Computer Gaming World CIVIII preview

[Roman]

What I would be interested in is whether you can stack resources of the same type for added benefit. Basically I think that if you mine 2 ivory you should get more benefit than if you mine 1 ivory. However, this would have to be capped at some point (say 3 resources of the same type) to force you to look for diverse types of resources.

[Tjoepie]

Sorry about that I must have read over it ...

[Sparky]

True, everything did look a little muddy. I actually enjoyed CTP's lush world (just not the game!) and I wouldn't mind seeing a lot of vibrant greens in Civ3.

I doubt I'll use the advisors anyway. I know how to play civ, and I'll do whatever I feel like in the game. Plus, no matter how hard they try, the advisors are doomed to make some bad suggestions.

[shuttleswo]

quote: Originally posted by Nemo on 03-29-2001 02:53 AM also isnt www.zdnet/cgw the website for this magazine? if so why does it have NO information on civiliationIII, at all. in the synopsis of the april 2001 edition, it says: umm, where is civIII?

strangely enough, it is the MAY edition of CGW that has the preview. why i received the may edition in march is one of those mysteries of the world of print magazines. as such i suspect only those that subscribe to the magazine have it; in which case you might try your local library

[Stefu]

yin26, I wouldn't be too worried about screenshots not being first-class quality this early. Have you seen some early screenshots for Starcraft? They said it was being done on Warcraft 2 engine, but it looked like it was being done in WarCraft 1 engine to me, and apparently with only four colors, primary of which was violet. They were UUUG-LEEE. These screenshots, OTOH, look kinda nice, and I could well play game with those graphics.

[jglidewell]

First impressions - Cool!

all Speculation now-

City magement - I can barely see the city management screen, I need a better scan!

Map screen - It seems that the borders are affected by the roads some how.
The resources do need to be unique and easily identifiable once they are discovered. This is the map I live on and is the most important to get right. The caption state RAW, are there refined materials? Are the scales between the units and other terraing features and citys okay?

Military Advisor - Who. Who. Who let the dogs out!

City view - This is cool. it is definately fall in this shot.

[raingoon]

I take another point of view on the "seasonal" art. I don't think this is supposed to represent "autumn" or "fall" so much as the autumnal majesty of history, as depicted in Brueghel's (sp?) paintings. Will there be "seasons" depicted? I think that misses the point. Clearly Firaxis is taking a very long, long view of history and there is a mis en scene to the game (sort of the whole picture, the feeling, the way it all fits together to form a singular impression) that is taking shape. And it looks like the Romantic paintings of Classical times, (see also: The Rape of the Sabine Women, etc.). It's not literally about autumn, but history lives not in the dead of winter, nor in the promise of spring or the present summer. It's aged, it's had its day, and now it is history. At least that's my interpretation of the look.

A few weeks ago I wrote a column on "The Look" of Civ 3, and what I hoped it would be. It's far too soon to say reliably "this is what it is," but I'm not above hazzarding a few opinions and I'm encouraged. My general sense is this is the right team, at the right time, doing the game right.

That said, a lot can go wrong between now and the release. Wouldn't want them to sit on their golden laurels.

[GaryGuanine]

I hope there are no art historians working on Civ3.

Lots of you guys are really worried about how this game is going to come out. Come on, when's the last time these guys disappointed? No offense, but some of you are acting like those hardcore Star Wars fans before the new one came out, they already decided that it was a failure. The first two Civilization games were fantastic, and there's no reason to think that Sid and Brian have, say, taken a lot of drugs between their last project and now.

And what's with all the concern over the graphics? I thought that the hardcore Civ player's trademark was a "gameplay's the thing" attitude?

Gary

[This message has been edited by GaryGuanine (edited March 29, 2001).]

[lord of the mark]

quote: Originally posted by GaryGuanine on 03-29-2001 03:58 PM I hope there are no art historians working on Civ3. Lots of you guys are really worried about how this game is going to come out. Come on, when's the last time these guys disappointed? No offense, but some of you are acting like those hardcore Star Wars fans before the new one came out, they already decided that it was a failure. The first two Civilization games were fantastic, and there's no reason to think that Sid and Brian have, say, taken a lot of drugs between their last project and now. And what's with all the concern over the graphics? I thought that the hardcore Civ player's trademark was a "gameplay's the thing" attitude? Gary [This message has been edited by GaryGuanine (edited March 29, 2001).]

Sid and Brian ???????
Has Brian Reynolds abandoned BHG and gone back to Firaxis??? News to me.
Sorry if this is coming in late and out of context, but as a Brian Reynolds fan who has posted several times on the BHG forum speculating what BHG is doing, i cant let that one pass.

LOTM

[Adm.Naismith]

Raingoon, epic paintings shade used to reproduce the feel of history, as the autumn of the mankind, is the most poetical opinion I ever red about the screnshoots. Right or wrong, it's neverthless lovely.

GaryGuanine

quote: And what's with all the concern over the graphics? I thought that the hardcore Civ player's trademark was a "gameplay's the thing" attitude?

We are mostly liar, we'll kill for a Great Civ with Great Graphics

------------------
Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant

[yin26]

LOL!

Stefu:

I agree with you. I'm NOT worried. I'm just reminding some people these shots are just a sad, sad version of what will eventually be released, so no sense jumping up and down as if these are great screenshots or something.

[Shadowstrike]

*Branishes shiny dagger*

After looking at those pictures again, I think that they're going to make the game look like a painting, instead of as real as possible. I guess that they are trying to portray history in a nobler light.

[smilo]

Ohooh, I'm getting worried. Have you guys noticed that the in the early game screenshot the city has skyscrapers. I hope the drakars and vikings running around are from another civ, as I WOULD FIND IT UTTERLY ANNOYING TO START AT 4000BC AND HAVE SKYSCRAPERS IN MY CITIES... this worries me ...

[raingoon]

quote: no sense jumping up and down as if these are great screenshots or something.

The fact that we now have screenshots is in itself a great thing. Besides, Yin, if either of us had any sense we wouldn't be here.

Speaking of making sense, Gary, what's wrong with art historians working on Civ 3?

[raingoon]

Smilo,

I don't know for certain, but I got a feeling that city is a mock-up, a place-holder. It looks like an artist's rendering of simple modeled shapes. Those aren't skyscrapers, just purposely generic blocks. The magazine probably misquotes when it refers to "new city graphics." If so, they got a good chuckle over that at Firaxis, you can be sure.