[C3C] Civ3 Cutscenes - A Take at Upscaling

[Z2K_Retro]

Hey folks, I want to apologize upfront if this violates any rules against self-promotion. I just put a decent bit of work into these and I wanted to share them. I don't make a penny off of this.

Using Topaz Video's new-ish Starlight model, I took a crack at upscaling the opening and Space Race cutscenes from the classic version of Civ3. I spent endless hours on this game back in the day and it's so cool to see these with a fresh coat of paint. Here they are:

Note that this isn't perfect. The frame doubling to 30 FPS looks great in some scenes but caused subtle artifacting in others and I had to use different tools for different sections of the video. The spaceship looks terrible in long shots - that would need to be fixed by a human artist. But I'm still pretty pleased.

 

[Spoonwood]

I still don't understand what the opening picture refers to.

 

[Z2K_Retro]

I still don't understand what the opening picture refers to.

I always assumed it was a tower of babel mixed with ascent of man sort of thing,

 

[tjs282]

Yes, it's an adaptation of the Tower of Babel (the architectural style of each level represents one of the Ages in the game). The original Civ III box-art makes this explicit, by re-using the painting by Pieter Bruegel:

 

[Spoonwood]

Yes, it's an adaptation of the Tower of Babel (the architectural style of each level represents one of the Ages in the game). The original Civ III box-art makes this explicit, by re-using the painting by Pieter Bruegel:

View attachment 752128

Thanks! It *finally* makes sense! Except a cannon/artillery turret and a plane flying over it? Alright, I guess it's supposed to be a cartoonish joke like the Sid advisors...

 

[tjs282]

The top level of the tower is "Modern" architecture. And I'm pretty sure the "artillery turret" is actually a construction crane...?

 

[Spoonwood]

The top level of the tower is "Modern" architecture. And I'm pretty sure the "artillery turret" is actually a construction crane...?

On further consideration, I think you're correct about the "turret" and I misunderstood that. Still, a plane definitely flies over that building. So, ... well maybe planes got invented in 3000 BC in that world somehow, I suppose? Why does this remind of some episode of Stargate: Atlantis where McKay gives them access to flying machines while still in the middle ages?

 

[Z2K_Retro]

On further consideration, I think you're correct about the "turret" and I misunderstood that. Still, a plane definitely flies over that building. So, ... well maybe planes got invented in 3000 BC in that world somehow, I suppose? Why does this remind of some episode of Stargate: Atlantis where McKay gives them access to flying machines while still in the middle ages?

It's showing progress of civilization through time. As you ascend it goes from ancient to medieval to industrial to modern and the fighter jet indicates that we're in the present day and beyond.

 

[Spoonwood]

It's showing progress of civilization through time. As you ascend it goes from ancient to medieval to industrial to modern and the fighter jet indicates that we're in the present day and beyond.

Oh... that makes sense! Thank you!

 

[Z2K_Retro]

Took a crack at the same cutscenes from the "Complete" version - in that version they're already at 30 FPS. I don't like them quite as much but I think the quality is a bit better. Space Race is the same.

 

[Lanzelot]

Wow, I have watched these videos so many times over the last 25 years, but seeing this in high resolution really makes a difference.
Good job!