"Civilization IV"... Confirmed?

[Toby Rowe]

Once again,

I appologise, I'll delete the utterly irrelevant posts, and concentrate on Civ 4- any news on that front?

Toby

Unfortunately, the site won't allow me to delete the two posts- can the moderator remove them please? They belong on the off-topic board at most.

Any synopsis on which direction Civ 4 is taking from you guys "in the know"?

We all know that graphics is given huge attention by the coders in games, little to the actual gaming- any news on that score? Hearing what direction the gaming is going in would please me and others greatly!!

Reading the post about the Naval aspect- building a submarine and knowing the AI see's it as a surface ship is funny- you just don't build them due to that bug- I think the release date was due before the submarine code was finished. I just watched an Indian Warship go around one of two strategically placed submarines guarding a strait!

I really want to see this cycle of "development and then war after the cavalry/tank" in Civ 4 re-evaluated, if wars must exist, which they must. Most nations wait until dragoons/cavalry are invented before starting one, yet the Greeks were happy to beat the hell out of each other, at a time that would be most unwelcome to players of Civ 2 or 3 as we are simply trying to forge a nation.

The AI does have the Mongols but it's basic AI: only build military units, never improvements to cities. If unlucky enough to be placed by them on the map, you will eventually win, more antagonistic nations, along with genuine friendly ones would be good.

I've spent the entire current game being friendly to India- a few hundred years now- complete trade links and Mutual defence- but they are annoyed now the aggressor to them (Persia) that attacked them has been banished by me, they are "annoyed".

AI diplomacy seriously needs improvement. Amongst older people in the UK, stating "my word is my bond" actually means something, just like signing a letter "yours sincerely" which apparently means "without a wax seal: but trust my letter anyway" in latin.

(I got attacked by the Indians, so had to reload and give them incense as a gift- just to avoid the attack by them- some friend.

I like to see all technologies researched before you can move into the different periods, along with being able to actually leap ahead on tech research- all three versions simply tag your progress and the AI adjusts the tech of the others- that simply isn't an incentive to throw all money into that (science) field- difficulty levels can achieve that effect.

I play on "Regent" level by default, but having a war with a nation as they have a "wonder" you really want (Pymanids etc). is also unrealistic for a peaceful game (I've played only a few to end due to war-like AI) How about upping the cost of all wonders, but allowing all nations to build the wonder?- less competition on them. At the moment I feel I've failed if the AI builds more than two of them.

Personally, I'd like Wonders scrapped, a much more level playing field that way, but only commiserate with a decent AI in diplomacy. How many people really warred with Egypt as it gave you a free granary in your own cities?

[SSBLoveU]

Originally posted by Toby Rowe
Reading the post about the Naval aspect- building a submarine and knowing the AI see's it as a surface ship is funny- you just don't build them due to that bug- I think the release date was due before the submarine code was finished. I just watched an Indian Warship go around one of two strategically placed submarines guarding a strait!

I use nuclear submarines to attack transports and to protect other naval ships. The problem is that they do not have torpedoes. The torpedoes ought to improve with technology. The "Ben Hur" tactics of ramming is nothing more than using a submarine as a torpedo. Also, the lack of tunnels and caves make me imagine that all battles are fought on a field. The space race ends too early. Satellites must be launched into orbit, and people ought to be able to build on the moon and Mars.

[Rasputin]

lets hope that the designers have some common sense

[Vince278]

Originally posted by Rasputin
lets hope that the designers have some common sense

and listen to us.

[Dinner]

We shall see.

[techtedg]

I agree SSB

completely agree with SSB, we ought to able to build on the moon and mars. The space race isn't developed nearly enough, we haven't tapped its potential.


time to break out.

[Vince278]

Sounds cool...

[Addled Platypus]

Originally posted by SSBLoveU


I use nuclear submarines to attack transports and to protect other naval ships. The problem is that they do not have torpedoes. The torpedoes ought to improve with technology. The "Ben Hur" tactics of ramming is nothing more than using a submarine as a torpedo.

Given the scale of each square. I would assume torps are in use.
The ramming is just graphics.

Would it be cool to have a scope icon for when you do go submerged and the regular icon for surface attacks???

[Max Sinister]

Sure, but why two icons? Just make an animation from it.

[techtedg]

does anyone actually have any idea how long it will be until we can see IV in the stores?

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by Platypus Rex


Given the scale of each square. I would assume torps are in use.
The ramming is just graphics.

Would it be cool to have a scope icon for when you do go submerged and the regular icon for surface attacks???

If they don't do anything else, I hope they at least fix the submarine problem. It's a particular pet peeve for me. They will have to code to allow subs to sit in the same square as the enemy ships. This could help if they bring the spy unit back - it also needs to enter enemy squares.

[Nikolai]

Originally posted by techtedg
does anyone actually have any idea how long it will be until we can see IV in the stores?

None except Firaxis. And maybe not even they.

[Jon Shafer]

Correction: None except the publisher.

[bayraven]

i axed apolyton through 'contact us' a few weeks ago if i might get c4 for Christmas. they responded "Closer to next Christmas"

Is there a thread that lists things KNOWN to be in c4?

and while i'm at it, are any of the names i see posting here actually c4 designers?

[Jon Shafer]

In this thread, right next door, there is a list of known info.

Soren Johnson is the lead designer of Civ 4 and he posts here occasionally. Don't expect any answers if you bug him though.