Why Firaxis' implementation of unique civs is bad for gameplay

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by ancient on 05-08-2001 09:12 PM well heres where i got the idea.. a dirrect quote from firaxis.. the very oldest ask the civ team says "Yes, you will absolutely be able to create your own units! With regards to unit customization, we're committed to the scenario/mod community, and we realize that the ability to create diverse, interesting scenarios is one of the major reasons for Civilization II's enduring popularity.

Firaxis is refering to modpacks and unit-rules tweaking. Hence; the comment; "With regards to unit customization, we're committed to the scenario/mod community".

Its definitly NOT about any SMAC-style unit-workshop. If you want further official confirmations on this, click and read The official verdict: NO "unit workshop" in Civ-3.

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 09, 2001).]

[tniem]

quote: Originally posted by ancient on 05-08-2001 09:12 PM well heres where i got the idea.. a dirrect quote from firaxis.. the very oldest ask the civ team says "Yes, you will absolutely be able to create your own units! With regards to unit customization, we're committed to the scenario/mod community, and we realize that the ability to create diverse, interesting scenarios is one of the major reasons for Civilization II's enduring popularity. To that end, we'll be developing extensive tools for scenario and mod creators to use which will allow them to create whatever they can think of. Flexibility is the order of the day. " maybe i just took it the wrong way,, but if its the SMAC thing i hate it...

I believe you took it the wrong way. The way I read it is that you will be able to create units (images and attibutes) outside of the game. This will be done through an editor similiar to the SimCity building editors or The Sims furniture editors. I believe this is what they mean because of in the quote the keywords are we're committed to the scenario/mod community...diverse, interesting scenarios

This isn't for the actual game. And I am almost positive that the unit workshop has been confirmed dead by a member of the Firaxis team either on this website or in the ask the team section (just don't feel like looking right now).

[lord of the mark]

quote: Originally posted by MarBaS on 05-08-2001 10:13 PM You obviouly know more about Civ then the game creaters themself to say that its not going to work. Sid seems to think uu are a good idea, and i do to.

Sid probably thinks that UU's are necessary to create "cool" things like panzers to draw in casual gamers and increase sales. Which i cannot blame him for at all - this is a business after all. I think we can help point out the possible negative implications of this idea, and the designers can decide it they think it is worth it. and when it cames out we can decide if we like it. Sid is very smart, but he is not god. Just because he chooses to include a feature doesnt mean it was a good idea.

LOTM

[MazaNaza]

I'm the first person to speak out against all the "prophets of doom" out there and have been known to say things like "trust in Sid" on occasion. That does not, however, mean that I am willing to simply accept every innovation that Firaxis comes up with. I'd like to once again draw everyone's attention to Civ 2 and the number of ideas that were cut from it. Many of them were created by Sid himself, and most of them were later disregarded by Sid himself. Many eyes can often see what a few cannot, and I have no problem pointing out a possible issue - this is the reason why games have design teams. While Sid may be running the show, he's got dozens of people below him who are doing the same stuff we do here.

I have no problem with constructive criticism, even the kind we do here that is unlikely to have any real effect. It helps those of us who do have a line to Firaxis come up with the suggestions that they do accept. Remember, "The List" wasn't created in a vacuum; it was the result of hundreds of threads just like this one.

I don't claim to know Civilization better than Sid, but I can and will say that the years of experience most of us in this forum have does give us a license to make suggestions.