri. You're probably too far along to put it in, but I'll throw it out there anyway. It would be very cool if each of the leaders DID actually speak every once and awhile.

What they said wouldn't have to match what the written dialog was, it would just be for extra flavor. Most of the time the model would be silent, but sometimes it would greet you when you started negotiations, or say farewell. If you made an outrageous demand they might recoil and say "Are you mad?" (or something else appropriate to their character and personality).

I'm just worried that nifty animated faces like that will seem a little lifeless if they never say anything at all. But if they did, with their different voices and moods, I think it would add an enormous amount of flavor and character. (Although I guess if you did this they shouldn't move their mouths the rest of the time...)

I'm also really glad your going back to the more colorfull and fun style of Civ 1.

Comb the Information squad springs to action:

Civs that will at least be there: Americans, Chinese, Iroquis, Indians, Zulus, French, English
Techs: Bronze Working
Units: Spearman (hm? There's phalanx, and there's warrior, so where does spearman fit in? Interesting...), Mig Fighter (drool...)
Neat-o stuff: Apparently there will be mutual protection pacts, right to passage agreements and trade embargoes... drool drool drool...

Droolworthy quotes:

quote: Units that have a speed advantage over their opponent will be able to retreat from combat, but you will also be able to launch an "assault", where your units will essentially attack until they win or are killed.

quote: terrain features will definitely not be flat. You will also see combat benefits depending on the terrain you occupy when you attack or defend. Stay tuned, as we will be talking about the terrain in more detail very soon.

quote: We will definitely have a replay function similar to the replay system in Alpha Centauri. We're also considering adding some new features to it, but at this point, nothing has been finalized.

Oomba oomba eek... be silent, my pounding heart...

quote: Originally posted by fluxcapacitor on 03-01-2001 11:56 AM I have a plenty capable gaming system. T-bird 800, 256MB pc133, geforce2mx 32mb. But the more they show graphics on the site, the more and more I worry about the requirements this game is gonna have. Those face renders look like the stuff Nvidia's been showing for GeForce3. It looks like my 32MB card may not cut it for Civ3...

You have nothing to worry about. The advisors are pre-rendered and run fine on the most ancient, feeble systems we have in the office. I have a system at home very similar to yours and the game runs like a dream.

Dan
Firaxis Games, Inc.

And you idiot! (in a nice way of course! pls don't stop civ3 shipment to NZ) I wanted to call Flux an idiot for not knowing they're pre-rendered.....*mumble* can work out what his comp specs are but not pre-rendered artwork *mumble*

It's like seeing Jesus with a angry face or Satan with a happy peaceful face. It's odd.

And the bg is from Civ2, I think Abe's one is too. Are they just temp backgrounds or are guys trying to bring back some memories?

Anyway, all good, replay's in thats good, love Liz she looks manipulative. The diplomacy sounds great, and the terrain sounds interesting, can't wait to hear more about that. Thanks for the update, I was actualy wondering about the next update two days ago.

Great stuff, so far Firaxis!

a small summary for the lazy ones

quote: while we have kept the conversational interface for new users, we have also created a "bargaining table" for advanced users - Want to offer a Peace Treaty to the Iroquois, but only if they will pay 5 gold per turn? Just make the demand. - For example, your relations with the Zulus might include a peace treaty as well as a mutual protection pact, a right of passage agreement, and a trade embargo against the French. - Units that have a speed advantage over their opponent will be able to retreat from combat - We're not quite ready to show it off yet, but to answer your question, terrain features will definitely not be flat. You will also see combat benefits depending on the terrain you occupy when you attack or defend. - We will definitely have a replay function similar to the replay system in Alpha Centauri. We're also considering adding some new features to it, but at this point, nothing has been finalized. - Yes! You will be able to create your own custom civilization using our editing tools.

I am soooooo looking forward to playing Civ3.

So...since there are the beginnings of working copies.....when are you gonna allow signups for the Beta Test? huh? huh??

Oh my. . i simply can't wait!!!!!! Keep up the great work, Firaxis!

Oh, one note. . you mentioned having a replay function "similar to that of alpha centauri"

Dare I say it, but Fate will probably intervene in the development of Civ3...imagine this - a few days before Civ3 goes gold, Firaxis headquarters mysteriously blow up!! (

I think these forums would be a lot smaller cause of the community here would hang themselves.

The point? I CAN'T WAIT FOR CIV3!!!!

Leader faces are PERFECT -- just the right amount of whimsy and brings back memories of Civ I! I actually had some mindless fun sliding the little slider around but only very slightly and I'm convinced I have some idea what it must have been like to chat, albeit formally, with Old Abe himself. Harel, I think the snarling is perfect. Thought Mao looked particularly cool. Don't think VOICE acting would enhance it, tho. There is an acceptable level of goof -- necessary, even, as in Civ I -- and they've hit it right on. Which is to say, not very at all. Just right.

I agree wholeheartedly with kaminwx, who hopes that the bargaining table includes the ability to negotiate for individual tile squares (or the equivalent). Meaning, I hope it's in the cards to be able to demand and give land and negotiate political borders.

quote: Thanks for continuing to send in your questions! Keep them coming and we'll post more answers in the coming weeks!

Now to our less patient Apolytoners out there: This means you should NOT start ticking the days off on a calendar and then post tearful regrets when the site isn't updated after "x" days. Notice he said "coming weeks."

And how about this for a pearler
How well do you follow freeware Civ games?

I'm very happy with the new, extended and (I hope so) better diplomacy. I said "better" because I hope that other (even if not all) AI civs won't hate me only because I am the NO.1. I'm hoping in no more sneaky attacks from peaceful civs, or "now I love you, next turn I hate you" attitudes.

Question: are there more new diplomatic agreements, in addition to those from the site (mutual protection pact, right of passage agreement, and trade embargo)? I'm very curious if Civ3 will have (or not) treaties between more than 2 countries, like trade/science/political unions (European Union), military unions (NATO), multiple alliances, and so forth.

The terrain system is completely new and we think it's the best-looking terrain that has ever been seen in a Civilization game. We're not quite ready to show it off yet, but to answer your question, terrain features will definitely not be flat. You will also see combat benefits depending on the terrain you occupy when you attack or defend. Stay tuned, as we will be talking about the terrain in more detail very soon