I thought I might share a few more insights into the "Season Ticket" theory.
This is the text visible to us under the API Name column on the Steamdb website: STK1_STATS_ACHIEVEMENT_04_0
Based on the previous circumstantial evidence of 2K looking for opportunities to change their revenue model and the questions posed to us in the recent Survey, we have speculated that STK1 could be an abbreviation for "Season Ticket." The "1" in STK1 also indicated to us that there is a strong likelihood that there will be an "STK2". If not, why include the number unless Steam code requires it? This can be interpreted to mean numerous things, but it does not exclude the idea of "Seasonal" access to content, pre-sale or subscription based, it falls-in-line nicely with the theory.
There was a comment that questioned the use of "Season Ticket" to describe a pre-sale or subscription based Civilization package because it is not thematically appropriate. I agree, but based on the Lead Designers love of North American Sports, it is actually plausible, especially if it is not the public name, but the internal name. Like Vesuvius.
The "_04_0" could mean anything, but this is the 4th year cycle of development. A 4th "Season", as North American Sports Leagues use "Season" to indicate a Year not a period with in a year. The Playoffs are referred to as the "Post-Season."
These are some of the additional thoughts that have informed the idea of STK standing for "Season Ticket."
I am in no way convinced this is the case, but it was an intriguing idea, and a fun exercise. We are sure to find out relatively soon, at least I hope so.
The numbers at the end have to do with the numbering system they use for achievements in general.
The 1 at the end of STK1 probably indicates these 10 are for the first DLC in the season.
Not that there couldn't be additional seasons. If I were Firaxis aiming for a GaaS model, I would try to run more than one season. It could be that we only see a portion of the remaining series regulars with the last being held for a second season.
The numbers at the end have to do with the numbering system they use for achievements in general.
The 1 at the end of STK1 probably indicates these 10 are for the first DLC in the season.
Not that there couldn't be additional seasons. If I were Firaxis aiming for a GaaS model, I would try to run more than one season. It could be that we only see a portion of the remaining series regulars with the last being held for a second season.
Yes, "_04_0" seems to be. I thought it may be a new way of classifying the achievements, seeing that the DLC, the Expansions, and the Royale used a different structure. Basically, "Abbreviation_Achievement_ Number." The DLC have a number indicating the DLC grouping attached to "DLC." Obviously you know that, having been at this much longer than I.
With that, I thought it was open for interpretation. What I neglected to do, however, was scroll all the way up to the Base Game and see that the same numbering system, more or less, had been used previously. I was only scrolling up through the Expansions and DLC3 through DLC6. I saw that pattern and assumed. I see now that the two number ending had been used previously.
I believe your interpretation of STK1 is most likely, however, "STATS" keeps pulling my mind into vastly different interpretations. I keep envisioning a subscription based system, possibly competitive, with seasonal statistical achievements versus the field or a series of unlock-able or released Scenarios or Challenges. This would expand on the last major update that XCOM2 had. The daily missions and back story mini-campaigns. Civ Scenarios or Challenges would need more time to complete. A day is not sufficient, especially if the Challenge is more like a Game of the Month, which is a known community thing that Firaxis may want to tap into. They have recently started to implement MODS into the updates. This indicates inspiration from the community. The possibility of unlock-able Challenges over a Season, possibly 10 of them per Season. You pay for the Season Ticket, you might get one new Civ to start and some other bonus content and work your way through 10 unlock-able Scenarios and Challenges. They may be "Released" over time instead of "Unlock-able." Maybe a new Civ each quarter. Just speculation. Just so ideas I had based on XCOM2's final update.
Well, all this is unprecedented as far as I know. Civ V didn't get this much attention after BNW as Civ VI has gotten these past few months. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
So the idea of a third expansion is appealing and I would welcome it in heartbeat, but would Firaxis and 2K break the mold that much? I have my doubts and yet I am still hopeful. But they are a very careful and calculating company. But doing something like a Season Pass might be what they can venture into considering that they went out of their way to do a survey. Would love to know the results. Regardless, they were testing the waters and they would be taking a first step into doing something uncharacteristic, but which would help them face the changing gaming atmosphere these days if they went with a Season Pass at this junction. All indicates, to me at least, that something bigger is coming than just a simple end-of-Civ VI fix/closure patch. Of course, it should include fixes for the Mac community, it should include fixes to obvious gaping holes in the game, it should include modding tools (this if it truly is the last one, otherwise they might wait a bit for it), but it should include something meaty enough like a scenario or a first DLC, if they go that way. They have certainly surprised me with the last few patches and the attention given to the game. And, I want more surprises.
@Eagle Pursuit, @WillowBrook (or others) have you all seen any changes in the Steam DB that would indicate a new QA cycle started that might be causing this delay? With the appearance of the STK1_STATS_ACHIEVEMENT_04_0-10, it seemed like an announcement should have been imminent.
And do either of you have any specific thoughts on these 10 items being in the STATS section instead of the ACHIEVEMENTS section? Is this a way to just hide it from the game page in Steam, or do you have any other thoughts on this distinction? Did earlier Achievements ever start in "Stats" and then move in your previous experience?
@pokiehlis a serious modder. I'd imagine it would be the casual modders that would disagree with that statement and would welcome scenario modding tools.
@Eagle Pursuit, @WillowBrook (or others) have you all seen any changes in the Steam DB that would indicate a new QA cycle started that might be causing this delay? With the appearance of the STK1_STATS_ACHIEVEMENT_04_0-10, it seemed like an announcement should have been imminent.
And do either of you have any specific thoughts on these 10 items being in the STATS section instead of the ACHIEVEMENTS section? Is this a way to just hide it from the game page in Steam, or do you have any other thoughts on this distinction? Did earlier Achievements ever start in "Stats" and then move in your previous experience?
@CPWimmer I don't think much can be ascertained by the structure of these new achievements. I also can't provide any new ideas on why they aren't included with the previous ones. But they are achievements none the less. I think we should be seeing some announcement soon, if they aren't for a patch. The longest it might go without an announcement is a month, I think.
@pokiehlis a serious modder. I'd imagine it would be the casual modders that would disagree with that statement and would welcome scenario modding tools.
We already have the Basic World Builder and they did mention they were still working on it.
Perhaps Achievements might not make sense for more advanced scenarios, etc, which require other tools, but I don't find it so unreasonable to have achievements related to the world builder. But I can't think of any other achievements other than create your first map, or something akin to that.
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I'm still not sold that Stats aren't actually Statistics, unless it's been practice in the past to have achievements temporarily in Stats before moving them to Achievements. But the Season Ticket theory sure sounds more appealing, so I'm willing to roll with that.
Speaking of the Viking DLC, Palenque was thrown in that one as a City State. Would they have to change the components of the Viking DLC in order to put in the Maya so that even people who buy the Vikings DLC in the future wouldn't get Palenque?
It would still show up as another city most likely, just not as the capital.
Most people didn't think Jakarta would get replaced since we were getting a Majapahit leader, but since the Civ was called Indonesia, that wasn't the case.
we can always use more tools, and more advanced ones that are easy to use and built into the base game. I imagine the world builder will be getting an update and hopefully more or less finished.
achievements can be anything from making a scenario, to playing someone else's, or they can just be a way to categorize the various achievements with the patch/DLC/XPac they will be added in. Wouldn't be the first game to do it. It is not as far fetched as you make it out to be.(referring to the names) You are already doing it with this season pass thing.
Worst case scenarion alert
what if all this steam database achievement stuff is just to add some achievements for the hall of fame feature that they did not had any when first introduced?
we can always use more tools, and more advanced ones that are easy to use and built into the base game. I imagine the world builder will be getting an update and hopefully more or less finished.
achievements can be anything from making a scenario, to playing someone else's, or they can just be a way to categorize the various achievements with the patch/DLC/XPac they will be added in. Wouldn't be the first game to do it. It is not as far fetched as you make it out to be.(referring to the names) You are already doing it with this season pass thing.
Given their focus on porting and updating Civ VI on multiple platforms that do not support mod creation or even the ability to use mods (iOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One), I can't imagine that 2K would find the introduction of yet more modding tools as a compelling business move at this juncture.
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As pok said, the basic tools are all there to make a scenario if someone really wanted to put in the time and effort.
