I´m putting this game on the shelf for a while...

[Zoid]

...since my specs are below minimum it´s a real ***** trying to do anything really. I haven´t even finished my first game, it´s no fun when the units look like they´re stuck in really thick molasses trying to move... Everything (and I mean everything)...is...so...s...l...o...w.

My impression of the game so far is seriously limited due to this and only superficial (and should therefore not be taken too seriously). For instance I like the music (doesn´t the intro music sound an awful lot like The Lion King? ), but the civilopedia is ****ing stupid. Who came up with that idea? I mean pictures?? Wtf?? If you can´t read play Doom or some other no-brainer

I like the graphics though, they look much better in context than as screenshots we saw before the release

[Tiberius]

I agree about the civilopedia. I wish the civilopedia and the city screen contained text instead of pictures.

You are right about the graphics too. I find it too that it looks much better than the screenshots before the release. The music is also awesome

Come back when you will have bought a better machine It'd be a shame to keep civ on the shelf.

[Zoid]

Thanks, Tiberius. Hopefully it won´t be too long. Early next year I hope. Buying the game was a gamble anyway

[LordShiva]

Same story for me. I've got a huge upgrade (read: new computer) due in January, I don't think I should let my 4 year old laptop suffer anymore.

[Handel]

Don't rush to make upgrades. You cannot find a computer where this game will work normally.
The fault is not in your TV

[erichb]

I agree with both points. Although I love the game the system requirements are killin' me. I have to play at work after hours as my machine at home can't handle it. I never expected a Civilization game to drive me to upgrade. Some kind of shooter or action game, yes. But not Civ. WTF?!

And yes, the design for the Civpedia blows chunks. Why can't I query for a key word? And why can't I toggle between the stupid images and a text format?


All in all, I consider it to be an incredible game so I'll live with it. Looks like I'll have to upgrade the desktop sooner rather than later...

[vee4473]

Re: I´m putting this game on the shelf for a while...

Originally posted by Dr Zoidberg
but the civilopedia is ****ing stupid. Who came up with that idea? I mean pictures?? Wtf??

Exactly

I like the game.

But, the 'pedia is indeed a catastrophic failure. The text is usually good, when you can find text on the subject you want.

The picture system is bad to me. And looking up anything more complex than a units' or buildings' stats seems to be an exercise in confusion.

It is very unorganized and undirected.

But the game is good!

[vee4473]

oh, when they call it the civiloPEDIA, it should live up to the expectations of an encyclopedia...an online resource of everything in the manual and more.

If this is the way it is going to be, I think they should rethink the name civilopedia.

[Kassiopeia]

Originally posted by Handel
Don't rush to make upgrades. You cannot find a computer where this game will work normally.
The fault is not in your TV

This is only because people like me, whose games are merrily working, are playing instead of talking about how well it's working. Oh, why am I posting? Because my Civ4 worthy computer is in my apartment, and I'm visiting my parents.

[GodSpawn]

Strictly speaking, "pedia" means "education" (it has the same root as the word "pedagog"), so in that sense "Civilopedia" would mean "education about civil[ization]".

[vee4473]

Very good, and an encyclopedia educates...as you do.
The pedia doesn't live up to its predecessors.

Aside from bare stats, if you can trip over them, it falls short.

[vee4473]

And my point about connecting it to the word encyclopedia is to point out that in the effort to educate, a good encyclopedia provides good, thought out, organized presentation of facts, theories etc..

And people connect an encyclopedia with just that.

And opening the civiloPEDIA will conflict with everything that people would associate with a good encyloPEDIA.

[greggbert]

On the slowness: FYI for invidia users: There were new forceware drivers released wednesday which some people said have cleared up all their graphics issues and slowness.

[vee4473]

thanks greggbert.

will check it out.

[Mace]

I installed nvidia drivers dated October 20, 2005 and they really helped Civ4's gfx performance a lot.