Anybody planning NOT to buy Civ3?

[hexagonian]

When I first got my computer, I would buy a game every month or so. Eventually I realized that was a waste, because I would fork out a lot of money for something that would have a shelf life of a month of playability (seems I am easily distracted with all of the new and shiny things that come out...)

So for the past couple of years, I will buy one game and play it ad nauseum. Last year it was 'Pharaoh' which I am still playing one-an-a-half years later on a (semi) regular basis.
This year it was CTP2 - and before you start groaning, I decided to hack into the files and make my own changes. It took me about 4 months and a lot of playtesting, but I have gotten the game to do a lot of things it couldn't before and (I at least) find my setup to offer me a very challenging and unpredictable game - besides the challenge of creating my own setup was actually an enjoyable experience, and I learned a lot from it.

Civ3 will probably be the game for the next year, but I will definitely wait until it goes on sale at Best Buy or CompUSA (which usually is the case for all games in the first month of their release) But the genre is also starting to grow long in the tooth for me. I do not spend the amount of time playing a computer game that I did a year ago. I will play for about an hour at a time too (no more 6-8 hours at the computer anymore)

[Adm.Naismith]

I'm repeating myself, but quoting from a different thread (reusing things must be ok, according to Firaxis habit ):

Civ III doesn't seem so far a main overhaul, and I'm afraid it will be a great miss: my opinion is you can already see the consequence on E3 and previewers opinion, where they mostly seems to ignore and dismiss Civ III as a minor sequel.

I bet only a very limited players population will note the game: I still hope we will enjoy it, but mass market will look to others, most "state of the art" game.

I own a car I enjoyed a lot, but now it's becoming old and I'm looking for a replacement. I liked the company of my current car but, guess what? They have the same model of car, just tweaked for the fourth time. Enhanced? No, badly aged!

What was very good 6 years ago is out of standard now, no matter how much you can modify the original model: you must start with a new design and concept.

Looking at recent E3 Apolyton news I feel bad taste: more and more the turn base strategy is ignored, the RTS seems to be the only product line able to attract reviewers and (mass) players attention.

The excessive secret around the game fundamentals left me stoned: they are at 85% of work done, but not ready to show anything official?

I'm ready to change my mind and beg Firaxis pardon, if game will prove a masterpiece, but actually no, I'm really in "wait & see" mode. I'm spending my time with the old (but well supported by my old hardware) Jagged Alliance tactical squad game. I had great hopes for Civ III, so I'm ready to buy it if not quite sub-SMAC level of gameplay or a main Civ II with tweaks.

Isn't around a quote like "when God wish to punish us He do happens what we praise Him for?"

We praised for another Civilization. Probably one time too much.

[Earwicker]

Gonna watch and wait. If I see it has as many patches required as SMAC did, I'll pick it up when the "revised" version is available.

[SerapisIV]

I sure as heck won't be buying Civ3 till I know I have a few weeks of light work to kill. No matter how great or how mediocre it is, when I get it, I'll be playing it for at least 2 weeks solid before having a social life again. I know better then to let myself get near Civ when I have work. For that reason, no preorders or rapid purchases until I know I can kill time with the game, sometime around January when it finally comes out (hopefully).

[ancient]

i plan on buying it as soon as i can afford it.. i havent seen anytihing to dissapointing yet, actually i think they are doing a good job..

[Seeker]

I am buying it as soon as possible, although I never pre-order.

Even if it's bad, Firaxis has branded me like a steer. I'm the dream consumer.

[Grim Leaper]

i am pretty sure that i will buy it shortly after it comes out. I see no reason not to . From what has been announced i feel quietly confident about the game, as long as they don't try to do too much to change the game.

Continuing on the education point. i am studing A Levels at the moment, but still am old enough (not by much though) to have play civ 1. aaahhh, the memories

[Haphazard]

Of course. Since when has Sid let us down?

I think Civ 3 will be a bigger step over Civ 2 than Civ 2 was over Civ in terms of features. so that alone will get my £30.

[connorkimbro]

What can i say. . i'm with Seeker. . i'll buy it the SECOND that i can. i'm very much looking forward to it.
civ2 wasn't a major overhaul from civ1. . but i'm still playing civ2 7 years later. i havn't gotten tired of it. civ3 will be richer, more fully developed, and will last that much longer. i won't pre-order, but it would take LONGER to get to me that way. . but i certainly will by it asap.

[Colon™]

Grim Leaper, I feel honoured you mentioned me in you signature.

Haphazard, I don't think Sid was heavily involved in civ2 and neither do I think he was in SMAC or civ3.

Re civ3, maybe someone else this said before, but I think Firaxis is in a bind. They can't change much to the civ concept without killing the reason for its success, in essence its simplicity. Idem when it comes to adding features, you risk making to game too heavy to digest, except for the veterans. (personally I don't mind complexity, but Firaxis needs to think to of its less experienced people as well)
But neither can you afford to leave too much of it the same, at least not if you care about gamers.
Not bringing out another addition to the series would be unacceptable for civers and undesirable because Firaxis is a commercial firm that needs to keep its bottom line in mind.

I'm certainly curious to see how it will end...

[Imran Siddiqui]

As for me? PRE-ORDER . What? Did you really expect anything different? Sid is GOD!

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by LaRusso
Hehe, I never cease to be amazed by the miracles of Anglo-American education. People finish their doctorates in Literature, History and Physics only to take 3 months crash course in accounting and end up as chartered accountants.

That's strange; physicists make more than accountants, and I've yet to see an unemployed physicist with a Ph.D.

[TechWins]

I'm diffently going to buy the game no matter what on the day it comes. I don't care what the previews say, it just doesn't matter to me. Actually wait there would be one thing stopping me from buying it, if it was over $50 I would just wait until the price dropped.

[joseph1944]

I will pre-order.

[Ralf]

Originally posted by joseph1944
I will pre-order.

Well, I wont do that, but I will buy it instantly over the disk, without waiting for the reviews. I said that the weeks before CTP-2 came out, but then I changed my mind. But, with Civ-3 its different - I am very confident so far.