Which is better?

[Kuciwalker]

Which is better for actually determining how well you're doing - the score screen or the demographics screen?

[Aramis]

The demographics screen is handy for size, population, happy people/specialists, and as a general way of gauging where you stand.
The score screen gives a more precise picture of how close (or far) you are from each specific victory.
So, in my lowly opinion, the ss gives the basics, the ds gives a general picture.
Both are handy.

[Rasputin]

i never look at the demos screen, i usually know how well i doing agaisn tthe AI by their tech status and size. But i usaly do refer to the Victory Screen display to see if i likley to achieve a lower levle victory. Lately i just turning off all other victorys except conquest so latelyt not been needing t orefer to any score at all. if an ai alive i havent won yet

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by RMS
The demographics screen is handy for size, population, happy people/specialists, and as a general way of gauging where you stand.
The score screen gives a more precise picture of how close (or far) you are from each specific victory.
So, in my lowly opinion, the ss gives the basics, the ds gives a general picture.
Both are handy.

I meant the score graph, not the new victory screen.

[zorbop]

The power graph, and tech status, are the best indicators.

[Whoha]

The army screen is the best indicator.

[Dominae]

Productivity, in the Demographics screen.

[Dauphin]

The score chart is basically a measure of land area and, to a lesser extent, population and happiness. The demographics screen tells you that anyway and more.

I only use the scores in the early game to determine when others build a new city.

[Aramis]

Originally posted by Kucinich

I meant the score graph, not the new victory screen.

Then looking at both the scores and the demos together would give me a clear idea. Neither one, by itself, is enough.
The score screen gives me some idea of my chance of winning.
There are a few things on the demo screen to which I pay attention: Population, land size, literacy, and productivity. The 1st two for the possibility of gaining a domination victory, and the second two as indicators of how well I am managing the civ. If I'm low in rank on literacy, then I could be facing a potential loss culturally. If productivity is high, then I am managing tiles well, which should me an advantage in shield production during wars.
Really I look at everything to see how well I am doing: score, power, culture, and victory screens, the demographics, top five cities screen, and what I can see on the map.
It's difficult to choose one over another.

[Dis]

I'm not really sure.

But I try to go for #1 in population, manufactured goods, and productivity. Land size isn't as important to me.

My last game I stayed in only because my score behind Russia was closing. If it had been widening I would have quit.

[Aqualung71]

Demographics screen - specifically: manufactured goods, GNP and productivity. Score screen can be very misleading, and the power screen is more meaningful anyway.

[Vince278]

I go by score and power. Culture is useless to me since I'm usually tops in that every game. I just use the demo screen for comparison but it doesn't help me any in making decisions.

[Robert]

I usually watch both once in a few turns.
Most of all to determine which country I need to eat next.

[MrWhereItsAt]

Originally posted by Dominae
Productivity, in the Demographics screen.

Really Dom? Does that mean just for MP? It's a rare start/game where my producticvity doesn't outpace the AI at almost every step of the journey. I guess if your productivity is less than 1st it IS an indicator that you either aren't micromanaging enough or you don't have enough workers...

[Dominae]

Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt
It's a rare start/game where my producticvity doesn't outpace the AI at almost every step of the journey.

Are you playing Monarch?