FIRAXIS: As always, we appreciate your continued support and wish you the best.

[yin26]

That's my on-going, happy feeling of Love. When in doubt, please refer back to these helpful and sincere vibes. I'm sure the entire community would give you a group hug if we could...

[ancient]

hmm what the hell are you high on?

[yin26]

Why, Civ3, of course! Take a hit! I just feel that Firaxis has been working too darn hard. Those poor guys have two (2!) games going at once. They are just human beings, after all, and we can't possibly expect so much from them. If it were up to me, I'd give them all 6 months paid vacation.

And frankly, any condition those games ship in will be fine by me. It's the thought that counts!

[yin26]

Two journeys, we should say. So "two steps," one for each game. Different paths, of course...so don't try to take two steps, one each in different directions! OUCH, baby!

Yin's Poem of the Moment:

Let not that winding road wear you down, Firaxis,
For there are buttercups and lilies along the way.
And no matter that the destination 'ere changes
There are other paths to take...on other days.
For isn't it the journey and not the arrival at last,
That makes us forget...alas, repeat...the past?

July 10 should be "Hug a Firaxian Day"!

[yin26]

Bonus for anybody who can tell me if the road in the picture was made by an engineer or Public Works. Zinger! That's the spirit, eh? Take a deep whif of the goodness! Hey, I'll buy the box empty! Just send me the rest of the code by e-mail. Anything goes!

[Theben]

Markos, Yin's been sniffing used inkjet cartridges again.

[Jeje2]

Originally posted by yin26
And frankly, any condition those games ship in will be fine by me. It's the thought that counts!

Earth calling!! Earth calling Yin!

[yin26]

I just wanted to see what it would be like to be the kind of customer the companies (or company?) thinks we are...so I repeat:

Any morsel you give is, unto us, a feast!
Any hint of a rumor you let slip is honey!
For we shall buy and praise your time...
Though it be seconds or only afterthoughts...
For us lowly gamers with money to burn.

[Guest]

Right on Yin, I follow you 100%

[Fidel]

awwwww,
this is getting weird. for all the temptation to trash firaxis, i think we need a reality check.
they do not own us ANYTHING. they are out there for our money, which we will gladly roll out if the game is any good. if someone does not like their attitude/commitment/opennes - well, you can always spend your 50$ on something else (another game, beer, book, etc.).
after all, we do not own firaxis....but i do sense that yin perceives them as a kind of a public utility (build one for +1 happiness in your city)

[yin26]

Hey, the worse I get treated, the less guilty I feel for blowing the money. It's kind of like going to Paris! Of course, in rare moments, I like people to understand which direction the money is flowing...but then I have a few beers and come to my senses.

Vive la Firaxis!!!

[The diplomat]

Yin, is this penance for your sins? Are you trying to gain forgiveness for "causing sid meier's golf"?

[Lord_Davinator]

Talking of the Love vibes...
what the hells next? sending love letters to good old firaxis?

[Mahdimael]

Yin is doing what could be called "thinly-veiled sarcasm".

In a way, I do agree with Yin's basic precepts that the designers at Firaxis own us their livelihood. I mean, without us, they would have to beg for change in gutters. Their years of experience and skills would amount to naught as they foundered in alleys and garbage cans, perhaps not unlike Oscar the grouch. Yes, Firaxis should personally design each of us a web page thanking us individually for having an interest in Civ3. This would be a precursor only to the gift basket of fruits, chocolates and wine that we would receive for designing lists of features that we demanded be in the game. They could thank us for telling them exactly what to do in the game, though of course they would be the ones implementing it since we don't know how to do it. Sid Meier should come to each and every one of our doors, explaining in detail the concepts and features in the game. And, even though the game hasn't even been finished yet, he would be glad to come back every day to talk about what changes were made. When the game is finished, certainly our individual accomplishments in these forums should be lauded, perhaps by giving those of us who posted a message here a 14k gold watch and plaque along with a free copy of the game with special "secret" features implemented specially for us. Certainly we deserve no less. Isn't your $35.99 worth at least that?

[yin26]

Naw, man. I love Firaxis. I don't care about the lack of common courtesy or even having my system blamed for poor programming. It's all in good fun!