New CivIV screenshots (from Game Informer)

[Civrules]

It seems to me like most of the changes are representational.

Represent units as multiple figures, instead of one.
Represent resources as animated, rather than still.
Represent the game as 3D, rather than 2D.
Represent city-improvements as "construct" and tile-improvements as "build".
Represent hitpoints, strength, and defence with different values (maybe).
Represent more information about the technology you're researching.

In other words, it's a 3D version of Civilization 3. It's Civilization 3 with new graphics.

Not that the game will end up that way... I'm sure they're just releasing the "safest" screenshots to the magazines, either because they're still testing and implementing the big features, or just to build mystique.

Indeed. I can understand why we have not seen anything major on the major gaming sites yet (GS, IGN, etc).

I personally can't say that it's Civ III with the same graphics (although I understand what you mean), but I can say that it is with similar concepts, and those consepts have been majorly revised (at least, the ones we already know of).

 

[Rik Meleet]

This is not what I am waiting for
All overview is gone. I hope there is a 3d-2d switch option; 3d for the looks, 2d for the playing.

 

[Civrules]

All overview is gone.

I would say so too, if I had only looked at screenshot #2. The third screenshot Snoopy posted seems more natural, IMHO.

 

[Sub]

To everyone: I have a large 1200x800 pic of the tilted view screen. It's almost 2mb. But if you want it, post your email address in this thread. DON'T PM ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

hybrid094@hotmail.com

 

[Aks K]

To everyone: I have a large 1200x800 pic of the tilted view screen. It's almost 2mb. But if you want it, post your email address in this thread. DON'T PM ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

aks80k@gmail.com

Thanks in advance

Aks K

 

[Zeekater]

To everyone: I have a large 1200x800 pic of the tilted view screen. It's almost 2mb. But if you want it, post your email address in this thread. DON'T PM ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

zeekater@gmail.com

In screenshot 2 there's a few things around those workes, like to the left is something that looks like farms (with a little house and crops) and then there's something weird in the middle. Anybody got an idea what that could be?

 

[Louis XXIV]

Its definately more than representational changes. They've said that the game is built from scratch. Most changes can't really be shown on a screenshot, such as any RPG elements. The techs mentioned suggest different techs, if not more total techs. I'm sure I could find a few more gameplay elements if I looked for them.

 

[dh_epic]

Yeah, I definitely agree with that, Louis XXIV. Fortunately we've heard about a few features -- some features are better described than shown in a picture.

 

[Aussie_Lurker]

the_aussie_lurker@yahoo.de or mhicks49@hotmail.com

Thanks for that Snoopy, you are an absolute LEGEND !

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

 

[Dida]

The screenlooks very ugly. I hope this is not how civ4 is gotta look.

 

[Snoopy]

I posted this in Apolyton, so I better post it here too.

=============
Just a few thoguhts:

If I know how to do it, I will go about and change the graphics (hopefully for the last time, Firaxis )

Anyway, I was just looking at the isometric screenshot, looking at the terrain.. thinking.. how did they make it.. how are the tree's made.. etc..

Then it struck me.. this is a 3D engine, they said they are writing it in XML. If I can remember correctly, RoN is also written with XML, and anything that was 3D in RoN, could be changed in the XML file. I remember making the worker units in RoN about 50 times larger. They were Giants (I might still have a screenshot somewhere, if I can find it I will post it).

But anyway, it's obvious what I am suggesting here.. the mountains are 3D, so why not just make the mountains 50 times larger? There you go, big ass mountains, big ass tree's, big ass cities.

Firaxis must just be setting the defaults here, knowing that us fans will just go ahead and change it to our liking.


I'll tell you the truth, when I saw it, I first thought "cool, you can tilt the screen". But then I thought "It kinda sucks". But now I think "This is going to be a seriously powerful game - modding wise".


I don't want to get over the top here, but you could, theoretically, create your own RPG game yknow?
=============

Any confirmation from Firaxis would be nice

 

[MeteorPunch]

I personally feel this game is going to be so modded, that we will be playing GotM's on popular mods. I have no worries at all regarding cIV because the mod community will be able to support it so much.

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

I kinda suspected it (the 3D-ness) might be the case Snoopy. But in a less smart-sounding way The first screenshots with the triangular trees made me realise that was probably the case. Although the moddability didn't occur to me. What I'll be interested to know though, that if it was possible to change M-units into single units, how many people would actually do it?

 

[Philips beard]

Hey Snoopy, my man! Please mail me your great file, if you find the time!

as@wli.no

 

[V. Soma]

Snoopy, I would be grateful for the big files:
csikusz@axelero.hu

 

[V. Soma]

Look at the unit near the bottom-right corner, at the oazis...

Two figures in the "first row" have their shields held up...
the other three not... is that only graphical diversity?

Or can it be that there can be different units in that 5-man-pack?
Oh, that would be nice...

I know, that the stats in the left box might put out this spark of hope...

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

No they're all holding their shields up.

BTW: I reckon they've kept the city names hidden and so forth so we can't work out which civs are in We know from the earlier screens Germany was in, and the Hoplite "Spearman" suggests Greece too, but those were obvious anyway.

 

[Notech]

To everyone: I have a large 1200x800 pic of the tilted view screen. It's almost 2mb. But if you want it, post your email address in this thread. DON'T PM ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

Yeah, gimme, please.

notech@telia.com

Thanx in advance....

 

[Philips beard]

Take a look at screen3, the 2 unit formations next to the oasis are formed differently, one of them forming a sircle, the one below forming two rows. Can it be a possibillity that your units will be able to form different formations?

 

[V. Soma]

the circle formed one may be fortified...