Plate Tectonics

[alms66]

There are much more efficient ways of generating a realistic looking map without resorting to a geographic simulation using plate tectonics. It would take far too long to generate a map using plate-based generator methods, so I hope they never use one.

 

[Spaceoff]

excuse me, it will make it easier.

 

[Symphony D.]

I can actually see this. Just designate a random plate architecture, and then generate the continents on top of them with volcanos and such wherever the plate boundaries meet. You don't need them to move or anything, it'd just be useful for placing mountain ranges and such.

Of course, to be really realistic, it'd have to smack them around and move them here and there during map generation to wind up with a final result (eg: if it just "generated" there would be no Appalachians in the eastern US and no Atlas mountains in north-western Africa). So, it'd only be an OK solution, not completely ideal.

That said, it seemed Civ3 did have some sort of continental drift system - you'd occasionally get continents that had similar "edges" which could be construed as a pangaea in the past. It was sometimes useful for sending suicide galleys out. Kinda random though.

It'd be a nice thing to see, but I don't see it happening in Civ4. Maybe further down the line though. However I definitely agree it'd help maps be more realistic looking.

 

[Graadiapolistan]

Just to say you play 6050 years, not 4000. from 4000 bc to 2050 ad. Take a math course.
Back on topic, it should be included, but not necessarly as "tectonic plates", just seismic danger spots. Maybe after a certain tech, you see tectonic plates, but in 4000 bc, you don,t even know what they are, you just know there are lots of volcanoes there, and earthquakes there. btw, tsunamis are just results of earthquakes, it would happen if there is one in the sea.

I don'took at the years at the beginning of the game I thought it started in 200 b.c.e.

That's how you insult me?

HELLO IS ANYONE IN THERE YOU COULD NEVER SEE THE PLATES! THEY WOULD ONLY EXIST SO THAT THE MOUNTAINS AND STUFF AND AREN'T RANDOM

Each agme would take a second longer to create and it would add a tiny bit of scientific accuracy to the game

DO YOU UNDERSTAND

 

[Graadiapolistan]

I don'took at the years at the beginning of the game I thought it started in 200 b.c.e.

That's how you insult me?

HELLO IS ANYONE IN THERE YOU COULD NEVER SEE THE PLATES! THEY WOULD ONLY EXIST SO THAT THE MOUNTAINS AND STUFF AND AREN'T RANDOM

Each agme would take a second longer to create and it would add a tiny bit of scientific accuracy to the game

DO YOU UNDERSTAND

I'm terribly sorry i misread what your post said, and i had a bad day. Disreagrd all i have said in this post and I wholeheartidly agree with what you are saying (if what you're saying is that you couldn't see the plates, but they would just be there and not move and such and make the game a bit more scietnifically accurate)

I wish i could take back that post-
incredibly sorry

 

[alms66]

I wish i could take back that post-
incredibly sorry

You can... edit it.

 

[GoodGame]

Hey if Python modding can even be done to the random map generator, then coding a complex tectonics model, complete with calculated disasters shouldn't be hard.

 

[Serutan]

I would'nt have a problem with this as long as it was something that could easily
be disabled.

 

[temurleng]

And we the player would be able to quickly figure it out... so why hide the fact?... Tectonic Plates are something that, with the style of game Civ is, should be transparent.

It should be something that the player needs to discover in the game, just like the continent you're on (hopefully not an island), the location of the other nearest tribes, zones of expansion... The coolest thing is that with this, you would postpone the period of discovery until early modern tech era.

Besides, I don't want to be restricted when I make my maps. (even though I try to design maps with these concepts in mind). I'd hate to go place a Volcano and be told it was in an invalid spot. That would really frustrate me.

I could understand that. But, that problem would be easily solved- set it up so that only the most die-hard of fans (the ones who make mods) would want to put themselves through the process it would take to make a truly scientific map (I mean, c'mon: plate tectonics, speed, direction, lifespan of planet would all need to be considered to make a good one). Otherwise, a special subroutine or program would build at least *somewhat* reasonable maps- none of this blobs of continents connected by stringbeans, or polynesian planets crud.

Although I'm entirely in favor of this, I can see this as being alot more complicated than its other proponents seem to think it is...

 

[Darwin420]

@temurlang: I'm not disagreeing about how cool it would be, but it's not appropriate for Civ. Now, put those ideas to create a hybrid between Maxis' SimLife and SimEarth, and you're heading in the right direction... in short, these are good ideas, but in the wrong genre. It would add nothing of note to a strategy game.