New Four-Page GameSpy Preview

[Civrules]

Yet another one!

However the screenies are the same as the IGN preview.

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/civilization-iv/628662p1.html

 

[Crazy Eskimo]

Is it just me or did they offer more info on diplomatic options in this one?

I don't know if they were always planning on it or they took suggestions from fans, but it sounds like they've implemented some of the expanded alliance options we've been craving. Either way, me likey!

 

[mitsho]

They must've made a mistake, it's the 24th of June, not Decembre!
(and it's not Easter either today... )

Thanks a lot, and I now gonna read it.

m

 

[searcheagle]

I noticed something new- in the farthest zoomed out picture, the world looked like a globe. Will this have any impact on gameplay?

 

[mitsho]

not on gameplay directly. But due to this new way of constructing maps, it won't be possible to create the super-large gigantic maps we had in civIII. How large they will be possible, hasn't been told yet, correct?

mfG m

 

[Carver]

One way to take over the world without slogging your way through years of combat is to form new, permanent alliances with other nations. This in effect joins two civs together, even to the point where they share line of sight and wonder bonuses.

This is fantastic - this is a real diplomatic victory. Although I wonder how the new superstate will conduct diplomacy; it could be a problem if you and your partner had MPPs with different nations!

 

[microbe]

A "Cultural" victory is available to whoever can get three cities that each have over 100,000 culture (build lots of theatres and monuments.)

This sucks. What are they thinking to require THREE cities?

I hope this isn't accurate.

 

[Carver]

I hope the Cultural victory info is accurate. As it is, the cultural victory is correlated too closely with domination - more cities=more temples etc. A three city requirement is more realistic IMHO; think of the USA and New York, LA (Hollywood), and maybe we need one more for a cultural victory.

 

[Civrules]

This sucks. What are they thinking to require THREE cities?

I hope this isn't accurate.

It has been posted in other sources as well, so it should be accurate.

 

[microbe]

I hope the Cultural victory info is accurate. As it is, the cultural victory is correlated too closely with domination - more cities=more temples etc.

You misunderstood. I say they require too much. In CIV3 one city can still get cultural victory, and it's what mostly makes OCC possible.

 

[ThERat]

Games like Rome: Total War will give us a gritty, slow-moving, realistic strategy experience, whereas Civ IV is light, fast-moving, and fun.

did anyone see this? light and fun? Is that all we want?

 

[Quentin]

Light and fun is what ALL games should be... IMHO.

 

[warpstorm]

Fun sounds better to me than, say, boring or dry. Now that I think about it, if a game is fun for many, many hours, I don't think I would have much to complain about. I mean, I don't pretend that playing Civ makes me a better person.

 

[Gogf]

This sucks. What are they thinking to require THREE cities?

I hope this isn't accurate.

And 100,000 in all three, not 20,000 .

Of course, considering that culture is going to have a much greater role in the game, this probably won't be much if any harder to achieve than now. Of course, if 1,000 culture is still a lot from a Great Artist, this sounds hard. We'll have to wait and see, but I doubt Firaxis would put in a near impossible victory condition.

 

[Furius]

Notice, however, that they are basically the same victory conditions, with the same emphasis on victory by military might alone and the same rather strange "Diplomatic Victory" I was sort of hoping they might have come up with a new sort of victory...

 

[qazxc]

... I mean, I don't pretend that playing Civ makes me a better person.

I believe there is positive pedagogic value to Civ. Of course, that depends on the realism imparted by the game makers, and the manner in which the game is played.

q

 

[Sickman]

think of the USA and New York, LA (Hollywood), and maybe we need one more for a cultural victory.

Yeah, I guess you are missing one and Chicago seems not really count as "culturally cultivated city". LOL
BTW have any idea when the game ends? I mean the UN voting...OH I guess you won't be taking the diplomatic victory either.

did anyone see this? light and fun? Is that all we want?

No, and tell you the truth, it's the exact opposite I wanted to hear about Civ IV. Light and fun, eh? Opposite of Total war (Game I absolutely adore)?

Fun sounds better to me than, say, boring or dry. Now that I think about it, if a game is fun for many, many hours, I don't think I would have much to complain about. I mean, I don't pretend that playing Civ makes me a better person.

"Fun" means different things to different people.
I myself have never considered real world "theme parks" likes of Disneyland to be fun at all while some might consider them extremely fun.
But on principal you are right, nobody wants to be playing game that is boring and dull while playing in the process making you stand morally on higher round. (Just wait for Moses appear with his commandments in Civ preview and we are totally screwed)

 

[ThERat]

light and fun, it's the combination of the words. fun is great or do you think I play Civ cos it's 'unfun' (pollution and haggling until finally a deal is struck is unfun)
but the light and fun give me the impression it head towards a light version where we do not need to think of strategies etc as much as before.
Now that I think of it, unit promotion system does not sound light to me? well, maybe it was just another publicity stunt to get all those who never bought Civ before to cash the big buck. After all, they know we addicts will buy it anyway.

 

[Poseidon_55]

what is a A.I. SDK

 

[Carver]

Notice, however, that they are basically the same victory conditions, with the same emphasis on victory by military might alone and the same rather strange "Diplomatic Victory" I was sort of hoping they might have come up with a new sort of victory...

Well, the UN victory still seems rather strage but the new option of forming permanent alliances with shared wonder benefits and line of sight is very interesting.