CivIII Cool Feature: Internet actualization. Plz, FIRAXIS, read.

[Asesino_Virtual]

Wouldnt be nice to be able to download official new advances, civs, units, are so and plug in to the game?.
That would make the game much more fun and would make us to be waiting anxious each week or month for new cool stuff!.
And of course, this service would be free of charge.

[Inverse Icarus]

i believe a central web hub would be better than a built in program.

it'd save time too.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by UberKruX
i believe a central web hub would be better than a built in program.

it'd save time too.

I believe it would be better to build in program.

But you're right, it'll save time to do it otherwise

[Mahdimael]

If the game is anything like SMAC, they'll release a pack with new civs and leaders and unique units and so forth

[Inverse Icarus]

yea. firaxis aint done milking you yet.

if they make me pay for online gaming (ala ww2 online, everquest, etc) i'll destroy their servers.

[Swissy]

Would be nice, but I have yet to see a game company release anything official for free beyond patches and some scenarios that didn't make the first gold disc. Anything really good would be saved for an add-on(like SMACX) or a new game(Civ4).

An updater program would be easy to put in. Sierra has one they include with most of their games which I find handy.

[Grumbold]

Look at the SimCity site. There's lots of new material for download, some of it contributed by the developers and the rest by fans. It doesn't matter if much of it is fan initiated. The site as a whole is a brilliant resource for the game and encourages you to keep playing long after you might otherwise have stopped.

[Adm.Naismith]

Originally posted by Swissy
Would be nice, but I have yet to see a game company release anything official for free beyond patches and some scenarios that didn't make the first gold disc.

Sorry, but that's false. Some companies did, also in RTS/TBS area, sorry if I don't link any name, but I'm far from any reference note right now
The point is if the game is selling better with some web enhancement or not. Do you have any Return of Investment from time you spend doing added units, maps, etc.?

I bet Civ III can gain a lot from a monthly or bimonthly official support.
Considering how large is the fan base, Firaxis can simply take any worthy fan "half done unit/civ/leader/map", clean up and enhance it to a professional level, then publish it for free (quoting original author, of course).
Ehi, I bet people around here will kill to gain a place on official download area!
Low cost added value for Civ III, both Firaxis and Fan can win... what can be wrong? A dedicated expansion must be done only as a "Civ 3.5" enhancement, not because of a bunch of added units and map, IMHO.
Keep the game alive, and you can milk cash for very long...

[yin26]

Certainly Sim City, which I didn't particularly like as a game, had a nice thing going with d/lable landmarks, etc. It's one of those things that keeps you hooked way beyond what you might have otherwise. This helps keep the word of mouth going: "Hey, should I make the Staples Center and put it up for download?" Co-worker: "What are you smoking?" "I mean, it's for Sim City, you know." Co-worker: "I've heard about that. Is it any good?"

Anyway, from that appreciation Maxis has for the Net community has come the Sims and their on-line concept. So instead of slapping up a site as a matter of obligations, Maxis is finding a way to use the Net to fuel a solid revenue stream.

The only good thing I can say about Sim Golf, in fact, is that Maxis is influencing it! Of course, once again, I hated the Sims...but I like the company a great deal.

[Sabre2th]

Personally, I don't download scenarios and maps very often, but I do think that it would add a lot to the game. Remember that even if Firaxis doesn't make them, there will be plenty of people at Apolyton who will. They don't necessarily need to be official.