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.

PREVIOUS ARTICLES

196# WHAT MAKES A GOOD CAR Not exactly a "if civ3 was a car" comparison 195# CIV III AND MOO3, PART II: TBS HAS A FUTURE We're here to stay! 194# CIVILIZATION III, A SHOE TOO BIG? The realistic faction speaks 193# THE ULTIMATE GAME? Is there such thing? #192 THE CIVILIZATION II ERA Just before Civ3 is out, Rasbelin summarizes the last 5 years COLUMN ARCHIVE

The Civ III has now been released and the Civ community is excited about that. Everyone seems to have something to say about the game, no matter if they it or not. They just want to be a part of the crowd. The amount of visitors to Apolyton CS and new registered members of Apolyton CS Forums has in few weeks time increased astonishing rapidly. As a result of this, the ACS server at Gamestats has been been under heavy traffic around the clock. Almost every day you'll have to try to access pages on ACS Forums, if you want to succeed in accessing them.

But what's behind all this? In one way that's a stupid question; the release of Civ III of course! But is there something else behind the events? Yes, there is. The release of this game of the Civilization series was the first true online release in the history of Civ and it's followers. CivNet was perhaps the first Civ game that included a shabby multiplayer support, but that didn't mean it's release was a large online event. No at all. The release of Civ II in 1996 wasn't either something that gathered large masses on the Internet that was still quite undeveloped, or on any other online services like BBS.

As the Internet became more usual and as a part of the everyday, so begun the history of Internet Civ communities like ACS and Civ Fanatic's Center. But there had not yet been any occasions when such large masses of fans would have gathered together like when Civ III was released in USA.

When a much waited game is being released on the Internet age, there's thousands of surfers trying to get information on the game and see screenshots from it. Not to mention availability questionaries and the demand for first impression like "Is it worth buying?" "Could you summarise the cons of it?" and others like that. All this is caused by a simple human instinct, the need for information and taking part in whats happening. We just can't sit watching when something much spoken is happening. Because of the human minds uncountable ways, it's somtimes hard to know what can expected. Is there going to be 1000, 4000 or 6000 pageloads per hour? Are everyone going to choke the server by posting complete nonsense on the forums? Of course you can prepare yourself for events that are known to happen, but it's difficult to estimate it's effects and size.

This has been visible on ACS Forums for a while know. Apparently the amount of non registered and registered members has been larger than the ACS staff could expect. But that's understandable, the crowd can suprise even a well prepared person with its unpredictable changes in mood and movements. I suppose that's also what makes it actually quite fascinating.

Of course I could say that this requires just simple brainwork, but sometimes it's good to use psychology too. At least it can work as a good tool for analysing and planning events. But that's more like an off-topic issue.

Is an online release different from an offline release? Yes, the gamers can actually change their views and opinions more easily and fastly. It also makes possible to get the latest availability information. In the "old days", you had to call the retailer for geting to know if they had the game in stock. Nowadays you just have to click to the website of the shop or send an e-mail inquiry to them. Or then you could ask the other buddies by using instant messaging or discussion groups like ACS Forums. I'm not saying that e-mail would be a new invetion, but 5 years ago when Civ II was released in 1996, was the e-mail common in those days? No, at least if you compare to this day. Now some of you, dear readers, will say that doesn't count for USA. I don't care about such nosy comments, because they are totally irrevelant for my column. So back to business.

Releasing a game online is interactive compared to a situation where the distrbutor just provides the retailers with the game and the makers of the game will only receive a few e-mails and later on also letters from the most devoted fans of the game, if even not that. As we have now seen, the Firaxians have been in close contact to Civ communities like ACS. Dan the Great of Firaxis has answered people's questions at ACS Forums almost every day. An another example on this interactivity are the ACS chat session were Firaxians have also been invited. The official Civ III website has also given the civers an opportunity to get information straight from the maker of the game, and there's has once again been interactivity included - Ask the Civ team.

The online release of Civ III has benefited the civers any many ways. First of all information has been possible to be exchanged and published instantly and in a way that gives you the key to many other sources. Even the simple basic element of webpages, the hyperlink opens many new doors for the Civ III release. The Internet has given the Civ III's release a significant boost. That's a matter of fact.

My conclusion is that this first Civilization online release has showed us the weak spots of the Civ communities and it has taught us new ways to distribute the latest up to date development of the release day's events. Now we are able to see for the first time what should be improved for the next mayor online game release in the Civ communities. I suppose it has to be the expected expansion add-on or perhaps the mystific Civ IV.

Let's hope that we have at least learnt something from the Civ III release. At least I have.

---------
The Celtic warrior of Apolyton CS

Comment on this article!

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.