Risbinroch
Prince
I will try to go into detail with why I am a bit concerned/sceptical. First off, offcourse there are some good points, but in my opinion it's far more I'm sceptical off.
However the game shall be easy to mod, if I dare look into python etc. An editor would be much easier...
Anyhow, the worst part is the new 3D world, hopefully you can mod it so it looks like Civ3 (or improved Civ3) - I don't wan't to see the Eiffel Tower on the map itself, it's not that a big tower... In city view ok, but not on the world map! You can hopefully lock the view, and then I'm hoping you also can make use of the Civ3 units - at least should Firaxis make sure it is possible. (if only in the exact camera angle as in Civ3) - It's just far to many good units out there to let them go to waste.
I will mention in more detail what exact I don't like and what I do like. There are more to be said offcourse, but this is to much allready, don't know if anyone even bother reading it - I myself ofte neglect to long posts, but this subject engage me (was looking for a better word, but it's sounds better in Norwegian)
1) Firaxis will not be afraid to slightly change its target audience a bit
-> I have been a fan of Civ since it first came out, and I guess many more have. Me and a friend have played Civ throughout the years. Other friends of mine have also tried the game, but got bored with it. When they say they are not afraid to target audience, I believe they are targeting a "younger" (or not that a fanatically computer-games-players) audience which believes that all good games HAS to be 3D.
I for instance have had lots of games throughout the years, some games gets good rating in magazines and other places, I suspect mainly because they are in 3D, not because the games are good... Can't remember every game I have bought, but I do know I have had some RTS games and quite frankly I even think they were better when they used to be 2D. Games like FPS etc offcourse has to be 3D.
2.) Faster-Paced Fun Gameplay has been streamlined for a tighter, faster, and more compelling experience.
-> I may misunderstand, but I like the long-term game... I do in other games aswell, as Football Manager. I enjoy the time, don't wan't a game to be over fast...
3.) Cities and wonders will appear on the map. Wonder movies are back!
-> WHY does wonders have to appear on the map? OK, some wonders as the Great Wall of China perhaps, but not every wonder... Some wonders aren't that big that they can bee seen from such a distance.
And I don't like wonder movies neither... Don't really see the point, and it would also be far more difficult to add some more.
4.) Since the game is 3D, it has been well established the world will naturally be more alive and energetic. Rivers and resources such as horses and elephants will be animated.
-> 3D alone does not make the world more alive... Just more annoying. What's the point animate every resource? Heck, the resource could even be simplified from what it is today, just a letter "H" for horses etc.
5.) The number of turns is reduced... To 400. And what does speed actually do? Three different speeds?
-> Very bad that the number of turns is reduced, but hopefully you can change that your self. In modern times for instance I would like to se four turns a year.
And the speed thing? This is a turn-based game, so what does speed have to do with anything?
6.) Barbarians will pose a new threat. They will have animal attackers such as lions, bears, jaguars, and wolves.
-> WTH - when does a bear ever attacked a whole army? If they manage to kill one or two men IRL it would still not matter. It's a global game, you are not supposed to follow every single man in a unit (10,000 of them or so)
7.) Factors that are not fun are removed.... Corruption, Rioting, pollution etc
8.) Culture increases city defence...? I don't really see the point, but if someone can clarify to me, why does culture have a meaning in the matter of defence? The french are a very cultural state, did not help them against the germans for instance...
-> Well, or remodelled... I'm not optimistic here.
9.) No longer goverments...
10.) Religions...
-> Might be a good idea. But a lot of things scares me a bit. Missionaries? Is this for all religions, not every religion is missionary-like in real life. Also they should at least be some "flavors" in there as not every civ in the world could be Judaism (the most extreme example) - Judaism is not a missionary religion and it's based on a people. When other "took" that religion, it was changed into something else. The Jews do not try to convert anyone to their religion to my knowledge at least. Is it also possible to ban religion, that is what I would have done if I was supreme leader of a civilization - the world would be much safer and peaceful... I am very sceptical here, and I wonder if there is an option to turn religion off?
11.) MP - The map generator ensures that everyone starts equally as well - really hope it doesnt HAVE to be so, I like starting in a worse/better place than my friend... Much enjoyment lies in the fact that we have different starting opportunities.
The Good Stuff:
Offcourse there are also some good news that makes me hopeful, otherwise I woulden't bother debating at all, would just ignore the topic.
1.) Flexible Tech tree allows players more strategic choices for developing their civilizations along unique paths.
-> This is good news! That you have different paths to discoveries. However, I hope it's not a minimum level, I wan't more techs... But that's possible to mod anyway I guess.
2.) Team Play - ...shared wonder effects, visibility, unit trading, and shared territory that delivers a plethora of new strategic and tactical options.
-> Unit trading and other goodies here. Hope this also applies for the epic game, so that when you make an alliance you can then trade units etc.
3.) Beautiful 3D world with dozens of fully animated units (including culturally unique units)
-> Well, I'm not a fan of the 3D world but "culturally unique units" - does this mean every culture have their own unique-looks to every unit?
4.) A lot of good new improvements that can be made, Offshore Platform etc. And a lot of new resources. And ALL resources will be tradable - very good news, hope we also can trade between our own cities...
5.) More terrain is good news...
6.) No more culture flipping..
7.) Great people.
However the game shall be easy to mod, if I dare look into python etc. An editor would be much easier...
Anyhow, the worst part is the new 3D world, hopefully you can mod it so it looks like Civ3 (or improved Civ3) - I don't wan't to see the Eiffel Tower on the map itself, it's not that a big tower... In city view ok, but not on the world map! You can hopefully lock the view, and then I'm hoping you also can make use of the Civ3 units - at least should Firaxis make sure it is possible. (if only in the exact camera angle as in Civ3) - It's just far to many good units out there to let them go to waste.
I will mention in more detail what exact I don't like and what I do like. There are more to be said offcourse, but this is to much allready, don't know if anyone even bother reading it - I myself ofte neglect to long posts, but this subject engage me (was looking for a better word, but it's sounds better in Norwegian)
1) Firaxis will not be afraid to slightly change its target audience a bit
-> I have been a fan of Civ since it first came out, and I guess many more have. Me and a friend have played Civ throughout the years. Other friends of mine have also tried the game, but got bored with it. When they say they are not afraid to target audience, I believe they are targeting a "younger" (or not that a fanatically computer-games-players) audience which believes that all good games HAS to be 3D.
I for instance have had lots of games throughout the years, some games gets good rating in magazines and other places, I suspect mainly because they are in 3D, not because the games are good... Can't remember every game I have bought, but I do know I have had some RTS games and quite frankly I even think they were better when they used to be 2D. Games like FPS etc offcourse has to be 3D.
2.) Faster-Paced Fun Gameplay has been streamlined for a tighter, faster, and more compelling experience.
-> I may misunderstand, but I like the long-term game... I do in other games aswell, as Football Manager. I enjoy the time, don't wan't a game to be over fast...
3.) Cities and wonders will appear on the map. Wonder movies are back!
-> WHY does wonders have to appear on the map? OK, some wonders as the Great Wall of China perhaps, but not every wonder... Some wonders aren't that big that they can bee seen from such a distance.
And I don't like wonder movies neither... Don't really see the point, and it would also be far more difficult to add some more.
4.) Since the game is 3D, it has been well established the world will naturally be more alive and energetic. Rivers and resources such as horses and elephants will be animated.
-> 3D alone does not make the world more alive... Just more annoying. What's the point animate every resource? Heck, the resource could even be simplified from what it is today, just a letter "H" for horses etc.
5.) The number of turns is reduced... To 400. And what does speed actually do? Three different speeds?
-> Very bad that the number of turns is reduced, but hopefully you can change that your self. In modern times for instance I would like to se four turns a year.
And the speed thing? This is a turn-based game, so what does speed have to do with anything?
6.) Barbarians will pose a new threat. They will have animal attackers such as lions, bears, jaguars, and wolves.
-> WTH - when does a bear ever attacked a whole army? If they manage to kill one or two men IRL it would still not matter. It's a global game, you are not supposed to follow every single man in a unit (10,000 of them or so)
7.) Factors that are not fun are removed.... Corruption, Rioting, pollution etc
8.) Culture increases city defence...? I don't really see the point, but if someone can clarify to me, why does culture have a meaning in the matter of defence? The french are a very cultural state, did not help them against the germans for instance...
-> Well, or remodelled... I'm not optimistic here.
9.) No longer goverments...
10.) Religions...
-> Might be a good idea. But a lot of things scares me a bit. Missionaries? Is this for all religions, not every religion is missionary-like in real life. Also they should at least be some "flavors" in there as not every civ in the world could be Judaism (the most extreme example) - Judaism is not a missionary religion and it's based on a people. When other "took" that religion, it was changed into something else. The Jews do not try to convert anyone to their religion to my knowledge at least. Is it also possible to ban religion, that is what I would have done if I was supreme leader of a civilization - the world would be much safer and peaceful... I am very sceptical here, and I wonder if there is an option to turn religion off?
11.) MP - The map generator ensures that everyone starts equally as well - really hope it doesnt HAVE to be so, I like starting in a worse/better place than my friend... Much enjoyment lies in the fact that we have different starting opportunities.
The Good Stuff:
Offcourse there are also some good news that makes me hopeful, otherwise I woulden't bother debating at all, would just ignore the topic.
1.) Flexible Tech tree allows players more strategic choices for developing their civilizations along unique paths.
-> This is good news! That you have different paths to discoveries. However, I hope it's not a minimum level, I wan't more techs... But that's possible to mod anyway I guess.
2.) Team Play - ...shared wonder effects, visibility, unit trading, and shared territory that delivers a plethora of new strategic and tactical options.
-> Unit trading and other goodies here. Hope this also applies for the epic game, so that when you make an alliance you can then trade units etc.
3.) Beautiful 3D world with dozens of fully animated units (including culturally unique units)
-> Well, I'm not a fan of the 3D world but "culturally unique units" - does this mean every culture have their own unique-looks to every unit?
4.) A lot of good new improvements that can be made, Offshore Platform etc. And a lot of new resources. And ALL resources will be tradable - very good news, hope we also can trade between our own cities...
5.) More terrain is good news...
6.) No more culture flipping..
7.) Great people.
.
(I say mostly because some of the things he includes on his 'good' list I put on my 'bad' list)
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