PC Gamer civ3 preview

[smellymummy]

Hey has anyone delved into the pc gamer (june issue) preview yet? I picked up my issue from the mailbox a while back, it has a few screenshots, 2 are the same that snapcase posted (except the city view shows 4 rulers), and the other 3 shots show the different views of sid'visor (4 different facial expressions...), a shot with units on a beach (i think i saw it before somewhere else) and a shot of the military advisor screen.

Also, I was glad to see it mentioned at only 50% done... hey maybe we (the fans) can still get some in edgewise.. although quoting from the source: "Aside from the rabid fan base that supplies an inch-thick document of suggestions every month, the designers themselves have had five years to ponder and test new ideas". Hmmm, so thats like 5 feet worth of fan ideas eh? LOL!

It did give numbers for the minor wonders, 24 in all (and 12 major wonders).

Something else, relevant to fog of war, is that units on mountains can see further... I wonder if this means the maps will have different altitude, like SMAC.

Also, it said the game covers 6500 years, and the game should come with 12 scenarios (cool!), and there was also mention of attempts at bringing civ2 scenarios to specs with civ3.

Sorry if this was covered, I just didnt see it anywhere, and after being so excited with snapcase's info, I just had to post this

[Lord_Davinator]

I didn't know it was covered... I don't recall seeing a military advisor screen anywhere.... you might have something new after all how about putting it up for all of us to ponder???

[Harlan]

Could you explain what you mean by "bringing civ2 scenarios to specs with civ3"? I didn't understand the meaning of "to specs".

The 6500 years thing is a bit wierd. It doesn't seem to make much sense to start in the middle of a millenium, so perhaps this means the game is going to end in 2500 AD? Perhaps a surprise they'll drop on us later, and they've been purposely holding back on showing future units and so forth? That doesn't make much sense in terms of the number of wonders given though. If all the old ones are still there, as mentioned somewhere else, that means only 8 new wonders, and as we know of the Great Canal, Internet and Pentagon already, that would mean a max of 5 for the future.

So is there an extra 500 future years, or does the game start in 4500 BC instead of 4000 BC, and if so, why??? Its also interesting that they don't say the game covers 6520 years, meaning the game won't be ending in 2020 in any case like Civ2, unless the reporter was just being sloppy.

I also find it really interesting that most of the wonders will be minor wonders. Can that really be correct? The examples of minor wonders given, like Manhattan Project, or Apollo Program, make sense. But how can you have 6 United Nations, or Magellan's Expeditions, or Sun Tzu's War Academies in one world? It seems like almost all of the old 28 wonders would be major wonders, i.e., completely unique things. 12 of the old wonders are specifically tied to famous people like Shakespear or DaVinci, so are those the 12 major ones?

One last thought: if "to specs" means Civ2 scenarios might be converted in Civ3, that would be major in many ways. For one thing, way cool to us Civ2 scenario makers! But more importantly, that says volumes about what Civ3 must be like. It means there must be an Civ3 equivalent to EVERY Civ2 unit, wonder, building, trade good, and so forth, or the conversion couldn't even be contemplated. So perhaps they're taking all of that as a given, and building on that, as it seems to be with what we know about wonders.
[This message has been edited by Harlan (edited April 30, 2001).]

[Imran Siddiqui]

quote: Could you explain what you mean by "bringing civ2 scenarios to specs with civ3"? I didn't understand the meaning of "to specs".

Well, trying to allow Civ2 scenarios to be imported into Civ3, so you can play your old scenarios in the new game.

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by Harlan on 04-30-2001 11:36 PM The 6500 years thing is a bit wierd.

I put my trust on what the man actually have already confirmed: 4000 BC - around 2020 AD

Click on this Apolyton-link: Interview with Sid
The original Gamespot.UK link is: Sid Meier on Civilization III

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 01, 2001).]

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by smellymummy on 04-30-2001 11:00 PM It did give numbers for the minor wonders, 24 in all (and 12 major wonders).

This is news for me, but I believe: Good news!

In civ-2/SMAC it was too easy to Wonder-collect your way to success. Each added wonder only enlarged the distance between the human leader and the AI-civs. Making 12 small wonders available to everyone, and reduce the amount of truly exclusive Wonders to only 12, should re-balance the greedy collecting-strategy somewhat.

Also reducing the total amount of wonder from 27 to 24 (12+12) also helps in making the exclusive Wonders a little more awesome and special, and not just yet another enlarged & extra costly city-improvement. The latter feel would indeed be a problem if they instead would have incremented the amount to above 30 wonders. Even the 27 ones in Civ-2 was a border-case.

-------------- edited:
Maybe I misunderstood? Do you mean 24 minor Wonders PLUS 12 major Wonders, making it a grand total of 36?
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quote: Something else, relevant to fog of war, is that units on mountains can see further... I wonder if this means the maps will have different altitude, like SMAC.

The SMAC-style wavy terrain-style isnt suitable for Civ-3, I think. What I instead want to see is a more embossed 3D-relief look. The level-differences should be small, but clearly noticeable. Nothing like SC-3000 however - such big level-differences is too much in Civ-3. Perhaps only half of that, or even less.

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 01, 2001).]

[Russian King]

quote: Originally posted by Ralf on 05-01-2001 05:03 AM I put my trust on what the man actually have already confirmed: 4000 BC - around 2020 AD [This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 01, 2001).]

This game is unfair: should be 2200 no more/less. (thats unless the years will be divides into months and half months and so on)(at least some kind of future, maybe so that modern age is 3/4 of the way through the game, otherwise itll be VERY boring

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by Russian King on 05-01-2001 05:52 AM This game is unfair: should be 2200 no more/less.

I what way have fairness anything to do with this issue? Besides; read quote; "and the game should come with 12 scenarios (cool!)". Some of those scenarios will be SciFi futuristic. Dont worry.

quote: at least some kind of future, maybe so that modern age is 3/4 of the way through the game, otherwise itll be VERY boring

...and you wont buy the game, right? Why spending money on a VERY boring game?

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 01, 2001).]

[Roman]

quote: Originally posted by Ralf on 05-01-2001 05:03 AM I put my trust on what the man actually have already confirmed: 4000 BC - around 2020 AD [This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 01, 2001).]

I also believe this confirmed span of time. Perhaps the previewer in the magazine just made a mistake. I really hope they don't include future techs.

[Zanzin]

Yeah, but if anyone could make future techs work, it'd be Sid, right?

Just because they sucked in CTP doesn't meant they'd suck in Civ3

[Russian King]

quote: Originally posted by Ralf on 05-01-2001 06:04 AM I what way have fairness anything to do with this issue? Besides; read quote; "and the game should come with 12 scenarios (cool!)". Some of those scenarios will be SciFi futuristic. Dont worry. ...and you wont buy the game, right? Why spending money on a VERY boring game? [This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 01, 2001).]

I dont play scenarios a lot. the game is there to play from humble bginnings to whatever the hell happens to you: thats the beauty of it. I must say: none of the civ games costed me more that 50 AUD, so even if it is boring, like all the others(i only mean past the modern age) its worth the little money

[Lord_Davinator]

smellymummy... where are you???? we could use a few answers... and a heck of a lot more detail....

alright
alright


PLEASE

[lord of the mark]

quote: Originally posted by Roman on 05-01-2001 06:09 AM I also believe this confirmed span of time. Perhaps the previewer in the magazine just made a mistake. I really hope they don't include future techs.

Why not a basic historical game ending in 2020 or thereabouts, and a seperate extended game with future techs. See if you guys had TOT you'd think of that as a solution. The objection of course is that the AI would need more porgramming, as different strats would make sense. In TOT, being
Civ2, the AI is not strategically sophisticated enough that it really makes much diff (as far as i can tell) Would this be different in Civ3?

Theres been lots of talk about Civ3 borrowing from CTP. Dont y'all think civ3 will borrow from TOT, which, if by different designers, is at least within the franchise? Extended game, perhaps included sci fi game, multi-map options, etc.

LOTM

[Dimorier Maximus]

Civ and Civ2 went into the future. 2020. Last time I checked it was 2001. It was 1996 when Civ2 came out. Last time I checked, no civilization has harnessed Fusion Power either. It is in Civ and Civ2. What's wrong with 480 more years?

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Ex Fide Vive

[Sirotnikov]

quote: Originally posted by Dimorier Maximus on 05-01-2001 02:35 PM Civ and Civ2 went into the future. 2020. Last time I checked it was 2001. It was 1996 when Civ2 came out. Last time I checked, no civilization has harnessed Fusion Power either. It is in Civ and Civ2. What's wrong with 480 more years?

1) They are supposed to be covered by SMAC.
2) Fusion Power is a logical advancement which is on the door step.
All sorts of wierd "futuresque" "alien" techs are not, and are stupid as they are invented without basing them on real tech.