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January 2001
CTP-MAC SALE ON ETOYS
(31 January 2001, 19:47 EST/CtPMac) In addition to the sale price for MGE and TOT for Windows that we posted about in the Civ2 section, eToys is also offering Civ Call to Power for Macintosh for $20.99 (51% discount). It's not $8 bucks, but it's not to sneeze at either! -macuser
MGE AND TOT: ETOYS SALE
(31 January 2001, 18:24 EST/Civ2) EToys.com is having a sale on all remaining copies of CivII: Multiplayer Gold Edition and CivII: Test Of Time in stock. With a 55% off sticker price ($8.99US each), they're bound to go like hotcakes!
Kudos to CivFanatics for reporting on this earlier today. -DanQ
PCDATA: JANUARY 20, 2001
(31 January 2001, 18:12 EST/Misc) For the week ending January 20, 2001, the Top 10 Selling PC Computer Games based on sales data gathered by Reston, Virginia's PCData are listed below.
1) The Sims | Electronic Arts
2) The Sims: Livin' Large | Electronic Arts
3) Roller Coaster Tycoon | Hasbro Interactive
4) Unreal Tournament | Infogrames Entertainment
5) Hoyle Casino 2001 | Havas Interactive
6) Diablo 2 | Havas Interactive
7) Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | Electronic Arts
8) Age Of Empires II: Age of Kings | Microsoft
9) Combat Flight Simulator 2.0 | Microsoft
10) RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loony Landscapes | Hasbro Interactive
This chart is developed from data provided by 42 retail chains comprising more than 80% of the U.S. market. -DanQ
CHARIOT SPRITE!
(30 January 2001, 14:48 EST/CtP2)  The legendary Tom Davies returns with an awesome chariot sprite.
This is a two horse chariot manned by a single javelin thrower. It is meant as an early scout unit.. The unit has shadows for all animations
We are currently at 69 files for the ctp2 file database, downloaded a total of 7599 times... We do need reviews though(hint hint)! -MarkG
GSPY: MEIER A TOP DESIGNER
(29 January 2001, 21:46 EST/Misc) John M. Keefer, Managing Editor of GameSpy Industries, wrote and posted an article on GS' website entitled Top 10 Designers You'd Buy Games From. Sid Meier did not come in first or second in Keefer's list, but rather third.
Here's what this GameSpyer had to say about Meier:
[His] games are usually easily recognizable because they have his name as part of the title. It is not vanity that caused this, but an acknowledgement that if Meier is associated with the product, it is going to be quality. With such classics as Civilization, Alpha Cenaturi and Gettysburg!, Meier has set a tremendous standard for the turn-based strategy genre, and there are no signs that he plans to stop any time soon.
Meier was beaten out by Peter Molyneux of Black & White fame and Warren Spector, perhaps best known for Deus Ex 2. -DanQ
HASBRO ACQUISITION COMPLETE
(29 January 2001, 21:08 EST/Civ2) The Infrogames acquisition of Hasbro Interactive closed today. As reported today by C|Net:
The strategic agreement, signed this past December, is composed of three main elements: Infogrames's acquisition of all of Hasbro Interactive's assets, including Atari and MicroProse; its acquisition of Games.com; and a long-term licensing agreement with Hasbro Incorporated that gives Infogrames exclusive rights to develop and publish digital interactive games based on current and future Hasbro properties on all existing and future digital interactive formats.
Infogrames purchased 100 percent of the common stock of Hasbro Interactive for $100 million--$95 million in Infogrames Entertainment securities (approximately 4.5 million common shares) and $5 million in cash. The deal was unanimously approved at a general meeting of Infogrames Entertainment shareholders on January 23. -DanQ
CHAN KUO PREVIEW
(29 January 2001, 21:03 EST/Civ2) Interested in a sneak peek at Prometeus' "Chan Kuo" scenario? Then look no further than our forums where the author himself posted an exclusive screenshot of the terrain file from the upcoming work.
No release date has yet been announced other than it will be soon.
-DanQ
GREAT NATIONS: ALL WELL
(29 January 2001, 11:21 EST/Alt) The Great Nations site(gn.gameshock.com) has been out of reach for the last few weeks and we started wondering. So we contacted Toni Wilen who explained that there were problems with their ISP for the last 1.5 weeks. The site will hopefully be back tomorrow.
As for the game itself, Toni mentioned that a new version should be released soon... -MarkG
THE DAY OF DALE
(29 January 2001, 7:38 EST/CtP2)  It's "Dale Day" for our CTP2 file database :)
new: Withdraw Script
(Withdraw rules and implementation for AI's)
new: Famous People of History Script
(Remember, those key advances are a little more critical now. Your progress through these paths is shown to you in the form of Famous People of History (and a few groups/organisations), hence the name)
updated: AI Diplomacy Mod
(New diplomacy models for AI to AI and AI to HUMAN interaction. Version 3.1)
Also from Blue Orange
updated: Alternate Science Mod (version 1.03) -MarkG
MEDIEVAL MOD 4.13
(29 January 2001, 7:27 EST/CtP) Wes released version 4.13 of the Medieval Mod for CTP1.
More on the related forum thread. -MarkG
WE WANTED PBEM...
(29 January 2001, 7:16 EST/CtP2) Results of your ctp2 pbem poll....
| CTP2: Do you want PBEM to be added? | | Option | Votes / Percentage | | I never play multiplayer, I dont care |  41 / 19% | | I only play Internet/LAN, PBEM isnt important | 45 / 21% | | It is good, but doesnt matter a lot | 32 / 14% | | I miss it, played some PBEM in CTP1 | 13 / 6% | | I will get the PBEM patch for CTP2 ASAP, and start playing a lot | 59 / 27% | | Lack of PBEM will make me not buy CTP2 | 24 / 11% | Total Votes: 214| View Comments
Forums Discussion |
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-MarkG
APOLYTON NEWS JANUARY 21-27
(28 January 2001, 18:38 EST/Misc) Our newsletter is back and hopefully it will be reaching you every Sunday!
The main headlines for Januray 21-27 2001 are:
- Dinosaurs Extinct
- Brian Reynolds Interviewed
- CTP2 Files Database
We also started a second mail feature, titled Column@Apolyton. Sent every Saturday, our newsletter subscribers will get the article of The Column before it's posted on the web. Subscribe now! :) -MarkG
PBEM CHART 28/1/1
(28 January 2001, 16:40 EST/CtP) As of thiw week we will start doing we should bedoing for some time now, that is posting the pbem ratings and ranking charts as they are posted in out CTP-Multiplaying forum. Here we go
ABBREV RANK NAME................... RATING WTR.ID NAT.TR
APLCTP 0001 THEBIRDMAN............. 22.549 .11148 DEN...
APLCTP 0002 MOBIUS................. 22.442 .11141 GBR.EN
APLCTP 0003 STAVROS................ 22.118 .11147 GER...
APLCTP 0004 KLAIR.................. 21.000 .11168 OTH...
APLCTP 0005 DARTH_VIPER............ 21.000 .11170 NED...
APLCTP 0006 FRANSES................ 21.000 .11171 NED...
APLCTP 0007 BLACKICE............... 20.950 .11158 CAN.ON
APLCTP 0008 SLAMP.................. 20.900 .11144 FRA...
APLCTP 0009 LUNG................... 20.841 .11155 AUS.SW
APLCTP 0010 RICK_ELKINS............ 20.836 .11143 USA.NY
The full list can be found in the CTP-Multiplaying forum. There are currently eleven games in progress. -MarkG
G100: IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
(28 January 2001, 14:06 EST/SMACX) In the 421st installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri/Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire improves its performance by snatching 9th spot over its 10th place showing last week.
To vote for SMAC this and every week, click here! -DanQ
G100: SOARING UPWARDS
(28 January 2001, 14:05 EST/Civ2ToT) In the 421st installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization II: Test Of Time soars from 15th to 11th spot this week.
To vote for ToT this and every week, click here! -DanQ
G100: HITTING A SLUMP
(28 January 2001, 14:02 EST/CtP2) In the 421st installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Call To Power II hits a slump sliding from 14th to 17th position this week.
To vote for CTP2 this and every week, click here! -DanQ
G100: PUSHING TOWARD BARRIER
(28 January 2001, 13:57 EST/CtP) In the 421st installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization: Call To Power pushes towards the Top 40 barrier charging into 43rd spot over its performance in 52nd last week.
To vote for CTP this and every week, click here! -DanQ
PBEM: OVER 12 MONTHS!
(28 January 2001, 10:46 EST/CtP) Without further comments... :)
| CTP1: How long does a PBEM game take? | | Option | Votes / Percentage | | 0-2 Months | 1 / 3% | | 2-5 Months | 5 / 16% | | 5-8 Months | 3 / 10% | | 8-12 Months | 1 / 3% | | Over 12 months | 20 / 66% | Total Votes: 30
View Comments | Forums Discussion |
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-MarkG
COLUMN #151; BY PYARAY
(27 January 2001, 23:39 EST/Misc) In his article entitled "How And Why Do Bad Games Get Made And Published", ex-Activisioner David "Pyaray" Ray gives us an exclusive look at his work that investigates games from bad to worse.
Comments/questions welcomed in our forums, or you may opt to contact the author directly. If you are looking to write for The Column yourself, see our Article Submission Page for more details. -DanQ
EVOLUTIONARY, SAYS GAME-OVER
(27 January 2001, 14:24 EST/CtP2) 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
EUROPE 1750, HARLAN GRAPHICS UPDATED
(27 January 2001, 5:01 EST/CtP2)  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.
- Updated modification files: Harlan's Wonder, Building and Tech images -MarkG
GDRA-2000: DEAD LAST
(27 January 2001, 1:27 EST/CtP2) 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
GC: NO TBS AWARDS FOR 2000
(27 January 2001, 1:16 EST/Misc) In announcing the GameCenter Computer Game Awards For 2000, the gaming branch of online technology giant C|Net offered up a very specific genre of strategy games that is in and another that is out in the awards circle: RTS is the former, and TBS is the latter.
There were no TBS nominees and thus, no winners in the category either. Does this simply spell C|Net's doubt in faith for the future of the TBS genre, or does it carry a meaning of something greater, something ominous? For now, the answer remains elusive. -DanQ
SID: `DINOSAURS LEFT FOR THE FUTURE`
(26 January 2001, 19:17 EST/Dino) 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
SIMULTANEOUS MP OR NOT?
(26 January 2001, 19:02 EST/Civ2) 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/Civ2) It "poll day" right here on Apolyton! :) The death of of this poll will bring the birth of a new one! :D
| Civ2: How much time do you spend on a MP game? | | Option | Votes / Percentage | | 0-3 Hours | 17 / 20% | | 3-6 Hours | 24 / 28% | | 6-12 Hours | 10 / 11% | | 12-24 Hours | 5 / 5% | | 24 Hours-Until it's done! | 28
/ 33% | Total Votes: 84 | View Comments
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-MarkG
FAVORITE ALIEN CROSSFIRE FACTION
(26 January 2001, 9:55 EST/SMACX) After a ridiculous amount of time and 3590 votes, here are the results of our Favorite Alien Crossfire Faction poll | Cyborgs | 1066 / 29% | | Data Angels | 408 / 11% | | Manifold Caretakers | 246 / 6% | | Manifold Usurpers | 191 / 5% | | Cult of Planet | 195 / 5% | | Drones | 419 / 11% | | Pirates | 1065 / 29% |
If you have any ideas for a new poll, feel free to mail us! -MarkG
FORUM HICCUPS
(25 January 2001, 19:17 EST/About) For those who experienced difficulties in accessing our forums earlier this evening, we apologize for any inconvenience.
There was simply a heavy traffic load on the server and were forced to shut it down for a few minutes while we performed some routine maintenance. There was never any risk of loss of data associated with this now resolved situation.
Thank you for your patience and making our forums and, indeed all of Apolyton, the harbour of Civilization discussion on the Internet. -DanQ
INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN REYNOLDS
(25 January 2001, 15:58 EST/Misc) It's a discussion with the man behind the Big Huge Games vision like no other.
Brian Reynolds, Presndeit of BHG, recently took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions we threw his way about all things from his departure from Firaxis more than a year ago to when one can expect a BHG booth at the annual E3 Expo.
Eleven questions in all, Reynolds disseminates his opinions on issues such as the Internet as a medium for game patch distribution and how he and his team shrunk their list of potential ideas for a debut product from six to one. -DanQ
BEHIND THE ANSWERS
(24 January 2001, 17:22 EST/Civ3) 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
JUST SHY OF AN `A`: PCGW
(24 January 2001, 16:54 EST/CtP2) 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
PC DATA: JANUARY 13, 2001
(24 January 2001, 16:43 EST/Misc) For the week ending January 13, 2001, the Top 10 Selling PC Computer Games based on sales data gathered by Reston, Virginia's PCData are listed below.
1) The Sims | Electronic Arts
2) The Sims: Livin' Large | Electronic Arts
3) Roller Coaster Tycoon | Hasbro Interactive
4) Hoyle Casino 2001 | Havas Interactive
5) StarCraft: Battle Chest | Blizzard Entertainment
6) Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | Electronic Arts
7) Age Of Empires II: Age Of Kings | Microsoft
8) Diablo 2 | Havas Interactive
9) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire | Disney
10) Sim Theme Park | Electronic Arts
This chart is developed from data provided by 42 retail chains comprising more than 80% of the U.S. market. -DanQ
THE EXTINCTION OF DINOSAURS
(24 January 2001, 16:21 EST/Dino) 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/Dino) 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 | 37 / 25% | | Dont know/Dont care | 28
/ 19% | Total Votes: 146 | View Comments
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-MarkG
CITYSPRAWL MOD
(24 January 2001, 15:46 EST/CtP2)  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
STAR WARS MOD!
(24 January 2001, 7:09 EST/SMAC) After a bit of a long development time :) , Jasonian released his Star Wars Mod
The 7 factions are: Empire, Rebels, Naboo, Trade Federation, Jedi, Republic and Bounty Hunters. The mod is separated in two parts, for a total of 2.2MB -MarkG
MANIFEST DESTINY: CALL FOR DISCUSSION
(23 January 2001, 4:32 EST/Alt) 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/Alt) 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
UNITS & OTHER GRAPHICS IN FILE DB
(23 January 2001, 4:11 EST/CtP2) 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
Modification : Graphics
Alternate Tech Images
Alternate Building Images
Alternate Wonder Images
Modification : Units
Three Musketeers
World War II Units
Ancient Amazons
Renaissance Amazons
Hi-Tech Amazons
Hi-Tech Sci-fi Units
LittleWing Units Collection
Airplanes
Zulu Units
AeroSpace Cruiser
Satellite and Russian Hind
Satellite Unit
Tom Davies Units Collection
Modification : Utilities
Unit Creation Tools and Documentation
Our CTP2 Database now has 64 files, which had 1162 downloads in the first two days. -MarkG
SGO: 8.5/10 APPROVAL
(22 January 2001, 23:44 EST/CtP2) Michael Askounes of Strategy Gaming Online has had his review of CTPII posted 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
GAMELOFT: MANAGEMENT NEEDS
(22 January 2001, 23:37 EST/CtP2) 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
ONE-HUNDREDTH WEEK ON G100
(21 January 2001, 20:47 EST/SMACX) In the 420th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri/Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire grabs onto 10th spot in its momentous 100th week(!) on the charts.
To vote for SMAC this and every week, click here! -DanQ
EIGHTH WEEK ON G100
(21 January 2001, 20:45 EST/CtP2) 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.
To vote for CTP2 this and every week, click here! -DanQ
SEVENTY-FIFTH WEEK ON G100
(21 January 2001, 20:43 EST/Civ2ToT) 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.
To vote for ToT this and every week, click here! -DanQ
NINETY-THIRD WEEK ON G100
(21 January 2001, 20:41 EST/CtP) 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.
To vote for CTP this and every week, click here! -DanQ
FILE DATABASE OPENS!
(21 January 2001, 11:01 EST/CtP2) 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
COLUMN #150; BY MARKG
(20 January 2001, 23:48 EST/Misc) It's time to face facts and move on with the Civilization series, says MarkG in his latest article entitled "Goodbye Activision; Now Civers, Let's Get To Work. Comments/questions are welcomed in our forums, or you may opt to contact the author directly.
Want to see your name and your article appear here? If you would like information on how to contribute an article to this regular feature here on Apolyton, then click here to learn more about getting your name and opinion in lights. We are in grave need of articles for the coming weeks, including next! -DanQ
FROM THE ZONE TO GAMES.COM
(20 January 2001, 22:54 EST/Civ2) Looking for the official home of CivII-multiplay on the Internet? Think Games.Com. Hasbro Interactive has moved a number of its CD-ROM titles from the Microsoft Zone to Games.com, including Multiplayer Gold Edition and Test Of Time (although no separate for the support for the latter is included at present). If you wish to continue to play in this capacity, you will need to register for an account on Games.com.
Our thanks to CyberChrist for first reporting of this in our CivII-ToT forum. It is not clear as to the exact date in which this transition was made. -DanQ
PCDOME`S FINAL GRADE: A
(20 January 2001, 21:40 EST/CtP2) PC dome gives CTPII a 85% overall rating in its review of the game posted just this past week. Several screenshots are included.
Translation will be available soon (thanks to everyone who offered their assistance). -DanQ
REVIEW FROM GAMERANKINGS
(20 January 2001, 21:28 EST/CtP2) Still undecided about CTPII GameRankings seems to be given that it recently posted its own review of the game.
Instead of comparing it endlessly to Civilization II and what is no longer available, let's look at Call to Power 2 on its own and its improvements because the game is good enough to deserve that sort of treatment, writes GR staffer Jake in his introductory remarks.
The most important part of these types of games is their sheer content, and while CTP2 may fail in comparison to Alpha Centauri or CivII in comparison to the volume of content, CTP2 has simplified its technology tree significantly. And while you may panic and cry out in distress over there being less units here, but don't. It's simpler this way and more logical.
Still, GR says, there are things that they feel are illogical about CTPII's gameplay as well.
... the game's artificial intelligence. On any setting other than impossible the game is easily beat by an amateur of the turn-based strategy games. And even then, the computer seems to be a large proponent of its diplomacy system that works great in multiplayer but never seems to take off in single player.
The game's other significant limitation is its manual. There's not a single word in the documentation to that effect and there are no in-game descriptions when you choose which civilization you would like to play. The manual remains somewhat lax on other subjects in the game as well, only glancing over various functions in the game with the slightest bit of coverage.
In conclusion, GR deems the game to be average and which side one player's opinion lies on either side of the divide depends upon what they're looking for.
If you require the anal inclusion of a Sid Meier game, go replay [CivII]. If you want a simplified albeit still comprehensive game then [CTPII] should definitely be considered. -DanQ
PCDATA: DECEMBER, 2000 TOP PC GAMES
(20 January 2001, 15:17 EST/Misc) PCData has released their Top 10 Selling PC Games listing for December, 2000.
1) The Sims | Electronic Arts The Sims: Livin' Large | Electronic Arts
2) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire | Disney
3) RollerCoaster Tycoon | Hasbro Interactive
4) Diablo 2 | Havas Interactive
5) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, 2nd Edition | Disney
6) Age of Empires II: The Conquerors | Microsoft
7) Sim Theme Park | Microsoft
8) Roller Coaster Tycoon Corkscrew Follies | Hasbro Interactive
9) Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings | Microsoft
10) SimCity 3000 | Electronic Arts
PCData, based in Reston, Virginia, developed this chart based on units sold by 42 retail chains, representing more than 80% of the U.S. market. -DanQ
PCDATA: JANUARY 6, 2001
(20 January 2001, 15:13 EST/Misc) For the week ending January 6, 2001, the Top 10 Selling PC Computer Games based on sales data gathered by Reston, Virginia's PCData are listed below.
1) The Sims | Electronic Arts
2) The Sims: Livin' Large | Electronic Arts
3) Roller Coaster Tycoon | Hasbro Interactive
4) Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | Electronic Arts
5) RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loony Landscapes | Hasbro Interactive
6) Sim Theme Park | Electronic Arts
7) Age Of Empires II: Age Of Kings | Microsoft
8) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Second Edition | Disney
9) Hoyle Casino 2001 | Havas Interactive
10) Diablo 2 | Havas Interactive
This chart is developed from data provided by 42 retail chains comprising more than 80% of the U.S. market. -DanQ
ACTIVISION RESPONDS
(20 January 2001, 4:32 EST/CtP2) Activision sent us a statement in response to the various discussions in our forums. You can read and comment the full thing on the CtP2-General forum. Basically, it comes down to this
We have been reviewing the posts by various forum members calling for additional patches to make the AI more challenging for them, to add PBEM and Hotseat back in, and various other requests. These requests, which sound simple, are actually long, complex feature additions that would require up to 3-4 months of programming and testing time. This is not feasible, as the Call to Power II team is moving on to other projects. So there will be no additional patches, enhancements or scenarios coming from Activision. Additionally, there are no immediate plans to make an expansion or sequel.
None of these decisions were taken lightly, however, we feel that in the end, we have delivered a game that met the design goals of the project: an empire-building game that delivers new diplomatic features, more realistic combat, better empire management options, a new interface, and a customizable gaming engine to extend the life of the game. We thank all of you for your dedicated support and enthusiasm over the last four years. We look forward to seeing the results of the various mods and scenarios that the community is working on. -MarkG
ASK THE CIV TEAM, PART I
(20 January 2001, 4:24 EST/Civ3) The first part of answers to questions from civers has been posted on Firaxis' site. The Civ3 team responds about Civilization and Cultural Heritage, Diplomacy and AI, and Unit Customization. Check it out and post your comments on the forums! -MarkG
4/5 ON WOOKIE`S WORLD
(18 January 2001, 19:51 EST/CtP2) The other ctp2 review of the day comes from Wookie's World and Madcow(madcow23 on our forums). A couple of quotes
CTP2, then, is more or less a collection of incremental improvements and enhancements to the original game. These changes are enough to make it substantially different to its predecessor, and combined with the enhancements already found in CTP1 such as Public Works, it is clear that the CTP series is developing into something substantially different from "classic" Civilization. It will be interesting to see how the "real" Civ III stands up against this game, when it is finally released in 2002...
And in the closing
But in the end, even when trying to be objective, it's impossible to be too harsh towards CTP2. Despite its outstanding problems, and an unshakeable sense of dιjΰ vu, the simple fact remains that this game is immensely good fun and, if it appeals, will absorb far more of your time over the next few months than many flashier titles. Add to this the undeniable fact that the game can only get better, and you have a solid package that for many people, will be the best investment they make all year.
So get out there, get empire-building and I'll see you in the forums at Apolyton. Next time, Activision, we'd like a finished product please, with proper playtesting and all those important things that you seem so inclined to skip... but until then, we'll smooth off your rough edges for you. The end result is still more than worth it. -MarkG
86% ON PC ZONE
(18 January 2001, 19:40 EST/CtP2) Snapcase reports:
I just read the january issue of PC ZONE (The UKs top PC Magazine, in my opinion, with good, serious reviews). It gave CtP2 86%, an extremely high grade from the ZONE (Only one strategy game has recieved a classic (90%+) rating this year, Shogun).
"It's good and it's as bloody addictive as it ever was. It's also well worth buying, even for existing CTP owners but, in the end, it's just essentially a massive upgrade. No more, no less."
What's wrong with being just a massive upgrade? :) -MarkG
GAME FILES DOCUMENTATION, PART 6
(17 January 2001, 19:06 EST/CtP2) The journey in the gamedata folder continues... :)
* GameFile.txt
* Goods.txt
* GoodsID.txt
* Govern.txt
* GW.txt
* Hscore.txt
(Still) more to come... -MarkG
TOP AL&PD LINKS FOR DECEMBER
(16 January 2001, 15:07 EST/Misc) Our CTP2 Section continued it's run on the chart, jumping to the 3rd spot. The Grosse deutsche Civ2-Seite dropped to the 4th position after several months. Here's the full listing.
Top 10 Links
1(1). 9.69(9.67) The Spanish Civilization II Site
2(2). 9.52(9.52) Apolyton Civilization Site: Civ2 Section
3(4). 9.40(9.33) Apolyton: CTP2 Section
4(3). 9.38(9.44) Grosse deutsche Civ2-Seite
5(5). 9.25(9.25) Civilization II - One City Challenge Strategy Guide
6(7). 8.92(8.92) Civilization II Scenario League
7(6). 8.90(8.95) Colonization Home Page
8(8). 8.89(8.89) Apolyton Civilization Site: Civ3 Section
9(9). 8.83(8.83) Civilization II Historical Scenarios
10(10). 8.50(8.50) Civilization III Civilopedia
AL&PD Stats
Total Links: 221 (203)
Total Reviews: 773 (745)
Total Rated Links: 128 (124)
Average Rating: 7.00 (7.01)
Total Hits: 73132 (61720)
Average Hits/Link: 330.91 (304.04)
We dropped the Games and Books listings since the changes were nearly none :) -MarkG
TOP CIV2 FILES FOR DECEMBER
(16 January 2001, 10:13 EST/Civ2) 25,000 Downloads for the month of December in our civ2 database)in comparison to 16,000 in November and 20,000 in October
60 New reviews, exactly the same number with December. As for the Top 10, there several changes and two newcomers in the last two positions. Here is the full thing
Top 10 Files
1(1). 10.00(10.00) Techtree
2(2). 9.90(9.86) Lord of the Rings
3(4). 9.75(9.67) Colonies III
4(3). 9.67(9.67) Patch for Civilization II (2.42)
5(5). 9.56(9.60) HiRes
6(8). 9.33(9.33) Australia
7(6). 9.33(9.60) Rip-off units pack
8(10). 9.33(9.33) Day of Treason
9(-). 9.33(-) Maps of Complexity
10(-). 9.25(-) The War of Cuba
Database Stats
Total Files: 463 (463)
Total Reviews: 263 (203)
Total Rated Files: 111 (104)
Average Rating: 7.22 (7.33)
Total Downloads: 153762 (138366)
Average Downloads/File: 332.1 (298.85)
As of today, there is going to be a change in the system, and one will have to use his forum username and password in order to review a file. This way we will have more creditable reviews and votes. -MarkG
WHAT`S YOUR DIFFICULTY LEVEL?
(16 January 2001, 5:12 EST/CtP2) And here is our 8th CTP2 Poll
-MarkG
BETTER/ABOUT WHAT I EXPECTED
(16 January 2001, 4:59 EST/CtP2) After 2 months of running this poll, I think we got some reliable data. Here are the results:
| CTP2: Did it match your expectations? | | Option | Votes / Percentage | | Exceeded all expectations | 13 / 5% | | Better than I expected | 93 / 39% | | About what I expected | 57 / 24% | | It's not that cool after all | 30 / 12% | | Not really worth the money | 31 / 13% | | I will return the game | 9 / 3% | | Total Votes: 233 | View Comments | Forums Discussion |
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-MarkG
2002: THE YEAR OF BHG
(15 January 2001, 19:15 EST/Misc) Brian Reynolds took the "bait" and responded to a thread in our BHG forum. Confirming that specific plans for a game exist, Brian revealed that there is a projected release date for 2002.
After posting that, Brian tried to escape but our special forces captured him. Now if you excuse me, Dan is waiting me in the interrogation room  -MarkG
MANIFEST DESTINY ALPHA VERSION
(15 January 2001, 16:53 EST/Alt) Ron Hiller announced on our Alternative Civs forum the official release of the Alpha version of Manifest Destiny. The changes/fixes list is rather long to reproduce it here(but you can check it in the linked thread)! The build is availiable(as always) on rjcyberware.com. -MarkG
SDC3: THE WINNER!
(15 January 2001, 3:49 EST/Civ2) After lots of organizational problems(to say the least), the 3rd Scenario Design Contest is finished, which means that we have a winner! Here is the announcement by techumseh:
Two entries were recieved: "The Quest for the Golden Fleece", by Poseidon, and "The Odyssey", by Athena. Both were well made, clearly the result of lots of work by both contestants. Drawing on two separate but similar Greek myths, both entries had the same overall theme and feel.
Poseidon's entry had a "not quite finished" feel, as evidenced by the need to debug the events files before playing. Nevertheless, once that was done, it provided an interesting and challenging quest. The quest can be undertaken from the point of view of three different civs, each with its own set of events. There some interesting techniques used to create difficult problems to solve. On balance, it is a very good scenario and one definitely worth playing.
Athena's entry was excellent. It combined challenging gameplay with a strict adherence to the original myth. All aspects were carefully done. The use of events, in particular, was sophisticated and interesting. An effort was made to provide atmosphere through music and text. Good background information was included as well.
The use of impassible units, etc., made for a very linear game. The player isn't "wandering", or really lost, but are following a very defined path. I think this was justified in a quest scenario, given Athena's desire to follow the myth closely.
While "The Odyssey" also included technical "bells and whistles" such as bat. files to change events and so on, I did not take these into account in the judging.
The winner of the Scenario Design Contest #3, for Fantastic Worlds, is Athena for his/her entry "The Odyssey." In all aspects, it is a superb scenario. Congratulations!
You can find the last version of "The Odyssey" in the link above, while "Poseidon" can be found in the SDC3 entries page on SL. Keep in civin!! -MarkG
JUMPING TWO ON G100
(14 January 2001, 19:20 EST/SMACX) In the 419th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri/Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire jumps to 7th position from 9th last week.
To vote for SMAC this and every week, click here! -DanQ
STAYING IN PLACE ON G100
(14 January 2001, 19:19 EST/Civ2ToT) In the 419th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization II: Test Of Time stays in 14th place for the third week running.
To vote for ToT this and every week, click here! -DanQ
IMPROVED G100 PERFORMANCE
(14 January 2001, 19:19 EST/CtP2) In the 419th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Call To Power II improves his performance by going from 20th to 17th position this week over last.
To vote for SMAC this and every week, click here! -DanQ
FALLING SHARPLY ON G100
(14 January 2001, 19:18 EST/CtP) In the 419th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization: Call To Power falls from 40th to 49th this week over last.
To vote for CTP this and every week, click here! -DanQ
GAMERAIDERS: GRADED 80%
(14 January 2001, 15:00 EST/CtP2) Notae, a GameRaiders staffer, gave CTPII a spin recently and was generally satisfied with what he saw.
The layout and control of the game pieces are easily handled through an interactive dialog-based program, Notae begins. By far, Call to Power II is the state of the art Civilization brought to levels that all [Civ] users will enjoy.
From there, this reviewer moves onto commenting on the game's graphics, sound, technical stability and value.
The graphics have also been given an overhaul. While they are almost identical in style to those in Civilization: Call to Power, they've been cleaned up -- so now, they look very attractive.
For the most part, the tunes were okay, and the game play clicks and bangs, planes flying through the air or moving a tank across the plains, were acceptable.
This game is stable. I cannot express just how impressed I am with the overall game's stability.
[CTPII] has a good replay value. There are individual scenarios, a random map generator, and a multi-player option. However, parting with over $40 for the game may be a bit steep. Rest assured, it is a fine addition to any world dominating game player type person.
In conclusion, Notae states that CTPII is definitely a superior game to [C:CTP], which should be enough to recommend it to those players who did enjoy the previous game and that the improvements to the game are great and appreciated, but in the end you may wish to break out the old Civilization game. -DanQ
VELOCIRYX`S SMACX GUIDE: FINAL VERSION SOON
(14 January 2001, 14:10 EST/SMAC) Unlike a... hmmmm certain company ;) some people are still working and doing SMAC "products". Velocyrix announced that a final version of his strategy guide is coming soon. In his own words:
There will be one final update to the guide which will incorporate all the sugesstions and edits from the version 3 feedback, plus all the stuff that's occurred to me since then. Additionally, rather than making the "Black Ops" idea I mentioned long ago into a separate project, I'll just roll it into the final version of the guide.
I've also been talking to a publisher, and have arranged to get this, the final version of the guide published both electronically, and in real, tangible, hold-in-your-hands book format.
The current version (3.0) of Velociryx's strategy guide can be found here. -MarkG
PLAYZONE: 9/10 TALLY
(14 January 2001, 14:05 EST/CtP2) Playzone has posted a glowing review of CTPII with a 9/10 overall score.
Translation will be available soon (thanks to everyone who offered their assistance). -DanQ
COLUMN #149; BY SHADOWSTRIKE
(13 January 2001, 23:22 EST/Misc) Apolyton is a glowing example of globalization at its best, touts Shadowstrike in his article entitled "Apolyton: The Truly International Community". Comments/questions are welcomed in our forums, or you may opt to contact the author directly.
Want to see your name and your article appear here? If you would like information on how to contribute an article to this regular feature here on Apolyton, click here to learn more about getting your name and opinion in lights. We are in grave need of articles for the coming weeks, including next! -DanQ
GAME FILES DOCUMENTATION, PART 5
(13 January 2001, 18:50 EST/CtP2) More stuff for mod makers...
* Colors00.txt
* Concept.txt
* Diplomacy.slc
* EndGameObjects.txt
* Feat.txt
* Feats.slc
One interesting thing I've found: from the endgameobjects.txt you can change the alliance victory to happen when you have allied with any percentage of the entire population. That is, if 100% sounds to much for you... :) -MarkG
SPANISH CIV2 FORUM
(13 January 2001, 10:27 EST/Civ2) It is my pleasure to announce the creation of a new forum, the forum of the The Spanish Civilization II Site
The aim is to have a place for the site itself, but also for Hispanic/Spanish Civers around the world.
Enjoy! -MarkG
GAME FILES DOCUMENTATION, PART 4
(12 January 2001, 20:05 EST/CtP2) Sorry for the delay for geting this done, but you know... :)
* Age.txt
* AgeCityStyle.txt
* Buildings.txt
* CitySize?.txt
* CityStyle.txt
* Civilisation.txt
More to come... -MarkG
DER GRENADIER: MOST ATTRACTIVE
(12 January 2001, 19:58 EST/CtP2) Der Grenadier, a German site for strategy games reviewed CTP2. The game is highly recommended as Thales, DG's reviewer, informed us. CTP2 is characterized as the "most attractive Civ-Game at the moment", generally being a "very nice design". If you can read German or understand the output of an online translator :) check it out. -MarkG
FREECIV: LOOKING AT V1.12
(12 January 2001, 19:45 EST/Alt) With the last stable version(1.11.4) released in July, here is an update(thanks to Thue) of what the current development version has and will have:
Done:
- Client goto line like in CTP and SMAC.
- Patrol command
- Experimental support for multiple connections controlling/observing a single civ
- Some people had trouble with lag; the network code rewrite hopefully fixes this
- Readline completion in the server (I can see the puzzled look on the windows users' faces)
- Shared vision. This is not just map exchange once in a while, the maps are kept completely up to date between players with shared vision.
- 64 nations to choose from
- Lots of bugfixes
In the works:
- Native MAC client
- Completely native windows client (no gtk or X)
- Isometric view
- (quickly made) Map editor. Well - you can make maps with it at least :)
You can take a look at the isometric view in our Freeciv Forum. We dont have a release date for 1.12 yet. -MarkG
POLL: UNIQUE CIVS, YES OR NO?
(12 January 2001, 13:12 EST/Civ3) One of the new features in civ3 that were made public with the opening of the official site is that civs are going to have unique advantages and disadvantages. The exact quote on the site says the player will have
unique benefits depending on the Civilization you choose
Good or bad, here is our new poll
-MarkG
PUBLIC DEMAND: IN-THE-BOX EDITORS FOR EVERYTHING
(12 January 2001, 12:42 EST/Civ3) Here are the results for our 13th poll. One could say that the final percentage for the top choice is not as big as expected, but it is more than clear that the average civer wants to be able to make a mod/scenario in a matter minutes with utilities that will be in the box.
| Civ3: Editors for maps/ scenarios/ units/ graphics/ game texts? | | Option | Votes / Percentage | | Definately! In-the-box editors for everything! And documentation! | 157 / 59% | | As much as possible in the scheduled development time | 37 / 14% | | A map/scenario editor and the existance of text files is fine | 41 / 15% | | I never do/play any modifications so I dont care | 27 / 10% | Total Votes: 262
View Comments | Forums Discussion |
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|
-MarkG
ANTICIPATED GAME: GAMEPEN
(12 January 2001, 11:42 EST/Civ3) One of GamePen's most anticipated games of 2001 is none other than Civilization III.
As other wishlists surface online, it is an almost certainty that CivIII will make an appearance somewhere in some capacity in them. -DanQ
GAMEPEN: HONOURABLE MENTION
(12 January 2001, 11:36 EST/CtP2) In GamePen's 2000 PC Awards, conducted and presented by the GP staff, Call To Power II garners an 'Honourable Mention' in the "Best PC Turn-Based/Building Strategy Game Of 2000".
The Sims took the title, followed closely by Zeus: Master of Olympus. The other Honourable Mentions went to :Heroes of Might & Magic III: The Shadow of Death. -DanQ
EUROPEAN MOD & SCENARIO CONVERTER
(11 January 2001, 0:29 EST/Civ2Mac) Newly posted on the Mac pages:
European ModPack by Henrik Lohmander posted to the Scenarios page.
A new scenario conversion application, Civ II Scenario Converter by Brian Nesse posted to the Customization page.
Option-click the above links to download. -macuser
PCDATA: DECEMBER 30, 2000
(10 January 2001, 18:45 EST/Misc) For the week ending December 30, 2000, the Top 10 Selling PC Computer Games based on sales data gathered by Reston, Virginia's PCData are listed below.
1) The Sims | Electronic Arts
2) Roller Coaster Tycoon | Hasbro Interactive
3) The Sims: Livin' Large | Electronic Arts
4) Age of Empires II: Age of Kings | Microsoft
5) Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | Electronic Arts
6) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Second Edition | Disney
7) RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loony Landscapes | Hasbro Interactive
8) Diablo 2 | Havas Interactive
9) Sim Theme Park | Electronic Art
10) Age Of Empires II: Conquerors Expansion Add-On | Microsoft
This chart is developed from data provided by 42 retail chains comprising more than 80% of the U.S. market. -DanQ
NEW FORUMS FOR AI AND MODS/SCENARIOS
(10 January 2001, 6:02 EST/CtP2) The big discussions on the AI and the various mods lead us to the creation of two news forums: CTP2-AI and CTP2-Mods/Scenarios.
The "where to post what" guide is now the following:
Strategy questions, tactical guides, "war stories", etc --> CtP2-Strategy
Questions/discussions on modifying game files, etc --> CtP2-Creation
Discussion on the AI and how to modify it --> CtP2-AI
New ideas, announcements, development of specific mods/scenarios --> CtP2-Mods/Scenarios
Questions on how to do something, Requests for help on anything, etc --> CtP2-Help
Specific bug reports(please be sure it is a real problem not something you're doing wrong or something that actually exists), Suggestions for a patch --> CtP2-Suggestions
Arrangment of Multiplayer games, general MP discussion --> CtP2-Multiplaying
Everything else(always ctp2 related :)) --> CtP2-General
-MarkG
PLAYNOW PROCLAIMS 7/10
(9 January 2001, 22:20 EST/CtP2) Steve Polak gives CTPII a 7/10 final score, affirming that it is the perfect game for megalomaniacs and those suffering delusions of grandeur in his review of the game for PlayNOW!.
One aspect of the game you will appreciate is the management system, Polak continues. This is hardly a revolutionary feature, but it is quite flexible and will help you stay interested for longer as you get on with the more fun stuff and leave the more tedious management tasks to the computer.
Still, there are things that Polak feels that stop the game from being a shining beacon for the Turn-Based Strategy genre.
in the visual department Call to Power 2 is marginally better than most of the other games in the genre. However, if your idea of a great looking strategy game includes 3D efforts like Homeworld and Sacrifice, you are in for a bit of a letdown.
In closing, Polak deems this game as passable.
This is a playable and enjoyable extension of the original game. If you don’t want to wait for CivIII then you should have a look at this as it is full of absorbing stuff. -DanQ
SLAMMED BY DR-UK
(9 January 2001, 22:11 EST/CtP2) The latest negative review of CTPII comes from Daily Radar UK, and it may not be the last.
Reviewer Richard Cobbett writes that Call to Power II is just another Civilisation II clone, and not even a good one. Still, the core gameplay is fine, as it damn well should be. There's the same mix of building up your empire, research and micromanagement and the interface is much better than Call To Power's.
DR-UK's feelings are best summed up in this statement: [It's] as though the development team sat down with the source code, a scalpel and Satan to steal Civ's soul.
Cobbett states, in conclusion, that the game is a miss and gives it a miserable 50% overall rating. -DanQ
OFFICIAL WEBSITE LAUNCH!
(8 January 2001, 13:55 EST/Civ3) You read right -- Firaxis Games launched the official CivIII website early this afternoon. The following is the press release from Firaxis that accompanied the site's birth:
We wanted to let you know that FIRAXIS Games has just launched the "behind-the-scenes" website for Sid Meier's Civilization III. It is the official source of all things known about this next offering in the greatest game series of all time. We've updated the existing Civ III FAQ and will be updating the site regularly with game design information, art, answers to other frequently asked questions and some other fun stuff for Civ fans to enjoy.
Sections include background information on the Civilization legacy, game updates, an art gallery, downloads and even an email address for you to contact all members of the CivIII team at once. -DanQ
G100: DUSTS ITSELF OFF
(7 January 2001, 14:23 EST/SMACX) In the 418th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri/Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire dusts itself off and raises its standing from 11th spot to 9th this week.
To vote for SMAC this and every week, click here! -DanQ
G100: HANGING TOUGH
(7 January 2001, 14:23 EST/Civ2ToT) In the 418th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization II: Test Of Time hangs tough in 14th for a second week in a row.
To vote for ToT this and every week, click here! -DanQ
G100: THIRD WEEK SLIP
(7 January 2001, 14:23 EST/CtP2) In the 418th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Call To Power II slips for the third week in a row, and at the same pace at that: one spot; this week, it finds itself in 20th position.
To vote for CTP2 this and every week, click here! -DanQ
G100: DROP LIKE A ROCK
(7 January 2001, 14:22 EST/CtP) In the 418th installment of the Top 100 PC Games, published every week by Global 100, Civilization: Call To Power drops like a rock from 31st to 40th spot, barely hanging onto the second level of the countdown.
To vote for CTP this and every week, click here! -DanQ
COLUMN #148; BY WINDBORNE
(6 January 2001, 23:04 EST/Misc) Winborne chooses to discuss exactly what the title of his article suggests, a different kind of artifical intelligence, in his debute column on Apolyton.
Comments/questions are welcomed in our forums, or you may opt to contact the author directly.
Want to see your name and your article appear here? If you would like information on how to contribute an article to this regular feature here on Apolyton, click here to learn more about getting your name and opinion in lights. -DanQ
PC DATA: DECEMBER 23, 2000
(6 January 2001, 11:55 EST/Misc) For the week ending December 23, 2000, the Top 10 Selling PC Computer Games based on sales data gathered by Reston, Virginia's PCData are listed below.
1) The Sims | Electronic Arts
2) Roller Coaster Tycoon | Hasbro Interactive
3) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Second Edition | Disney
4) The Sims: Livin' Large | Electronic Arts
5) Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | Electronic Arts
6) RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loony Landscapes | Hasbro Interactive
7) Sim Theme Park | Electronic Arts
8) Frogger 2 | Hasbro Interactive
9) Barbie Pet Rescue | Mattel Interactive
10) Deer Hunter 4 | Infogrames Entertainment
This chart is developed from data provided by 42 retail chains comprising more than 80% of the U.S. market. -DanQ
MEIER INTERVIEW RE-PUBLISHED
(4 January 2001, 13:31 EST/Misc) If you missed Computer Gaming World magazine's interview with Sid Meier published several months back, you can find it now on Quarter To Three.
Owned and operated by Mark Asher and Tom Chick, the former conducted the original interview and in turn had it published on CGW. -DanQ
GREETINGS FROM BAUDOUX
(3 January 2001, 19:22 EST/Misc)  Mike Baudoux has created a very Civilized greeting card (131KB) to joyfully welcome in the New Year and very generously included Apolyton in the list of recipients.
Thanks for sending us this card, Mike! Happy New Year, everyone! -DanQ
GAMEZILLA: 73% FINAL SCORE
(3 January 2001, 19:00 |
