column 131: BACK TO THE FUTURE: IS APOLYTON CRUMBLING?

[MarkG]

<font face=Verdana size=3>
<a href="/misc/column/131_apolyton.shtml" target="_top">#131 BACK TO THE FUTURE: IS APOLYTON CRUMBLING?</A>

<FONT SIZE="2">Carolus Rex is being pessimistic...</FONT>

[Shadowstrike]

I dunno, I think its the wait for Civ III mostly, but I have noticed that the forums have been slowing down lately (both server wise and postwise)

You could say the author is pessimistic, but the site is somehow slowing down. It would take an invigorating event (such as the release of Civ III) t ostart it up again.

[Somgu]

Scary. Kind of like the slow fall of the Soviet Union. But I think Civ III will save us.

------------------
-Austin the Iron Fisted, not Somgu! Austin the Iron Fisted= soon-to-be 'MASTER DEITY' of Apolyton!

[Chef]

I think apolyton will survive, but won't be the same I think we'll lose a lot of people. But Civ3 news will keep us here and maybe brighten people up and some of us will leave the OT for once

CTP2 if good will help a lot too while we wait, and wait and wait for some news on Civ3. I think Firaxis should give Apolyton some exclusive news

[Lazarus & the Gimp]

The OT can sustain Apoyton for a very long time. Eventually a new Civ, CTP or Sid product will emerge and a fresh influx of visitors will arrive.

[Patriqvium]

This site may crumble, but not fall! (and not only because the OT forum is next to immortal)

[Lord Silvi]

Off Topic will let Apolyton live forever, but those guys have be remember that once they were civers.

The CTP forum is dead now. I posted in CTP strategy two weeks ago and I got no reply, ZERO.

CTP 2 will bring Apolyton up again. You will see.
This game will not be the minor relative of Civ II or III. IMHO every civer will play this.
CTP 2 will reign the PCs.

Hint for a even larger Apolyton:
Take Master of Orion 3 as an civ-game. MOO has a big fan community.

------------------
For those who fight for it, life has a flavour the sheltered never know.

[tonic]

Even CR must admit there has been a resurgence of interest in civ2 strategy with the moves on foot to organise, sort and present the wisdom in the archives.

I think it's like a lot of forums - formats and participants may change through time (the nature of the e-beast) but having thrived over 2 years, I'd say Apolyton has almost stood the test of time.

[Andz83]

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by Lord Silvi on 09-03-2000 05:55 AM</font>
Off Topic will let Apolyton live forever, but those guys have be remember that once they were civers.

CTP 2 will bring Apolyton up again. You will see.
This game will not be the minor relative of Civ II or III. IMHO every civer will play this.
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

1. not all OT-posters have played civ... there are some among them who don't even know how civilization is written... trust me

2. I consider myself a civer.. and I won't play CtP II as CtP deceived me in every point... but don't let us bring up that old discussion again, Wessi

[Empress]

I feel that Carlos Rex is being a bit pessimistic. However, it is not Apolyton who is dying, it is we, the players, the fans! We are the ones who give life to the site, if there are no posts in a forum, it is we who are to blame. Second, look at how many newly registered users are coming to the site. The increase in users from last year to this year is amazing. Third, you mentioned that people will not come here for the Off Topic alone, I beg to differ. As Andez pointed out, many people have never played civ or Smac or CTP and yet are at Apolyton b/c of the good reviews we the posters have given. Therefore, I see reason for optimism

[Lord Silvi]

"...If there aro no posts in a forum, it is we who are to blame..."
Allright its my fault. My next new topic must be more attractive or offensive.
I like this place because of exellent strategy hints!!

------------------
For those who fight for it, life has a flavour the sheltered never know.

[DarkCloud]

Apolyton only needs a few vibrant and prolific posters to bring it up to speed.

If you post in 20 topics in Civ III ideas then within a day there will be over 30 new posts in those categories. (Not counting your own)

This has been demonstrated by Christantine, UltraSonix and my own runs on the Civ III ideas.

So in conclusion if one prolific poster posts a lot then Apolyton will be saved for he/she has gathered interest.

[Dr.Oogkloot]

I tend to agree with Carolus Rex...there seems to be very little activity in the on-topic forums lately. Post, people!

[cavebear]

Apolyton is not dying. I think it is more that some people are thinking so because they miss seeing the handles of some of the past masters of the game. It's a perception problem...

There are more people playing CivII through Apolyton than ever before. There are GameLeague battles, there is Tribe play, there are individually-arranged games. Apolyton is more than the posts, it is the CivII gaming culture itself, *centered* around the posts.

It should not be surprising that the quantity of posts has declined; how often can we debate military unit matchups or the value of particular Wonders? That grows old (and somewhat settled) eventually. However, the playing goes on.

I think part of the perception problem is that there are many new names today. Non-recognition makes many people assume that there are not the same top players around anymore. Well, they are correct. Players come, and players go, and new names move to the top. So what? New top guns will always replace the old, that's the way things go. For every established name that grows tired of CivII, there are 2 more newbies who show up and state that they have learned the game and wish to match their skills against those there.

No, I don't think Apolyton is dying, I think it is just being reborn. With different players, with different posters, with different questions, and with different strategy ideas.

------------------
Proud participant in GameLeague...

Proud Warrior of the O.W.L. Alliance...

[Provost Harrison]

Apolyton isn't dead. It is just nostalgia and the good ol' days. I look back at owo like that now. But in reality, I know the atmosphere here is better than that. We have a good community of people. Yep, things may be slow on-topic, but I don't think this can be avoided. I think most of the strategic issues and the like of Civ/Civ2/SMAC/CTP have pretty much been discussed to death over the years. Civ3 should bring some much needed invigoration and topical on-topic discussion. But OT seems to be as strong as ever, IMHO, from what I can remember. Posters come and posters go, some of us would like to think of ourselves as a little more 'loyal' than that. I enjoy the environment, so I'm not budging in the forseeable future!