PolyCast Episode 26: "Catch the Civolution" (Part 1)

[DanQ]

Before the month is out, PolyCast will complete an unprecedented achivement. The third new episode in as many consecutive weeks has become the first of a two-parter, leading the way for a fourth consecutive episode in as many weeks. This split production will also mark the first time not just one but two game developers appear as guest co-hosts in "Catch the Civolution (Part 1)" (59m59s).

Firaxis Games Executive Producer Barry Caudill and artist Dorian Newcomb along with Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) staff member Matt "Nugog" G. join regular co-hosts Daniel "DanQ" Quick, Makaluha, Imran "Imran Siddiqui" Siddiqui to discuss Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword but primarily Civilization Revolution. This is the first time Firaxians have answered questions from the gaming public about CivRev in an interview, and impart some previously undisclosed details about it in the process.

PolyCast is the official and regularly bi-weekly, one-hour podcast of ACS in an effort to give the Civ community now an interactive voice. ACS is the only known website to produce its own Civ podcast.

[DanQ]

Summary of Topics

NEWS (02m38s)
Learning about the newly minted tournament for Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword players, the change list for BtS' upcoming 3.13 patch and points from a preview on Civilization Revolution.

SENATE (16m11s)
The importance of the spy unit a la BtS.

RESEARCH LAB (17m37s)
Considering keeping cultural characteristics in Civ.

INTERVIEW (PT. 1) (18m53s)
Chatting with BARRY and DORIAN about BtS.

MODCAST (37m23s)
The worst corporation in BtS and the worst unit in CivIV period, and reaction to a BtS change in how peace treaties operate.

INTERVIEW (PT. 2) (42m26s)
The first set of CivRev questions for and answers from BARRY and DORIAN.

MAILBAG (56m43s)
A voicemail from a listener wanting to know how to insert CivIV icons into their in-game chat messages.

[Will9]

10 turns of unbreakable peace was in Civ4 from the beginning. It wasn't until BTS that you would get a popup saying when it was over.

And the Civ Rev FactSheet has been updated. One of the updates is, "No Civ3 style corruption or pollution!"

[RobWorham]

[RobWorham]

Especially the first ten minutes .............

[DanQ]

Originally posted by Will
10 turns of unbreakable peace was in Civ4 from the beginning. It wasn't until BTS that you would get a popup saying when it was over.

For me, it wasn't the pop-up that had me scratching my head but rather the bold declaration of "Deal Canceled" (though I didn't make that clear when talking about it on the show). I quickly realized it hadn't changed gameplay at all, but couldn't help but think that "when peace treaties are canceled, it usually means war" to me or at best simply a return/turn to a state of cease fire. In this case though, the peace treaty remains in place.

A re-wording of the message should help clarify the point.

And the Civ Rev FactSheet has been updated. One of the updates is, "No Civ3 style corruption or pollution!"

Originally posted by RobWorham

Originally posted by RobWorham
Especially the first ten minutes .............

[Locutus]

The full list of chat icons as I promised:

[ICON_HAPPY] -
[ICON_UNHAPPY] -
[ICON_HEALTHY] -
[ICON_UNHEALTHY] -
[ICON_FOOD] -
[ICON_EATENFOOD] - with hole
[ICON_PRODUCTION] -
[ICON_COMMERCE] -
[ICON_GOLD] -
[ICON_RESEARCH] -
[ICON_CULTURE] -
[ICON_ESPIONAGE] - spy
[ICON_RELIGION] -
[ICON_GREATPEOPLE] -
[ICON_TRADE] -
[ICON_POWER] - lightning bolt
[ICON_STRENGTH] -
[ICON_MOVES] -
[ICON_ANGRYPOP] - angry bust

Thanks for the question, Mark!

[DanQ]

Originally posted by Locutus
The full list of chat icons as I promised:

Shiny!

Thanks for the question, Mark!