A vote

[Toby Rowe]

Hi all,

If you were able to influence what is essentially the last chance for the future of the Civ series, which would be the area you'd most like the programmers to concentrate on?;

a) Government types
b) Diplomacy aspects
c) Military aspects
d) Terrain management
e) Cheating AI

[Robert]

The diplomatic model.
It should be possible to behave in any diplomatic way you want. Right now the choices are too much pre-defined.

[Toby Rowe]

Hi mate,

When I posted the poll, it didn't work, the title should of course read "given a choice".

I most want the diplomacy improved as well, within the existing Civ model, if they change the model, not the essence of the game, then......

[Nikolai]

Diplomatic model. But governments are important too IMHO.

[Brent]

Of those choices, I choose A: Government Types. But I wish customization was an option.

[Shogun Gunner]

AI behaviour.

This seems to be the hardest part to code properly. With the game designing lengthening as games are rushed to market followed by the inevitable Parade of Patches (POP) TM, it's tough for the AI to keep up with the human and utilize the features (especially new one introduced in a patch) properly and effectively.

Armies and Marines for two examples of AI not using units effectively.

[Maquiladora]

All game design decisions (except MP) will be made with the AI in mind anyway, so I'd vote for a better AI, so the game isnt made simple so the AI can keep up.

[Mark_Everson]

AI hands down. The really bonheaded things the AI does is where the suspension of disbelief is lost for me in Civ. But realities of game production and the mass audience conspire against a good AI which is very difficult to get in any case.

[Kuciwalker]

No banana option

Turn speed

[Toby Rowe]

Mark.

I think the programmers dream of all humans playing each other on the net, via the graphics they spent months creating, within the shell of a game title.

They like graphics, they hate programming AI- Sid obviously loved it- I'd rather go to his school anyday.

Toby

[Sava]

Military aspects... Civ 3 combat sucks the big one... I'd like to see a Rome Total War style of combat... you can either simulate a battle, or fight it out on the map. THAT is what Civ 4 needs.

[Sava]

oh BTW, I'm boycotting this poll because there is no banana option!

[DarkCloud]

By far the diplomatic option, for in a game- what gives it the most replayability is what can be made of it with other players- and that, quite simply is the diplomatic stage.

the more chances for 'smart' interaction, the better.

This also allows for replayability at the MP level in addition to the SP level with gifts, etc. and partial alliacnes.

Indeed, the victory conditions could be revamped and in modern ages "new world orders" and "UN's" and "EU's" and "ASEAN" federations can work together to prosper in areas that, with a hoped increase in the number of civs easily playable on a board, can simulate a real world.

Very little would be need to be done to 'remake the civ game' while also 'making it better'

there is no need for an overhaul- just more of the same but with a twist- that's all that's needed to sell a sequel. As long as it works, is innovative, and isn't buggy and adds flavour to the world while not forcing people down a path of complexity, it would do well!

-dc

[Solver]

AI by far. A challenging, intelligent AI makes a Civ game fun to me. And a good AI is what I want to see in Civ4, provided other stuff is not worse than in Civ3, though realistically, I hope all concepts will improve.

[Mark_Everson]

Hi Toby

Originally posted by Toby Rowe
I think the programmers dream of all humans playing each other on the net, via the graphics they spent months creating, within the shell of a game title.

I think some of the programmers would like to do a really good AI, but it just doesn't fit within the realities of the biz. The eye candy certainly does help a lot to sell games. It's largely wasted on me. I'd take Civ 1 graphics with a great AI over civ4 any day!