Gah! Where is multiplayer???

[goodyhut]

I really enjoyed Civ 3 when it first came out 5 months ago. It had a ton of new neat stuff that my previous version (Civ 2 Multiplayer) didn't have. Every game was a new exciting experiance against a seemingly intelligent opponent.

However, it has been several months I have long since played out all the fresh new experiances and now every game is just a slightly different version of the same ole thing against a very predictable AI.

I am back to playing Civ 2 now, multiplayer and online, which was the primary way I played Civ2. While I miss all the nice new things that Civ3 has my Civ2 game is much more enjoyable for me because of the one thing it has that my Civ3 game doesn't have, Multiplayer. I am really frustrated that I can't play Civ 3 online and even more disapointed that there has been no annoucement that they are gonna even produce a Civ 3 Multiplayer. I don't know if I will even buy it if they come out with it multiplayer if someone else such as Activision beats them to the punch with a high quality multiplayer version knock off of Civ 3.

I just needed to blow off some steam and I will be reading to see if anyone else feels the same way.

 

[Sparrowhawk]

I've got no problems with Firaxis having shipped Civ III without multiplayer, but I don't see why they can't tell us an approximate date for release. I mean, if they just said May/June 2002 or something similarly vague I would be happy.

 

[Grey Knight]

I wonder if anyone remembers exactly how long it was between the initial release of Civ II and the release of MGE.

Me, I bought Civ II so long ago multiplayer was a concept that had just started being thrown around.

Cheers,
Shawn

 

[goodyhut]

You could say the same for the development of internal modems on computers. People started doing things over the internet years before they started putting modems in pc's. Now I don't think any computer maker would dream of trying to sell a personal computer without an internal modem.

These days multiplayer is so widespread and diverse that Firaxis is in danger of losing a lot of customers by insisting on staying with the mentality it had towards multiplayer when it produced Civ 2. This is a much different market now.

 

[ButSam]

I think they would do a terrible disservice if they made us pay for multiplayer if we already bought the game. It should be a patch--we already forked out $50 for the game. I feel the same thing about the Scenario Editor that needed to come out yesterday. I don't mind them releasing the game without it, because otherwise it wouldn't be out yet--some Civ3 is better than none at all. But $50 pays for a multiplayer game that (if the game is conducive to it) comes with a scenario editor these days.

Sam

 

[Exile_Ian]

Oh pleeeez!

Everyone (that at least checked) knew full well that Civ3 did not include MP. Firaxis have made it clear that they will pursue it but not (paraphrasing) anytime soon and not until the rest of the game issues are resolved. Many people here have pointed out that MP is a lot more than just a patch and it would be wrong to focus on that and not on the basic game (at least that's what I'm saying).

But your statement about what should or shouldn't be included in a $50 game is irrelevent. Who says that every strategy game these days has to include MP? Hey not all strategy games even attempt to give you a full scenario editor!

In my mind, $50 doesn't buy anyone the rights to a version of Civ3 that includes every feature they ever wanted. You bought the game - you're getting free patches as they're made available. If Firaxis want to bring out a Civ3 MP separately or as an add-on then I say good luck to them. I'll assess that in just the same way as people assess whether the next add-ons to The Sims are worth buying or not - based on price and features.

 

[Selous]

YES ... u are exactly right Exile_Ian ... u have proven without a dought that we should all not buy any more firaxis products due to their VERY poor customer service and really bad customer relations, keeping us customers in the dark about future updates and whether we will even have to pay for them or even IF they will ever come out at all is very bad form ... it would seem that 1.18 is comming out as we are oh soooo lucky to be given the info that artillary will be able to kill shipping ... i guess that only took 3 months of constant complaining

and for a multiplayer game along the same vein, check out master of orion 3 ... looking promicing ... but then so did civ3

http://moo3.quicksilver.com/

 

[goodyhut]

Originally posted by Exile_Ian
Oh pleeeez!

Everyone (that at least checked) knew full well that Civ3 did not include MP. Firaxis have made it clear that they will pursue it but not (paraphrasing) anytime soon and not until the rest of the game issues are resolved. Many people here have pointed out that MP is a lot more than just a patch and it would be wrong to focus on that and not on the basic game (at least that's what I'm saying).

I am not sure where you got the idea that anyone here was expecting multiplayer with Civ 3. I certainly wasn't. Hoping, definitely, but not expecting. As for Firaxis making it clear on what they are pursuing, you have got to be kidding! Firaxis has been vague about a whole lot of things, multiplayer included. Truth of the matter is, the only way anybody could find out if multiplayer was included or not war to wait for release and see.

I don't expect Firaxis to put the cart before the horse and not take care of game bugs. What I do expect of Firaxis is for them to treat thier fans with respect and let us know what to expect and when to expect it.

Don't even gimmie a line about Firaxis making things clear.

All I would like is to know what to expect.

 

[Exile_Ian]

Well I guess you must have read a different post to the the one I wrote!

I'm guessing you haven't much experience of game-buying if you think that the level of support from Firaxis is poor. Geez they can't win can they? They acknowledge there are problems, and during the last 4 months they have issued 3 patchs - free of charge - and are obviously commited to more fixes. But if they pre-announce a patch everyone gets miffed if its delayed - if they don't announce it you think they're not working the issues - if they hint at a new patch they're being a tease!

Take the artillary 'fix' for instance - that's not even a bug - is as designed (which you can agree with or not) - but they've heeded the concerns and are providing a new option. That's an enhancement whichever way you look at it - and its free!

Civ3 is destined to have a long game life - there's already plenty of people already getting huge amounts of pleasure from the game, and if the incremental fixes/enhancements keep coming they'll be even happier.

Of course for some people, even if all these things were down now (including MP) they'd still find something to moan about.

 

[goodyhut]

Originally posted by Exile_Ian
Of course for some people, even if all these things were down now (including MP) they'd still find something to moan about.

Yeah! We would complain about people who not only don't care about multiplayer, they go to the point that they are against people who like it.

 

[Selous]

well it would be nice if firaxis even agnologed what bugs there are in the game ... and u say 3 patches .... well the first one was to fix a broken game, to fix those features that were in the game but just didnt work rather than fixing bugs, so u cant really count that one ... and u keep saying about good old firaxis being so nice and giving us free patches ... WTH??? has any game ever charged for patches? i can understand firaxis not saying "yes the patch will be out on such and such a date" ... but at least they could tell us that they are going to be releacing a patch or they are addressing such and such an issue ... it is very bad as a customer to even wonder IF they are going to do another patch .... or perhaps they have decided to start on civ4?

has anyone heard ANY news of multiplayer? will it even be done? will it not be done? will it be an expantion or a patch? "THEY" have to know this info at present as to IF it will be done and IF we will have to pay .... personally i fine it quite offencive that firaxis dont give us any future plans or goals of the civ3 team .... as far as i know everyone has been sacked and there is one lonly chap down in the basement posting at a few sites and doing the next patch part time ... i want feedback, i want answers ... i want some kind of interaction or news from firaxis ... these are the things that are becomming standard in the gaming industry and firaxis seem to be dragging there heals into the modern gaming industry

 

[damunzy]

Exile, in today's market MP is pretty much expected. Whether it is of value to you or not I don't know but it is of extreme importance to me. I have stopped playing Civ3 for the most part b/c of the lack of MP and like Goody I am getting back into Civ2 because I can play versus humans.

On Free Patches....damn right they had better be free! As to whether MP is goign to be free...I will complain if it isn't but I sure as hell will pay for it if I have to.

On the bombard "fix"....I am glad they are heeding customer "complaints" maybe we need to "complain" more about corruption and they will give us a way to togle it on and off. All I ask for is customizablilty so I can have fun with my game and it allows you to play your game the way you want. That way we can all be happy.

Of course for some people, even if all these things were down now (including MP) they'd still find something to moan about.

Human nature but I bet most of the moaners will shutup b/c we will be too busy playing the perfect game....right now it is great but it isn't there quite yet.

On MOO3...I can't wait...but I hope corruption doesn't rear it's fugly head!

...and before I forget...props to Firaxis for makign a great game and for continuing to patch it, just don't stop!

 

[IronicWarrior19]

I wouldn't blame Firaxis as much as Infogrammes for the lack of MP. Firaxis were talking about great new ideas for MP, until a few months before release, no doubt because there was no way they could include MP and get the game out in time (and sort out all the bugs too) before the release date stated.