SID: `DINOSAURS LEFT FOR THE FUTURE` (26 January 2001, 19:17 EST) Stomped published a short interview with Sid Meier on the recent announcement for Dinosaurs.
Sid explained that this isn't the first time something like this happens... I've made a few games that I put on the back shelf at some point during their development because another idea suddenly caught my attention or it just wasn't flowing the way I wanted it to, so I went in search of inspiration (this happened with the original Civilization). (the definition of "good hunch" imho :))
left hope for the future... I think a dinosaur game is a cool idea. So, it is definitely still on my wish list of games to make in the future
and gave no clue on what the new prototype is, while pointing to the official site for any civ3 news... :) Thanks to CapTVK for the quick report! -MarkG
MANIFEST DESTINY: CALL FOR DISCUSSION (23 January 2001, 4:32 EST) With Civ3 far away in the future, one would think that alternative civ games would get the attention of civers. The did, but things seems to have changed, as Ron Hiller posted on our forums:
MD has always had two groups of supporters. On one side are the 4X turn based space exploration strat gamers (as represented by the Stars!, Space Empires, and MOO people) and on the other were the 4X turn based world exploration gamers (Civ, AC, CTP, etc). The latter were represented by y'all here at Apolyton. And rarely would the two mix. :)
At one point, MD had a lot of support from the gang here at Apolyton. Far more than the space exploration gang. And to me that makes sense. MD is a turn based conquer the world sort of strategy game, and I would expect this game to be more in line with your tastes than with the spacer's tastes.
But oddly, as progress on the game has moved forward, the reverse seems to have become true. Our newsgroup forum is dominated by Stars! and Space Empires players. MD has recently moved into Alpha stage, which is to say, there is now a playable, if incomplete, version in circulation. And every single one of our Alpha players come from the spacer group. There's not a Civver to be seen on our game worlds.
Ron explained the situation a lot more after this quote, and he ends with a call to all civers: What needs to be done to make this game playable for you?
Often I see people complaining that the companies dont listen. Well here is some who does guys! -MarkG
MANIFEST DESTINY: NEW BUILD (23 January 2001, 4:22 EST) A new Alpha Build(v 0.4.0.065) of Manifest Destiny is now avaliable on rjcyberware.com. While only a few(four bug fixes and two new features), the changes are important. The most important thing though for Lead Programmer Ron Hiller is that
With any luck, the number of serious bugs in the game has now been reduced to a level where I can start to think about new features again :)
A patch from the previous alpha build to the new one is also availiable. -MarkG
NINETY-THIRD WEEK ON G100 (21 January 2001, 20:41 EST) In the 420th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization: Call To Power -- now entering its 93rd week on the charts -- crawls into 52nd on the countdown.
THE EXTINCTION OF DINOSAURS (24 January 2001, 16:21 EST) If you hadnt seen that coming... :) Sid Meier explained the situation on the last Dino diary on the Firaxis site
Hi everyone.
I know you've been waiting a while for an update on the Dinosaur game. I've spent recent months playing with some different ideas on Dinos, but a lot of my time, and just about everyone else's at Firaxis, has been devoted to assisting in the Civilization III design. Civ III is looking and playing great and we think you'll all be thrilled with the final product! Also, I've been working on a new prototype, but more on that in a minute.
So what's up with Dinosaurs? Well, we've tried various approaches to gameplay: There's been a "DinoCraft" style of game (real-time). There's been a "DinoPlanet" style game (turn-based). There's been a game where you are one dino. There's been a game where you are an entire dino tribe. There's even been a much more abstract game with a heavy online component (you get the idea). We took into account your ideas, suggestions and concerns on the game. So far though, we haven't found that magic combination of ingredients that makes it really fun. And if it ain't fun, it don't get done!
Then, a couple of months ago, I was inspired by a new idea on a completely different topic. I built a really fun prototype and well, what can I say - this new project took hold! So I have decided to set aside Dinos for a while to work on this new idea, as well as devoting my attention to CivIII.
I know this news may disappoint some of you, but I think you'll find the new projects we're working on at Firaxis very interesting and a lot of fun!
This is not a new situation for us. It took me many years and several different approaches to find a way of presenting the Civil War game the way I really wanted to, but ultimately I was very happy with the result, which became Gettysburg!. Also, the original Civilization began as a real-time game and had many stops and starts in the design process. Dinos may eventually come to fruition, but for the moment there are other cool things brewing at Firaxis and, of course, there's a game called Civ III to consider!
So, this will be the last Dino Diary, at least for now. Thanks for your patience and stay tuned for more info on Civ III and other projects in development.
You can comment about this on our Dinosaurs forum. I guess we are going to have one more categorization on our front page: after "current games", "games to come", "other sections" and "oldies", we must create a category titled "extinct"... -MarkG
WHY YOU WOUDLN`T BUY DINOSAURS (24 January 2001, 16:11 EST) If it was ever done(see above news item in a minute). The results of our last Dinosaurs poll
Dinos: What will make you not buy Dinosaurs?
Option
Votes / Percentage
I will buy ANYTHING that has the name Sid Meier on it
23 / 15%
I won't buy if it contains unrealistic elements
17 / 11%
I won't buy if it's an RTS game
39 / 26%
I won't buy if it's a TBS game
2 / 1%
I won't buy period, since I hate anything that involves dinos
SIMULTANEOUS MP OR NOT? (26 January 2001, 19:02 EST) Here is our newborn civ2 poll! If you vote for "combination", please put in the comment box what that combination is. As usuall, you have to use your forum username and password in order to vote. -MarkG
MP TAKES TIME... (26 January 2001, 18:55 EST) It "poll day" right here on Apolyton! :) The death of of this poll will bring the birth of a new one! :D
SEVENTY-FIFTH WEEK ON G100 (21 January 2001, 20:43 EST) In the 420th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization II: Test Of Time slides one down into 15th position in its seventy-fifth week on the countdown.
23 / 15%