Aspyr Announces Civ3 Complete & Civ4

[JoAT]

Aspyr is now taking pre-orders for C3C.

Under system requirements:

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
CPU Processor: PowerPC G4/G5 or later
CPU Speed: 500MHz or faster
Memory: 256 MB or higher
Hard Disk Space: 2.0 GB free disk space
Video: Display supporting 1024x768 resolution required
Multiplayer: LAN or Internet Connection required for some multiplayer modes. Broadband Internet connection is recommended for 5 or more players. Multiplayer is Mac to Mac only via GameRanger.
Media Required: DVD Drive

Boo!

 

[Earthling7]

Aspyr is now taking pre-orders for C3C.
Multiplayer is Mac to Mac only via GameRanger.

Boo!

That's what you get when Sid decides to use Microsoft code. Didn't he use some ActiveX or whatever multiplayer thingy? Can't remember what it was, but it was the reason no Mac multiplayer was released, I think.

If you want to boo someone, boo Sid for being so short sighted and narrow minded.

 

[AlanH]

A while ago I went to the main online Civ3 game server and had a look at how many people play multi-player online games. It was pretty pathetic, so I really don't think we're missing anything.

DirectPlay is the M$ technology that includes the proprietary network protocol. I think it was theoretically possible for Aspyr to make Civ3 Complete compatible with DirectPlay, but the cost in time and/or licenses would likely be beyond any returns they could achieve from this release. They don't have to have that capability going forward, as Civ4 is based on a different networking library.

Also, Civ3 Complete looks to me like a publicity/marketing tool, and a Christmas present for all us MacCivFanatics. I can't see it making Aspyr's fortune given the imminent arrival of Mac Civ4. Pure speculation: It may even have been a bundle deal they did with Firaxis to reduce the cost of the Civ4 license.

 

[Schisgall]

But what a nice Christmas Present! I haven't been so excited since I downloaded Alan's Conquests for Mac simulation mod

 

[AlanH]

But what a nice Christmas Present! I haven't been so excited since I downloaded Alan's Conquests for Mac simulation mod

Thanks for the plug, but I assume you mean bluebox's GOTM mod? bluebox and the then-GOTM team (before my staff days) should take the credit for that. I just packaged it.

 

[JoAT]

If you want to boo someone, boo Sid for being so short sighted and narrow minded.

Oops. I meant to put a after that. I'm well aware of Firaxis' lack of forsight on the issue.

It seems that the guidance system on that "Boo" failed miserably.

Boo Firaxis!!!

JoAT

 

[jhbiv]

Having suffered through the marginal support for Civ 3 so far, what does Civ 3 Complete offer? I understand that it includes the original Civ 3, Play the World, and Conquests. Does this mean we MAC users will finally get a full up working scenario editor? Or will we once again get one that sort of kind of works, but not really. Or worse will it be like the original Civ 3 whose box art claimed that it had a functional scenario editor, but didn't? I am loath to spend money on another iffy product. Aspyr is a bit short on details.

I should add that I appreciate all the support that Brad provided on his own (1.29B2 etc). But the fact remains that for us MAC users the game had much less functionality. Making scenarios was a pain and I could never get start positions to work.

 

[ejday]

Having suffered through the marginal support for Civ 3 so far, what does Civ 3 Complete offer? I understand that it includes the original Civ 3, Play the World, and Conquests.

That would be it. But here's the deal: that's a whole lotta options, a whole lotta expanded game play – on a game that has a still-thriving aftermarket community.

Does this mean we MAC users will finally get a full up working scenario editor?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

No. No editor for you.
Personally, I'm disappointed as heck – my play style is solid "builder", but the old beta 1.29B2 should be able to create maps that are functional, if not fully tweakable.

Or will we once again get one that sort of kind of works, but not really. Or worse will it be like the original Civ 3 whose box art claimed that it had a functional scenario editor, but didn't? I am loath to spend money on another iffy product. Aspyr is a bit short on details.

Last I heard, editor claims wouldn't even make as far as the box-top. Am I disappointed? Sure. It seems like half of a nice gesture. Will I buy it? Probably – it depends on how busy I am. Will I buy C-IV? Probably. If it has the "World Builder", it becomes "definitely." Twice, maybe.

I should add that I appreciate all the support that Brad provided on his own (1.29B2 etc). But the fact remains that for us MAC users the game had much less functionality. Making scenarios was a pain and I could never get start positions to work.

Every scenario is a challenge, but start positions, IIRC, didn't come until PTW anyway. Who knows... maybe we could persuade someone to tweak the old editor.

Wish I could give you entirely rosy news (with an editor), but that's about the state of things.

 

[jhbiv]

I will admit to spending hours playing Civ 3, in spite of its crippled state. But lets be fair, right up until MAC users were told to take a long walk off a short pier, we were promised (over and over again) a functioning scenario editor. I paid for one and never received it. So now I should fork over an additional $40-50 for something called Civi 3 Complete that demonstrably isn't complete because it still doesn't have a scenario editor. As much as I appeciate the effort that has gone into porting it, and should encourage game makers to create MAC compatible games, as there are lots of scenarios/mods available for free why should I pay more money for another incomplete product?

For the record and because I am sure Aspyr is at least lurking, I plan on delaying my purchase of Civ 4 until they can assure me that it is in fact not, like Civ 3, a truncated beta version of the PC game. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me!

 

[Beamup]

For the record and because I am sure Aspyr is at least lurking, I plan on delaying my purchase of Civ 4 until they can assure me that it is in fact not, like Civ 3, a truncated beta version of the PC game. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me!

Without getting into how appropriate your feelings on Civ3 are, you're really not being fair to Aspyr here. They had absolutely nothing to do with the decision to halt development on the editor in the original Mac release or the original decision to promise it, as they were neither the developer nor the publisher in that case. MacSoft was responsible for those decisions (again, without getting into the reasons behind them).

Is it appropriate to be skeptical about any future promises by MacSoft to add features to their products after release? I can't argue with that - as you say, "fool me once..." But it just isn't fair to paint all other developers/publishers (specifically Aspyr in this case) with the same brush.

P.S. It's also inappropriate to pin it on Brad and claim that his involvement makes skepticism appropriate (if you were thinking of doing that). He didn't make the decisions, nor is he responsible for them.

P.P.S. There is no such thing as a MAC. It's not an acronym. The appropriate capitalization is Mac.

 

[AlanH]

P.P.S. There is no such thing as a MAC. It's not an acronym. The appropriate capitalization is Mac.

Actualy there is. But it's not specifically to do with Macintosh, or Apple Computers. MAC stands for Media Access Control, and usually refers to the local link level 2 address on any computer's ethernet card.

 

[jhbiv]

Certainly not blaming Brad for anything except making an unacceptable situation a whole lot better. He is to be applauded for all of the work he put in to fix what MacSoft, etc. left undone. That he is involved in the Mac port of Civ 4 makes me more confident that it will be worth buying. Unfortunately it has become common for software companies (including Microsoft) to charge for what is essentially a Beta version. The rush sell results all too often in software that is very buggy and requires multiple patches to get it to function properly. Again, unless Brad is now senior amnagement at Aspyr, he is not responsible for this. Brad did a heck of good job making up for the totally inadequate support provided by MacSoft.

 

[dojoboy]

Hello jhbiv. You talk like a veteran. Where have you been the past few years? Other forums, or just new to the boards in general?

Welcome.

... for something called Civi 3 Complete that demonstrably isn't complete because it still doesn't have a scenario editor.

...

No need to rehash old debates. I do recommend you pick up a copy of Civ3Com. Even though it will not have an editor, the game is great fun. Of course, this is easy for me to say, because editors are not high on my list. For me, there is plenty of stuff created by the PC users to tide me over.

 

[Beamup]

Actualy there is. But it's not specifically to do with Macintosh, or Apple Computers. MAC stands for Media Access Control, and usually refers to the local link level 2 address on any computer's ethernet card.

So I shorthanded "no such computer." So sue me.

Actually, why bother? I'm a penniless grad student, after all...

 

[AlanH]

Consider yourself sued ... for every penny you have

 

[dojoboy]

Actually, why bother? I'm a penniless grad student, after all...

Still? Wasn't that the case also back in June, 2001?

 

[n8mac]

For me, there is plenty of stuff created by the PC users to tide me over.

This is also why I am going to get CivIIIComplete, there is a vast amount of goodies on CivÎII downloads on this site that I can't wait to tap into. I have probably played twice as much CivII scenarios as the original game. An I have probably played CivIII twice as much as CivII scenarios. So for CivIII scenarios, well, you get the picture.

 

[jhbiv]

Well I guess I am a veteran as I'm retired US Army artillery. I've been playing Civ since before it had numbers. I'm also an archaeologist and read a lot of history. There was a post I saw while cruising last night that complained about the dearth of understanding of military history on the part of many programers. One of the reasons I like to mess with the editor, is so I can make the games behave more historically. My units (especially) bear little resemblance to those the game came with. But I'm not a computer wiz, so an editor is a must as far as I am concerned. I tend to participate in the forums only when I have a problem. And I read more than I post.

I have four kids all of whom play Civ and while the upgraded graphics are appreciated to an extent. And we understand it from a marketing standpoint (it would be very hard to sell a game with the graphics from the original Civ, but damn it would runfast!). But as far as we are concerned the amount of time devoted to making the game "pretty" is mostly a waste of time. I don't need 3D views and animated units, etc., etc., etc. And if the game designers would stop messing with all of that, I suspect that they would find that they had considerably fewer bugs!

 

[Nicci]

does anyone know when Civ complete will be available in Europe?

 

[AlanH]

Amazon UK is quoting 23 December for advance orders. But I think they make these things up.