PolyCast Focus: "Civilization V" with Jon Shafer and Pete Murray

[DanQ]

Tantalizing temptation to treat. "Focus: 'Civilization V'" features Daniel "DanQ" Quick, with Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl and Peter "Maniac" Steenbeke from ModCast, interviewing Jon Shafer and Pete Murray from Firaxis Games on Civilization V. Shafer is the game's Lead Designer and Murray is the company's Marketing Associate.

The summary of topics is as follows:

- 02m23s | Introduction
Informing who is Jon Shafer and Pete Murray of Firaxis Games: what does a typical workday for each of them entail.
- 05m09s | Definitions
Definition of a game designer, favourite part of the task and working relationship between departments developing Civilization V.
- 09m56s | History
Looking back at previous Civ titles to inform design decisions, and then all about the hex-based grid system: decision to use, progression through and getting oriented.
- 16m21s | Policies
CiVV's Social Policies mechanic: particulars within variety, choice benefits and consequences, and overall balance.
- 25m49s | Religion
The reimagination of representing religion in the Civilization franchise, and good -- as well as bad -- relations with other civs in-game.
- 31m12s | Modding
First, future and inception of the CivV in-game Modding browser, quality review within and installation of Mods. Then, influence of CivIV's BUG Mod, and transition from that game's Python to Lua programming language in CiVV. Finally, evolution of Civ's modding capabilities and its furthering, CivV's World Builder, ability to add data to specific objects and personal preferences for content.
- 43m52s | Legacy
Challenges and comforts in designing a successor title in an established gaming franchise as compared to one that is new and untested.
- 45m17s | Comparison
Comparing CivV to CivIV on terrain and maps, and barbarians.
- 53m06s | Advisors
Setting CivV's advisors apart from those found in Civilization: II and Civilization: Revolution.
- 55m39s | Realization
Three words: Giant Death Robots.

- Intro/Outro | Miscellaneous
Disembodied voices, getting certain medal figurines, adding a certain resource to CivV, exotic protein, and a couple of unmentionables.

PolyCast is a bi-weekly audio production in an ongoing effort to give the Civ community an interactive voice on game strategy; this is the seventh in its "Focus" series highlighting a particular Civ or Civ-related title. Sibling shows ModCast and RevCast focus on Civ modding and Civilization: Revolution respectively.

Enjoy.

 

[Suho1004]

Thank you, I enjoyed this. There was some good information in there, too (in particular, the clarifications on Social Policies strikes me as fairly new).

I'm looking forward to trying out the World Builder, too!

 

[draxil]

Good information! Like the further explanation of the religion decision. Social policy tree stuff also sounds more interesting than it has in the past.

 

[Slinko]

You can really hear the passion in Jon's voice.

 

[Maniac]

Yeah I know.

 

[cephalo]

boo for the speakerphone!

One thing I haven't heard yet is whether it will be possible to have a 'new world' continent, where I guess in this case you would have only city states. I've always loved playing civ that way. In Civ4 it kinda worked ok on the slower game speeds.

 

[DanQ]

Thank you, I enjoyed this. There was some good information in there, too...

You're welcome.

I'm looking forward to trying out the World Builder, too!

Even though I'm not a modder myself, I count myself among those in this group, even if it's only in passing from time-to-time.

Good information!

Thanks.

 

[Liquidated]

Very well done! It was really nice to hear Jon talking about Civ5 in a relaxed atmosphere where he obviously felt comfortable. Not sure how new any of that information was, but what was special was the overall honesty involved when Jon was talking. No set canned responses there!

Thanks for that poly cast DanQ.

Cheers!
-Liq

 

[Zhahz]

Yeah, good piece. I like the passion and explanations for stuff that Shafer gives in interviews. A lot of what they're doing with Civ 5 makes sense but it's nice to get the history and though process behind the decisions.

 

[Apocalypto]

I really enjoyed this one. Thank you and keep it up!

 

[Darth Caesar]

Good Episode. I'm going to call Uncle Jon

 

[DanQ]

Thanks Liquidated, Zhahz, Apocalypto, DarthCaesar.

 

[Trystero]

This focus episode was a really nice surprise. I really enjoyed it, as well as the normal polycast episodes (I've been listening pretty religiously for the last 10 episodes or so, and I am working my way through the archive). I look forward to hearing new shows on Civ5 when it comes out.

Thanks for all your efforts DanQ, et al.

 

[AlphaShard]

I just finished listening to this episode, I had a nerdgasm so I have to go clean myself up now.

BTW I'm planning on making a Japanese Death Mech, that's going to be Broken has hell.

 

[cephalo]

BTW I'm planning on making a Japanese Death Mech, that's going to be Broken has hell.

Lol. It would indeed be an injustice if Japan didn't have a battle droid UU.

 

[AlphaShard]

I want a Gozilla Death Mech mod. I want it NOW.

BTW Dan was this the 100th Episode?

 

[Apocalypto]

BTW Dan was this the 100th Episode?

Yeah, that was what I was wondering too.. If so, congrats!

 

[DanQ]

This focus episode was a really nice surprise. I really enjoyed it, as well as the normal polycast episodes (I've been listening pretty religiously for the last 10 episodes or so, and I am working my way through the archive). I look forward to hearing new shows on Civ5 when it comes out.

Thanks for all your efforts DanQ, et al.

Thank you for the kind words and support.

I just finished listening to this episode, I had a nerdgasm so I have to go clean myself up now.

BTW Dan was this the 100th Episode?

Yeah, that was what I was wondering too.. If so, congrats!

No, this was not the 100th or any episode in fact -- it was, is, a production separate from that 'standard' run. The post-produced Episode 100, recorded live on July 31, is to come next in the show's line-up.

 

[Apocalypto]

Sweet, I'll be looking forward to it.

I'm sure you're having a good time editing that live show

 

[DanQ]

Sweet, I'll be looking forward to it.

I'm sure you're having a good time editing that live show

Sure, let's go with that.