Does anyone else find the screen "cluttered"?

[Mesousa]

going 3d is fine (although i do prefer 2d), but i think they could've done it in a way that makes civ4 look less 'cluttered' and confusing. things that should stand out don't (resources) and vice versa.

I have an incredibly hard time spotting goody huts in forest and jungle. I pop 90% of them by pure accident. Don't dare to think how many I've missed because I simply didn't see them.

 

[naterator]

I have an incredibly hard time spotting goody huts in forest and jungle.

that's the only reason i leave the "blue circle" suggestions on.
i like the city screen as it is. i don't go here for a good view of the terrain, i want as much information as possible here. show me my fat cross and whats being worked, and fill the rest with numbers.

 

[Jaybe]

I_batman, are you using proper screen resolution (set in Options>Graphics)? It looks like the interface is set for a 15 or 17 inch monitor. If you have more than 1024x768 resolution available, definitely check your options.

Also, of course, if you didn't have so many units (and the cursor hovering over a huge stack of them), it wouldn't seem so crowded.

 

[I_batman]

I_batman, are you using proper screen resolution (set in Options>Graphics)? It looks like the interface is set for a 15 or 17 inch monitor. If you have more than 1024x768 resolution available, definitely check your options.

Also, of course, if you didn't have so many units (and the cursor hovering over a huge stack of them), it wouldn't seem so crowded.

Jaybe, thanks, I will see if I can confirm the settings later today.
As for the stacks, not sure if they are truly that large.
One of the flaws I see is that units like modern armour spill over to a second line once they get a few promotions.
If the name could be truncated, or the width of the mouse-over screen that shows the stack details could be widened, then the length of that list is cut in half.

 

[MitchCJ]

Perhaps someone already posted this but I like to use the scaling tool Blue Marble. I shrink the units and increase their flag size. I also shrink buildings as well. When I first played the game I thought the interface was overwhelming. Perhaps I am just getting used to it but the scaling tool seems to help.

As far as 3D.... I stink at the game but enjoy seeing pretty pictures. What can I say, I like the graphics.

 

[Webb]

When I first got this game I was less than happy to see the 3D interface. Since I'd been a huge Civ fan I gave it a try and within a few minutes my brain did truly adjust and now I see no flaws in the 3D aspect.

 

[Sisiutil]

I liked the look of the game right off the bat. While Civ has never been a graphics-intensive game, it has always had some aesthetic appeal. That's why I could never get into Alpha Centauri; the alien planet looked grey and drab, and I longed for the rich hues of Civ's earth. If I'm going to be staring at this screen for hours on end, it better look pretty, and Civ IV does. I also like the ability to zoom in/out and change the view angle.

 

[Instant_Cereal]

I understand exactly what I batman and Sisiutil say. They went through all the trouble to make the game 3D and didn't even incorporate the aspect into the gameplay; yet they kind of had no choice if they want to stay in the game. I love the graphics, they're really nice. But, it must be asked: What do they add, besides immersion?

More importantly though, I also get annoyed by how "cluttered" things get in the latter stages of the game. Some of my games become sheer pandemonium by the Industrial Age and beyond. However, I feel it's like that on purpose, to give you a sense of how complex, busy, populated, etc., more recent times are, as opposed to early civilization. The idea for the game is to get harder as you progress, and the new 3D graphics sometimes act as an unintentional extra hurdle.