BEHIND THE ANSWERS (24 January 2001, 17:22 EST) Doesn't it bother anyone they didn't answer any questions about disturbing issues such as the nature and use of unique civs?, complained a concerned Civer in our forums in recent days in response to the first installment of "Ask The Civ Team" answers posted on January 19th. I know I sent them a question regarding this issue, and I'm sure I'm not the only one, yet they ignored it. Don't you like questions that aren't easily turned into promotion material in the answers without divulgin any real information, Firaxis?
Firaxis web wizard Dan Magaha responded in short order. Here's an excerpt:
I'm sorry you feel that way, but we recieved literally *hundreds* of questions. Some of the things we were asked are things we are ready and able to talk about, other things we just aren't able to discuss right now.
I did my best to sort the letters and we tried to address the most prevalent questions. In short, we tried to address the issues that we felt the majority of you were concerned with.
It's also worth mentioning that a single person is responsible for going through these letters and trying to make sense of them and then trying to get some answers. That person is me =). -DanQ
EVOLUTIONARY, SAYS GAME-OVER (27 January 2001, 14:24 EST) Reviewer Fwiffo writes that CTP2 is a good Civ game, not revolutionary but more evolutionary in his review for GameOver posted this past Thursday, although even at that it seems to pale against the more refined Alpha Centauri.
In giving the game a 76% final tally, Fwiffo explains his ranking throughout his review and indeed sums up his feelings in his final paragraph:
CTP2 has its charms and if [AC] alienated you, CTP2 is worthy of any Civ gamer' s time. It doesn't capitalize on the uniqueness of its franchise and ultimately, the ugly parts of it rear its head usually after AD 1700. All in all, Activision's progress from the original Call to Power to CTP2 is promising.
Hopefully CTP3 will prove the old adage that the third time's the charm. -DanQ
GDRA-2000: DEAD LAST (27 January 2001, 1:27 EST) In the GamesDomain Readers Awards 2000, CTPII finished dead last in voting in the Strategy category receiving only 4.2% of the popular vote.
It was edged out by ninth-place holder Space Empires IV (4.5%) and eighth-place contender Zeus: Master of Olympus. The winner was Red Alert 2 (11.6%), topping The Sims by a hairline sliver (11.43%). GD Strategy Editor Tim Chown did not even comment on CTPII's showing in the voting. -DanQ
SGO: 8.5/10 APPROVAL (22 January 2001, 23:44 EST) Michael Askounes of Strategy Gaming Online has had his review of CTPIIposted on SGO's website today. Here's his bottom line:
CTP2 is a very intimidating game in many respects - there are simply so many layers of game play here that it's almost impossible to experience everything there is to experience in only a few games. My review would have to go on far beyond the space I'm allotted to truly cover all aspects of the game play: new wonders, new units, improved combat, excellent scenario missions - this game's got it all. Call To Power 2 is a must-have for fans of Civlization.
Askounes gave the game a 8.5 overall score. Scores range from a 6 for Graphics to a high of 9 for Replayability value. -DanQ
Apolyton Friends News
21-27/Jan 2001
FILE DATABASE OPENS! (21 January 2001, 11:01 EST) Our CTP2 Files Database is now open! 47 Files our waiting for you to download them thank to the work of Omnigod, our DB Manager.
As you may know from our Civ2 database, you can rate and review each file, using the username and the password you have for the forums. Happy downloads! -MarkG
EUROPE 1750, HARLAN GRAPHICS UPDATED (27 January 2001, 5:01 EST)Today's(or rather, yesterday's) changes in our CTP2 Database:
- New Scenario, Europe 1750 This scenario blends some historicity with wishful fancy. It assumes both Germany and Italy emerged as nation states, albeit somewhat weak in comparison to England, Russia, and France. For a reasonable challenge, choose Italy, Spain, or the Viking Nation for play.
CITYSPRAWL MOD (24 January 2001, 15:46 EST)The Citysprawl Mod by Blue Orange is the latest addition to our CTP2 File Database. It is mainly intended for mod makers, but you can use it yourself easily to add the city expansion feature from the Alternate Sci-fi mod to your games.
What is the "city expansion feature"? Well, the basic idea is that your cities expand beyond their (first) tile... :)
In other db-related news, we have now reached 2568 downloads, an average of 39.51 for each file. Lastly, the Map of the North Atlantic Ocean is the first file to get 3 reviews and appear in the Top Rated page. -MarkG
UNITS & OTHER GRAPHICS IN FILE DB (23 January 2001, 4:11 EST) Omnigod added both old(originally created for ctp1) and new units and other graphics in our CTP2 file database. These files were made by Harlan Thompson, Tom Davies, Blue Orange, Lightwing and other creators. Here's the full list
Our CTP2 Database now has 64 files, which had 1162 downloads in the first two days. -MarkG
GAMELOFT: MANAGEMENT NEEDS (22 January 2001, 23:37 EST) Gameloft reviewer LordVader has passed judgement on CTPII and contented... to an extent.
When you create enough games along a single theme, you may eventually fall victim to identicalness. And management games are being reproduced faster than bunnies in mating season. Unfortunately Call To Power II has fallen victim to this fate and isn't really any different to its predecessor.
Still, all in all, Call to Power II is a worthy addition to the Civilization series; offering better graphics and animations that are smooth and rich in detail, a longevity that only turn based games can provide, and the quality of game play that only Civilization can provide.
Owners of the previous title looking for a new game should maybe give this a miss as it offers very little in terms of new stuff, but those devoid of Civ: CTP should buy this instead as it is basically the same game but with nicer graphics, more units and city structures to play with, and easier game play. -DanQ
JUST SHY OF AN `A`: PCGW (24 January 2001, 16:54 EST)Call to Power II is essentially what the first game should have been, begins PCGameworld reviewer Scott R. Krol writes in the site's final say of the game. Not a true sequel, it manages to correct the majority of the deficiencies present in the first game while adding a few new rubs into the mix.
Personally there's a certain something missing from [CTPII]. Let me put it this way -- when I told myself "one more turn and then I'm off to bed" I played one more turn and went to bed. [CTPII], while a solid offering, never truly compelled me like Civilization II did.
If you're looking for a Civ fix before Civilization III, [CTPII] will fit the bill. Just don't expect it to capture the same magic as the Meier/Reynolds' game. After all, it's nothing you haven't seen before.
Krol's final score of the game is a stinging 79%, one percent below the "A" grade level. -DanQ
EIGHTH WEEK ON G100 (21 January 2001, 20:45 EST) In the 420th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Call To Power II leaps into 14th spot in its eighth week on the chart.
Today's(or rather, yesterday's) changes in our CTP2 Database:
The 