Analyzing a Firaxis statement

[Libertarian]

The machine is doing merely what it is told.

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by Libertarian
The machine is doing merely what it is told.

Exactly right. It's amazing that a deterministic device can simulate human behavior to any degree whatsoever, as humans, markets, nations and history are so unpredictable.

Civ3 is an amazing game!

[Libertarian]

I've said often that I think Soren did a good job with the AI. My opinion on that has never changed.

However, there is more to such a game than its algorithms. If the interface of your browser were like the interface of Civ3, you'd have to type and submit your posts one letter at a time.

[RobC]

If I were Firaxis...

If I were Firaxis or Dan/Soren/etc, I would ask each major forum/website (like CivFanatics and this one, I'm not sure how many others there are) to appoint ONE person to submit questions. They could choose questions by voting or something more sophisticated like the 'modding-up' that is done on slashdot when picking the top 10 questions for an interview. They could choose their representative this way, too (or the web site owner/administrator could make an executive decision). I would then ONLY take questions from this one person, maybe three questions once a week, or 5-10 questions once a month or something like that, and do my best to give people some helpful information without making any specific promises or raising expectations any higher than they already are. If the forum members keep wanting to ask the same questions every week, I would just keep answering "I don't know" or "stay tuned" until they decided to try asking some other questions that I WAS able to answer (at least partially). If they wanted to ask me my own opinions about possible changes or design decisions made, I would answer while clearly stating these are my opinions and are not in any way to be construed as a promise of what will be in the next (or any) patch/update. I personally cannot keep up with this forum and I can't imagine that the folks at Firaxis can do so while still trying to work (hopefully including work on a 2nd patch). The only way to maintain my sanity and still keep some amount of communication open with users and fans would be through a mediator as suggested above. This would give each forum some sense of appreciation from Firaxis since it is more targeted than the Q&A occasionally posted on the civ3.com site, while freeing the developers and other at Firaxis to actually do their jobs.

[Evil_Eric_4]

I dont even play the stupid game anymore.I just come here every once in a while to check for a patch for stacked movement and/or an editor that allows me to make a WW2 scenario.
until these two problems are fixed I see no reason to play a game with almost NO replay value.
I actually bought Empire Earth to try to satisfy my Empire building urge.Mistake.There is no such thing as real-time STRATEGY.

As for Libs original post-
Keep plugging away everyone --maybe sooner or later the developers will pull their collective heads out of the sand and deliver what we want.

[Setsuna]

What about Europa Universalis, Eric?

[Evil_Eric_4]

I have EU 1 and am contemplating EU2 but the sequel seems like more of the same.Perhaps you can change my mind Setsuna?

[Venger]

Originally posted by The Eliminator
Entertaining at first, but it quickly degenerates into distgusting boredom.

That was the most concise Civ3 review I've ever read. Congrats.

Venger

[Setsuna]

Hmm, I don't really think I've played enough of the game to give an educated opinion just yet. You're better off asking at the EU2 boards.

http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=51

Furthermore I haven't played the original game and as such can't really weigh in the improvements the sequel has. It is my understanding that the second game is relatively the same, albeit with some major improvements.

Civ3 seems like such a.. child's game after playing EU2.

[GeneralTacticus]

Originally posted by Venger
That was the most concise Civ3 review I've ever read. Congrats.

Venger, I think that was a review of this thread, not the game.

[Venger]

Au contraire, it was a PERFECT review of the game...

Venger
P.S. I know what he was reviewing...

[David Weldon]

paraphrased from yin26
"it quickly degenerates into disgusting boredom"

Well, then it's on-topic for Civ3 discussion!

*DING DING*...
...and the undisputed speaker of truth...
...by unanimous decision...
!! YIN !!

[jbrians]

Originally posted by Libertarian
We aren't asking that they announce what they will do, but merely what they are considering doing. If there is positively no intention whatsoever to implement group movement, proximinate unit activation sequencing, optional nags, and other late-game issues — then Firaxis could save itself a lot of grief. I, for one, would be on my merry way and would shut up. That would leave Diamonds, JBrians, and others who could fill the boards with endless gushing about the smart governors and eye candy.

What the hell would be the point of telling people what they MIGHT do other than generating higher expectations? Even for features that they are working on RIGHT NOW they may get cut if they turn out to be too hard for one reason or another. If you knew half as much about software development as you claim to, you would know that the feature that

If you disagree, please explain how losing fans like Helio, me, and many others is an improvement over enduring a bit of message board flak.

There is no point in trying to please agitated 13 year-old kids. There are people like you for every game, and you will not be happy for any length of time no matter what they do. In fact, you stated that you WERE satisfied after Dan finally said that they knew late-game tedium was an issue and weren't sure whether or not they would be able to work on it. Yet 2 days later you could no longer stand not having your voice heard.

Ultimately your goal is to get as much personal attention as possible from Firaxis employees and feel like you are a part of the game development process because you cannot break into the industry on your own merits.

[MOHonor]

Told.

[Libertarian]

What the hell would be the point of telling people what they MIGHT do other than generating higher expectations?

The hell point would be to salvage some customers. We already know that they MIGHT do anything (or nothing) under the sun. Do you believe the zipped-lip tactic has quieted expectations?

There is no point in trying to please agitated 13 year-old kids.

Tu quoque.

In fact, you stated that you WERE satisfied after Dan finally said that they knew late-game tedium was an issue and weren't sure whether or not they would be able to work on it. Yet 2 days later you could no longer stand not having your voice heard.

Mendacious. Satisfaction with Dan's response does not imply satisfaction with the status quo.

Ultimately your goal is to get as much personal attention as possible from Firaxis employees and feel like you are a part of the game development process because you cannot break into the industry on your own merits.

What a troll.

And what is your ultimate goal, oh Chihuahua? To get as much personal attention as possible from me and feel like you are a part of the debating process because you cannot muster rhetorical skills on your own merit?