Introduce Ourselves

[whyidie]

42, started in silicon valley, now in Colorado though its getting a little too crowded. May be time to move again. Led development on a couple of apps for some of biggest 2nd generation silicon valley companies despite not having any formal training. I did know the businesses we were developing for and I eventually learned how to manage different types of developers. Last app I led development on is AI backbone for a fortune 100 company. Like to lead the development until the products got so large that decisions were made by committee. Thats no fun. Currently running support operations with a small (I've learned smaller is better) global team, picking and choosing what we work on.

Started with Civ 2, played 3 fanatically, burned out on 4 early, got hooked on 5 (after expansions), and am lukewarm on 6. I'm at the point I'll keep buying Civ just because of how they have managed the franchise as well as to keep communities like this going. Can't think of too many game franchises that have stayed as true as Civ. Probably one of the few people that appreciates their old school communication (or lack thereof) methods. Really not a fan of the "interact with the developers" trend. Even though I use mods sparingly, I am sympathetic to lack of mod tools as that covers the "we want" gaps and keeps the community vibrant.

 

[Nigel_Tufnel2]

54 year old divorced male, no biological kids, in a smallish Great Plains (USA) city that has become quite famous (lol). Started with Civ I and was on a Prodigy (!!!) chat room for Civ in like 1992-3. I remember a user named Shaka who was very helpful. Lurked here forever before joining years ago, then created a 2nd account after I went over the allotted image file limit...

Taught myself 3d animation in 1993-4. I also have done video/audio production, flight simulations, 3d printing, etc. If I hadn't been hooked up with a major manufacturer here I would have started making animation for games in 1995 in California. Since I've worked from home forever, it is not uncommon for me to have Civ running in the background. When animating, I can squeeze a turn or two in whenever I do a test render. Steam says I have 7,419 hours in VI and 12,481 in V, lol...

I moved recently and finally threw out almost all of my original manuals, 3.5" disks, tech trees, etc.

 

[beestar]

I hope you're joking.

Or what? You'll culturally flip me?



Just kidding, I was 100% not serious about my comment. I just found it very interesting that so many respondents were peaceful builders

42, started in silicon valley, now in Colorado though its getting a little too crowded. May be time to move again. Led development on a couple of apps for some of biggest 2nd generation silicon valley companies despite not having any formal training. I did know the businesses we were developing for and I eventually learned how to manage different types of developers. Last app I led development on is AI backbone for a fortune 100 company. Like to lead the development until the products got so large that decisions were made by committee. Thats no fun. Currently running support operations with a small (I've learned smaller is better) global team, picking and choosing what we work on.

Started with Civ 2, played 3 fanatically, burned out on 4 early, got hooked on 5 (after expansions), and am lukewarm on 6. I'm at the point I'll keep buying Civ just because of how they have managed the franchise as well as to keep communities like this going. Can't think of too many game franchises that have stayed as true as Civ. Probably one of the few people that appreciates their old school communication (or lack thereof) methods. Really not a fan of the "interact with the developers" trend. Even though I use mods sparingly, I am sympathetic to lack of mod tools as that covers the "we want" gaps and keeps the community vibrant.

Interesting insight - with your background and career that's a very useful perspective. Moddability is almost a safety valve to relieve pent-up fan demand.

 

[legalizefreedom]

I'm the manager of the on-going Shining Force III Translation Project!
http://sf3trans.shiningforcecentral.com/
V20 dropping now!

 

[Esperr]

30 something male, unfortunately living in the southern United States. Was in the military, then accounting before I realized I hated everything about it and corporate culture in general. Tried to go private, got offered a really good position but decided that I couldn't be a corporate sell out. Now I am an independent software developer. I have also gotten a few bad science fiction books published as well. I started playing civ with 3, loved 4, 5 and 6 are ok but I can't play them like IV.

edit:When the professor asked I told him I was a boy.

 

[blackcatatonic]

I wish you all had identified whether you are male or female. I am curious about the number of women playing. That was one thing I liked about D&D, was the female participation.

I'm female - I didn't mention as it says so under my avatar

My female friends who game tend to prefer first-person RPGs or MMOs. But a few of us play Civ. Though I think in several cases I'm the one who will have introduced them to Civ... does that make me a Civangelist?

 

[Zorro 695]

Well look at how many old codgers there are on this thread!

I'm 67, male, live in Perth, Western Australia. I have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. My wife abandoned us when my children were little so I've been a Sole Parent/Lone Father like since forever.

I'm now retired. Have been a Commercial Fisherman, Driving Instructor, Sunday School Teacher, Professional Counsellor, and currently assist my daughter home-schooling her kids in English and History.

I bought a computer while studying psychology at ECU in the mid-1990's. In those days I was a great fan of a strategy board game called DIPLOMACY. (Anyone even heard of it?)
I thought there must be more interesting entertainment programs on Windows 95 than Solitaire or FreeCell.

So down to the local computer store I went. "Got anything that involves Strategy?"

"Well, there's this game called 'Civilization II'. Apparently it's very popular..."

And the rest, as they say, is history!

I like messing about Modding but my attempts are nothing on the scale of the Legendary Modders (you know who they are).

 

[MaryKB]

I wish you all had identified whether you are male or female. I am curious about the number of women playing. That was one thing I liked about D&D, was the female participation.

Oh I'm sorry, I'm a woman - but I do think I have my gender publicly listed? I know a fair number of women who've played Civilization for a very long time, I'm surprised so many people seem shocked.

 

[Browd]

OP updated with link to an earlier, similar thread.

 

[Disgustipated]

must be more interesting entertainment programs on Windows 95 than Solitaire or FreeCell

Minesweeper *cough,* I still play that game. Too bad windows 10 doesn't include it for free. Have to go to the app store, the free version has annoying ads. But I won't give up my minesweeper. Used to play it at work until they updated their windows.

 

[Hep Roc Heretic]

Married male...father & grandfather...IT Administrator but that will change in a few weeks when I turn 66 and semi-retire to work part time while mentoring the new guy...wannabe writer since high school which led me to programming as a way to express myself creatively (and get some paying gigs)...I love to cook (sous vide! BBQ!) and I am looking forward to retirement so that I can get back on my bike more often.

Well look at how many old codgers there are on this thread!...a strategy board game called DIPLOMACY. (Anyone even heard of it?)

Haha - BIG Avalon Hill fan!...big fan of Sid Meiers' games ever since Silent Service, Gunship, Pirates, Railroad Tycoon, and ultimately Civ.

My son really got into reading after I introduced him to Civ I (he had a thing for Egyptians and Ramesses)...we both played Civ II and Civ III and then I drifted away until he gifted me Civ V BNW one year for Christmas and I now I am fully dedicated to Civ VI...I have won everything but a religious victory and I while there are some civs that don't particularly interest me, I have no favorite civs yet nor do I have a preferred route to victory.

 

[Forster]

Oh I'm sorry, I'm a woman - but I do think I have my gender publicly listed? I know a fair number of women who've played Civilization for a very long time, I'm surprised so many people seem shocked.

It doesn't surprise me, I know they are playing. I am just curious as to how many.

 

[Guandao]

I'm the manager of the on-going Shining Force III Translation Project!
http://sf3trans.shiningforcecentral.com/
V20 dropping now!

Shining Force I and Shining Force II were the first JRPGs I've ever played.

 

[Lord Lakely]

28, male, Belgian, currently studying to be a teacher Have been dating someone since last August

Have been playing Civ since III, though I'm admittedly rubbish at playing strategy in general. (mostly due to my lack of aggression/pro-active play). Other fave game franchises of mine include D&D (Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale & PlaneScape: Torment), Master of Orion, Age of Empires, Might & Magic/Heroes, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Anno, XCom, Pokémon, Tropico and Danganronpa

 

[Kimiimaro]

16 years old here, I'll turn 17 soon 20th on of November. I live in the Czech Republic, in a small town called Paskov. Here, the school system is divided into elementary, secondary and tertiary schools. I'm now in the secondary, studying English and German languages on a grammar school specialised on language teaching (picking this was kind of evading maneuver from me. It was time to decide our future at the end of elementary school, but I wasn't decided on what I'd like to do, so I picked this to get myself more time to fully decide. I managed to succesfully go through the exams, and now it's my second year of my studies, with another two being in front of me. It wasn't a bad decision though, because I managed to get into group of great classmates and we have several good teachers).

History is my large interest, and my beloved subject. There is something in it that makes it so interesting, more than other subjects at school. It's like a long story filled with great characters, and seeing how humanity, options and inventions developed, how great empires rose and vanished... How often a small change would change history... How everything had consequences... And I have a very good history teacher. If I should tell what I dislike... Well, I greatly dislike Physics, and I am not good at PE.

Strategy games are also something I enjoy playing. These two interests combined eventually brought me to Civ VI some two years ago. Currently, I'm playing less Civ IV/V and more EU4. In Civ, I am mostly a peaceful Empire-builder, in EU4, my strategy depends.

Another my interest is drawing (painting, not so much). I enjoyed this activity since I was a small child.

Reading is also something I like. I read usually when I travel to/from school in buses. Currently, I'm reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, recently starting Pyramids.

Oh, and I'm a total barbarian when it comes to films

 

[qadams]

I thought there must be more interesting entertainment programs on Windows 95 than Solitaire or FreeCell.

Minesweeper *cough,* I still play that game. Too bad windows 10 doesn't include it for free. Have to go to the app store, the free version has annoying ads. But I won't give up my minesweeper. Used to play it at work until they updated their windows.

I like Minesweeper, and I totally love FreeCell. I play a quick game of that just about every day.

 

[ggalindo001]

What a great thread.

Myself -- 47, Male, Married, dogs no kids in Texas. I work in IT consulting, travel way way wayyyyy too much (and have really started to get going on the iPad version while travelling)

Started with the original Civilization -- back in 1991 there was a store that rented PC games, place called "Floppy Joes". Much like back in the day renting video cassettes. I remember one day going in and asking if there was any new games that we should check out. The attendant said -- I have heard great things about this Civilization game. I rented it, and the rest is history.

Have owned every iteration, including CivNet, and the Call to Power series as well. Only one I never owned in the lineage is SMAC. No good reason for that.

Am about 2000 hours in, but likely only about 800 real hours and 1200 "idling" hours.

Am completely a builder, but not afraid to go domination. On civ 6, have won every victory on Diety -- and am a major mod player. Favorite iteration was Civ IV, but realistically cannot go back to that. Really like Civ 6, and am looking forward to the next expansion.

Wife doesn't like Civ but lets me play it as much as I would like. She does love the graphics on 6, once there is a lot happening on the map.

Outside of Civ, I do like board games (mostly Axis and Allies type games), computer sports games, and haven't really been able to get into other computer strategy games.

 

[Lord Gruin]

I am 75 and started with Civ I. I had been reading a mystery (can't remember the name) and the antagonist was playing the game. He had just returned to it and discovered the barbarians were taking over. I mentioned it to one of my coworkers and he had a copy of the game. I borrowed it and "that was the rest of the story".

 

[Civrinn]

I am a 34 year old plumber who was in the army for a bit. I have played Civ for a very long time, since I was a kid starting with Civ 2. I don't contribute much here because most of the things I would say someone has already said it. Anyways, back to lurking folks.

 

[shaglio]

Shining Force I and Shining Force II were the first JRPGs I've ever played.

I used to love playing Shining Force on my friend's Sega back in the day. He used to prefer Shining In The Darkness, but I liked the group battle mechanics of Force better than the solo deeper-into-the-same-cave monotony of Darkness.