Required downloads for the GOTM: What's your opinion?

[DaveMcW]

After reinstalling civ3 on my computer, I had the fun experience of downloading the GOTM modpack on a 56k modem. I've never been a big fan of this, but I put up with it because the GOTM is so great.

This got me wondering, what does everyone think about the required downloads? Does it add to the experience, or is it a waste of time? Do vanilla civ3 players have a different opinion than PTW players?

There was an old poll that touched the broad issue of GOTM mods, but nothing specific about downloading extra content.

 

[Green Light]

Downloads are GREAT! I love them

They dramatically increase the gaming experience of civ3 GotM's.

 

[Detritus]

Downloading is not a big problem - except if you e.g. reformat your com and have to go back a ways. Is there one "central place" for one big dowload that would do the trick?
Features that you get from the download are IMHO variable. Some are great (e.g. new naval units), some are so-so (Picts) and some are cofusing (new resources on hills etc.). The new system of naval moves stinks.
Overall, it is impressive how much work Cracker and Co put into that.

 

[Naboo]

I like the uniqueness of the GOTM and the feeling that when you start it up you are playing a "special" game of Civ3. Part of it is knowing there's no fixing mistakes after the fact, but the special units and features add a lot too.

I really like being able to participate with a mac

I'm limited to 28.8 speeds, but what the heck, it's like doing laundry. I mean, the machine does all the work and then you come back when its done

Gee, I already have.... 48% of the file

 

[MadScot]

Well, the vanilla players have no choice. I played a few GOTMs as a v1.29f pseudo-PTWers, using neocarthaginians etc. Without the downloads it would have been impossible for me to have played in the same game as people with PTW, so there have got to be downloads.

For PTW the downloads are mainly to support the 'extras' I suspect. So for a PTWer this question is tied up with whether they like playing a modded game. But the downloads will always be much less for PTW players than vanilla.

Personally I like the mods, it's something different, and stops the GOTM degenerating into a "same strategy different colours" game.

And with the new installers I really don't see anything irksome about the downloads except possible download time on a slow connection (like mine). But as stated above, its not like you have to sit and watch the downloads happen.

 

[TheFounder]

My opinion is:
Yes, there must be some changes from standard rules, but not so much! For me is hard to download more than 5Mb.

 

[samildanach]

I'm on a dial -up as well for the moment - I think the issue of download time is irrelevant as stated by other players already. If I'm willing to commit 30+ hours to play the GOTM , spending 20 mins to DL the add-ons isn't going to put me off.
A more legitimate reason for being put off the GOTM is the modding - most things I like - the new civs, the new UUs, the terrain modifications etc. and give me a feeling of facing a new challenge whenever I play a GOTM. One thing I despise is the modded naval movement especially in GOTM 22 when it was active in open class when I was under the impression that it was just active in predator. I like new challenges but I don't like unfair new challenges - if you know what I mean. In my case I like most of the mods apart from the benighted naval movement ,which I can live with, but I'm sure there are players who do not like majority of the mods while only liking 1 or 2 of the new features and those are the players that are choosing not too play.
I don't think that these constitute a large number of players though if it did then I would expect to see alot more of these guys and girls showing up at other civ boards/tournaments. I think the modding just gives players who are effectively "civved out" an excuse to throw a tantrum and leave the civ playing community.

 

[Dianthus]

I've voted "PTW: I love them!" because I think the downloads really do add a lot to the GOTM experience, well worth the time taken to download and install. I've still got a 56K modem at home (at least for the next couple of weeks), but I must admit I normally "cheat" and do the downloads at work and burn to a CD .

 

[Civillain]

I rather like the mods. I like the challenge of figuring out how to best use the new units and resources, although, if you look at my scores, I haven't done a very good job of it yet. As for the downloads, they don't bother me as I download them at work and burn them to a CD as well.

 

[ControlFreak]

I voted I don't mind them. I usually get the files at work using our T1 line so time is not an issue. I just don't like doing the file handling. That coupled with the three different computers I bounce around on has made the install a little more complicated.

Still, you cant beat the experience you get by having the mods in there. (CF refrains from mentioning any spoiler information regarding GOTM24.)

 

[Ricardo]

Personally I think the extra units, new resources, extra city improvements and new civs really make the GOTM an amazing experience. Especially for the 1.29 player. Just playing a std. civ III map and then comparing all of our scores wouldnt be as much fun in my opinion. Fortunately on the ol'Mac-aroni we now have AlanH's excellent installer which does all the work for you. Before that I have to admit I had a few occasions where I put the wrong thing in the wrong folder and it was a little tough to track down.

 

[mad-bax]

With one exception I like the mods that have been made to GOTM. I wouldn't want to play every game with them though.
IIRC the mods began to appear in GOTM16 with the squid, and then we got fog and volcanoes and things began to accelerate from there.

Getting a new unit graphic, or a new civ to mimic a PTW civ, or even a new resource set in themselves are not a bad thing. However, I feel that wholesale mods, requiring large numbers of graphics files and such are not particularly clever when introduced all at once. No matter how clever you are, there are only a certain number of hours in the day you can spend debugging the mods.

If I had anything to do with it I would try to negotiate with a gaming magazine to have the full install included on the cover CD every month. Of course, by the time it hit the shelves it would be out of date, but at least only the cumulative patch would be required.

I would also try to look ahead six months and try to collect as many of the files that I was likely to use in that time into one install pack. There would only be one install pack to test then.

 

[a space oddity]

Well, I voted "I'd rather play without them." Why? Because I'm clearly too dim to do the installing right the first time. So I always have to fiddle with files before I can play. I do have a somewhat complicated installation, where I can play in any of the patch versions, to allow me to join SGs. That is probably cause of most of the problems I have. I just don't like to spend the time on makings things right when the game is timeconsuming enough in itself.

I do recognize the hard work that went in the making of the mods and I'm sure many people like them. For me the big attaction of the GOTM is the competition, seeing how your games compare to others, so I don't really need the mods to enjoy it.

Just a personal opinion though, like I said I know that a lot of people enjoy them.

 

[Ankka]

I have Civ 3 original. I do like the new graphcs etc., they are awesome!

But I don't really like the downloading, as I've only got a 56kbit/sec modem so it takes a long time to dl those big files...

[edit] I think quite a lot in the same way as space odity, because IMHO the best thing in GOTMs is the challenge of beating others, not so much the cool graphics... But they anyway add a nice flavour to the game, and it doesn't feel just like a game of Civ.

 

[Megalou]

The novelty of each game combined with the discussion keep me playing. Some of my favorites:
* Squid, especially strong ones
* The non-standard naval movement
* All the creative art

I have broadband so downloading is less troublesome than going to the bathroom. The biggest of the download packs for the current GOTM is 23Mb, but that just shows how much effort the crew have put into GOTM.

The only unit I haven't liked are the volcanos. Even though they looked cool they are so easy to "kill" that failing to do so would just be attributed to bad luck and not to a poor game plan.

 

[High King J.J.]

I just voted that "I'd rather play without them."
Why? Because I'd rather get to play GOTMs. If I could play them with the extra things I'm sure I'd like those. Since I can't get the bloody things installed right or the save files to work (or I get them all installed fine, just then the game crashes instantly. Every time. ) I'd rather have the chance to play without them. I'm playing 1.29f and I'd love to test my fangs on challenging opponents (just won my 1st deity game last night )
Anyway, I like GOTMs, those early games made me push my skills from comfortable regent all the way to deity. I just wish I could get these extras to work (or even download them, the full setup pack of gotm24 is still not available )

(Edited to specify reference to gotm24 setup pack)

 

[tao]

I consider them great. Us Macintosh players get access to a huge new range of experiences, since "not even" PtW ist ported (yet?).

I don't care about the download (just downloaded 90MB system update) since I have a dsl connection.

The only hassle was changing configurations, but this I automated now by 2 applescripts.

 

[baldeagle]

I think they're really nice. Being on a (relatively) fast connection, I have no problem downloading. Still, I consider them so good they're worth downloading even if you're on 56k modem.

 

[GenMarshall]

I would rather play without the Requiered Downloads. THe reason being is that I am on a 56K Modem and it also takes up needed space on my computer. Also, with the Large file its now difficult to Transfer the install package from my Desktop to my Laptop.

 

[Txurce]

Dave, is that what's kept you from the last couple of GOTM?

I think I'd like the mods even if I wasn't a Mac player, because they add variety, historical depth, romance and even occasional comedy to the game. Like all Mac players, of course, I also know that I couldn't even play without the mods. This applies to all Civ 3 1.29 players, as someone already noted, so I'm a little amazed that some 1.29 players would prefer an unmodded GOTM (aka PTW).