How much of this is speculation?

[rhialto]

Firaxis, please respond

Now, I know that regardless of whatever Firaxis says, we will continue discussing our ideal civ until we are no longer able to push a mouse around. However, I wonder, at this stage in development, how much of this discussion is now just hot air as far as changing the final form of civ4? While I'm happy to discuss civ5, 6, 7, or 800, it would be nice to be able to influence 4 too.

Firaxis, is there anything in particular we can discuss that can usefully affect the final form for civ4?

Edit: spelling

 

[Commander Bello]

<=== listens as well

 

[Civrules]

We can still impact the game because Firaxians do browse pretty often around here and they do take suggestions. We can speculate as much as we want about different aspects, but if there is no comment to guide our speculation, then pretty much we can take a best guess and hope it is what it is.

 

[warpstorm]

Since they are quickly approaching the home stretch (assuming they are shooting for getting it out this year), I'd assume that most major design decisions have been made already. This would mean to me that any ideas that are radically different than the path they are already doing will be ignored and those similar will be used to validate the feeling that it was a good idea in the first place. Having said that, there is a lot that can be done in a few months if they decide that they want to do it.

 

[dh_epic]

I doubt they'll stop us, because talking about the game is good for them.

And it's a fun exercise, too.

And if they're targeting a December release, that means they probably will have the game finished by October with the last two months to get it to gold code. That leaves 8 months of development. How much can you redesign in 8 months? I dunno, but not that much.

 

[Commander Bello]

[...] How much can you redesign in 8 months? I dunno, but not that much.

If you would have taken the decision to do a redesign, you can redesign almost anything in 8 months.
Nevertheless, I would assume that most decisions already have been taken and except for something not working properly, the won't be any new design right now. Of course, except for the abstract tactics...

 

[Brain]

How much can you redesign in 8 months? I dunno, but not that much.

Oh, at my company we sometimes re-design completely in less than a month, but I assume that most software developers are not that insane.

 

[Sirian]

Firaxis, is there anything in particular we can discuss that can usefully affect the final form for civ4?

Do you really expect an answer?


Since the info that has been released so far has come out through magazines, I would think that there is some kind of deal to trade exclusive preview info for discounts on promotions/advertisements, or other similar business deals where both Firaxis and the magazines involved will benefit. As they are ultimately in business to turn a profit WHILE making great games to entertain gamers -- and that profit part is not optional, for them -- I would not expect them to come out and give away an asset here at CFC which they could bargain for something more valuable with promoters.

That's just a guess, of course, but if it is anywhere near the mark, then we shouldn't expect them to come out and say much. I'm not opposed to Firaxis making money. If the game is good, I'll enjoy it and come back for the next title. What else is there to say about that?


Since we're on our own, we get to pick our own topics. I, for one, have already said what's on my mind (AI, Diplomacy, Strategics) so I figure they've heard it or they haven't, and who's going to know until the game is out? I don't figure that repeating it and trying to make it "louder" is any way to be influential. I guess I've got more confidence in my point of view than that. Now I'm on to goofing around in the 1000 clues thread. What else is there to do while waiting for Civ4? There's plenty of waiting time, so there's plenty of goofing off to be doing.


- Sirian

 

[ArbitraryGuy]

You can always take solice in the claim that Civ IV will be "highly moddable". If that means what I want it to mean, you can implement changes in most anything you wish (even game form). If that means what it probably means, you'll be able to change it as much as Civ III.

 

[dh_epic]

I'm trying to influence the influentials If I can convince even one or two people with the time to mod that my idea is good, that would be pretty awesome. Or if I could get somebody with a prominant Civ fansite to echo or debate a point I've brought up, that's cool too. Or even if I can just get a few fans who talk to their friends saying "Civilization would be better if it didn't climax so early", that's cool too.

But hey, nothing is fine, and if someone points to me and says "yes, you are the chosen prophet who will lead our people out of the fog", that's fine too.

Dare I say that I like it here.

 

[sir_schwick]

Also consider that at least two expansions were released for Civ 3 and Civ 2. If Python is as flexible as everyone claims then these expansions could probably change the game more than PTW and even C3C did. Some of these ideas are too radical for the current design, but someone might think they could work for an expansion.

 

[Vael]

Or could even be added by people here. Going to have to get the Python skills in gear it seems... custom-tailoring my own game of Civ is hard to pass up.