Have They (Firaxis) acknowledged anything to anyone?

[Zydor]

Yes, well done to Firaxis.

Maybe they've not had time to communicate - the jump in version number to me suggests a lot of long hours.

Can't wait to get home from work and give it a go!

They have been busy, thats for sure, but that wasnt really ever in doubt.

I hope that the jesture of a number of them appearing on the Forum is continued with better use of PR / Communications etc. The latter is sooooo important in taking the steam out of a mega frustrated fan, most fans want to 'believe', they just need to hear that someone is listening - does not have to be a techie as such.

They did good today, lets hope that style continues. I suspect some of them will be in 'unconcious mode' tonight after the hours they have no doubt put in, they will have earnt it.

Regards
Zy

 

[blue3c]

Yeah, couldn't help but notice how-for the greater part-the tone of this thread has been very intelligent and level-headed, whether from those who are complaining about or those who are defending Firaxis. I get the sense that the vast bulk of the true whiners have simply disappeared now that they have vented their spleens-almost EXACTLY the way they did in the early months of Civ3 .

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

So I am sitting here trying to figure out what to say to this. There really isn't much to say. Except why?
Why do you make comments like that. Are you just trying to upset more and more people.
Son that ain't no fire that ain't no fire
jr.... JR run over there and grab that 5 gallon can of gas and bring it to me
Whoosh NOW THATS A FIRE.
You comments are always directly or indirectly aimed at people. Not stating facts just aimed at getting under peoples skin while attempting to sound smart.

Now on to much more important things (yes I am implying you are not important).
I am happy this patch is out. But, oh come on you knew it was coming, Just one samll comment while my patch is downloading.
Why is there no mention of it on the civ iv official page. Why under downloads does it still list the 1.09 patch.
I am confused. I don't understand how this site can know before they get it up on the page.
I am happy you got the patch out. I have yet to test it. So I will wait for that. I just don't understand how you can not be happy and post news about it on your site.
If I had this many problems with a game I would have links to it all over the site. Hell I might even add a link to it in my front page main pic. Oh wait you saved that for your awards from two web sites that are really one company.
I will install the patch and hopefully play the game the way it was advertised. And yes I will still be warning off others. My comments will be held to just my problems. I will leave them with an its up to you. Yes, it will cover any game they have in the future. I will however mention the games that I got to work out of the box.

Below are the support and downloads pages from firaxis. You tell me where to find this patch. You tell me how joe blow user is going to even know it is out there.

1. Civ IV Recognized in "Best of 2005" Awards.
2. Firaxis Launches a Civilization Poll.
3. Civ IV v1.09 Patch Released.
4. A Note from Firaxis About the Civ IV Patch.
5. Strategy Informer Reviews Civ IV.
6. Civ IV Fansite Kit Now Available.
7. GameSpy Gives Civ IV a Perfect Score.
8. Support Section Goes Live.
9. GameSpot Gives Civ IV an Editors' Choice Award.
10. Received a French Tech Tree Poster?

Official Trailer
Windows Media Player
640x360: View Now | Download (13.1 MB)
432x240: View Now | Download (7.29 MB)
Quicktime
640x360: View Now | Download (18 MB)
432x240: View Now | Download (8.11 MB)

Patches
v1.09 Patch
Upgrade Civilization IV to v1.09 with this patch. This update includes multiple AI improvements and tweaks, worker behavior tweaks, many gameplay improvements (ex. Animal Husbandry reveals horses), promotion tweaks, corrected diplomatic exploits (gold for gold, peace treaty exploit), multiplayer tweaks (Hot Seat, Lobby, etc.), memory, cache and performance improvements, as well as a number of video card specific fixes.
Note: This patch is for all versions of Civilization IV with the exception of the Direct2Drive downloaded version.
Download the patch from 2k games (31.5 MB)
Fansite Kit
Show your support for Civilization IV by making your own fansite. The Fansite Kit contains a bevy of assets including screenshots, wallpaper, leaderhead art, and audio.
Download the Fansite Kit (31.5 MB) Wallpapers

 

[Vael]

I'm assuming the department that handles things like the website is completely different from the dev team. It may be 2K, and the people in charge may be already on their vacation.

 

[blue3c]

I'm assuming the department that handles things like the website is completely different from the dev team. It may be 2K, and the people in charge may be already on their vacation.

I would hope you don't mix dev and web geeks. Thats never a good thing.

If they are on vacation, that is very poor schedualing on there part.

Looking over this it looks as if I am just complaining to complain. Please don't assume that. I am very happy they got around to patching the game. And from the 2 hours on a huge map I played this morning, it looks better. Still early so I can not say for sure.
Again theres a but. Many people, myself included have been disappointed with the level of communication between firaxis and its customers. Please don't chime in with its take2 and not firaxis. Sorry they signed on the dotted line and they are one in the same right now. "That dog just ain't gonna hunt".
Getting the patch out is great. Letting the users know it is out is great. Just letting a few forums know that are not official parts of the game. Not so good.
This is how the entire release of this game has gone. Half-assed!!

I mean test on un packed files when it will ship with packed files, tech tress to mislabled cds, release a patch, whoops not done, pull patch, release real patch, some mirrors have bad patch file, replace that, again no communication, took a few days for anyone to know it was out, patch doesn't cover the mem problems, work on the patch but don't let your customers know you are, now release a patch, go out to two forums and announce it, mention it on your official website, or list it as a download. Not so much. Could it be that they are using the forum as a beta test of there patch? If so they are being under handed about it by not stating it. If they are not then they are not communicating with there customer base.
Either way they are dropping the ball. Again, please do not come back with well thats take2 not firaxis. They are one in the same now people. Firaxis is a div of take2. If there is a line it is blurry.
From the game just not working to hoping they are working on it. This has been piss poor management calls. How to run a company/franchise into the ground 101.

 

[Vael]

Yeah, I'm sure Take 2 and Firaxis are really feeling the burn right now. The burn of having to find more places to stash all the cash they're getting from this game.

Whatever your opinion is on the process Civ 4 has taken is irrelevant. The fact is that the game is selling very well and will continue to do so. Just like the next Firaxis game. What you call "piss poor management" and "How to run a company/franchise into the ground 101" would be what 95% of the game developers in the industry wish they could repeat.

 

[White Elk]

Your beating a dead horse with your Stick of Truth blue3c. Duplicating your point of view only serves to bring negativity here. And it may persude people against buying this game.. people who may very well find great satisfaction with it, as I and many others have. It's right and proper to express your dissatisfaction, and a public forums is a good place to do it.. once or maybee thrice. But at this point you are only making the civcom suffer with unneccesary negativity and Firaxis has most definatly heard Your voice. imho

 

[Zydor]

Let me say up front, I think in principle blue3c is correct, although maybe a little harsh....

Any Sale .... merger .... whatever ....depends on your personal spin .... has motives, particularly if one of the Principle charactors (ie Sid) does not "exit stage left" immediately. So it begs the question about motivation besides simplistic financial assumptions. I think Firaxis became a victim of its own success with Civilization Series. The potential - and real rollouts - are very large for a game. That produces many many issues (as we have all experienced lol). The headcount in Firaxis is relatively small with a technical focus. That is not good for long term management of the business in Marketing,PR & Release Management. I believe the latter three were the prime motivators for the Take 2 / Firaxis deal.

It was however only 6 months before this roll out. What is in effect a merger of two management systems/teams and cultures is never easy, frankly impossible in 6 months. So it was always on the cards that some "dislocation" in the Release process was almost inevitable. For sure its easy to say "... but only had to do this ..... or do that ..." and all sounds easy and logical, in reality inside the two oragnisations its never that simple.

They dropped the Ball on Release Management for this one, there is little doubt, but I think the above goes a long way as to why. Could be wrong of course, no firm evidence, but this kind of hassle in the immediate aftermath of a Takeover or Merger is very common. The real test is whether Take 2 drop the ball a second time for "V5". If they do blue3c's view of "How to run a company/franchise into the ground 101" is going to be absolutely correct.

Lets hope they dont, its a great game

Regards
Zy

 

[White Elk]

Although I'm quite satisfied with this game, I am no way near entirelly satisfied. And I have some issues with aspects of this games release. Including the original topic of this thread. From reading these forums it is clear to me that many of my fellow civers have similar dissatisfactions. I'm very certain it is just as clear to Take 2 and Firaxis. And my voice has already been heard along with the others and so in the best interests of this forum community I'm content with saying my piece and moving on. I've still things I'd like to say to the publisher, but I will tell it straight to the horses mouth as I learn more facts.

A campaign of negative publicity here would only serve to hurt my fellow forumers and I can not bring myself to do so. I've already gone this route with comcasts g4 takeover of the great network TechTV . And I'm sorry for the disruption I caused an online community by the repetitive and angry sharing of my opinion. A couple public posts of disatisfaction is plenty. Any more than that and it is an attack on the community. Or so I now beleive.

 

[blue3c]

Wow I got bolded.
Zy,
As far as Marketing and PR, I think they are doing a fantastic job considering the merger. Putting sid and soren out on the road is a brillent(best guniess shout) idea.
But with that said, attention to detail has blah blah repeat repeat again again. I think you get the point (your welcome white elk).
My concern and love for the original game have lead to me having strong feelings when it comes to this franchise. Excuse me if I do not want to see it end on such a bad note.
I truthfully do not think we will see a civ v. Especially with what has happened here. I hope I am wrong.
Civ, pirates, panzer general and M1 tank platoon were my first computer games that mattered.
But I also take pride in the games I tell people about. Whats the old saying,
give a customer a great/awesome experiance and they may tell one or two people. Give them a bad experiance and they will tell the world.



EDIT: instead of spamming the world.
How is my disatisfaction with firaxis/take2, and voicing such in the only place available

it is an attack on the community

I am confused by this.
Unless you are saying that firaxis/take2 will look at negitive comments and no longer come here. If that is true, well thats just sad. Please explain

 

[White Elk]

Hehe.. Bolded just so you might see that I was talking to you. No offense meant. By any of it.

The Edit vs spamming the world is a great idea. Just hope you see this...

Actually blue3c I went back and reread your posts and I think I'm quilty of the polarization here. Although your remarks like half assed and the light sarcasim you've used are not real good for the forums general well being; it is also not an attack on the forums like those who use hatefull remarks and a darker sarcasm. You've said alot in this thread, but for the most part I think you've been civil. Though your words have had an edge to them I think.

 

[Zydor]

"Give them a bad experiance and they will tell the world" - absolutely, I did share your frustration tho - as no doubt did many others.

I didnt have much hair to pullout anyway, but now the wife reckons all I need do is give it a quick polish each morning.

Saves on the Hairdressor bill

Regards
Zy

 

[blue3c]

No offense taken. Totally understood that. Was just making a little fun of it.

Yah I know what you mean not much hair to begin with. Will be hitting 38 with the moby hair style.

If in my posts it seems like I get more and more upset as it goes on. I do. I start out typing a response and it just all builds and the more I type the more I think and the more I think about it the more I get upset. GRRRRRR.

On that note, I have some holiday shopping to do and I am not coming back here till tuesday. Happy holidays all. Yes even you guys at firaxis/take2.

 

[Zydor]

........ If in my posts it seems like I get more and more upset as it goes on. I do. I start out typing a response and it just all builds and the more I type the more I think and the more I think about it the more I get upset. GRRRRRR.

Think Zen

Ahhhummmmm Ahhhummmmmm



Regards
Zy

 

[White Elk]

Happy Holidays to you to blue!

Hope you caught the edit above.

 

[Duelingground]

You tell me how joe blow user is going to even know it is out there.

Could it be that ol' joeblow clicks his "Check for Updates" option before starting a new game?

 

[perky_goth]

edit: forget it, i was wrong

 

[blue3c]

Ok its official, this is the game from hell.
The patch does make things run smoother, until say 1500, then it started to lag a little. No biggie, it got right back and things ran smooth. Then came 1600. Oh my god leaderheads are coming up with the eyes and teeth at first. then they get back to normal. lagging a little harder now. Comes back to normal after a few seconds. Just all of a sudden it starts to... I don't know, stutter, stall, whatever. then came 1700. all hell broke loose. Tried moving the mouse real slow. Nope, map starts getting black squares and then back to normal. Mix in the lags. Oh its awesome. Looking at the units in my city and they are just black shadow type dudes. A shadow void is where my units used to be. oh wait, it gets better. Late 1700 wham bam thank you mam locks up the system hard.
This is all on a fresh install with the latest 1.5X patch. Woo Hoo.
Granted it works a little longer now. Thats pre Harks patch. But come on. Baby steps is no way to make a game. Seriously anyone want to buy this game from me for cheap. I have had it.
I can jam doom3 and bf2 sf full out. maxed in everything. Online. NO PROBLEMS! This just make no sense to me. Advice to you holiday buyers who may be checking the forums, think of buying a nice game for a loved one. RUN. RUN FAR, RUN FAST. If you do get this for anyone, please make sure there are no sharp objects in the house, guns, anything that could do others harm. Because the frustration this game brings could create another serial killer. At this rate I should be able to get to the year 2000 using official patchs in say, a year?
And still no official word from firaxis on anything. ARGH!

EDIT: sorry missed this the first time.
Duelingground, really. So before you play the game, you always go through the menu system to the check for updates. average joe blow user who does not come to the forums, we can assume he is not computer dumb, but he is not a geek either. The game doesn't really work all to well for him and he is waiting on this patch so he can play. That again is assuming he actually is waiting for a patch. I mean in this case, would he really be. With no official word from firaxis on any patch since 1.09, its hard to believe he would be. But for this, lets just say he is one of those that believes in santa and the patch that will finally fix the game he bought. So he can justify spending that 50.00 on a game.
But your saying that everyone upon starting this game goes to advanced, check for updates. the whole idea that it is in the advanced menu and not on the first menu is another rant. But my guess would be that not to many people do that.
I know all of a sudden there are going to be twenty responses stating that is exactly what they do. And like I said, santa is real.

 

[Natronomonas]

I always wondered why "check for updates" is an advanced menu item...would have thought it would be down the bottom on the other side to the "exit", or in the main menu.... although "options" are also advanced...
hmmm....
Anyway off to try 1.52...

 

[blue3c]

Ok thought you all might enjoy this. I got an error I never recieved before. Or at least I was able to see. Here it is word for word.

your system has run out of video memory. Please trying reducing your video settings.
File:\main\ciilization4.bak\SDKs\Gamebryo2_0\CoreLibs\NiSX9Renderer\NiDXIBManager.cpp, Line:656

Now I was cruising along in a game. Kept getting the usual slow laggy play. When I get a black screen, then to desktop. In a lovely shade of 16 colors and the largest resolution. Here sits this error window, due to the res it takes up almost the entire screen. Because of the poor english in it I am assuming it is a civ error. But thinking this may help all you coders out there playing I thought I would copy it. Enjoy my pain. Woo Hoo. Merry Christmas and all that jazz.