Rewrite History: the Promise Since Civ 1

On the back of the Civ1 box, IIRC, there was big, bold text at the top that read, "Rewrite History."

Well, we can replay history... We can re-live history, modify, manipulate, and otherwise create an infinite number of "what if" scenarios... but what I'd like to see is an integrated "book writing" utility.

For example, at the end of every Xth turn, the game captures all current demographics [new Civ5 "more interesting" demographics, of course], you can take a couple of screenshots, add some text, and _bam!_ At the end of the game you have storybook XML page(s) that can easily be uploaded, archived, read, and shared.

Add a "book editor," where you can format the layout, modify graphs, and otherwise create the history book of your dreams... NOW we're re-writing history. Plus, I can't imagine that integrating an XML editor can be terribly difficult for a game that's so XML dependent...

$.02 for those of us who's imaginations exceed our computer's capabilities.

Now that I think about this, modding this into Civ4 might not be that difficult... Any modders in the house know if this would be easy or not? The scripting would surpass my humble skill set.

You can already see history unfold at the end of the game on the replay. This would be cool though.

Yeah, but you're still just _watching_ it, even though you participated in it's creation. I mean to take "rewriting" literally. While yes, it would be easy enough to clip screenshots, archive statistics, and use MS Office to create a killer "storybook," why not add an integrated feature???

This would probably go over way better in the stories forum... hmmmm...

That is an awesome idea, cassembler , seriously would be cool.

While this could easily be modded into Civ 4, I'd much rather see this in Civ 5.

Why not to create such a book yourself with MS office as you say?

Naokaukodem said:

Why not to create such a book yourself with MS office as you say?

Click to expand...

Well, that's kind of the point of this thread- Ideas and suggestions. I'd rather not have to! I'm lazy.

cassembler said:

I'm lazy.

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It could be interesting in the process. And you could share it in the forums, I'm sure plenty of people would be interested by reading it.

It would take a while, but perhaps you're right. At least "one good chapter" of history rewriting... After 18 hrs of school and 40 hrs of work, of course...

"450 A.D. Islam founded in Washington. Missionaries of the new religion spread the faith to New York, and America becomes an Islamic theocratic monarchy."

"A religious war is declared by the Dahli Lama, and all voting members of the Vatican follow suite. A fierce siege ends with Buddhist forces taking the Taoist stronghold city of Babylon."

.. that sorta thing?

Coast said:

"450 A.D. Islam founded in Washington. Missionaries of the new religion spread the faith to New York, and America becomes an Islamic theocratic monarchy."

"A religious war is declared by the Dahli Lama, and all voting members of the Vatican follow suite. A fierce siege ends with Buddhist forces taking the Taoist stronghold city of Babylon."

.. that sorta thing?

Click to expand...

Your history writing is going swimmingly I see...

But yes. Imagine the above text accompanied by screenshots, and a pie graph with a caption reading, "While 79% of Americans in 1712 were Islamic, at least 12% fiercely resisted and would ultimately burn down the Internet in 1776."

They should make a section on CF where you can download stories .

TheTemplar said:

They should make a section on CF where you can download stories .

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That's the idea: Having uploadable XML files, or Word files (or whatever file), that you can just click 'n view. If Civ5 is fully integrated online, then these XML files could self-update as the player continues the game.

Even people who don't own the game can play!!!