milesonwheels
Chieftain
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2003
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Is there a predicted release date for Civ 4? Also, is it going to be a 3D game, because the normal 2D is getting a little tiresome, however awesome the game. Please answer soon! 
Civilization 4 Question
- Thread starter milesonwheels
- Start date
SesnOfWthr
True Believer
The only release "guesstimates" I have seen say fall 2005.
there has been very little actually said about what will be included in Civ4. Check the Civ4 subforum.
there has been very little actually said about what will be included in Civ4. Check the Civ4 subforum.
milesonwheels
Chieftain
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2003
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Does anybody know if Civ 4 will be the last Civ? I love the series and im worried sick!
Moderator Action: Thread moved to Civ4 - Ideas & Suggestions.
warpstorm
Yumbo? Yumbo!
milesonwheels said:
Only if it doesn't sell well.
As far as when, nobody has officially said, but I assume late 2005 (because of how long these things take to build) and that it will be 3D (because of who Firaxis hired to work on it).
ComradeDavo
Formerly God
Nothing wrong with a bit of 3D, but 2D works best for civ.
Jon Shafer
Civilization 5 Designer
Hopefully not 3D.
As for a release date... either fall 2005 or 2006. My guess would be 2006 since it follows the scheme of releasing a game every 5 years... Civ I in 1991, Civ II in 1996, Civ III in 2001.
As for a release date... either fall 2005 or 2006. My guess would be 2006 since it follows the scheme of releasing a game every 5 years... Civ I in 1991, Civ II in 1996, Civ III in 2001.
warpstorm
Yumbo? Yumbo!
Why would Firaxis have hired a 3D specialist programmer and put him in charge of graphics for Civ4, if it weren't going to be 3D?Trip said:
Firaxis Web Site said:
Commander Bello
Say No 2 Net Validations
warpstorm said:
Oh Lord! I already can see us having to rotate the world every now and then, because a mountain will block the line of sight for the new road to be build...
Unfortunately, all units will be shown in animated, full-size 3D graphics. To make them more impressive, our angle of view will be lowered from bird perspective to human perspective. So we will be able to develop a realistic feeling of what a soldier will see during combat - almost nothing, except for dust and smoke.
Or, iron and coal deposits at mountains are just visible from the right direction....
So, we have to do virtual helicopter flights through this Rocky Mountain-like chain of hills... Well, all this was very pessimistic, of course. I really hope they don't put too much emphasis on the 3D-aspect, but keep the focus on playability and quick information at first sight. Let's hope for the best....
Jon Shafer
Civilization 5 Designer
Units...warpstorm said:
Simon_Sez919
Chieftain
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2003
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Okay...I had to go out and get a new computer before I could play Civ 3 (I was long overdue for an upgrade anyway but still....) Isn't anyone else tired of game companies who this the only reason to release a sequel is to show off cooler graphics (this means you SIM City). Concentrate on gameplay!!
Simon_Sez919 said:
Don't blame software companies. Blame the hardware companies that build better and faster processors. Think about it. If you've got this really hot processor that can do loads of stuff, but have no games to play on it, there are going to be people out there who are going to rush to write a game that can take advantage of all the cool new features. Faster processors mean better 3D rendering, more complicated polygons, a wider mix a colors...the list goes on. It's not the software compaines fault, it's the hardware companies for making processors that can handle more load. And it's not even their fault, because they're expanding into markets that the consumers want.
Commander Bello
Say No 2 Net Validations
Yep, Turner_727, but you've to admit that sometimes developers also rely on the power of the processor instead of optimizing the engine.
There is quite some potential for optimization at certain algorithms. But if you program for the technological spearhead, the game (program) may run smoothly, even if not optimized. On a lower processor, it will be a pain, though.
Sometimes I have the feeling (can't prove it, since my programmer's days are long gone) that the Civ3 engine could be massively optimized for certain calculations. Disconnecting a ressource in the late game sometimes freezes the game for almost 30 seconds (on a 2.6 GHz/ 512 MB comp). I don't think that this is really necessary.
Just an example: the entry screen of Civ3 takes up ~45% of the processing time. I mean, come on, there is nothing to be done besides playing a little bit of music and waiting for a mouse click!
Things like this are at the responsibility of the software company, I'd guess...
There is quite some potential for optimization at certain algorithms. But if you program for the technological spearhead, the game (program) may run smoothly, even if not optimized. On a lower processor, it will be a pain, though.
Sometimes I have the feeling (can't prove it, since my programmer's days are long gone) that the Civ3 engine could be massively optimized for certain calculations. Disconnecting a ressource in the late game sometimes freezes the game for almost 30 seconds (on a 2.6 GHz/ 512 MB comp). I don't think that this is really necessary.
Just an example: the entry screen of Civ3 takes up ~45% of the processing time. I mean, come on, there is nothing to be done besides playing a little bit of music and waiting for a mouse click!
Things like this are at the responsibility of the software company, I'd guess...
You've got a good point. There are developers that rely on hardware manufacturers to build better and faster processors. And there's a lot of code that can be optomized.... It's a double edged sword, indeed.
collin_stp
Warlord
3d can be added to improve gameplay as long as it is not overdone. I have more faith in Firaxis than many of you seem to. CIVIII could have easily been much more fancy and complicated at the expense of gameplay, but they decided not to.
warpstorm
Yumbo? Yumbo!
Trip said:Units...
Oh, I'm sure that units will be in 3D. Here's another quote to back up my case that Civ4 will be in 3D. This one is from the slides of Soren Johnson's GDC (Game Developer Conference) presentation a couple of months ago.
Soren Johnson said:
Commander Bello
Say No 2 Net Validations
Except for the 3D-thing, about which I am quite unsure how to think of it, it sounds promising.
Everything in 3D???
Then they really have make their thoughts how to set it up. And quite some players will have to upgrade their computers, I'd guess. But o.k., let's wait and see....
Still, I would prefer less work on the art and much more work on the other mentioned items.
Everything in 3D???
Then they really have make their thoughts how to set it up. And quite some players will have to upgrade their computers, I'd guess. But o.k., let's wait and see....
Still, I would prefer less work on the art and much more work on the other mentioned items.
