Clash of Civilizations demo 5 and more...

[Mark_Everson]

Clash is a project for a civ-like game (but Not a clone). The game features low micromangement, a semi-realistic government model including internal power struggles, and will have killer AI (when we get around to it )

Your first stop to check up on the project should be at the Clash Web Site .. It's Packed with information on where we are right now, and where we're going!

Our Forum for suggestions and working out a design spec is here. Please comment on things you like or don't like. Make alternative suggestions, its an open mike . But please read the "Suggestions" link on the web site so you know how to make your comments in a way that will have a lasting impact on the development.

Clash Status:

We are hoping to finish up the overall design fairly soon, and are proceeding to coding in many areas that are better developed. Our 5th demo to acid-test our game models and interfaces is available off the web page.

Gary Thomas is now organizing the coding (as of about 4/01). He is implementing as much of the existing design as he can as fast as he can. Laurent is developing the military model code, and I'm doing the same for economy. There is also continuous work on several models (Government/Social, Diplomacy, Military), that are in demo 5, or will be in its immediate successor.

We are now using a 'radical' programming/design approach where we will try to release new versions frequently for comment and bug-hunting etc. This approach relies less on design docs, and more on a 'living' evolution of the game design as the coding progresses.

The game as it stands is not as far along as we'd like it to be! We all want something Really playable. But as the coding progresses, there are a lot of ways that good thoughts in the design area can still seriously influence the final game at this point. So we want to hear from you!

This is your chance to comment on a civ-like game to someone who will Really Listen. To get your comments in the right places, so they can have the maximum effect, please look over the model on the appropriate web page area First, and post in the most recent thread on the forum.

Mark Everson


Clash of Civilizations Highlights

- Type of game: Whole-History 4x TBS
- Play types: Single & Multi- Player
- Design goals: Killer AI, Reduced Micromanagement, More Realistic Feel
- Distribution type: Shareware
- Current version: Demo 5
- Scheduled release date: 2002
- Platforms: All! (Anything that will run Java)
- Programming language: Java
- Need of help?: Yes, Clash can abuse your help in virtually any area...
- Graphics: 8-bit
- Map: Isometric / Cylindrical
- Tiles: Square
- Unique/generic civs: Generic, but much more nuanced than usual
- Victory types: Varies (player set)
- Number of max civs: Unlimited (player set)
- Simultaneous moves: Yes
- Customizable units: Yes
- Borders: Yes
- Tile improvement model: Similar to public works in CTP, but more advanced
- Stacks/tactical combat: Stacks / automatic tactical combat that takes into account player orders
- Goverments: Detailed Government model including internal power struggles

- Contact: Mark Everson -- markeverson@comcast.net

[edit, changed email address]

 

[Hommer]

Can you post some small screenshots?

I'm bored to visit MANY pages in this cite, my internet connection is pretty fast to serf through most cites, but with this cite I have a problems. I try to read manual, but I can't see a really needed file - RULEZ.txt!!!

 

[Mark_Everson]

Hi Hommer:

Here is a small screenshot from demo 5:

Is your problem with the site (in addition to low attention span ) that the images are too big? They aren't that bad...

There is a mirror web site here that may be worth trying.

The D5 manual is all there is. I don't understand your desire for a rules.txt file, can you explain? Everything that would be in a rules.txt is in the manual.

 

[Hommer]

I completely don't understand navigation and even principes of this cite construction. You post a screen that I already seen but how I can understand game mechanics from it?.. Even some of it?..

I press link to Manual but it brings me to a FAQ in the forum... Maybe I do anything wrong?

 

[Mark_Everson]

Originally posted by Hommer
I completely don't understand navigation and even principes of this cite construction. You post a screen that I already seen but how I can understand game mechanics from it?.. Even some of it?..

I press link to Manual but it brings me to a FAQ in the forum... Maybe I do anything wrong?

I can't tell what you are doing from your description. Nobody else has ever complained that the site is hard to navigate... There are lots of details, organized by topical pages, but that is what we have.

Here is a link to the manual. Reading it will tell you much more than any screenshot will.

Demo 5 Manual

 

[Hommer]

10x. I download game, but Java-interpeter is missing in my machine. I think it is not good idea build such complex programs in Java. I CAN transfer Java to my home comp by floppy-disks, but it is... unsuitable. Thanks 4 help anyway.

 

[Mark_Everson]

Hi Hommer:

Sorry the java download part screwed you up. I take it the download is too much for your web connection? Best of luck finding entertainment elsewhere for now...

-Mark

 

[Hommer]

No. Downloadings isb't a problem (in such file size), but the transferring java to my home computer is a problem. I'll try to see this game anyway.

 

[Mark_Everson]

Hi All:

In Clash of Civilizations Demo 6 we've added a bunch of new features to the solid military and economic game already available in Demo 5. You can see a few details about the new features at the bottom. In the new features such as road building, and merchants that carry out trade, players will already experience the Clash design philosophy of combining low required micromanagement with in-depth possibilities! You can do the micromanagement that You think is fun, and leave the rest on automatic without Crippling your game. What we have now is already a bit of fun, and we sometimes get that "just one more turn" feeling out of the game. But it ain't nothing compared to what's coming!

This is the time the Clash team really needs feedback from as many playtesters as possible! We have a lot of breakthrough ideas already in the game, many of them similar to things that people were asking for in the civ 3 list, but didn't get into that product. Because we are doing so many cutting-edge things, we need people to tell us if the implementations are great, or if they suck . Your feedback now is much more important than later, when the game will be more fully developed, because now the leverage is high to change things that are bad. (We don't expect to do everything great the first shot . Since we're a relatively small group, your suggestions also are much more likely to make the difference with Clash and those made to commercial gaming houses.

Come check out the demo by visiting the Clash Demo 6 Comments and Bug Reports thread at the Clash forum! If you want Revolutionary improvements in Civilization-genre games Clash of Civilizations is your answer!

[site is twitchy today, so if you get a deadlink, don't despair, just try later]

Moderators: I want to get the word out on Clash. Are there any other forums here on CivFanatics in which you would consider it appropriate for me to post this?

Thanks, Mark Everson

Demo 6 Features:

1. Roads Implemented. To build them player draws an outline on the map. Once enough economic resources are allocated, they are built.

2. Merchants (at least an alpha version)
The specials I have in so far (to give merchants something to trade):
Gold -> Services ; Tin -> Resources ; Cloth -> Manufactured Goods ; Salt -> Food

3. Army Support: Army build removes population and supplies come from your civ or the army will suffer the consequences. The Hun scenario uses exhaustion of stockpiled supplies as a ticking clock that the Attila player needs to beat or suffer destruction!

4. New info screen we call Events that shows the big things that happened in the turn with links to more detailed info if the player desires.

5. 800x600 res support

6. Fog of war and hidden terrain. (AI will still know whole map for now, since it would be too time-consuming at this stage IMO to have AI able to deal with uncertainty.)

7. Lots of GUI improvements and bug fixes.

 

[CornMaster]

Well....the only other place you can post this (under the rules) is by adversitising your site in the "Other Civ-Related Sites" forum.

Other than that...there isn't really anywhere else it can go.

 

[Mark_Everson]

Thanks CornMaster!

 

[Mark_Everson]

Our current webmaster, Dom has been sidelined for months, so its time to at least find a co-webmaster. If the present situation continues I expect someone who works out would become the official webmaster. There are Many updates that need to be made.

If you're interested, respond here or by email.

-Mark

 

[Toasty]

Whao! You're in Canton? You're right next door to me! I'm from Plymouth. I just thought I'd say that ^^. I didn't know there were many other Civ fans in the P-C Community.

 

[Mark_Everson]

Hey Toasty:

I think there's civvers just about everywhere. I met a guy at a new year's eve party that had played civ a lot and was now into EU2. He was from AA. So how long have you been civving?

-Mark

 

[Toasty]

Not long. '96 I think. I'm just a gamer through, I wouldn't know anything about what you guys are doing. But it looks cool (I still don't trust Comcast after that server thing, I'm afraid to download ) but it looks pretty cool.

I haven't met many 'civvers' around here. I know one. But still.

 

[Mark_Everson]

Yeah, post-Comcast my email is still a bit twitchy. But compared to others I had a dream experience. Though I did have to download the upgrade because the CD they sent was shattered into about five pieces in the mail...

Well when you're a little more secure in your BW please do download it and let me know what you think. It is still very rough, but we think getting feedback ASAP from as many as care to will help make the game a lot better! Glad you think it looks interesting!

-Mark

 

[Mark_Everson]

We're currently discussing implementing nomad civs, like the Huns, and how to approach the AI. We'd like to get opinions from people outside the project too! So if you're interested in either topic, please stop by!

 

[Mark_Everson]

Please come by the clash web site (link above) and check out Demo 6 or give us your opinions on what we're doing! Demo 7 with land settlement, and an in-game tutorial should be out in like a month.

We can also use for the team:

Artists! (2d iso graphics)
a wordsmith type to work on tutorials and the web site
java coders
people to just look over our designs and give opinions and ideas
(insert your favorite skill here )

If we can make the game sufficiently good to sell, team members will get a cut. But your motivation to join the team should be because Clash is something you'd Want to contribute your ideas and skills to. We currently have a handful of dedicated team members, and could profitably abuse the skills of at least 10 more. So if you're tired of complaining about how 4x games Should be done, get off your arse and help us make one

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Mark_Everson]

Hi All:

Its been a while since I gave an update here! Clash of Civilizations Demo 7.1 is ready for your download and coments! Your comments are critical in helping the team avoid bad design decisions, and so put out a Great product! We'd like to hear comments from as large a number of playtesters as possible.

Demo 7.1 includes:

1. In-Game Tutorial -- playtester feedback said we needed it to introduce all our novel game concepts painlessly

2. Scenario Generation -- you can create your own detailed scenarios even now! All scenario information is in XML files, and we'll have an editor in the future

3. Technology Model -- only partly implemented, but it's adding depth to the game already

4. Province System -- territory in Clash is organized flexibly by province, provinces expand automatically if good land is available, reducing micromanagement

5. Government/Social Model -- not in demo 7,but the coding is fairly far along. The "Ruler" button in the demo shows a preview of a what's to come!

6. Ship transport of task forces is now implemented.

7. You can now disband units, which is one of the requests we had from Demo 7.

For more details and to download the D7.1 zip you should go to the Demo 7 Thread

Our Forum for suggestions and working out a design spec is here. Please comment on things you like or don't like.

 

[Mark_Everson]

Please check out Clash of Civilizations! We could use playtesters for the demo, and would like to hear Your opinions of what is good, and what needs to be changed.

If you'd like a little more info on the project, see the Clash of Civilizations Feature article. It duplicates some of the info in the blurb at the top of this thread, but does add a fair amount of detail to what is there. I wrote it up to try and get us some more playtesters, and other people who would be willing to participate.

Thanks!

Mark