PC.IGN's updated preview!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Just put this in as a news item:

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UPDATED CIV3 PREVIEW ON PC.IGN

Category: Civ3

PC.IGN has updated their Civ3 preview based on some E3 information and an interview with Jeff Briggs and Jeff Morris. They focus on culture and the new diplomacy model and say basically nothing new on those aspects. However they do say some new things about how the game is being developed:

"Sid plays the game once or twice a week right now." So begins my conversation with Jeff Briggs, President of Firaxis. But although Sid Meier isn't actually coding this game, it's still his baby. He and Jeff sat down at the beginning of the development process to come up with ways to enlarge and improve the existing game.

As it stands, the game is "damn close" to the original spec. A few details have changed, but the basic concepts are still solid. The addition of culture as a resource, an improved diplomacy system and a new system of resources will enlarge the game but Jeff Briggs is quick to point out that they're taking a slightly different approach to this game. Civ II was about "more, more, more" while Civ III will be much more refined. The game is "a little more conservative in terms of risk" according to Jeff Morris, but given the highs and lows of the risks of Call to Power, this is a good thing.

This is just the beginning, however, for IGN's preview:

We've still got a ton of things to cover -- the formation of armies, mobilizing your economy for war or peace, trading and the interface. I've only scratched the surface of my interview with the two Jeffs. Rest assured that once E3 is over, I'll be back to fill you in on all the other details.

We're looking forward to it!

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What do you think about the design. Sid plays it but isn't directly involved in coding.. and Civ3 is a more refined game that is conservative in its risk...

[Bereta_Eder]

«All wonders of the world will increase your culture rating, even after they've been rendered obsolete by increasing technologies.»

Very nice

I get the feeling that EVERYTHING (or almost) is going to be intraconnected in Civ 3. No loose ends. It's great

[ancient]

coul you paste the entire thing here cause i dont know why but i cant open the link..

[Maxxes]

quote: But you can't obtain any cultural benefits from existing structures in conquered cities.

does that mean that all the cultural values will be reset to zero or that you will never be able to obtain any cultural value from those improvements. I hope for the first. After a 1000 years owning a library it should add to the city's culture rating. The resetting on the other hand seems fair and logical to me.

[SerapisIV]

quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui on 05-19-2001 09:43 PM Just put this in as a news item: Jeff Briggs is quick to point out that they're taking a slightly different approach to this game. Civ II was about "more, more, more" while Civ III will be much more refined. The game is "a little more conservative in terms of risk" according to Jeff Morris, but given the highs and lows of the risks of Call to Power, this is a good thing.

If Firaxis is admitting being conservative with Civ3, it can easily be assumed that the game will end around 2020, or with only near future tech similar to those of Civ2. This then would put to rest the idea that if the game is 6500 years long, that it ends in 2400. Being a conservative Civ iteration means sticking to tradition, 2020.

[ancient]

and they also admit sid doesnt have to much to do with the game anymore.. its that dumb golf game..

[The Rusty Gamer]

quote: Originally posted by Maxxes on 05-19-2001 10:40 PM does that mean that all the cultural values will be reset to zero or that you will never be able to obtain any cultural value from those improvements. I hope for the first. After a 1000 years owning a library it should add to the city's culture rating. The resetting on the other hand seems fair and logical to me.

My first impression when I read that bit in the preview was that there was simply going to be no cultural benefit from conquered buildings at all which might mean having to tearing them down and rebuild them.

However, why wouldn't it be possible to receive unique cultural benefits from each civlization that is encountered/conquered that we could never get on our own?

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"If you post something often enough, people will start to read it"


[This message has been edited by Russell (edited May 20, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Russell (edited May 20, 2001).]

[Koyaanisqatsi]

quote: Originally posted by Russell on 05-20-2001 10:48 AM My first impression when I read that bit in the preview was that there was simply going to be no cultural benefit from conquered buildings at all which might mean having to tearing them down and rebuild them.

Or not tear them down...maybe they provide some use, since we're allowed multiples of different buildings now...
[This message has been edited by Bell (edited May 20, 2001).]

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Im looking forward to those 12 scenarios. Too bad theres no official word 'bout what types they're gonna be (cept that WW2 is out).

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Goooooooooooood Morning Vietnam!

[SerapisIV]

sorry, dp
[This message has been edited by SerapisIV (edited May 20, 2001).]

[SerapisIV]

quote: Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia on 05-20-2001 01:58 PM Too bad theres no official word 'bout what types they're gonna be (cept that WW2 is out).

When was WWII declared out? That would suck.

[aCa]

Doesn't mather that Sid doesn't program the game..... the important thing is that he helps making decissions and balancing the game.

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aCa (a Civilization addict)

[ancient]

quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui on 05-20-2001 12:41 PM Actually he didn't have much to do with it in the beginning, so, it ain't the Golf game... And do you still need the whole preview posted here?

yeah...

[The Rusty Gamer]

quote: Originally posted by Bell on 05-20-2001 11:40 AM Or not tear them down...maybe they provide some use, since we're allowed multiples of different buildings now... [This message has been edited by Bell (edited May 20, 2001).]

Multiples of buildings? How's that going to work?
Are we, then, going to be limited by the amount of space available to build until culture expands our borders?



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"If you post something often enough, people will start to read it"

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by SerapisIV on 05-19-2001 11:37 PM If Firaxis is admitting being conservative with Civ3, it can easily be assumed that the game will end around 2020, or with only near future tech similar to those of Civ2. This then would put to rest the idea that if the game is 6500 years long, that it ends in 2400. Being a conservative Civ iteration means sticking to tradition, 2020.

One added thing that further empasize above assumption, is that people within the PC game-industry have speculated around the fact that CTP actually managed to outsell SMAC. Most thinks that it has to do with that many customers simply couldnt relate to, or feel attached to all these strangely named SciFi-techs; base-upgrades and more, in SMAC. It all felt dry and abstract in the end. True - CTP ended 3000 AD, but the majority bought the game on sight, as a supposed major Civ-2 update - and got horribly disappointed. CTP-2 have only selled 30.000+ copies up to date. Therefore I think its pretty safe to assume, that they strictly avoid any futuristic SciFi-fantasies in this game. SciFi-scenarios though is a different thing.