Oxford University

[mhl30]

I was wondering what had caused Fireaxis to include this second rate Oxonian institution (is it even a university) instead of Newtons fine and well loved University. After thinking long and hard I could only come up with two explanations, firstly the wonder was less good now and therefore could no longer justify being named after Cambridge or secondly fireaxis wanted to encourage people to start modding and by including something as unpallatable as Oxford people would be encouraged to try and remove it as quickly as possible, as I certainly will. Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

[mhl30]

I've noticed that in posts from people already with the game there are lots of bugs, is this one? Will it be fixed in the patch?

 

[acidd_uk]

What? Oxford university is probably one of the best universities in the world! How can you say it's second rate? Or maybe you're a secret Cambridge student?!

 

[Gazaridis]

Pah. First of all, there is no such thing as "Newton's University". Secondly, Cambridge University was founded by a bunch of cowards who fled Oxford University after getting beaten up by the locals. I smell a tab!

 

[Hentooth]

Oxford Uni has also come joint top in a poll of the best universitys in the world. Cambridge sucks.

 

[whb]

Now now, let's be fair. Firaxis just wanted to be a bit more realistic in Civ 4 than in 1,2 or 3. And a realistic Cambridge University wonder would need to be so powerful it would completely unbalance the game, so we really can't blame Firaxis for chosing the easy option and putting a lesser-powered Oxford instead...

 

[Ninja Queen]

I have a mate in Oxford, all he does is watch children's TV from the 80s and go rowing.

Anyway, I think Oxford's there because it's so old and famous, at least in the Anglo-centric mind (Anglophone countries are going make up the largest % of players, afterall).

In reality, advances in education were more impressive in South West Asia; Baghdad had the first university, for instance. The oldest uni in Europe was in Paris, I believe. But you say "Oxford" and everyone knows what you're talking about.

 

[Gadren]

Why is it that whenever some leader/civ/building isn't in the game, people think that it's some sort of conspiratorial affront to their heritage or ancestors?

 

[Shakes]

Blackadder: I then leapt on the opportunity to test you. I asked if he'd been to one of the great universities: Oxford, Cambridge, or Hull.
Nurse Fletcher-Brown: Well?
Blackadder: You failed to spot that only two of those are great universities!
Nurse Fletcher-Brown: You swine!
Melchett: That's right! Oxford's a complete dump!

 

[Markus6]

Oxford Uni has also come joint top in a poll of the best universitys in the world. Cambridge sucks.

The last poll I saw had Cambridge 2nd to Harvard and Oxford in 8th. And mhl your name looks alot like your Hermes login

 

[megabrainz]

And mhl your name looks alot like your Hermes login

*laughs* looks like there are a fair few Oxonians/Cantabrians here.

I'll just add that in Oxford, my friends and I refer to Cambridge as "West Fens former polytechnic"

I wonder how long it will be before somebody suggests a Wonder called "the university of life"?

 

[The Great Apple]

Now now, let's be fair. Firaxis just wanted to be a bit more realistic in Civ 4 than in 1,2 or 3. And a realistic Cambridge University wonder would need to be so powerful it would completely unbalance the game, so we really can't blame Firaxis for chosing the easy option and putting a lesser-powered Oxford instead...

I have to agree with this. Cambridge would be far too overpowerd. Having been born in Oxford, I can see quite clearly that Cambridge is superior in most, if not every way. So there!

A good way to compare the Universities is the amount of Nobel prize winners that have come from them. Cambridge is top, and I think Oxford is... errr... 7th or something.

I didn't realise there were people on these boards from Cambridge. We have to meet up some time and wipe each other's civilizations from the face of the planet.

 

[tcjsavannah]

Is this the best college rivalry jolly old England has to offer? Color me unimpressed. I've seen more enthusiasm at West Virginia/Marshall games.

 

[The Great Apple]

Going a bit OT here...

I presume you mean university rivalry - Oxford and Cambridge are each made up of a number of colleges, and although there is rivalry between them (some in particular), it's not nearly as great as the rivalry between the universities.

Have you never seen the boat race? If you want rivalry... look no further!

http://www.theboatrace.org/

Incidently, Cambridge have the course record, and have won more times than Oxford...

 

[sgrig]

The last poll I saw had Cambridge 2nd to Harvard and Oxford in 8th. And mhl your name looks alot like your Hermes login

I didn't know there were so many Cambridge University Civfanatics! Maybe we should form a CU Civ society? lol

By the way, in the latest rankings, Cambridge is still 2nd, but Oxford dropped to 10th.

 

[The Great Apple]

I didn't know there were so many Cambridge University Civfanatics! Maybe we should form a CU Civ society? lol

Me neither. Unfortunetely I don't have a computer up here that can actually run the damn thing... going to have to wait until December before I can give it a spin.

 

[whb]

There's a CU Diplomacy society, so why not an informal CU Civ soc!!

It does seem like there's enough of us Cambridge people here that we ought to at least have a multiplayer game or two some time. And even better, team up against the Oxonians!!

Who's up for a Cambridge or Oxford team? (I'm assuming each side would be open for students, alumni, and townsfolk). We can pass the word around colleges/departments too to get more numbers. Christmas holidays would probably be a good time for the Cambridge v Oxford thing.

 

[megabrainz]

Personally, I'd be well up for being on the Oxford team and giving you Tabs a damn good thrashing, except that in point of fact I'm an ex-Oxonian, and don't have a good enough poo-tar for cIV. How depressing.

 

[Al Fredo]

This is the best thread on the forums today.

 

[The End Is Nigh]

Oxford is there just as a recognition for being the oldest univerity in the world ... I think.

True, it is not what it used to be (and neither is Cambridge). Most of its academics have fled to the US (where the money is) and London.

In any case, it is not the most important wonder, nor was Newton's University in CivIII.