How Many People Who Post in CIV Fanatics OT Actually Play Civilization?

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I personally used to play civ often, starting with Civ 2, and basically worshiped Civ 3 for a long time, and still prefer it to Civ 4. Anyway, I haven't played Civ in a long long time.

I play C3C regularly. I have both a scenario and a mod out for it. You should go download them.

 

[CCA]

Actually, given that definition, Civ IV seems to be the very embodiment of a quantum leap: abrubt transition from one state to another (particularly in graphics), with little distance gained (not a whole lot of actual improvement.)

...yep, it fits.

YOu just totally pwned lightfang. About time she got pwned too....

 

[Whomp]

played all Civ implementations including SMAC. It was just the type of game I was looking for and until Civ4, every new version grabbed my attention until the next would come out...well that changed and I don't understand how such an addictive game could be turned into such a thing like Civ4...it was as if they tried really hard to make all things fun unfun...all in the name of better balance and other crap...let's hope Civ5 will revive the old spirit.

I'm with ya. If it wasn't for pitboss I wouldn't play any civ4 and don't play in any civ4 SP or SGs. I do like the advantage of being able to play in short bursts that pitboss offers. Thanks to IglooDude for sponsoring all these games.

I only SG and SP c3c. A couple months ago I had my best game ever. Deity, pangea, no native bonus food, iron, saltpeter, coal or rubber. Thank goodness for horses, longbows and digging out of a tech hole. Something that's simply not possible in civ4.

 

[brainpan]

Darlin', the thing about quantum leaps is that they mark an abrupt change from one state to a distinctly different one, with no in-between transitional states being possible; however, they are not large. In fact, in physics, a quantum leap is one of the smallest sorts of changes worth talking about. Leave “quantum leap” to the subatomic physicists unless you know what you’re talking about.

I'm not sure why you insist on embarrassing yourself, but this is no less silly than your uninformed objection to my correct usage of vis-a-vis.

Again, "vis-a-vis" is not "esoteric," as you referred to it. It is a common term that has been in the English language since before the Revolutionary War. Despite your claim to the contrary, the most common use of the phrase in English means "with regards to" or "in relation to."

Similarly, "quantum leap" is also a well-understood term in the English language that enjoys a great deal of exposure. A quick google search netted hundreds of hits for recent news stories from around the globe.

quantum leap: a sudden large increase or advance. An abrupt change or step, especially in method, information, or knowledge.

Get it? A quantum leap is a sudden large advance. Really. It's like you want to scream as loudly as possible that you're ignorant. Erm...OK, but I don't understand your motivation.

 

[brainpan]

Kindred spirits my friend.

I can't understand people who think CivIII was the best. That game was by far the worst of the series.

For the sake of honesty, I have to admit I also liked CivIII. However, since CivIV was such a quantum leap forward from a game like CivIII, it makes the older version seem virtually unplayable in comparison...but that's not to say CivIII was bad, only that CivIV is exceptionally good!

Basically, Soren Johnson studied what people liked about Civ and what they did not like. He effectively removed the "unfun" element that was doing such terrible damage to an otherwise wonderful game.

The first correction he made was to remove tedious and unnecessary micro-management: No longer would players pull their hair out over annoying city riots. Production and research overflow was added so that this wouldn't have to be "micro-ed" to death. "Whack-a-mole" pollution cleanup was wisely removed. The corruption and waste dynamics were improved so that, while "Infinite City Sprawl" was discouraged, it was handled in a way that allowed functional distant cities, a major imporvement.

I could go on an on, but every single aspect of the game, from top to bottom, experienced what most Civ players had been dreaming of from the start but didn't know was possible.

On top of all that, they left the system the most open-sourced and modable version yet. If there is something a player doesn't like about the game, it is a simple thing to simply add new code to "fix" it! Entire new games, such as the uncomparable Fall from Heaven II has been created from it. Really, the whole thing leaves me with a sense of gratitude and awe.

 

[The Yankee]

I still play Civ on occasion. But like my Paradox games, other commitments and other interests have severely curtailed my playing time.

On a slightly different note, but sort of answering the above quote, I found this site through the World History forum back in fall 2003 or spring 2004.

Ah, then you should check out my scintillating article that I posted in 2004. Intrigue! Girls! Buddhists! What more could you want? [/3 1/2 year old late plug]

 

[Integral]

Ah, then you should check out my scintillating article that I posted in 2004. Intrigue! Girls! Buddhists! What more could you want? [/3 1/2 year old late plug]

It was really odd how I bumbled into this place. I found World History, read one of SN's articles on one of the US Presidents (Fillmore?) from early 2004. Then I looked, saw that it was a larger forum, and realised....people live here?

And I was hooked. I lurked forever in the Civ III forums; I really can't remember the first thread I viewed there, but I do remember TLC with his Medival Infantry avatar. My first "memory" of the forum was that a few months after I started lurking, the roster hit 40,000 members. That appears to have been in December 2003, so I guess I started around fall 2003, or perhaps a few months earlier...hrm. That's a bit earlier than I thought, but whatever. It was near the end of 2003.

Ah, when we had just 40,000 members. It was such a small, cozy place, with no Civ IV nooblets wandering around...

-Integral

 

[The Yankee]

It was really odd how I bumbled into this place. I found World History, read one of SN's articles on one of the US Presidents (Fillmore?) from early 2004. Then I looked, saw that it was a larger forum, and realised....people live here?

SN is/was a treasure. But I must say, that's probably an unconventional way of stumbling upon my watering hole here.

 

[EconomistBR]

The first correction he made was to remove tedious and unnecessary micro-management: No longer would players pull their hair out over annoying city riots. Production and research overflow was added so that this wouldn't have to be "micro-ed" to death. "Whack-a-mole" pollution cleanup was wisely removed. The corruption and waste dynamics were improved so that, while "Infinite City Sprawl" was discouraged, it was handled in a way that allowed functional distant cities, a major imporvement.

Hum...I see, it's good to read a review of Civ 4.

I don't own Civ 4, and never played it but since Metacritic gave Civ 4 a 94 I was expecting nothing but adoration for Civ 4.

Why do people think that Civ 4 is a bad game?

 

[brainpan]

Quite frankly, I'm surprised to encounter people here who are so critical of the game. They aren't representive of the larger gaming community. It's almost as though some of them feel betrayed by the latest changes that allow "Civ IV nooblets"--presumably those familiar with the latest game--to compete with others who are only competent playing outdated versions.

 

[ThERat]

Why do people think that Civ 4 is a bad game?

oh, are you sure you want to open this pandora box....

ok let me try and give an account of my opinion. I have played many many hours of all civ games...so I am not the expert, but not a novice either.

First off, forget the 94 ratings and all that sort of stuff. Civ4 was released in a state that was horrible. Numerous crashes, slow buggy play, memory leaks etc etc. Testers these days

brainpan mentioned a lot of improvements that are a good addition to Civ. Overflow of beakers and shields are great. So is no pollution and no city riots. However, MM hasn't been eliminated as Civ4 has added MM elements, such as Great People points that must be accumulated and result in bean counting.
Exploiting the AI has been heavily nerfed and you must make sure not to trade too much otherwise you run into things like WFYABTA, a hard coded limit for each Civ how often they would trade with you.

Spreading religions or using spies is done the Civ2 caravan style and that's just plain tedious and repetitive.

edit: I forgot to mention this, due to the new, 'improved graphics engine', memory usage has skyrocketed and the Epic games that you could play in Civ2 or 3 are no longer possible or fun. Play small maps, unless you own a super computer.

The improvements sound actually awesome on paper, but something is amiss in this latest installment. The fun factor has been shifted from warmongering to something else I can't even describe.

Maybe it's best, I recall my Always War experiences here. AW games are HUGE fun in C3C. You can overcome incredible odds using the right strategy and warmongering skills. Armies are hugely fun and add the spice to those games. Furthermore, you have governments without any War Weariness...
Now, take Civ4. First off, no combination of civics (the new government style) provides WW free play. That just plain sucks. It has been addressed numerous times but Firaxis seems convinced this is the right way to play. Moving big armies in Civ4 is tedious at best, in fact it's painful as the new graphics engine is made from kindergarden hell. I cannot stand the graphics especially in modern times. Cluttered and messy, slow and annoying...


In the end, it boils down to personal preference. People who like C3C usually do not really appreciate Civ4. Players that were alienated by Civ3 would like Civ4.

For me Civ4 has too many elements. Look at chess, very simple and few rules...and it can be addictive...Civ4 is at the opposite end. Too many rules and possible strategies, too many features.

 

[ThERat]

Quite frankly, I'm surprised to encounter people here who are so critical of the game. They aren't representive of the larger gaming community. It's almost as though some of them feel betrayed by the latest changes that allow "Civ IV nooblets"--presumably those familiar with the latest game--to compete with others who are only competent playing outdated versions.

I think you are dead wrong here. Look at my signature for example. I have played numerous Civ4 games and I guess I am fairly competent at it.
However, I can play C3C endlessly. Civ4 gives me a headache after playing for a few hours and it wears out very fast. BtS didn't help, just thinking of all the MM with corporations puts me off totally.

 

[Integral]

Quite frankly, I'm surprised to encounter people here who are so critical of the game. They aren't representive of the larger gaming community. It's almost as though some of them feel betrayed by the latest changes that allow "Civ IV nooblets"--presumably those familiar with the latest game--to compete with others who are only competent playing outdated versions.

Hey, hey, hey, don't get me wrong--I love the new influx of people that Civ IV brought. It's just that there are so many of them...

"nooblet" is a term of affection, or at least I had meant it to be taken that way. And it's not that the changes made it easier for new people to join--that's great--it's just that many of the changes were not to my liking.

I have nothing against Civ IV. It's just not my style. I prefer C3C.


-Integral

 

[JohnRM]

I became officially too old to keep buying video games last year. I am playing to death those games which I still have and resisting the urge to buy new ones. I guess that I feel that I can be more productive with my time.

 

[hossam]

all those who do not play civ should be banned from the forums for hersey plus your never to old to play video games and be more poductive with your time you will always have time to watse

 

[JohnRM]

all those who do not play civ should be banned from the forums for hersey plus your never to old to play video games and be more poductive with your time you will always have time to watse

If it is, at all, any consolation, I have chosen to spend my time conquering the world (I'm serious), a pursuit for which the ambition is at least somewhat the result of my endless hours of Civilization play. You could say that I am trying to play civilization on a larger scale.

 

[The Yankee]

I became officially too old to keep buying video games last year. I am playing to death those games which I still have and resisting the urge to buy new ones. I guess that I feel that I can be more productive with my time.

There's an official age?

If it is, at all, any consolation, I have chosen to spend my time conquering the world (I'm serious)

Can I be the General of the Right?

 

[JohnRM]

There's an official age?

For I, it was 25.



Can I be the General of the Right?

There will be an opening for the position of Praetor, the second highest military and political position in the Republic. When the time comes, you may feel free to swear your allegiance to the Republic and present your qualifications for the position. If you are qualified, above any other, you may serve until you die or until I find someone better.

 

[EconomistBR]

Civ4 was released in a state that was horrible. Numerous crashes, slow buggy play, memory leaks etc etc.

Overflow of beakers and shields are great. So is no pollution and no city riots. However, MM hasn't been eliminated as Civ4 has added MM elements, such as Great People points that must be accumulated and result in bean counting.
Exploiting the AI has been heavily nerfed and you must make sure not to trade too much otherwise you run into things like WFYABTA, a hard coded limit for each Civ how often they would trade with you.

Spreading religions or using spies is done the Civ2 caravan style and that's just plain tedious and repetitive.

due to the new, 'improved graphics engine', memory usage has skyrocketed and the Epic games that you could play in Civ2 or 3 are no longer possible or fun. Play small maps, unless you own a super computer.

Now, take Civ4. First off, no combination of civics (the new government style) provides WW free play. Moving big armies in Civ4 is tedious at best, in fact it's painful as the new graphics engine is made from kindergarden hell. I cannot stand the graphics especially in modern times. Cluttered and messy, slow and annoying...

Nice review. "Exploiting the AI has been heavily nerfed" that's a good thing, Civ 3 AI were way predictable.
Well, I didn't really like the warmongering aspect of Civ3, so...

For me Civ4 has too many elements. Look at chess, very simple and few rules...and it can be addictive...Civ4 is at the opposite end. Too many rules and possible strategies, too many features.

Wait... 'too many features and too many possible strategies', those are probably good things.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I play C3C. Civ4 is the worst game to ever be downloaded onto my computer. It blows.

The man speaks the truth! C3C forever!

Civ IV was such a quantum leap forward from its predecessors, I can't imagine playing any of the previous versions. I adore Civ IV. I'm obsessed with it. I play it constantly. My favorite Civ IV mod is Fall from Heaven which makes even Civ IV seem not-so-fun in comparison.

A leap in graphics perhaps, but the gameplay went straight downhill.