A Slice of Civ3 Feedback From The Official MOO3 Forum

[yin26]

Oh, and I'm hoping that someone will teach the French-speaking folk of Infogreed that "Designer's Notes" and "A Note from the Designer" is not the same thing.

LOL! Classic. Well, these days I find that I'm actually in the middle ground. The beta is worthless, the x-pack will only be an option for those with the beta, but the Gold Edition *might* be worthwhile considering that (assuming the editor --working one-- was released with the x-pack) the fans themselves might have fixed most of the problems.

Anyway, great news on your endeavor! How's the programming language learning going?

[Velociryx]

Thanks man....yeah....although the 'Designer's Notes' wasn't, in my mind a key feature in the LE, I have to admit when I saw the little leaflet that came with it I felt a bit like I had been subjected to the time honored "Bait and switch" tactic. Ah well....live and learn, I suppose....

As to that Gold Edition tho....I find myself ever-hopeful that it will be the release Civ3 should have been. I'm looking forward to trying it out, and perhaps, with a fully-functioning editor, getting back to work on the Mod-With-No-Name, which still has a great many ideas that can be implemented!

Things at Velocigames continue to amaze me. The crew that signed on with me is REALLY pumped up about the game, and that's such an addicting environment for me to be in the midst of. We hold frequent chat-room meetings (impractical for us to get together IRL, cos some of the folks who are helping me hail from as far off as the UK and Australia!). In all, we've got 8 Programmers, 2 Artists, and a variety of others helping out with getting the documentation put together professionally, fleshing out the history of Candle'Bre, backstory, family histories...all the good stuff!

The impromptu meetings are best of all though. We've started an informal policy of whenever anybody's lurking on the Candle'Bre forum, we'll sign into the chat room there and lurk while reading/posting. More than once, we've gathered half a dozen or so folks in the room (generally a mix of people active in the project and fans who just like to lurk and watch as it comes together). Every time we have a little impromptu meeting like that, I come away with at least one, and more often than not several new ideas. So far, the people watching the progress of the game have been every bit as jazzed up and excited about the project as the ones working on it....THAT's quite a rush! (and all that to say, if anyone reading here is interested in letting their voice be heard in terms of helping shape the flavor and design of the game in a real and meaningful way, don't hesitate to drop in on us! We're always in the market for new ideas, and LOVE to kick 'em around with people interested in the project!)

As to the learning of the programming end of it myself, I recently issued a "challenge" to our code team....some bits that may or may not ultimately get used in the game, but will be fun to play around with in the meantime....and, having recently purchased a "java for dummies" type book (spiffy CD included), I have decided to take up my own programming challenges as practice. LOL....now, I have no doubt in my mind that the real coders who do likewise will turn out MUCH better stuff than I do, but hey....I'm not afraid to get in there and give it a go!

And, btw Yin, your name came up in conversation at one of our meetings! The thinking is that if we can get your seal of approval on the game we release, then we're doing something way right....

-=Vel=-
(Velocigames)
The Renaissance Portal
* To get to Candle'Bre from the main page, click on the "discussion forums" link....you'll see it at the top o' the page!
{/shameless plug off!}

[MarkG]

Originally posted by yin26
However, to this point, Firaxis has showed very little interest in criticism.

of course you mean that "firaxis has not shown too much that they are interested in criticism"? cause i cant imagine how you could know what interests firaxis

so your assumptions about the future of civ3 are kind of baseless, dont you think?

[yin26]

And, btw Yin, your name came up in conversation at one of our meetings! The thinking is that if we can get your seal of approval on the game we release, then we're doing something way right....

LOL! I suppose it was something like: "And if that bastard Yin has anything good to say..." Well, it's all very exciting. I really do wish you the best of luck as I think you bring so much to the project!

Markos:

I'll forgive you since English is not your native language. When some says "X has shown no interest in Y," there is an implicit statement being made there. I'll let you figure it out.

[Willem]

Originally posted by yin26
LOL! I suppose it was something like: "And if that bastard Yin has anything good to say..." Well, it's all very exciting. I really do wish you the best of luck as I think you bring so much to the project!

Markos:

I'll forgive you since English is not your native language. When some says "X has shown no interest in Y," there is an implicit statement being made there. I'll let you figure it out.

Well if you really want to be picky about grammar, it's supposed to be "...Firaxis has shown very little interest..."

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

[yin26]

Minor typo, which you'll note I fixed in the XY thing (miss that?). Meanwhile, Markos' massive troll goes nowhere...

[OneInTen]

The fact is that the Civ-series was never about being a "disposable" type of computer game that "just" gave you your money's worth and a month or so of entertainment before you dropped it for the next cool thing to hit the shelves.

I think the people here on these boards are in the minority of people who have played civ in this regard (this is from my own personal experience and from people I know IRL).

I could never really get into civ 2. It just didn't "grab me". SMAC I could at least see the potential of, and I probably would have played it heaps, if not for what was, to me, the inaccesably implemented sci-fi theme.

At least civ 3 was a game where I didn't feel like I was only loading it because I was supposed to like it. I actually played it because I wanted to and I enjoyed it.

I'm at the stage where I've had my fun and civ 3 takes a back seat and is nearly due to be cycled off my hard drive though I guess. Games do usually get at least one second run though.

I don't know, maybe you trying to explain to me why civ 3 had to be better than it is is pointless. I'll readily admit I don't get what you see in civ 2 or SMAC. You trying to explain it to me is probably akin to me trying to explain to a blind man what yellow is.

I like civ 3, but I didn't expect it to be great. I'm a fan of TBS, but I've never found one that's good enough to be "computer crack" or whatever people call it. It's kind of funny since I've mostly grown bored of all other genres that used to excite me (haven't picked up a new FPS in ages, I got Empire Earth anbd athough I can see it's an excellent game RTS just doesn't seem to do it for me anymore, etc). I think a really engaging TBS is what I really want, but I don't ever expect to find one, because I don't believe games can really be that good. Other people must have different standards or something, I don't know.

All in all, I'm struggling to understand what's wrong with a game being a throwaway entertainment item. I mean, if you like a movie, you're not going to watch it every day, you'll watch it a few times at first maybe and then every now and then. I treat games the same way ... play it through once or twice, and then pull it out every now and then if I like it.

Civ 3 lives up to that standard, so is it really a failure? It wasn't supposed to change my world, merely distract me from it for a few hours.

[Encomium]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
Good idea. We can go there and say beware, Firaxis is a piece of crap without MarkG closing our threads.

I don't know about Firaxis, but the game is a piece of crap.

[yin26]

OneInTen: Have you tried Disciples 2? Not the end-all and be-all, but quite good if you don't mind scenarios lasting several hours. Overall, though, it oozes character.

[OneInTen]

I haven't seen disciples 2 yet in stores here in Australia, but I may check it out if and when it makes it here.

Frankly though, I think MOO3 holds the most hope, given that their IFP system, though I believe somewhat flawed in its implementation as described, is a huge step in the right direction.

Plus I hope it goes well for them because then they might make MOM2, and MOM is probably the game that's come closest to capturing my full attention.

[notyoueither]

F*uck, this is awful.

What the h*ll are you doin Yin? Why are you so committed to painting this game so negatively? Do you think Firaxis and Infogrames are listening to you anymore? Chr*st, I don't think Infogrames has any clue who any of us are. As for Firaxis, I think they are well past listening to you. And maybe well they should be. You don't build anything by trying to tear something else down.

Jimmytrick: I'm still here. I'm still playing. It's not a bad game. And it will be better, but not because of anything that rabid critics have to say.

God help us? We don't need that, we've got Yin. He can be more of a pestilence than God could ever devise (even when he's funny).

Salve

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by yin26
And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is all she wrote.

No Dad, the fat lady is only singing in your head. Have it looked at, it may go away.

Salve

[yin26]

If you really want to start another round, I'm ready. I thought you got past it a few days ago. The meds wear off?

By the way, for people who like to keep track of these things, here is another sterling example of how I am *not* attacking somebody until attacked. People like this joker above are a sterling example of what's wrong with society: I am criticising a game, a process, a company.

The best he can do? Personal attacks against me. It's a social disease, I tell you.

[notyoueither]

No Yin. No meds involved.

But I thought you were past your mindless bashing of the game. Sorry if I was mistaken.

And ready any time you are. Dad.

Salve

[yin26]

Read my edit above. If you are going to participate in a forum, learn some manners. Now go to your room without dinner.