CivIII and the continuance of AC/X

[Sarxis]

When CivIII finally makes it's debut, I doubt that I will be playing much AC/X anymore afterwards. Of course, this all depends on the addictiveness and quality of CivIII. But to be honest, I just don't see how it won't surpass Civ, CivII and AC/X in many ways and levels; but then again, we all have been burned before by sequels and (damnit!!) prequels ::cough... Star Wars... cough::

So, I am enjoying these last pbems and SP games, and I am eagerly looking forward to.....

"A whole new world, a wonderous place, for you and me!"
-Alladin-

[Wiglaf]

Yeah, civ3 does look pretty good. I'd be a shame if these forums died and everyone moved out, though.

Then again, I still play a little civ2, even with SMAC out, but I doubt civ3 won't be the final nail in the coffin for at least one of them.

*wonders if he should change his name*

[DilithiumDad]

Some of us are more into the SciFi theme. My son and I came to SMAC from Deadlock II. I have never played any Civ games.

[death_head]

Same here...I saw an ad for SMAC in a Science mag, and have only played a bit of Civ2 at my friends house...I just think string disruptors are cooler then swords...

[Avenoct]

Then there were the Mac users...Although there is a mac version of CIV III in the works, it will invariably be released 6-12 months after the PC version. But you're right, the SMAC forum will thin out considerably. Personally, I'm not sure what it is, but I enjoy SMAC 10 times more than CIV II. I'm sure I'll like CIV III, but unless they have crawlers, well, I'll be continuing with SMAC... I was just posting about this over on the creation threads somewhere because four or five of us are working hard at SMAC variants/mods right now. It's going to be very difficult to watch our creations come in like a lion only to go out quickly like a lamb. But at least we'll be here to test each other's games! I think, like D-Dad, there are those of us that might play SMAC even over CIV III. Only time will tell. Tokamak pointed out to me in an email that quite a few games have survived to 'permanent' status in the gaming world. They have core groups of fans that keep playing, keep modifying, continue supporting them. There is no way to make SMAC one of the 'classics' but it might just happen. I know I for one will play it alongside titles like 'Colonization', 'Chess', 'Solitaire', certain online MUDS, 'Angband', and others, even with the advent of Newer, Cleaner, Prettier games. Very few games are so replayable, so symetrical in a strategic sense. THAT is what makes a game live forever.

-Smack

[death_head]

*sob*

You..hit..me...right...here...man...

[Tai Mai Shu]

I'm definitely getting Civ III, but the thing that makes SMAC/SMAX stand out from the Civ's is it's way of approaching the game, making unique and interesting characters and the way they interact with each other. That's why I think I'll be playing this way after Civ III comes out.

[Wiglaf]

mac version of CIV III in the works, it will invariably be released 6-12 months after the PC version

Since westlake interactive is "keeping the development in sync" with the pc version, it should only be one or two months before the game goes cross platform.

[Xerxes2]

I have to say that for the pantheon of games I have/have bought, SMAC/AX has been the only one with real staying power. I WOULD like to see the idea moved forward. I think a generalized colonization sim could be a winner, at least with those of us who really don't enjoy shooting people all the time.

[death_head]

Peacekeeper

[The Commodore]

Ah...someone said Colonization...sigh...

That, my friends, is the next thing I want to see from Sid. (Although I thing Maxis will be making an Expansion to SMSG before the first even hits stores).

[Sarxis]

Yes, AC/X is very rich with characters while not only injecting a Sci-Fi setting, but also retaining and expanding on the core rules to Civ I and II.

I am also concerned that I may not be able to adapt to musketts and cannons after having PBs and Singularity powered Gravships. Why build the pyramids when you could build the Voice of Planet?

[Sprayber]

You know guys, I really tried to get into Civ. I really did. I just didn't have the same feeling for it as I did AC. Civ just seemed bland to me. I know if I said that on the other forums I would be flamed to a burnt crisp. I mean is it really going to be that different from Civ 2. It seems to be mainly cosmetic changes and making it into what people wanted Civ 2 to be. I could be wrong. And I will tell you another thing that keeps the game alive for me. Thats the fiction forum. The AC universe is so much more alive to me than the whole historical retelling. Maybe if Civ 3 had some kind of story behind it. Maybe if there were real feuds going on. Then I would get into more. But to me, it's just a case of the Aztecs crossing over my borders again and not that no good evil Yang trying to steal my reasources or that up tight Lal preaching about the charter. I could never find myselfs hating the Aztecs. They just used the same one liners as the Vikings used. Does anyone else here feel the same?

[Sarxis]

I can't imagine that Sid won't be able to bring us another revolutionary TBS game in Civ3. Each successive game in the series has put it's predecessors into the shadows, in many ways. From Civ, to Civ2, to AC/X, we have seen a geometric progression of not only the cosmetics, but also the gamplay.

But the proof is in the pudding!

[Avenoct]

Well Told Sprayber, I feel exactly the same way. This is the SMAC sob Thread..Whoa is SMAC!

Does anyone know how well AC sold compared to CIV II? I'd guess about 1/4th as many copies..just a guess. The reason I ask is to try to determine if any more energy will be put into the AC branch of the line. I truly hope so! When I wandered over to the CIV threads I was amazed at how BIG they seemed...so organized. I truly don't mind being in the minority, but I'd love it if SMAC II came out and rose to the top of the charts, smushing CIV III down to second. It's not that I don't like the CIV games, for one thing, AC is rightly called 'CIV in Space'. It's not entirely true, but for anyone that doesn't truly have a passion for this kind of game, that's how it seems. But it's like Sprayber (where on Chiron did you get that name lad?) said, there isn't the grand feeling to 'replaying' ancient civilizations that there is with imagining new ones.

To carry that thought a bit further, in my own writing, and definately in that of others, I notice the propensity to project our current worldview, paradigm if you will, on the future. I guess I'm commenting on Imagination. It's such a limited thing, always tied to present, past, and perspectives. I wonder what a Vandal or a Goth would imagine a future world to be like? It would certainly seem limited to us, happily sitting in their future. I think that's why I prefer the future settings to the past ones...I know I'm only projecting the hopes and dreams of now on the possibility of then, but I'd rather do that where there isn't evidence to the contrary in the history books!

-Smack