3D Graphics vs Gameplay.

[Voice Of Reason]

I was just curious as to what people think about the new graphics system in regards to gameplay. Will the new 3D engine deter from a playstyle you enjoy i.e large maps large numbers of cities ect...? If so was the upgrade worth it? I am well aware that its to late to have anything done about it and I know that Firaxis is trying to expand upoun their audiance but will it really deter any hardcore fans?

P.S. Would like to put a poll on this thread but don't know how. Is it to late? Can someone help me out with this one please?

 

[microbe]

I love eye candies.

 

[Icevulture]

The change they've made is good. I really don't think that a huge map would have been feasible in an online environment. Getting 3+ people to sit down and play a civilization game on a huge map for 8, 10, 12+ hours is impossible. Game saves? Maybe with a buddy, but not with complete strangers where you're looking to get involved in a quick pickup game. The new format is much better, regardless of the graphics. The fact that they've improved the graphics is an added bonus to the new and faster paced game play.

However, if you really love those huge maps, I'm sure the mod community is going to add a feature to have huge maps.

 

[Sullla]

3D is great - being able to rotate the camera to any angle and zoom in and out to any preference will beat the pants off having two set camera angles (as in Civ3). And I have a feeling that there will be plenty of maps large enough to suit anyone's tastes for a huge game.

 

[CyberChrist]

Heh, yes I am sure that all that zooming in and rotating on units, towns and scenery is going to speed up multiplayer games a lot

 

[TastySheriff]

Im excited to look at it, but i wont know how it feels until i can move the cursor... with my mind... i can do that you know.

 

[warpstorm]

Since I did not like maps larger than large, it won't deter me at all.

 

[knupp715]

What can I say? I love it all

 

[microbe]

Since I did not like maps larger than large, it won't deter me at all.

Surprisingly, I find new players are more addicted to larger maps.

I played exclusively on Huge Map at the beginning, now I only play standard. However, I did play a few really big maps too (check AG3).

 

[alms66]

3d is ok. Most of the graphics look fine. I won't be playing in top-down mode, or square view - I'll be using the iso-view almost exclusively, unless I need to rotate around for some reason, and that would really just piss me off more than anything. I understand the reasoning behind the move, I could certainly have lived without it, and would have much prefered to have played on 400x400 maps with 64+ civs than to have a 3d game, but, that's life - you're always getting screwed out of what you want.
I'll still buy the game, I'll probably play the default game a few times before starting a massive mod to make the game good, but if there were another option on the market (CTP3 for instance ), I'd probably not even bother with civ4, since I now know (due to the bottomless pit of suck that civ3 was) that firaxis will never make a civ game that I really want to play, straight out of the box - ever again.

 

[Phoenix_56721]

I am really excited for the 3d graphics and new interface, the smaller maps are just fine with me i play some huge maps but mostly large. as regards to decrease in the number of cities i think thats great More cities just means more Micro-M, i would much rather have less cities that were more powerful! I mostly play multiplayer games so Civ4 is just perfect for me!

 

[vbraun]

Surprisingly, I find new players are more addicted to larger maps.

If they like to Micormanage their brains out. :suicide:

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Microbe, CyberChrist, Warpstorm, Phoenix I like your icons... Compleatly off topic but ehhh *shrugs shoulders* I thought I'd share. I personally am ambivalant about the graphics in Civ4. It does'nt seem to be that big of an issue with game play but at the same time I have my reservations. But maybe playing smaller maps will do me well in preping for multi player. I have to admit I'm at a lost when it comes to forming a stratagy against other players being that I'm a builder type. I fear those warmongers that surf these threads... They gonna kick my ass before I can even build holly wood and broadway. *sniff sniff* I wish I was more aggresive *sigh*.

 

[Antiochus]

I prefer huge maps. In fact "huge" on civ 3 wasn't big enough for me. My favorite map on Civ III was the Europe map which i downloaded...it was simply colossal. With a bit of modding to optimise (less corruption in outlying cities, Intelligence Agency becoming a 3rd capital) the later ages were geared up to be an epic struggle, with huge offensives required to penetrate into a civilisation's heartland. That's the kind of warfare that i most enjoyed, not the "capital two turns march from the border" type scenario we get on smaller maps. Just my preference, and hopefully i'll be able to fulfil it (if not i may actually stick to civ 3)

 

[Raggamuffin]

There's no conflict for me between gameplay and graphics as I see it. And since gameplay has always been a hit in the Civ series and now even the graphics have been geared up I'm hoping that this will be, if not the best, at least sniffing on Civ2 in enjoyability.

 

[Roland Johansen]

I also like the largest maps of civ3 the most. I don't quite understand why map sizes have been decreased. I mean, the graphics are nice, but they are really not that stunning when compared to other games which are published nowadays. So why remove the largest maps in Civ4? Maybe someone who knows more about computer graphics efficiency can shed some light into the matter.

 

[bundy]

Graphic should not shackle gameplay, it is an secondary thing in TBS-s

 

[Darwin420]

I don't generally play on very large maps, so it won't be a bother. Personally, I can't wait to see the globe view. That's gonna be some cool eye candy. I'm sure I will never get tired of it.

3D is a good move for the franchise, and (I'm guessing/hoping) by virtue that the graphics aren't completely up to par with what comes out these days, that the gameplay was still the number one priority.

 

[microbe]

If they like to Micormanage their brains out. :suicide:

The point is that they don't MM. I remember when I first started to play one of my friends told me to automate all workers at later stage.

 

[troytheface]

The map they showed as the largest on one of the screen shots looked pretty big to me. I too played huge - i do not see that much of a reduction-

plus- there are to be fewer cities.. one can still play all civs on this new (large) map with a chance that there might be more space - ol space expands as we go inward idea.

They ought to hire some psychiatrist to figure out would please civ4 players the most- in so far as immersion-
A zoom is a good idea however they could have exaggerated this - and all graphics -to amplify/clarify/signify any game function-

Both would allow for more of an expansion by moving inward.