As a Total War player, the game map looks awfully strange...

[Dahir]

The game map for Medieval 2: Total War, firstly, looks fairly traditional. Its simply a map of the world, first in the Eastern Hemisphere, then the game opens up the Western Hemisphere.

This game's mini-map looks like a random sent of islands. If there are different game maps or worlds you can choose from, can any of you post screenshots of how they look.

I'll firstly post a screenshot of a game map I'm currently playing on Medieval 2: Total War, where I'll encircle the mini-map, the part that seems most important here.

If you can tell me, is there a larger menu on Civ4 where you can view your civilization's stats and world status and map as well.

 

[Nikis-Knight]

Try this page:
http://www.civfanatics.com/civ4/reference/map_scripts_guide.php

If you can tell me, is there a larger menu on Civ4 where you can view your civilization's stats and world status and map as well.

There are various advisor buttons to in the upper left, are any of these what you are looking for?

 

[Dahir]

Thanks, looks sufficient enough.

But, in TW, its realistic, with a neat world map, extremely historical and accurate, etc.

Why the childish map scheme in this game, and letting you CHOOSE what kind of map you want? Its a little odd.

 

[Nikis-Knight]

The random maps add replayabilty, imo. But it sounds like you'd like a couple other options
For more realism, try playing with the earth map in the scenarios section, or download "Rhye's and Fall of Civilizations" mod from this site, which has an earth map and civ-specific start dates.

For more unpredictability, try using the shuffle map option, which will give you a random map type.

 

[Dahir]

Earth Map in scenarios sounds awfully good for my tastes.

Thanks.

 

[Duuk]

But, in TW, its realistic, with a neat world map, extremely historical and accurate, etc.

:rofl:

That's the funniest thing I've ever heard someone say.

MTW has nothing to do with history. I especially like the cannon-mountain elephant tanks and the election of the Emperor of Europe.

 

[civverguy]

Civilization is about randomising. It adds replayability like NK said.

 

[T.A JONES]

:rofl:

That's the funniest thing I've ever heard someone say.

MTW has nothing to do with history. I especially like the cannon-mountain elephant tanks and the election of the Emperor of Europe.

Mybe give him a break. I think was specifically talking about the 'look' of the map and thats all. He dosn't know the games about rewriting history on all fronts except where you speak.

I agree with him, the maps do look out of whack. Its simply explained when comparing the two. The Civ4 engine was out before RTW so those guys could learn from 3d limitations or flaws and make a engine that improved on Civ4's

The OPs issue comes down to not being able to zoom out and capture a nice shot of the empire without the details fading or becoming clouded.
Anyone whos played another Civ game in the series should agree with the OP knowing how much it adds to the feel of certain aspects over Civ4s set up when you can grasp all your empire in one easy to read picture

IM sure Civ5 will improve on Total Romes engine. Civ5 is closer then most believe. One reason is to capitilize on this and recover fans lost by sacrificing performace and yet lowering the amount of detail. Thats A new 1st in gaming history. Something so dubious they want to redeem the franachise quickly, not wait around like they did when they 'owned' the strategy market.

CIv4 was just a rough transition into 3d especially for a game so huge in thought processes. It was never meant be anything other then a 2d game when you think of all the calculatioins required over these other eyeandy showcases.
THe graphics engine hasn' caught up with advanced script content (AI, game mechanics etc) yet when it does, Civ will be great again.

 

[datachasm]

i do not get it...

having both Civ4 and M2TW on my shelf, i can say imo Civ4 looks TONS better on the Campaign map. you can also zoom out all the way and view the entire planet as a globe, rotate it, and put filters on it such as religion and territory. and to boot you can post notes and draw strategy lines.