Questions for Firaxis about Civ Rev?

[DanQ]

Originally posted by waab
Your are just lazy :-D

-- . "Real life" has been interfering though understandably so.

Listen to polycast and reading some of the "previews" out there makes me wonder if the people previewing (is that a word?) actualy have played CIV.

(and yes, previewing is a word ).

Originally posted by Locutus
In all fairness most of them have, we just like to pick on the ones that haven't

Shhhhhh!

Originally posted by waab
Can't give any hints at all for when we can see your preview?

It will be released in multiple parts -- the first part is coming soon.

[waab]

Originally posted by DanQ

-- . "Real life" has been interfering though understandably so.

Real life? What?!?!? Are you real?

Originally posted by DanQ
(and yes, previewing is a word ).

Always nice to learn some english...

Originally posted by DanQ
It will be released in multiple parts -- the first part is coming soon.

Noticed the first one, should read it as soon as possible.

[Dale]

Hey Elizabeth

I'm interested in the answer to Loc's question too.....

Originally posted by Locutus
I'm curious about modding support: how much of that will CivRev offer and will this game come with any scenarios? We interviewed Barry Caudill 2 or 3 months ago and he couldn't say anything either way at that point, but as soon as that changes I'd love to know.

AND, how deep will modding be? Will it just be an editor such as Civ4's WB, or will we be able to delve deeper similar to Civ4's XML and SDK?

Thanks

[NP300]

Hi Elizabeth,

I have been a Civ player since the original game came out while I was in Middle School.

I am more of a PC gamer. As for Civ Rev, I am actually curious as to how much it has in common with Civilization IV. Is Firaxis using any of the same code, or 3d graphics in Civ Rev?

As I stated, I am more of a PC gamer, but unlike some PC people who have complained about the console version, I think it is great to try out new ideas and try to bring Civ to a different audience.

Thus, I am wondering if you think that the Console version might increase interest for the PC version (Civ IV). Or, is there any intent that the console version might introduce new users to Civ and then draw in some of those who might want a more in-depth experience towards the PC version?

Finally, are there any unique or interesting twists on the game? After all, it is named "revolution". Does it make good use of the Wii controller?

[Jon Shafer]

If you guys are curious you can also check out the official 2K forum for the game, there are some questions answered there as well.

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39

Jon

[DanQ]

I know I am with neither 2K or Firaxis , but I'll give these a go...

Originally posted by NP300
... curious as to how much it has in common with Civilization IV. Is Firaxis using any of the same code, or 3d graphics in Civ Rev?

Negative.

I am wondering if you think that the Console version might increase interest for the PC version (Civ IV). Or, is there any intent that the console version might introduce new users to Civ and then draw in some of those who might want a more in-depth experience towards the PC version?

I believe all that you have asked will happen -- no "or" involved at all. Just how much interest and draw, of course, remains anybody's guess.

Finally, are there any unique or interesting twists on the game? After all, it is named "revolution".

Some of that has and will continue to come out as my extensive preview on Apolyton rolls out. See my signature for links to both parts already available.

Does it make good use of the Wii controller?

I'm not familiar with the Wii in the slightest except that it exists.

CivRev's Wii development is a little behind that of the other consoles it will be on (later release from the get-go), but I saw the Xbox360 version demoed earlier this month and had a chance to play it for a bit as well. I believe the game will make just as good use of the Wii controller as the Xbox360's -- that is, very good (and comparable) use.

[DanQ]

Originally posted by waab
I have one more question, not about gameplay but more about release date. It is often so that we in PAL have to wait a very long time to get new games released here. What if firaxis plans when it comes to deliver Civ: Rev to Europe?

I have no information on this myself.

Similarly, I have no data on how moddable CivRev will or will not be.

Real life? What?!?!? Are you real?

-- yes, scarily enough...

Noticed the first one, should read it as soon as possible.

-- Part 2 is now available too.

Originally posted by Jon Shafer
If you guys are curious you can also check out the official 2K forum for the game, there are some questions answered there as well.

Thanks for the reference, Jon.

Of course, your attempt to redirect traffic from here to there shall ultimately fail.

[NP300]

Thanks for the feedback, DanQ.

I believe all that you have asked will happen -- no "or" involved at all. Just how much interest and draw, of course, remains anybody's guess.

Oh I agree. Perhaps I wasn't very clear with my question there. I was wondering if Firaxis/2k deliberately designed Civ Revolution, not just to bring new players into the Civilization franchise, but also to bring them to Civ4.

By the way, part two of your review was very informative. The Economic victory seems interesting. But, I wonder if it is too easy to get this victory after just accumulating 20,000 gold coins? I was thinking to myself that this victory condition would have a lot of potential if combined with corporations. Then it wouldn't be just collecting 20,000 gold coins, but dominating the world with your corporations. Perhaps we may see something like this in Civ5, I suppose.

[DanQ]

Originally posted by NP300
Thanks for the feedback, DanQ.

You're welcome, NP300.

Perhaps I wasn't very clear with my question there. I was wondering if Firaxis/2k deliberately designed Civ Revolution, not just to bring new players into the Civilization franchise, but also to bring them to Civ4.

I do not believe so. I believe that was/is incidental, but welcome nevertheless.

By the way, part two of your review was very informative.

The Economic victory seems interesting. But, I wonder if it is too easy to get this victory after just accumulating 20,000 gold coins? I was thinking to myself that this victory condition would have a lot of potential if combined with corporations. Then it wouldn't be just collecting 20,000 gold coins, but dominating the world with your corporations. Perhaps we may see something like this in Civ5, I suppose.

You need more than collecting 20,000 gold coins: you need the World Bank Wonder as well.

I won't detail what I said about the Economic victory condition 'there here', including my suggestions for improvement on it, but yes were this to come about in any combination with corporations it would have to wait until a CivV at least. That is because there are no corporations in CivRev.

[2K Elizabeth]

these questions are awesome so far, guys.

to give you an update on my status: i've booked a week long trip to go to firaxis and meet with sid and the team. i'm going to bring all the questions i get here, from civ fanatics, and from the 2K forum (as well as some stuff i've dreamed up on my own time) and use it all to pick their brains. then, after i get it all sorted, you'll start seeing a bunch of information about the game.

so keep on asking questions. the more, the better.

[Nugog]

How will city resource management work?

We know that each "square" will only have one workable benefit (food or hammers or commerce) - but will cities be able to work more than one square - or will the player have to choose just one resource to work - specialising the city in effect.

[Nugog]

Also - I believe that as military units win more battles they will get "upgrades" - both in effectiveness and appearance.

Can we get some more detail on this?

And also some idea on the kinds of units, numbers of etc would be cool.

[DanQ]

Thanks for the update, Elizabeth! Enjoy your upcoming trip.

I'll answer most of Nugog's questions below, even though they dip into some of my yet-to-be-written-and-published-preview-parts. I'm generous that way...

Originally posted by Nugog
How will city resource management work?

We know that each "square" will only have one workable benefit (food or hammers or commerce) - but will cities be able to work more than one square - or will the player have to choose just one resource to work - specialising the city in effect.

Cities will be able to work more than one square. As a city's culture grows, so will its cultural border allowing you to work more squares nearby. Its fat cross in CivRev is not necessarily so cross-shaped and has slimmed down: instead of a possible 20 workable tiles, there will be 8.

Originally posted by Nugog
Also - I believe that as military units win more battles they will get "upgrades" - both in effectiveness and appearance.

That is correct.

Can we get some more detail on this?

Beyond regular status, units can become Veterans and then Elites. In terms of effectiveness, going from 'regular' to Veteran for instance means being victorious in three battles against units of equal or greater strength. Veterans receive a 50% combat bonus that regular units do not. As for physical appearance, I'll use the example of a Warrior: once he becomes a Veteran unit he will dawn a helmet that is visible on-screen.

And also some idea on the kinds of units, numbers of etc would be cool.

Any unit specifics I have will have to wait until they're published in my multi-part preview. That said, I will say here that while there are less numbers available all types (e.g. mounted) and classes (e.g. air) are represented.

[Nugog]

Originally posted by DanQ
I'll answer most of Nugog's questions below, even though they dip into some of my yet-to-be-written-and-published-preview-parts. I'm generous that way...

Your a saint Dan........

means being victorious in three battles against units of equal or greater strength

That, depending on how varied unit strengths will be, could be very interesting.

[waab]

Originally posted by DanQ
Thanks for the update, Elizabeth! Enjoy your upcoming trip.

I'll answer most of Nugog's questions below, even though they dip into some of my yet-to-be-written-and-published-preview-parts. I'm generous that way...

Or you just want to brag about that you already have played the game :-D

Originally posted by DanQ
Cities will be able to work more than one square. As a city's culture grows, so will its cultural border allowing you to work more squares nearby. Its fat cross in CivRev is not necessarily so cross-shaped and has slimmed down: instead of a possible 20 workable tiles, there will be 8.

Some more questions
1, 8 tiles = just the surrounding tiles around the city?
2, How much surrounding land does you controll correctly when you found a city (aka what need do I have for culture?)
3, Less tiles, does that mean smaller cities or more specialict cities (can I continue to grow beyond pop 8 and what do I gain with larger cities)?
4, Improvments? Farms, mines and roads or something more?