First Civ 4 Screenshots!

[Locutus]

Actually, from what I heard subscribers to PC Gamer have received the January issue already, it probably came from one of them.

[alva]

Originally posted by MarkG
wait a few days for pc gamer to come out

i guess some marketing guys thought it was time to start the hype machine early

Time for an chat maybe ?

I don't quite see why Firaxis would let such early screen shots be published. Seems to me it is just a surefire way to get people *****ing and moaning about something despite it not being remotely done.

Free publicity? More traffic in this forum over two times nothings than in the previous 3 months combined.

[curtsibling]

Anyone who knows even a little info about games development will understand
that screen shots at this stage are bound to be mock-ups and placeholders.

The final future product will be unrecognisable from the screenies seen now.

[Adagio]

But I like mock-ups (I've done some myself)... I like to see how something transforms from early beta to final

[FrostyBoy]

Why release mockups?

[curtsibling]

After reading through the thread - I think the simple solution would be to emulate the CIV2 model,
address the shortcomings, beef up the visuals and add any useful game features.

Hey, presto!
Instant killer game - CIV franchise takes over world!

(again)

[curtsibling]

Originally posted by Sn00py
Why release mockups?

Animated 3D type units take mucho time to make -

In the games industry, the graphics are usually made right up till the final minute!

[Donegeal]

Originally posted by Sn00py
Why release mockups?

Answer:

Originally posted by Alva
Free publicity? More traffic in this forum over two times nothings than in the previous 3 months combined.

It doesn't matter that the images are gone. They've seen the reaction and gotten everything they wanted.

[LDiCesare]

How much does that to have with the announce that the Civ franchise has been sold? Kind of a message to whoever holds the rights?
Anyway, nice of Soren to have precised something about the unfun elements and health. I think he's only being sensible in not disclosing information which is probably subject to change as the design will surely evolve as much as the graphics will till the game is released. I just hope they'll release a civ IV which doesn't require addons to be able to mod/play mods. They're still using python for the ai?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by alva

I don't quite see why Firaxis would let such early screen shots be published. Seems to me it is just a surefire way to get people *****ing and moaning about something despite it not being remotely done.

Free publicity? More traffic in this forum over two times nothings than in the previous 3 months combined.

I was actually driving at that with my post, but you snipped the 2nd paragraph.

[alva]

Or maybe it's a subtle trick! By releasing them, it makes everyone think the graphics will suck, so when the game comes out and they don't suck, people will be more impressed. AHA!

That's the same as what I said?

Your's (sarcasticly) about lowering expectations, not free pub.

[joncnunn]

I think it's PC Games that wanted the pictures pulled.

Also the photos that were here were scanned in instead of digitally copied, and so may have been much lower quality than the game's graphics which would be something that Firaxis wouldn't want either.

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
I don't quite see why Firaxis would let such early screen shots be published. Seems to me it is just a surefire way to get people *****ing and moaning about something despite it not being remotely done.

Or maybe it's a subtle trick! By releasing them, it makes everyone think the graphics will suck, so when the game comes out and they don't suck, people will be more impressed. AHA!

[Robert]

Originally posted by Solver

Expect a very PC/marketing answer. ( which I would do too).

I want to have a non-marketing one from Soren .

I'll give you Soren's answer:

"Sid is very involved with the game."

[Tattila the Hun]

Hey, where can I see these screenshot? AFAIK, I'd have to travel some 700KM to buy the mag...

[Nikolai]

Until it's for sale, nowhere.