A Fully 3D, RTS Version of Civilization

[Pren Draig]

About the TBS/RTS discussion, I for one would prefer a straight TBS game. RTS is good, but I can't see it working for a Civ like game. As for 3D, I'm still not sure. I wouldn't mind seeing a 3D Civ provided that the 3D idea is actually practical and not a 'looks great but doesn't really work' idea.

[The Mad Viking]

Just say no to RTS!

What does everyone think about simultaneous turns? It didn't make the top 5 new ideas of EC3, but it was close IIRC.

I played a hex board game of tactical combat using shorthand simultaneous turns, and it was terrific.

Could be a toggle option. Very good for MP as there would be much less waiting.

[Ubergeek]

Perhaps the ONLY thing Sid could do to stop me from buying Civ3 is to make it RTS. The way I see it, I'll be burning in Hell long before I ever pay money for another RTS. The whole point of Civ is to think ahead, to plan, to come up with towering schemes and ideas that take hours to play out. RTS requires and allows no more thinking than it takes to mount the next tank rush. It's all about how fast you can click, and I'm too damned old to care about that.

And as far as a spherical map goes, it would be nice but I don't think it's essential. Not for me, anyway.

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Better living through tyranny

[Andz83]

RTS? TBS? IIRC? Is there anybody who's able and/or wants to explain me those weird shorties...

[pris]

Civ is a TBS game it is NOT a RTS. If you want an RTS style civ game buy AOE.

TBS = Turn Based Strategy game
RTS = Real Time Strategy game
IIRC = If I Recall Corectly

[Grier]

Although not a fan of RTS, DuneII was good but its gameplay has been re-hashed in almost every RTS game since, that is until Shogun: Total War comes out which will redefine the whole RTS genre.

Personally I would prefer civIII to be TBS, although RTS could work if it was done well.

[Earthling7]

I read through the first couple of posts (I'll read the rest later) so if I'm repeating someone... sorry.

I checked the link and I FEEL PHYSICALLY SICK! Sorry.

Seriously, I would not buy a 3D Civ. No way. 3D is overrated and ugly and Civ is not some Quake or something...

Civ is better than that.

[Steve Clark]

quote: Originally posted by Ubergeek on 04-10-2000 01:26 PM Perhaps the ONLY thing Sid could do to stop me from buying Civ3 is to make it RTS. The way I see it, I'll be burning in Hell long before I ever pay money for another RTS. The whole point of Civ is to think ahead, to plan, to come up with towering schemes and ideas that take hours to play out. RTS requires and allows no more thinking than it takes to mount the next tank rush. It's all about how fast you can click, and I'm too damned old to care about that. And as far as a spherical map goes, it would be nice but I don't think it's essential. Not for me, anyway.

Perfectly said and I agree completely.

[don Don]

UberGeek & Earthling7:

Amen! Focus development on the AI and gameplay (especially simultaneous execution). No pseudo-strategy clickfests and glitzfests.

[Earthling7]

Having read through the whole thread I have something to add.

3D and RTS, overrated and overhyped, sure. Let's give you a couple of examples.

1. X-COM. The first one was mindblowing (and had a round globe ). The game was in real time, but the missions turn-based. I think it must be the most strategically challenging game I ever played. X-COM: Apocalypse introduced real-time missions. A lot of the strategy was lost, but with varying speed control and exellent control system, it didn't harm the game. Even if you didn't like that, there was the option to play turn-based.

2. AOE: I liked the first one, but got bored by the second one after a couple of missions. I had waited for the game for over a year, and when it came out, I played it for less that a week. Why? The only thing you do is build buildings to build units to crush the opponent. Civ has so much more.

3. Airport Inc.: A business simulation, you are in charge of an airport. You build, set prises and do the usual stuuf required by an airport manager. Quite an absorbing game, but the one thing people find groundbreaking about it is that it's in 3D. Sure, you can zoom, pan, fly around, see everything from any angle... but the fact of the matter is that 3D is not very pretty. Also, it is very heavy and you need a monster PC unless you want to play the game in real time (1 year takes 1 year to play). I would have preferred normal isometric view, a la Sims and X-COM.

Point being? RTS can be cool, but not everywhere. 3D should not be used for 3D's sake. If it enhances the playing experience, fine, but I don't think it would do Civ any good...

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Greetings,
Earthling7
ICQ: 929768

[Earthling7]

What X-COM did with the choice of TRS and TBS was a good idea. Maybe it would be an idea to something like that in Civ3. Normal play is turn-based and battles could take place either as an enhanced version of the CTP system or an RTS battle. The terrain would then be based on the kind of tile the units are fighting over.

As with X-COM, the game would ask you which mode you prefer as you enter the battle.

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Greetings,
Earthling7
ICQ: 929768

[Slingshot]

Many of us have a deep-seated hatred for the mindless fodder of Real-Time Strategy (RTS).

(Heck, that's what keeps us all together!)

But face it. There must be mounting pressure to deliver a RTS version of Civ. Think of Big Huge Games!

So we owe it to those confused and somtimes impressional programmers to once again pave the way to a glorious gaming future.

Let's say we owe it to the world and make this really epic!

[Slingshot]

The diplomat has some interesting ideas.

I am scared of a RTS version of Civ as well.

I am more scared of RTS fans making it than I am of TBS fans doing the work.

Hopefully, if Big Huge Games does something RTS-based with Civ, it will honour all the good things we have seen so far.

[BOSS Roller]

1) You can't tile a sphere with squares.
2) You can't tile a sphere with hexagons.
3) You CAN tile a sphere with a combination of hexagons and pentagons - it's called a geodesic dome. An example is a soccer ball.

[Master Marcus]

I'm among those who think a RTS imprint on CivIII will ruin the civlike empire building trend of the genre. With all the emphasis on RTS, CivIII is maybe the only great TBS ( should be ) fans can hope to play for the years to come.... "They've" decided that " one-hour online RTS play" is the ideal time limit most players can afford. I'm a TBS fan not concerned about this pattern. But I think there's place for both, IF "they" (the creators) want to...

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The art of mastering:"la Maîtrise des caprices du subconscient avant tout".