Ed Beach interview at Kill Screen (20120605)

[cuc]

http://killscreendaily.com/articles/interviews/civilization-v-developer-ed-beach/

It's written as part of a column on turn-based games, so the topics it covered is wider than usual and not limited to G&K.

New info:
Ed Beach once worked on the Hubble Space Telescope.
He designed all the civ traits for Civ5.
Some AI personalities welcome you spreading your religion to them, some don't.

 

[Camikaze]

Pretty interesting interview. Thanks for posting it.

The bit about new cities and how they adopt a religion is interesting. I guess they don't automatically take on your religion, but are just more likely to adopt it due to proximity?

 

[bite]

A really interesting read, also interesting how he worked on the Hubble Telescope, I wonder if there is any connection there.

 

[apocalypse105]

I’ve always been interested in those kind of detailed, historical simulations. I tended to shy away from the games that were really hardcore battle reconstructions; the ones that you needed thousands of pieces just to refight the Battle of Gettysburg or something. I didn’t play them very often. What I really liked, what I was most interested in with my gaming group in college, was the ones where it was multiplayer with a diplomatic element. Diplomacy

I'm really exited about ed beach he really knows why diplomacy is necessairy. It indead becomes a wargame if diplomacy isn't good

 

[Rick80]

Wow! He's the "Here I stand"'s author?! O.O
It's very good boardgame!

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

He's the guy who writes "Here I stand all broken hearted..." on all the bathroom stalls?

 

[MoonFlare]

He developed software for Hubble Space Telescope? He probably added some renaissance feel to it without actually improving it.

 

[Buccaneer]

I’ve always been interested in those kind of detailed, historical simulations. I tended to shy away from the games that were really hardcore battle reconstructions; the ones that you needed thousands of pieces just to refight the Battle of Gettysburg or something. I didn’t play them very often. What I really liked, what I was most interested in with my gaming group in college, was the ones where it was multiplayer with a diplomatic element. Diplomacy

I'm really exited about ed beach he really knows why diplomacy is necessairy. It indead becomes a wargame if diplomacy isn't good

I did (play those wargames) which is why I am big fan of Civ5 combat model. Civilization has never been a diplomatic-centric games (like Diplomacy) and shouldn't become one now (it won't anyways). It's best pitting civilizations against each other in competition.

 

[MadDjinn]

I did (play those wargames) which is why I am big fan of Civ5 combat model. Civilization has never been a diplomatic-centric games (like Diplomacy) and shouldn't become one now (it won't anyways). It's best pitting civilizations against each other in competition.

while true, more depth to civ-diplo (like the Diplomacy game) wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Buccaneer]

The way people are talking, G&K will have more depth in diplomacy than all other Civ releases to date. That's not saying much but there will be a lot of rantings afterwards as their expectations were too high. But it's obvious that there will more to AI interactions than before (religion and city-states alone) and that should be good enough. My opinion (or hope) that much of it still can be ignored and that religion can be treated as minor flavor, if one desires.

 

[Sherlock]

Very interesting interview.

I was a big fan of 'Pharaoh' and 'Cleopatra'. I'd say Civ is in good hands.

It's a shame Tilted Mill dried up and blew away. I'd love a good historical city builder, but I'd say those days are gone.

 

[Lyoncet]

Well to be fair, Civ IV had plenty of diplo. The problem was that it sucked.

"You gifted me a junk city surrounded with tundra that will tank my economy? Best friends forever!"

"You traded with my worst enemy before you met me? Well now YOU'RE my worst enemy! Trolololol IDOW!"

 

[MadDjinn]

The way people are talking, G&K will have more depth in diplomacy than all other Civ releases to date. That's not saying much but there will be a lot of rantings afterwards as their expectations were too high. But it's obvious that there will more to AI interactions than before (religion and city-states alone) and that should be good enough. My opinion (or hope) that much of it still can be ignored and that religion can be treated as minor flavor, if one desires.

yeah, expectations are running a bit too high. Likely it'll be 'better' diplomacy, but not massive new depths like some are hoping for.

 

[Buccaneer]

Very interesting interview.

I was a big fan of 'Pharaoh' and 'Cleopatra'. I'd say Civ is in good hands.

It's a shame Tilted Mill dried up and blew away. I'd love a good historical city builder, but I'd say those days are gone.

Me too, I have long had the Impression Games (Pharaoh, Cleo, Zeus/Poseidon-though dumbed down) as my second favorite series of all time (after civ). I tried Children of the Nile but I rejected that new model, as did most people.

Well to be fair, Civ IV had plenty of diplo. The problem was that it sucked.

Lol, I stand corrected. You know, Civ4 was my very favorite game for 5 years but it has sickened me at how there's so much revisionism and mythology going on.

 

[Sherlock]

Me too, I have long had the Impression Games (Pharaoh, Cleo, Zeus/Poseidon-though dumbed down) as my second favorite series of all time (after civ). I tried Children of the Nile but I rejected that new model, as did most people.

It took awhile to adjust to the very different playing style of 'Children of the Nile', but once I got used to it I loved it. It's my all time fav city-builder. More than anything else it made you feel like you were running a real city.

I thought Caesar IV was a less successful, but prettier, implementation of this new system.

Zeus was a blast. They had a goal of 'finish a scenario in 45 minutes' which was a REALLY GOOD IDEA. Maybe if they'd kept it they would still be in business.

 

[elprofesor]

Pharaoh, Cleo, Zeus/Poseidon-though dumbed down

Zeus/Poseidon was dumbed down? Man, now I have to find Pharaoh-Cleopatra...
I hope that I won't lose as much time on it as I did with Poseidon when I was younger

 

[Sherlock]

Zeus/Poseidon was dumbed down? Man, now I have to find Pharaoh-Cleopatra...
I hope that I won't lose as much time on it as I did with Poseidon when I was younger

You can get it at Steam really cheap.

You cannot succeed at this game unless you adapt to the seasons. I think it's 'planting, summer, and harvest' or something that. When the harvest comes in, you're rich. Until then.... sit tight.

 

[apocalypse105]

I did (play those wargames) which is why I am big fan of Civ5 combat model. Civilization has never been a diplomatic-centric games (like Diplomacy) and shouldn't become one now (it won't anyways). It's best pitting civilizations against each other in competition.

Surely you must be joking right? Diplomacy made the civ games as it is...

NO game has ever ahd diplomacy .

The idea of the civilization games is giving the player the idea he is leading a civilization and going through time and diplomacy is a important part in that..

Thats why we have 4 victories to choose from not 1

If they want to make a war game with units they shouldn't call it "civilization "

 

[Buccaneer]

But cultural, city-states and technology victory conditions do not require much diplomacy either. You just have to beat your opponents to any of them, just like domination.

 

[Buccaneer]

Zeus/Poseidon was dumbed down? Man, now I have to find Pharaoh-Cleopatra...
I hope that I won't lose as much time on it as I did with Poseidon when I was younger

More than you can imagine. Pharaoh/Cleo requires all worker buildings to be within X (number varies by type) number of steps to housing or camps, unlike the Greek games. City layouts and design are quite challenging and immensely fun.

Sorry for the thread hijack.