Official announcement: Hot off the presses. Next Civ game in development!!!!!!!

[Krajzen]

The problem with prehistoric/neolithic era is the inherent contradiction between
1) Pre - urban neolithic tribes being so different from urban civilizations that they demand their own separate mechanics. Without them you have nothing to do on the normal scale of the map, within normal mechanics.

and

2) It's still just one of many eras in the game, lasting no more than 50 turns on the standard speed (it may be like 30 on the quick speed) so we shouldn't make it too fancy.

######
Humankind, for example, made 'neolithic era' begin every single session - it lasts like 10 turns and consists of your nomadic units madly rushing goodie huts, avoiding wild animals and trying to get good types of goodie hut rewards, thus being dependent on RNG (terrain, number of goodie huds, wild animals, kinds of prizes you roll randomly stc). Why bother at this point? And in the same time, what else could we do without making a ton of mechanics just for one era?

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Coming from someone who has never played Humankind to know, to me it at least sounds interesting and was the most interesting thing about that game. I guess it would be at least cool to experience it in Civ. And as I've mentioned before I think the best solution would be to make it an optional game mode to where if people don't want to play with it, they don't have to.

Then again, I'd rather them focus on something like that, then adding a Future Era to the game, like they did because that just prolonged the end game.

I was a big advocate for having a Neolithic start. I was really let down by how HK did it though.

I think I'd like to still see settled cities if there were a Neolithic start in Civ, but with a different way to exploit the terrain than later eras.

You would want to start with Camps instead of Farms, and Agriculture would be a technology you would have to research.

Perhaps there should be a Hunter melee unit as a precursor to both Builders and Warriors, which would have improvement charges to establish Camps. Builders and Warriors would be unlocked by researching a Division of Labor civic.

I think perhaps that construction of Neolithic wonders such as Gobekli Tepe or Stonehenge would be by discovering a Tribal Village. It would give you a boost of Faith, Food, Science or whatever. But the Wonder would be built were the village was found, and it's up to you to settle by it if you want the Tourism bonus later. If no one does, it disappears at the beginning of the Ancient Era and will be the location of several Archeological Sites later on.

I think that you shouldn't generally get the ability to build additional cities until the Ancient Era. The Neolithic is not a time of empires or kingdoms. I think you would start without a government at all, and have to unlock Chiefdom as your first government.

 

[Naokaukodem]

For Prehistoric/early empires start, see the link in my signature. The mechanics introduced could be available for the entire course of the game, determining rises & falls of empires, anytime.

 

[Vincent_lacruz]

I, for one, can't wait to see this year's April Fools prank by Firaxis. They've certainly laid out a solid foundation for it with this announcement that a Civilization game (but not officially acknowledged to be Civ VII) is in development.

I'm seeing it from here:

"Firaxis proudly announce its last games is ready for launch: CivilizAntIon. Discover the thrilling experience of developping an anthill, gathering ressources and fighting mighty bug to... well, make more ants... Choose wisely your specie from a vast category of ants famillies, and pave your citizen for an eternity! Ok, ok, months but's that's already good for an insect, don't say otherwise..."

 

[Andrew Johnson [FXS]]

I'm seeing it from here:

"Firaxis proudly announce its last games is ready for launch: CivilizAntIon. Discover the thrilling experience of developping an anthill, gathering ressources and fighting mighty bug to... well, make more ants... Choose wisely your specie from a vast category of ants famillies, and pave your citizen for an eternity! Ok, ok, months but's that's already good for an insect, don't say otherwise..."

SimAnt existed, and was a fantastic game.

 

[Leucarum]

I think the key thing for a Neolithic start (in game play terns only. No comments from me on realism etc...) would be to avoid making it a 'push-your-luck' mechanic. Getting rewards for staying in Neolithic, at the risk of not being the first to pick later rewards was a very tough thing for humankind to balance. With the size of civ's community the optimum strategy would be worked out in hours...

On the other hand, if it is a phase where you make some choices that customize your civ later, I think it could work. I'm still not sure if it would be worth it though.

 

[pokiehl]

On the other hand, if it is a phase where you make some choices that customize your civ later, I think it could work. I'm still not sure if it would be worth it though

I’m not really convinced by the carrot of “customizing your civ” because that is already literally the entire game. Governors, pantheons, religious beliefs, policies, dedications, wonders, city-state bonuses, and on and on.

 

[Thormodr]

SimAnt existed, and was a fantastic game.

I remember that game. I enjoyed the Sim Antics.

 

[Leucarum]

I’m not really convinced by the carrot of “customizing your civ” because that is already literally the entire game. Governors, pantheons, religious beliefs, policies, dedications, wonders, city-state bonuses, and on and on.

I agree with you, like I said I don't neccessarily think a neolithic start is worth it. But trying to view things from both angles, It would add a bit more of a role play element than a lot of the above customizations. On that basis I understand why the player base who wants more realism and immersion would be drawn to it.

 

[UWHabs]

I was a big advocate for having a Neolithic start. I was really let down by how HK did it though.

I think I'd like to still see settled cities if there were a Neolithic start in Civ, but with a different way to exploit the terrain than later eras.

You would want to start with Camps instead of Farms, and Agriculture would be a technology you would have to research.

Perhaps there should be a Hunter melee unit as a precursor to both Builders and Warriors, which would have improvement charges to establish Camps. Builders and Warriors would be unlocked by researching a Division of Labor civic.

I think perhaps that construction of Neolithic wonders such as Gobekli Tepe or Stonehenge would be by discovering a Tribal Village. It would give you a boost of Faith, Food, Science or whatever. But the Wonder would be built were the village was found, and it's up to you to settle by it if you want the Tourism bonus later. If no one does, it disappears at the beginning of the Ancient Era and will be the location of several Archeological Sites later on.

I think that you shouldn't generally get the ability to build additional cities until the Ancient Era. The Neolithic is not a time of empires or kingdoms. I think you would start without a government at all, and have to unlock Chiefdom as your first government.

I feel like civ has been marginally moving the other direction, with more and more knowledge at the beginning of the game. Like, I don't remember which versions, but in some of them you had to research agriculture before you could build farms, you didn't unlock the techs for stuff like monuments or slingers, all you had was like settler/worker/warrior/scout, I think. Even in the current game, I go back and forth between whether I like that you have to make it through Code of Laws to get anything going on the civic side first, or whether it just feels like a waste of time and why don't you just start with that already researched like you do Agriculture?

I guess for me, I find the early part of the game is for scouting out the area, and I enjoy the challenge you have now where you have to balance that scouting with doing other things in your empire. Yeah, it would be nice to get a little more scouting in before settling your city, or at least, not being as scared to move your settler around to settle your first city. But I don't know if that really feels like it would add much to the game that it would require this whole new game mode essentially to handle.

That being said, I would love a game mode for "pick your civ after the game starts". Certainly wouldn't want it always, but definitely there's a few games that would be fun to start the game, see your opening terrain, and be like "Yep, this is an Australia start if I ever saw one".

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I'm seeing it from here:

"Firaxis proudly announce its last games is ready for launch: CivilizAntIon. Discover the thrilling experience of developping an anthill, gathering ressources and fighting mighty bug to... well, make more ants... Choose wisely your specie from a vast category of ants famillies, and pave your citizen for an eternity! Ok, ok, months but's that's already good for an insect, don't say otherwise..."

Back in 2010 or so they mocked up screenshots of a Civilation fighting game for April Fools.

I hope they continue that spirit with new offerings.

Civilization Social FPS, a Fortnite knockoff with Civ 6 leaders.

Civilization Golf, a golf game with your favorite leaders.

Civilization RPG, pick a leader and a class and go level up!

Civ Kart, arcade racing game.

 

[Leucarum]

Civcraft - Build the map in Minecraft then play on it

 

[queenpea]

Back in 2010 or so they mocked up screenshots of a Civilation fighting game for April Fools.

I hope they continue that spirit with new offerings.

Civilization Social FPS, a Fortnite knockoff with Civ 6 leaders.

Civilization Golf, a golf game with your favorite leaders.

Civilization RPG, pick a leader and a class and go level up!

Civ Kart, arcade racing game.

God, I really hope we have an official confirmation of "Civilization VII" before April 1.

All we have now is an odd tweet (with seven exclamation marks) and a dream...

 

[Thormodr]

I feel like civ has been marginally moving the other direction, with more and more knowledge at the beginning of the game. Like, I don't remember which versions, but in some of them you had to research agriculture before you could build farms, you didn't unlock the techs for stuff like monuments or slingers, all you had was like settler/worker/warrior/scout, I think. Even in the current game, I go back and forth between whether I like that you have to make it through Code of Laws to get anything going on the civic side first, or whether it just feels like a waste of time and why don't you just start with that already researched like you do Agriculture?

I guess for me, I find the early part of the game is for scouting out the area, and I enjoy the challenge you have now where you have to balance that scouting with doing other things in your empire. Yeah, it would be nice to get a little more scouting in before settling your city, or at least, not being as scared to move your settler around to settle your first city. But I don't know if that really feels like it would add much to the game that it would require this whole new game mode essentially to handle.

That being said, I would love a game mode for "pick your civ after the game starts". Certainly wouldn't want it always, but definitely there's a few games that would be fun to start the game, see your opening terrain, and be like "Yep, this is an Australia start if I ever saw one".

That is something I would love. I am constantly rolling starts that would be perfect for other civs than the one I chose. Lol.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

God, I really hope we have an official confirmation of "Civilization VII" before April 1.

All we have now is an odd tweet (with seven exclamation marks) and a dream...

I doubt it.

As it stands, the final pack for the Leader Pass will probably come out on March 30. They will want to let that sit out there a bit and see if it convinces anyone to pick up a few more DLCs, Anthology, or just that pack. Once the marketing for 7 starts, buying stuff for 6 will drop precipitously.

If they are aiming for an October release, marketing will probably begin in May, as has previously been the case. If marketing doesn't begin by the end of June, I'd give up on late 2023.

 

[fy00sh]

Civilization Golf, a golf game with your favorite leaders.

robert the bruce better be OP, thats all im saying

 

[SemiLazyGamer]

Question: I think I heard someone say earlier in the thread that Fireaxis has an unknown game on SteamDB. Anyone have some pictures or links or something? Or was I just reading wrong?

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Marketing has already begun though... there's the tweet. It seems to me you're doing the opposite of grasping at straws, no?

That wasn't marketing for the game. That was more like an announcement of intent, and basically only exists to confirm what the new studio boss was quoted as saying.

You will know when the marketing begins. It will look a lot like the way the Leader Pass is advertised, only with greater intensity.

Civ 6 marketing had weekly First Looks, videos for Wonders, livestreams, dev spotlight videos, etc. It also started with the reveal of the opening cinematic.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Question: I think I heard someone say earlier in the thread that Fireaxis has an unknown game on SteamDB. Anyone have some pictures or links or something? Or was I just reading wrong?

They have an unnamed DLC attached to Civ 6.

 

[SemiLazyGamer]

That wasn't marketing for the game. That was more like an announcement of intent, and basically only exists to confirm what the new studio boss was quoted as saying.

You will know when the marketing begins. It will look a lot like the way the Leader Pass is advertised, only with greater intensity.

Civ 6 marketing had weekly First Looks, videos for Wonders, livestreams, dev spotlight videos, etc. It also started with the reveal of the opening cinematic.

I wasn't here for the marketing for VI, but when I looked it up, there seemed to be only the reveal video in May, then the E3 presentation in June, then the weekly First Looks.

They have an unnamed DLC attached to Civ 6.

Speaking of, there's a hidden video on the Official Trailers playlist on the Youtube channel. Might be the original reveal trailer. Might be something actually new.