Sign the pledge: Patch Civ3 or we'll wait for the bargain bin!

[PLATO]

Wonder why we haven't seen a response from anyone at Firaxis on this?

[OzzyKP]

Probably because they have better things to do than check this thread.

But sign me up. Heck, I boycotted the original Civ3 because they didn't put MP in it. I finally bought it for $10 online a few months ago.

[Kingof the Apes]

I'm still waiting for them to 'patch' Conquests to Mac

Go ahead and add my name.

[Paddy]

Originally posted by vmxa1
No way will I have enough fortitude to delay buying Civ4. I will fanboy out and get it ASAP, sight unseen.

as much as I would like to join this petition, I too will be there asap to get a copy if Civ IV as soon as I can

firaxis/atari certainly have let the Civ community down, and I hope they know it

I expect that they just do not care sad but true

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Paddy the Scot
firaxis/atari certainly have let the Civ community down, and I hope they know it

They know it, but the question is indeed, do they care? Let's see ... ... they have your money. So you're right, probably not.

But I have good news for you. Civ4 will be bug free, guaranteed. You should preorder the limited edition in the gold box immediately.

[Paddy]

you are a dry old fella

bug free - only if you drown it in ddt

[gnome]

Originally posted by Cataphract887
why wait for the bargain bin if you dont want to pay?

I'm sure there will be some that approach the problem this way--but I feel it would be irresponsible of me to advocate it. I actually do not want an anti-Firaxis position, perhaps just a "tough love" stance.

Come on, admit it, we all love the game, otherwise we wouldn't care so much.

[Antrine]

gnome what do think of Firaxis having to go 3-D with CIV4? As a 'rumor' supports, the 3-D will come from 'Pirates' model. Is that game any good? Is it turn based 3-D? How is that workable. I wonder, is 3-D and board games even ideas that can work one platform conceptually? Why do I have a sinking feeling about all this, it seems to me that turn base games are two-dimensional, you know converted board games, and this is just part and parcel of its culture and appeal.

Any thoughts other than morbid?

Sincerely

[Xorbon]

I 'morally' support Gnome's pledge because I find those bugs to be very annoying to have to deal with. Barbarians are useless as the game stands.

However, I can't promise I won't buy the game within a few months of its release. Especially if it gets good reviews here at Apolyton.

[Niessuh]

Great idea, sign me up

[conmcb25]

Im way to weak willed. But it is a nice thought.

[Switch]

You have my vote. I can't think of anything less professional than leaving a game broken (In my opinion, worse than releasing a game broken). They don't need to make any improvements, or anything like that. All I ask for is a game without any glaring mistakes in code. Once that's fixed, the game is perfect, as far as I care.

Put me on the list. I can wait for a reduced price.

[Jaybe]

Originally posted by Switch
... All I ask for is a game without any glaring mistakes in code. ...

Absolutely!
First, once Brian Reynolds and team abandoned Firaxis to form Big Huge Games, Firaxis was obviously in a financial situation which forced them to proceed with Civ3 with old code (only a few million lines of it) that no one was completely familiar with. This resulted in buggy, poorly designed code.
They should have sold futures on Civ3 (have us all purchase it in advance ) and rebuilt the code from scratch! The lesson was learned with Civ3.

Second, they should have sued Brian's posterior. This is the first time I have EVER advocated sueing anyone!

[Harovan]

Although this pledge is fundamentally valid, it's kind of lame nonetheless. So you collected what, a dozen votes? Or less? Face the sad fact, hardcore fans, although the lions share of posters of this and other related boards, make less than a percent of game buyers. The significantly bigger part consists of customers like this:

Kid: Oh thanks mum, a cool new game.
Mom: Blessed be the Lord, I don't have to care about this kid for the next two weeks, and that for a mere $40, how convenient.

Hardcore fans can be safely ignored in terms of sales statistics, and that's what counts. They may be a good source for feedback (if the company cares for QA at all) and welcome as cheap beta testers (pre and post release), but that's about it. Even if all of them boycott the next release (which most of them won't anyway, because they are ... well ... hardcore), good grief, new fans will emerge and step in the footprints of the old ones. And if they won't, no worries. The lions share of people that buy the game, will play it for a mere 2 weeks anyway and then abandon it, quality or not, so why waste resources on QA. And if the name of the company is finally in the dirt, we can just disband it and found a new one. Or buy a new, well known brand name, from a company that spent too much on expensive QA and went poof this way. Been there, seen that. Many times. People are so easy to fool.

Calls for boycotts are pointless and won't hurt the company. They will hurt yourself only. If I decide not to buy Civ4, it is not because I want to punish Firaxis, but because the predecessor generated enough displeasure in me to count it generally not worth to devote tons of my valuable spare time for an eventual successor, written by same company. This does not hurt me, as there are enough other games on the market from companies, that actually care for QA. I will however buy Civ4, if I see good reviews by people I trust and know to be critical minds, no matter the price.

[Paddy]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
Although this pledge is fundamentally valid.... I will however buy Civ4, if I see good reviews by people I trust and know to be critical minds, no matter the price.

you be quite the master of the word