First Look: The Development Team Video

[OnceAKing]

I don't think this would damage the sale, afterall they need to reveal the whole list eventually, and for instance, to someone who think "I won't buy this game if it doesn't include Persia", he would not buy it wheather he know the civ list 3 months before the release or 10 days before.

Yeah I think you're right plus this gives him time to come back around.

I think this leak will just create a stratification between the hardcore fans and the casual.

I'd advise Firaxis continue the marketing strategy as normal. Just maybe not stretch it out as slowly since there isn't quite as much suspense

 

[blackcatatonic]

I'm going to go on record saying I think it almost has to have been intentional.

This be a HUGE mistake if it was a mistake and could destroy whatever roll-out they had planned.

Besides, I look at four things that point strongly towards intentional.

1) very little new info in this video otherwise. Basically this was a complete throw-away for the folks that are watching closely if not for the the leader leak.

2) placement of the leak. It's b-roll, having nothing to do with the video or what is being talked about. The camera wouldn't have been in that hallway where it might have caught something taboo if Firaxis didn't want them there.

3) the quality of the leak. It is just good enough that (with it being in alphabetical order) we have mostly worked who's who. Much better, and there would have been no game to it. Much worse and it would have been pointless. And even the fact that they were in alphabetical order is reasonable circumstantial evidence that this was deliberate.

4) the value of the leak. Not only did the leak generate a TON of furious comments and other engagement from the community, has two other benefits. It gives Firaxis insight into the thought processes of its core die-hard fans, and it does so with very little cost. They haven't (and I presume won't) confirm that we worked it all out. They don't have to confirm anything any sooner than they would have otherwise, and if they *REALLY* wanted to, they could tweak things based on reactions here. I don't expect they will, but if they were say on the fence about a particular leader, a negative eruption might nudge them to their next choice.

Which doesn't mean it wasn't a gaffe, but boy howdy is it a big one if it was....

And the Civet cat, which is almost certainly a nod to the Civit reddit. At the very least they knew people watching the video would see it.

I agree completely; I think we were meant to see this and analyse it, and in fact I don't think there's any other reason for the poster with the leaderheads to be there at all (at this stage in development, all the Civs will have been decided long ago). Maybe they didn't think we would suss most of it out so quickly

 

[Birdjaguar]

In the video as presented the there is not enough detail to see what is posted in the background. Everything is fuzzy. It is only when the video frame is magnified that any details show up. Unless someone went though and magnified/zoomed every frame not shot in the conference room, there would be no reason to to think any new information was being leaked.

 

[master__jj]

In the video as presented the there is not enough detail to see what is posted in the background. Everything is fuzzy. It is only when the video frame is magnified that any details show up. Unless someone went though and magnified/zoomed every frame not shot in the conference room, there would be no reason to to think any new information was being leaked.

indeed. And don't forget, this is a forum for diehard players. Even if we guess all the leaders and their abilities correctly, 99% of the Civ-players won't know about it.

 

[Birdjaguar]

And the Civet cat, which is almost certainly a nod to the Civit reddit. At the very least they knew people watching the video would see it.

I agree completely; I think we were meant to see this and analyse it, and in fact I don't think there's any other reason for the poster with the leaderheads to be there at all (at this stage in development, all the Civs will have been decided long ago). Maybe they didn't think we would suss most of it out so quickly

The civet cat picture is typical of office humor. It is a play on words that says put these guys into the game. "Civ them" Once the list was complete (or mostly so) somebody added the cat picture to make it official.

 

[m15a]

Seems like an office inside joke to me, too. Maybe the group working on the leaderscreens called themselves team Civet or something silly like that. (Or imagine Ed split the developers into two competing teams Steve Jobs style. Team Civet came up with this list of leaders and Team FurAxis came up with a completely different list!?)

 

[blackcatatonic]

I do most of my work in libraries or at home; I guess office humour went over my head

 

[nunor]

I do most of my work in libraries or at home; I guess office humour went over my head

Don't worry, you're definitely not missing out [emoji38]

 

[Morgawr]

I say unintentional. Someone should start a poll.

It is one second of the video and super blurred.. I didn't even notice it when I watched. Firaxis is working to get the game ready for global release in 3 months; how do you expect them to find time to play schemes like this. Remember WE are the fanatics, they are normal/ sane people

 

[Acken]

And corporate mistakes never happen right ?

People thinking it would hurt sales are deluded. People already knowing this will watch any video Firaxis will release anyway. Who are we kidding.