Which Aspect of Improvement Is Most Crucial?

[UltraSonix]

I just wanted to get a feel of what people here think is the most crucial part of Civ2/SMAC that should be improved for Civ3. I ask this because Civ3 is supposed to mostly completed and so there's only a limited time for implementation of new stuff.

Areas of improvements you think is most important (feel free to add extra stuff!):

*AI (open source / smarter)
*Customisability (ie should be even more user-customisable)
*Diplomacy (more complex / AI made better / borders)
*End game (ie weird futuristic stuff, send spaceship to AC)
*Gameplay (ie interface/commands / multiplayer / multiple maps or production)
*Government Related Stuff (or "Social Engineering" as SMAC called it) (eg democracy & communism and how production etc is affected)
*Graphics Engine (3d)
*Historical Accuracy/Realism (BIG ISSUE eg ICS / religion / migration / slavery / pop- political- models)
*How much the game costs...
*Map (round/flat / terrain / terrain changing ala volcanoes / size)
*Micromanagement, the evil of Civ2 (governors)
*Militaristic matters (workshop / bases / commanders / SDI / Phalanx vs Tank / missiles)
*Multimedia (sfx / music / cut scenes)
*Scenarios (and their ease of design)
*Techs (what - ie should have futuristic ones / tech tree)
*Trade/economics (eg resources available / trade routes / inter or intra civ trade / corporations)
*Transportation (roads / rr / magtubes)
*Types and number of Civs
*Wonders (type / number / what)

I'm hoping lots of people will contribute so that we (and Firaxis!) can all know what everyone thinks!

[MidKnight Lament]

So many things... but I'll go with Diplomacy and AI. Get these two right, and the game becomes a whole lot more enjoyable. Plenty of other things I'd like to choose out of that list as well though.

- MKL

[CornMaster]

I really don't what to see the programmers wasting their time on fancy 3D graphics, movies, sounds...because then I probably I won't be able to run it.

But seriously the AI, multiplayer, diplomacy and scenario editors will have to be improved

I want to see a simple game that will run on almost any system and is easy to use and will have lots of replayability. Anyway just my 2 cents.

Oh yeah I never build a spaceship and think it's a waste of code but I know other people like it a lot so I won't comment any more than that.
[This message has been edited by CornMaster (edited June 19, 2000).]

[I c e d a n]

Such a shame CornMaster, you should really upgrade if you like computer games. Here read the civ3 FAQ if you haven't already.
http://www.firaxis.com/Civ3/

I don't think you'd need a powerful system to run 3D graphics anyway, lots of high 3D games can run easily on P200's as long as the programming is done well. Oh also, I seriously suggest people stop saying "They need to spend more time on this and that". I think what you should be saying to yourself is that they'll spend all the time they can to make all aspects of the game great.

I think the most important would definetly be the AI. I like customisability to, but whenever I custom the game, and then play the game, I feel bored because I made it, I know all about it, etc. So I don't know how important that really is, it's nice if other people custom it, even though it's not 'original' still puts me off a bit. Customisability makes the game last a long time tho.

Oh and diplomacy and AI tie together in my mind.

[Urban Ranger]

Three areas:

1. Shift from a "city-centric" style to a "civ-centric" style. This involves lots of changes but should make the game work a lot better.

2. Reduction and/or elimination of ICS.

3. Better AI.

[Par4]

Military

Trade

Civians(I made this up, your people have a mind, you like the name?)

Diplomacy

AI

Graphics

hehehe graphics gotta run on a p2 350 so nothing too big firaxis, ok?

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[Tiberius]

My 0.02$:

Diplomacy
AI
"Social Engineering"
Trade
Energy/Resources
Transportation

and ... let's think about it ...hmm ... all the other stuff

[Mark_Everson]

1. Better AI... 70% of effort
2. Reduce micromanagement... 20%
3. Open source AI... 10%
Everything else 0%

Yes, I Know it ain't gonna happen...


------------------
Mark Everson
Project lead for The Clash of Civilizations
(That means I do the things nobody else wants to do ;-) )
This Radically different civ game needs your suggestions and/or criticism of our design.
Check our our Web Site & Forum right here at Apolyton...

[Steve Clark]

I like the percentages approach:

Better AI: 40%

Alternative ways of winning (gee, I wondered where that came from?): 30%

Robust scenario editor: 30%

Everything else: 0%

[S. Kroeze]

Mark Everson,

Are you serious? Or are you 'just kidding'?

Do you really agree with Ken Bregott who apparently thinks CivII is perfect allready as it is now?
I would be truly surprised!
Especially since my impression of Clash of Civilizations is just the opposite. I have only perused the Clash pages superficially, but I have to admit -though I have seen many elements I liked and some impressive models- it was a bit complicated even to my taste.

All newcomers should visit here
We went through it all!

My priorities are:
-more historical realism (like Religion, Domestic Politics, Recruitment, etc)
-a really difficult game to win (which of course needs better AI)

In short: Make the GAME a REAL CHALLENGE!!!

[UltraSonix]

Come on guys! We're all giving various suggestions, but the truth is, many good ones probably can't be implemented because of lack of time/people. So give your thoughts on what aspect of the game needs improvement the most.

For me it is:
*Diplomacy (vital)
*AI (equally vital)
*And a good scenario editor would be nice.

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No, in Australia we don't live with kangaroos and koalas in our backyards...

[Sitting Bull]

CTP is a good model for customizability, but I was very, very dissapointed with the AI. The city placement was so bad it was funny at times. Like sea cities right on the coast inside the radius of a port. Just *had* to have that extra trade good...

[Gjost]

MultiPlayer Functionality - Have a PBEM capable engine.

[OrangeSfwr]

Going with the % theme...

Diplomacy - 55%
Better AI - 25%
Map layout/size - 20%

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~~~I am who I am, who I am - but who am I?~~~
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[St Leo]

*AI (open source / smarter)

Smarter, but not at the expence of customizin g units and stuff

*Customisability (ie should be even more user-customisable)

This is very important and please use *.PNG as your graphics format.

*Diplomacy (more complex / AI made better / borders)

A nice touch.

*End game (ie weird futuristic stuff, send spaceship to AC)

I am not buying anything with weird futuristic stuff.

*Gameplay (ie interface/commands / multiplayer / multiple maps or production)

Some things should be abstracted, some should be given more detail.

*Government Related Stuff (or "Social Engineering" as SMAC called it) (eg democracy & communism and how production etc is affected)

I believe SE is very realistic.

*Graphics Engine (3d)

Perhaps larger tiles

*Historical Accuracy/Realism (BIG ISSUE eg ICS / religion / migration / slavery / pop- political- models)

Perhaps a smoother transition through the ages, but the simpler in appearance (not guts), the better.

*How much the game costs...

Ha!

*Map (round/flat / terrain / terrain changing ala volcanoes / size)

Elevations and reasonable limits on size.

*Micromanagement, the evil of Civ2 (governors)

Imperialism II had good governors while Alpha Centauri had bad ones - please compare the implementations and/or feel.

*Militaristic matters (workshop / bases / commanders / SDI / Phalanx vs Tank / missiles)

CivII is fine in balance, but army based movement would be great.

*Multimedia (sfx / music / cut scenes)

*Drool*

*Scenarios (and their ease of design)

Falls under customizability.

*Techs (what - ie should have futuristic ones / tech tree)

No futuristic ones, please.

*Trade/economics (eg resources available / trade routes / inter or intra civ trade / corporations)

CivII model is fine.

*Transportation (roads / rr / magtubes)

No perversions of Maglev, please.

*Types and number of Civs

Falls under customizability - they can ship with sixteen in the box, as long as I can add a reasonable number (infinite/1024 being reasonable limits) and have them in one game.

*Wonders (type / number / what)

One type and lots of them.