Arghhh, help me decide!

[Xoon]

I'm teetering on the edge of buying this game. On the one hand, I love the Civ games (am still playing Civ II). On the other hand, without a playable demo, I'm having a hard time justifying the $50. Please give input to put me over the top one way or the other! Knowing a week ago what you know now, would you still have bought the game?

 

[droo]

I'm probably not going to be any help here, but for what it's worth I can empathize with your pain. I was very much ambivalent on buying Civ3, but I really liked Civ2 and SMAC so when I saw it at the store yesterday for $27.99 I couldn't resist.

But the funny thing is that I haven't opened it yet. I'm torn between returning it if things seem to be irreparably sucky (which I'm not saying it necessarily is yet) or waiting to see what the first patch will do. Heck I could probably sell the unopened box for $35 if I can't return it.

We'll see what happens.

 

[Xerxes314]

Buy it! I spent $60 on this thing, and I'm not unhappy at all. However, if you're looking for the kind of satisfaction you get from playing FPS games on god-mode or rolling over AI civs with your ICS empire, don't touch it with a ten-foot pole. You need to have a good sense of humility to play Civ3 against the much-improved AI, especially when your Civ2 instincts fail you.

Xerxes

 

[CeasarSalad]

My opinion is that it's a great game but that some people are put off by the learning curve. A lot of these complainers write posts that begin "after two hours ..." or "I began my first game on the highest difficulty level ...". The thing to keep in mind is that it's not civ2 or alpha centauri, you'll have to learn new strategies. At this point I like it better than civ2, and AC, although I was put off a bit at first when I couldn't figure out how to correct civil disorder. Now that I'm compotent and comfortable with the interface I think that it's a great game.

 

[shirleyrocks]

Wow...I can't believe someone who loves Civ games is wavering. I was salivating over this release for a long long time. This game is incredible. If you "love" the Civ games, I have no hesitation at all recommending it. The depth added through the culture/borders aspect (borders are vastly improved over SMAC) and the strategic resources alone are worth the cost of the game. The AI is phenomenal. Lots of nice tweaks and logical gameplay fixes from Civ2. I've had no installation or bug problems at all...zippo. My only 'critiques' of the game, if I had to list them, are generally superficial...the music (too repetitive, I just turn it off), the palace/throne room is kind of eh (but who cares). It seems as though both corruption and war weariness among your population might be just a bit too high/steep, but it's still certainly playable. Besides, you can edit those settings if you don't like them. The game editor is immense.

 

[shirleyrocks]

Originally posted by CeasarSalad
My opinion is that it's a great game but that some people are put off by the learning curve. A lot of these complainers write posts that begin "after two hours ..." or "I began my first game on the highest difficulty level ...". The thing to keep in mind is that it's not civ2 or alpha centauri, you'll have to learn new strategies. At this point I like it better than civ2, and AC, although I was put off a bit at first when I couldn't figure out how to correct civil disorder. Now that I'm compotent and comfortable with the interface I think that it's a great game.

I second that emotion. There has been far too much "Yeah, well you're not like my old girlfriend..." BS lately. CivIII is NOT CivII but it IS Civ.

 

[Xoon]

I just don't think I have the time to play that I once did with Civ I (high school) and Civ II (college). To justify the purchase, I really need to be convinced that the increase in quality over Civ II is far greater than the similarities or even the reduction between the games. Is Civ II going to be enough, or would I be served by taking the extra step and getting the new one? But your comments have thus far been helpful.

And Droo, $27.99? Might I ask where you found it for this price? Or is it some black market source that you can't reveal?

 

[droo]

Wow...I can't believe someone who loves Civ games is wavering.

Well you may not necessarily have been replying to me, but for what it's worth, let me rephrase my original post.

"I've bought this big rock of crack and I've managed not to smoke it yet and I really should get rid of it. However, based on past experience and knowing my body, I know I'm going to smoke it eventually anyways, but let me go through the motions of pretending that I may not. This way after my wife takes off for good with the kids, I can tell people that I'm not a bad person, but I have this addiction to crack that I can't kick." :crazyeyes

Edit: Xoon, I bought it at Fry's here in Northern California. There's a small thread on it here that may be buried back a couple of pages.

 

[CeasarSalad]

Will Xoon be happy with his Civ3 purchase?

* shakes magic 8 - ball *

OUTLOOK HAZY, TRY AGAIN

Seriously, it's totally up to you. If you want a safety net then buy it from somewhere that will let you return it.

Am I glad that I bought it? Absolutely! Best game that I have played this year.

There are certainly worse ways to spend your time, at least you're not smoking crack.

 

[miserablecrap]

Well I guess I'm kind of a Civ uber-dork...

I had the release date on my calendar for months and had my pre-order form bookmarked so I could check it every day at the end of October. It came a day early; I was beside myself with glee.

Anyway, I think it is a FANTASTIC game. There are some interface issues/ steep learning curve, but it is a great game. I would say there may be some fixes in a patch, but it is GREAT right now. It is much harder - I find the Chieftain level beatable in an entertaining way, where Chief in C2 was a joke.

Anyway, I would have paid $100 for it and still been happy. Just make sure you have some time to learn it, your first game will probably go badly...

-MC

 

[shirleyrocks]

Originally posted by miserablecrap


Anyway, I would have paid $100 for it and still been happy.

I think I DID pay $100 for it

CivIII + Strategy Guide* = $70
Cab Fare to and from purchase = $25
Money tossed out cab window because I like round numbers = $5

(* kneejerk impulse '20% off with Civ III purchase' dumbass consumer)

 

[Jezner]

strategy guide . . . we don't need no stinkin' strategy guide.

Actually, I half debated the idea of picking one up but decided to wait until I have played the game to death, then compare my own strategies to it.

As for Xoon - what are you waiting for? It's only fifty bucks! Go jump to it. Sure, you'll lose thousands of productive hours to it, but think about economically, after you're done playing it, it'll come out to a penny an hour.

And that makes cents!

 

[mazra]

Hi Xoon,

If you like turn based strategy games, then CIV III is a must buy. It is far better than either of the "Call to Power" games. It is the best strategy game since Alpha Centauri. Can CIV III be frustrating? Yes! I posted a thread about a frustrating aspect. But it is still an incredible game with alot of depth to it. I would give it





Have a blessed day,

 

[Xoon]

What about the economic downside of not being able to find a job because I flunk out of law school. And then not being able to keep a job because I'm up all night playing Civ III? I'm not convinced that its economically the best decision :crazyeyes

 

[Xerxes314]

I can vouch that I have not YET flunked out of grad school, despite playing Civ3 12 hours a day. YMMV.

Xerxes

 

[mote]

I love the game. It gives me something to ponder while commuting or during dull moments at work. Well worth the ~70-80$ I spent on it (limited edition +strat guide).

The strat guide doesn't tell you anything you can't find on the web or from the manual+civopedia, but it does have stuff condensced in an easy to find form.

I agree we need a patch, but mostly just to fix the air defense bug. Maybe throw in some corruption-editing to make the nay-sayers happy.

I personally am thrilled that there's a CIV/SMAC I can play that will challenge me again

 

[Xoon]

The hell with it, I bought the damned game

 

[Jezner]

Bravo! Jolly good move, I must say

 

[Wozza182]

Geez I can't believe you guys are complaining about the price! You guys have it so cheap compared to us Aussies!


We have to pay $100. This is more than a day's wage for a student, and I see you guys complaining about spending $30 US which is about $60 AUS.

I think we have learnt from the past SM can be trusted to bring out quality games

Buy the damn game! People who are complaing because the AI so too strong, this is great it wont be a roll over like Civ 2 and this adds playerability.

The strategic resources, the culture, 16 civs in a game (and theres more) OMG I can't wait! But as I'm in Australia I have to wait till Nov 25

So all in all by the damn game and you'll love it!

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Students get wages...?

I go for the more interesting option of debt, debt and more debt...

My payment plan will be loan shark, loan shark and loan shark and then disappear to Canada.

Actually I've always thought that taking loans for loan sharks, then killing them and repeating would be a profitable way to live...