Improved Poll: When should Civilization IV end?

[okblacke]

Originally posted by lajzar
And we may as well rename "bronze working" to "materials technology one". It has the same game effect. But it makes a world of difference in believability and game atmosphere.

Actually, I believe you were the one to ask if you were the only one who noticed it. I think one other person chimed in.

In other words, it only makes a "world of difference" to you and one other guy. Well, let's say a small percentage.

Civ is, of course, a game of abstractions. The symbolic importance of the Alpha Centauri launch is that Man has finally broken the bonds that have tied him to where Fate and God cast him.

Mars doesn't do that nearly as strongly.

And, okay, Bananaland would sort of take game atmosphere in an unforseen direction.

But I don't think it needs to be changed until it's perceived as a problem by a larger portion of the audience. Until then, it has tradition and SMAC on its side.

[ok]

[Fake Boris]

Nah, you guys don't understand that Ethical Calculus will keep order in the vessel, while non-linear mathematics will solve any propulsion problem.

Seriously though, I heard that in 30-40 years scientists will be able to plant chips in the brain to increase its capabilities. What I guess is that if it works, it might allow us to quicly transcend over the current limitations of our intelligence and progress really fast in discovering new laws of physics.

[okblacke]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
Seriously though, I heard that in 30-40 years scientists will be able to plant chips in the brain to increase its capabilities.

Ask yourself how many predictions made between 1960 and 1970 for the year 2000 came true.

What I guess is that if it works, it might allow us to quicly transcend over the current limitations of our intelligence and progress really fast in discovering new laws of physics.

We don't use the capacities of our brains at present. Not to repeat the old canard about only using 10% of our brain (because it's not true) but our problem isn't one of capacity, more of tradition, ambition and understanding.

Our brains don't seem to ever get full: the presence of total recall in humans demonstrates that we haven't touched whatever structural limits exist; the existence of various savant abilities demonstrate, again, that structure is not the limiting factor in speed or capacity to comprehend.

I submit that gaining the technological ability to successfully create neural implants would reveal enough about the brain that we wouldn't need to.

And the big problems there are cultural. Tradition. Superstition. Politics. Especially politics. Education seems clearly to be going backwards. (Or stalled at the bottom.)

[ok]

[Trifna]

I didn't voted yet since it's not about a specific year when ti finishes but a specific technological level. If no one makes research to put all energy in war, you can bet it's going to last longer than if there's no war.

Oh... and this should be my 1000th post

[PresidentMarcos]

Ehh...

Instead of making planetary colonies on Alpha Centauri, build ORBITAL COLONIES.

Far superior to planetary ones, as construction is much easier in zero-G conditions and asteroid mining can provide resources.

Besides, you can build around 10-15 orbital colonies for the price of one AC spacecraft. As for a sci-fi victory condition, I have no clue whatsoever.

[rendelnep]

What about radical solar war asteriod impact victory?
My words are backed with really, really big rocks....

[Leland]

There's obviously demand for more realistic victory conditions, so I give you: "You Beat Other Players" victory condition... with 3d animation of an exhausted gamer doing a victory dance in front of his computer?

[Plotinus]

[Leland] My God, can you imagine the other game possibilities... "Sire, we've received reports that your girlfriend is trying to talk to you about the fact that you promised to do the shopping today but you've just been playing this silly game. Shall we tell her - (a) Just one more turn, I'm about to build Copernicus' Observatory; (b) Of course dear, I apologise for my neglectful behaviour; (c) Silence woman! Or I shall unleash my 4-tank army on you."

[Jarred]

I bet you 250 gold that we can research the proper techs on the tree to reach it before you make it to Pluto.

[Grandpa Troll]

I like in CIVIII Conquests where one can pick the 1000 turn option versus a year number..
I am playing a great game and have played 343 turns sso far..around a third of the 1000 turns and it is fairly trying to watch everything now..move and process all the data..

I would like the turn option as a minimum and as for the years maybe 3000 Ad would be ok...

Peace

Gramps

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Plotinus
[Leland] My God, can you imagine the other game possibilities... "Sire, we've received reports that your girlfriend is trying to talk to you about the fact that you promised to do the shopping today but you've just been playing this silly game. Shall we tell her - (a) Just one more turn, I'm about to build Copernicus' Observatory; (b) Of course dear, I apologise for my neglectful behaviour; (c) Silence woman! Or I shall unleash my 4-tank army on you."

or..sorry..my selective hearing has yet 6 more turns before it repairs itself..please come back then to check progress..

[Silpy]

What about an AI race? For each civ to attempt to be the first to create a true AI- , now that, I feel would be a fitting end for Civ IV (the birth of human civilisation to the birth of AI civilisation) Though I am unsure of the way this could be put into the game.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Silpy
What about an AI race? For each civ to attempt to be the first to create a true AI- , now that, I feel would be a fitting end for Civ IV (the birth of human civilisation to the birth of AI civilisation) Though I am unsure of the way this could be put into the game.

hmm..NOW That has potential..maybe, similiar to that of what Call To Power had, building an Alien..but in this case build an A.I.

Now thats a pretty sweet idea!

Gramps

[Max Sinister]

Yes, I like the idea too. You could call it "scientific victory": Intelligence recreates itself. Didn't we have that in another thread?

[Drachasor]

Hmm, isn't the Alpha Centauri project basically the science victory though? I suppose they could add another, but it seems redundent.

Maybe give it more of a militaristic edge, so you can have sort of a "scientific/military victory" as opposed to a "scientific/peaceful-victory". The big rush for A.I. would be a bit like the A.C. project then (lots of buildings and lots of devotion to finish), but when you are done, you get quite superior units. Bombers that are half the cost of current Bombers and more effective. Troops that are half cost and cost no war-weariness (no live people fighting), and the like.

The downside is that you can't upgrade any of your current units to the A.I. units, you have to build from scratch. That fact should allow people neck and neck to stay neck and neck, which somehow seems desirable. Winning the A.I. war then would require a lot of espionage, both to defend your projects and sabatoge theirs, so that you have enough of an advantage to build an A.I army and mop the floor with them.

Ehh, it's an idea anyhow. I don't think we need another Peaceful Scientific Victory though.

-Drachasor

P.S. And yes, A.I. will actually not be as focused on war as I made out, but it was the main new avenue for Civ that I saw for it.