We know you're working on Beyond the Sword.... :goodjob:

Is it true? That'd be reason enough to buy it.

Is it true? That'd be reason enough to buy it.

What else could this mean (from the BTS press release)?


Enhanced AI: The AI has received many enhancements, making it tougher to beat on the higher difficulty levels. The ways in which the AI will attempt to achieve victory have also been expanded.

The fact that they haven't replied to this thread, or indeed even really posted in this forum at all for some months, is a strong indication that they are working on the expansion.

I really hope they are working on BTS so AI (betterAI) can handle the added strategy that comes with the expansion. If they are working on it they probably can't say anything.

Er why not?

Disclosure agreements would normally pertain to specifics and not to saying "I am working on this project."

Iustus told that he was NOT working on Civ IV : Beyond the Sword. He had to stop working on BetterAI for the moment (real life).

Blake didn't say anything though (as far as I know).

<alexman> The AI is much better, thanks to Blake, so we had to reduce its bonuses

--from the BTS chat. :goodjob:

Also from the IGN Interview (http://pc.ign.com/articles/796/796807p1.html):

The AI in Beyond the Sword is so much better that I had to drop the difficulty level I play at. It was embarrassing to get routinely beaten at my own scenario. Blake, one of the community members, has been working with Firaxis on the AI since just after Warlords was released and it has made a huge difference.

Alex also called Blake a genius in the chat, which is definitly deserved.

Yes, it's a great news to know Blake worked on the AI in BtS. What he did on BetterAI was great. I don't know if any of us fans will be able to improve anything about the AI after BtS is out. Blake will probably upload nice updates as official patches anyway.

It was a huge relief for me when I heard that Blake was working on AI for BtS. :D All along I was secretly hoping that the reason betterAI was abandoned and Blake disappeared was that he had been recruited to work on the expansion. Now that it's confirmed, I'm very excited about BtS, if only for the hyped up AI improvements.

Still, I hope the betterAI project is never abandoned. It's been my single most loved mod, if you'd call it one. If we're lucky and if after BtS is released the inevitable AI flaws are found quickly, then perhaps Blake will (officially) help out with the patch/s to improve the AI. If not, we can only hope Blake or Iustus (and now klokwerk and Yakk too :goodjob: ) would keep the spirit of betterAI alive.

Quite simply, betterAI is what keeps me interested in Civ4.:)

Now that it's confirmed, I'm very excited about BtS, if only for the hyped up AI improvements.I have to agree. Now I know the BtS AI improvements are going to be of the same quality as Better AI, I'm really looking forward to getting back into Civ 4 (haven't played since the Better AI project stopped).

I wasn't planning on buying BtS because I didn't want to take a step backwards with the AI. Finding out Blake is directly involved in BtS means I'm purchasing it for sure. 'Better AI' is the best mod in the entire history of Civ.

I wasn't planning on buying BtS because I didn't want to take a step backwards with the AI. Finding out Blake is directly involved in BtS means I'm purchasing it for sure. 'Better AI' is the best mod in the entire history of Civ.

Agreed. If Better AI is what he could do for free, just imagine what he could do when he's actually getting paid for it... :goodjob:

Who said Blake was payed? Not that he doesn't deserve it and I'd like to see Firaxis hire him, but to my knowledge all the Beta testers are volunteers.

I find it impossible to believe these guys would not be paid, otherwise why are they giving so much time. You don't get into that level of involvement without some kind of compensation. He's more than a beta-tester, he's working on the code....

I find it impossible to believe these guys would not be paid, otherwise why are they giving so much time. You don't get into that level of involvement without some kind of compensation. He's more than a beta-tester, he's working on the code....

I agree. If he was asked to code the new AI, of course he's paid...