NOTE: This is The Column, a regular feature on Apolyton where anyone can write about anything to do with Civilization or the gaming industry as a whole. If you feel like writing, please visit the article submission page.

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193# THE ULTIMATE GAME? Is there such thing? #192 THE CIVILIZATION II ERA Just before Civ3 is out, Rasbelin summarizes the last 5 years 191# THE ALLURE OF CIV What's so cool about civ? 190# THIS WONDERFULL CONCEPT OF FAITH Response to #189 189# HAVE A LITTLE FAITH Do you trust Firaxis to have done a good job or are there to many signs? COLUMN ARCHIVE

I'll admit it, I believe that Civilization III will be a fine product despite all its supposed shortcomings. Now, before you all jump on me and accuse me of hypocrisy (after all, I was very critical when they announced that they would be cutting the macro language, multiplayer and so forth), let me finish speaking. What I am trying to say is that while Civilization III is a excellent product, it comes from a long line of excellent products and we will compare it to the idealized Civilization III that formed from our conceptions of how Civilization II could be improved.

Let's assume for a second that Civilization III is a totally new product on the market. Chances are, it would sell a little less, but it would receive far more positive reviews then negative. Instead of shouting: "What??? NO multiplayer?", we would be saying: "This game will have one of the best diplomacy models ever!"

Now then, why would we condemn this game that we so dearly love? The answer is that it would fall short of what Civilization III is like in our mind's eye. We see detailed Imperialism-esque goods systems, multiplayer the likes of which have never been seen, diplomacy more detailed then the game Diplomacy itself, and an idea candidate for teaching any history course. And in our euphoria for the game itself, we have lost sight that the Firaxis team is probably doing all it can, trying to make the game as good as it gets, but no matter what, reality is the sort of thing that shatters dreams, because in the end, our idealized Civilization III would end up unplayable, insanely complex, both or will take until 2025 to finish.

In our love for the game to be as good as it can be, we have lost sight of the fact that there must be balance between new additions and upkeeping the old. We must realize that our dream Civilization III can never materialize because it would end up too impractical to be plausible. What we can do, however is live with what we have, and point Firaxis to change what we see as most desperately missing. While hope and dreams are the invigorating energy that all projects need, ultimately it must be tempered with a good dose of reality.

Rant finished, I'll now go back under my little rock and impatiently wait out the rest of the time until we can get our grubby little paws on Civilization III and loudly proclaim its perceived shortcomings. Or maybe I'll just stay on Apolyton 24/7 and get to Deity before the game comes out. Only 7000 posts in 17 days…. Should be possible, right? :D

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The newest Emperor on the forums, and a recently returned Apolyton addict. :D

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The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of Apolyton CS or GameStats. They are just the personal opinions of the writer.