The reason for the CTP2 forum's revival?

[Dinner]

I don't think I'm the only one who has noticed that the CTP2 forum has picked up noticablely in the last few months, but, maybe I am the first person to wonder why. Now, I'm very happy that this revival has occured because CTP2 is my favorite computer game, however, normally computer games become less popular the older they get and they don't normally experience a resurgence in player interest. What is it that has made CTP2 beat these odds? Why hasn't its fate been like so many other video games (at least not yet)?

We could attribute this new interest to the hard work of our new moderator, Lucutis, who has been doing a fine job of promoting this forum and the game that we love... but... I don't think that would tell us the total story.

So my question is what is the cause of this new interest? Is it just a trickle down effect from Civ3's marketing machine? Is it because so many fans have been so dissatisfied (to date) by the whole Civ3 experience and are looking for an alternative? Or perhaphs people are only now figuring out that CTP2 exists, that it can (and has) been modded, and that it really was well designed after all (if not well implimented).

I'm curious about the anwser to this question because I think there is a lot to learn from it. After all if you can figure out the key to a game's long term success then what game company wouldn't be interested? I myself have several theories but I'm going to wait before speaking so that I don't bias anyone's opinion before others get a chance to speak. So please chime in with your own reasons.

[child of Thor]

It's probably a combination of things as you have hinted at. From my own point of view CTP2 is the 'only' choice of a reasonably new tbs on the market that offers multiplayer.While i enjoy AOE and other rts games for a while, in multiplayer mode they just become a click-fest which doesn't really give the player much strategic scope.Civ2 is a great game, its just so old now and it looks it! Civ3? well i don't have it and won't untill it sorts itself out and has a multiplayer function.AI is all very well, but untill my boss is a computer and i'm just a worker in a borg-like collective then the only real(fair) challange is human vs human in any computer game. Also now that CTP2 has some great and easy to install mods(hear that everyone...EASY,if you can count your fingers you CAN install the Mods ) its got me intrested again.

[Locutus]

Re: The reason for the CTP2 forum's revival?

Originally posted by Oerdin
We could attribute this new interest to the hard work of our new moderator, Lucutis, who has been doing a fine job of promoting this forum and the game that we love... but... I don't think that would tell us the total story.

Well, I'm glad at least someone noticed (although still not enough to spell my name properly Don't worry, I'm not offended; you would have been the first if you had gotten it right ) but I'm far from the only one promoting this game. IW, hex, Martin and a few other guys are doing the best they can too...

But I agree, it's probably a combination of factors: people come here for Civ3, find out it's a major disappointment, look for an alternative, see us CtPers virorously promote this game, start hearing about it and about its mods and since it's cheap anyway don't mind giving it a(nother) shot...

The key to long term success? One word: customizibility...

[Yolky]

For me its was the lack of options in Civ3. I missed the Spy war games that went on in CtP2 as well as the other stealth units.

I loved using my Clerics but hated the AI using them.(IT was great that they used them but so anoying in reconverting the city back.) Wich is a good thing

The game seems incomplete. It just couldn't compare to Civ2

Davor

[Dinner]

Alright Lucutus your name has all "u's" in it. I'll remember that from now on. :-)

I think your right customizability is what kept people playing civ2 half a decade after the game came out. CTP2 has an easy to learn scripting language built into it while Civ3 has everything hard coded. This means CTP2 is HIGHLY customizable and this means many modders have stuck with the game even after the critics had moved on.

Since Civ3 isn't very customizable I doubt it will have a life cycle half as long as Civ2 or CTP2. Now if we could only get Activision and Firaxis to work togeather on an "official" Civ: Call to Power 3 then I would be in hog heaven.

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Alright Lucutus your name has all "u's" in it. I'll remember that from now on. :-)

Since Civ3 isn't very customizable I doubt it will have a life cycle half as long as Civ2 or CTP2.

I concur.

Now if we could only get Activision and Firaxis to work togeather on an "official" Civ: Call to Power 3 then I would be in hog heaven.

Well, I'm not too sure about that: Activsion doesn't have any programmers anymore and I'm not too happy with the way Civ3 turned out. Maybe if the Firaxians vow to not release until it's done (CtP2 wasn't done either but at least it had essential features such as MP and scripting) and to make it extremely moddable (as well as hire experienced CtP2 players and modmakers as advisors), then I'd agree to it; otherwise I wouldn't want a Firaxian anywhere near CtP...

[child of Thor]

Originally posted by Locutus

(as well as hire experienced CtP2 players and modmakers as advisors)

Its about time you guys had a piece of the pie!

[August Borms]

Man, I wish I could play CTP2 right now... Civ3 is still unplayable, Civ2 is ok though it's quickly getting boring. Why did I borrow my CTP2 cd to someone who I haven't seen for a year now

[Gazablanca]

For me,I think it's the fact that people have went out,bought Civ 3,played for a month and just got sick of it then remembered "Hey....CTP 2 wasn't a bad game at all modded" and came back here to involve themselves in much CTP2 goodness

That's my thinking anyway......

Now only if we could get a succession game started

[ZigZac]

I bought CTPI a long time ago, but never went to any of the websites for it. Then I bought CTPII here and also CivIII. I had some questions about both and I knew that I could just go to the website and ask. Well, then I figured that usually the fansites have a little bit better info and replies than the tech support. And this website looked the most professional. So I got an account and the people here have been really helpful

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Assur
Man, I wish I could play CTP2 right now... Civ3 is still unplayable, Civ2 is ok though it's quickly getting boring. Why did I borrow my CTP2 cd to someone who I haven't seen for a year now

Assur, thank you for the lead way into my next reason for CTP2's revivial and that is... the game has become dirt CHEAP! Yep, that's right since the game is now a year and something old copies of CTP2 have hit the bargin bin at local retailers and you can pick up a copy of CTP2 for something like $10. Now that's what I call getting your money's worth.

At prices like that people who have lost, sold, or discarded their copy can now pick up a new one and begin playing the modded version of the game. :-)

[Locutus]

Originally posted by child of Thor
Its about time you guys had a piece of the pie!

Actually, Activision already did this with CtP2. Unfortunately they didn't pay us though (Hardly listened either, but the blame for that lies with the bean counters, not with the programmers)

Originally posted by Gazablanca
Now only if we could get a succession game started

Well, what's stopping you?
Seriously though, start a thread and I'll have Markos post a newsitem, might just get the ball rolling...

Oerdin,
I agree, price is probably a factor as well.

[August Borms]

Originally posted by Oerdin


Assur, thank you for the lead way into my next reason for CTP2's revivial and that is... the game has become dirt CHEAP! Yep, that's right since the game is now a year and something old copies of CTP2 have hit the bargin bin at local retailers and you can pick up a copy of CTP2 for something like $10. Now that's what I call getting your money's worth.

At prices like that people who have lost, sold, or discarded their copy can now pick up a new one and begin playing the modded version of the game. :-)

Well, I've only seen it in one store and it costed $38, which is more than most new games

[ZigZac]

I bought my copy for about $6.00

I would never expect to see that kind of price in the US though.

[Leonidas]

I picked a copy of CTP2 for $14.95. It comes with a full manual and a large fold out poster that includes many easy to reference items on it. I love the opening movie and the fact that it includes in-game wonder movies.

After the disappointment with Civ3 I'm having another look at the "new" modded CTP2.