Sid Meier Q&A on Firaxis' Website

[Ginger_Ale]

Nearly two years after the latest update, Firaxis has published a new "Ask Sid" feature on their website. Continuing with the old format, this page contains a series of questions-and-answers, pairing email questions from fans with responses by Sid Meier, Firaxis' Director of Creative Development.

In this newest interview, Sid offers his thoughts on five different topics, ranging from educational gaming to possible remakes of older titles. He stops short of announcing Civ5, so don't hold your breath. Here is some of what he had to say:

Question: I'm a huge fan of Alpha Centauri and I still find myself playing the game 10 years now after it was first released. Is there any chance of a new Alpha Centauri game or a re-release of this addictive and masterful gem?

Sid: We're all big Alpha Centauri fans as well. The series is owned by Electronic Arts (we were developing games for them back then), so the ball is in their court on whether or not to make a new version.

Q: Your games can be educational. Do you have any plans to put more emphasis on education?

S: We are in the entertainment business, so our focus is always on fun. We're thrilled that some of our games have the added bonus of helping people to learn about certain topics, but that is secondary to making sure they are having a fun experience. If we're faced with a game design decision between making something factually acccurate or tossing accuracy to the wind and making it fun...the fun wins every time.

>> Read the full Q&A with Sid Meier

 

[l3illyl3ob]

I expect there to be some kind of announcement regarding their next title this E3. The timing is perfect for it, it's been 9 months since Colonization and they don't have any other titles announced.

It's a pretty big bummer that it wont be SMAC 2 though.

 

[Sub]

It's crazy that it's been nine months since colonization. It feels like that just came out

 

[Thorn]

I expect there to be some kind of announcement regarding their next title this E3. The timing is perfect for it, it's been 9 months since Colonization and they don't have any other titles announced.

Or maybe some kind of announcement at CivCon 09.

 

[Pikkis]

Or maybe some kind of announcement at CivCon 09.

I'm sure that the community would appreciate that, but 2K Games probably wouldn't. (Much less attention than if it was announced at E3 '09.)

 

[J-man]

I assume they must working on something, it's just the question when it will be announced. Or are they just playing WoW.

 

[CustodianV131]

Civilization V is on its way.

It only makes sense "in these troubled times" *drink!* to make a game that you know will sell well. Take 2 won't be interested in risky gambles at the moment.

Must say that while I would be excited to see a new Sid game, I'm equally happy with Civ V or even more so if the wild new idea turns out to be a Sim Golf or so.

Hopefully/Probably we'll learn more at E3


Edit:
This Question:

My question is if you intend to ever redo Silent Service or any of the Civil War games? I know my family would love to see some of those games reworked with the new graphics.

Sid: Thanks for your kind words. It’s fun to look at some of my older games and think about how we could remake them for today’s gamers. There are lots of possibilities and we’ll keep you posted on plans as we move forward.

Could be a sign they are working on a remake of an old title. Hmmm... Then again it could also mean nothing, but why do this now when he could have done a Q&A session each week. I do feel like those 4 aren't the only ones in two years time that he got.

 

[a space oddity]

Sid: We're all big Alpha Centauri fans as well. The series is owned by Electronic Arts (we were developing games for them back then), so the ball is in their court on whether or not to make a new version.

Soren Johnson went to work with EA, didn't he? And is rumored to be busy with a new game, not Spore or one of its expansions. Hmmm... not all hope is lost, or so it would seem.

 

[l3illyl3ob]

Civilization V is on its way.

It only makes sense "in these troubled times" *drink!* to make a game that you know will sell well. Take 2 won't be interested in risky gambles at the moment.

Must say that while I would be excited to see a new Sid game, I'm equally happy with Civ V or even more so if the wild new idea turns out to be a Sim Golf or so.

Hopefully/Probably we'll learn more at E3


Edit:
This Question:

Could be a sign they are working on a remake of an old title. Hmmm... Then again it could also mean nothing, but why do this now when he could have done a Q&A session each week. I do feel like those 4 aren't the only ones in two years time that he got.

An announcement is coming soon and these questions were most likely specifically picked to set the stage for it. You're right, why pick the 4 questions he did to answer publicly? He isn't going to just answer 4 throwaway questions after 2 years of silence.

With that said I've been hoping for a new Covert Action for the last decade but god knows who owns the rights of that one.

 

[warpstorm]

IIRC, Soren did not work at Firaxis when SMAC was developed.

 

[toft]

Anything, but Civilization 5, would be pure failboat.

 

[l3illyl3ob]

IIRC, Soren did not work at Firaxis when SMAC was developed.

Brian Reynolds was the lead designer of Alpha Centauri and he left Firaxis to form Big Huge Games because he wanted to make real time games and Firaxis didn't.

 

[Mercade]

Pfft. Too little, too late. Marketing humbug.

 

[Bechhold]

I'm not holding my breath on there being an announcement regarding Civilization V @ E3 or anything related to Firaxis Games. But I will be stoked nonetheless if I am wrong.

 

[RedRalph]

Well, we'll know in a couple of days. Would be a big disappointment if theres no announcement.

 

[J-man]

I don't think there will be an announcement. I think we would have heard some rumors about now. I heard absolutely nothing from Take2 or from the media.
Edit: about a new Civ I mean

 

[RedRalph]

I'm not really familliar with E3, but isnt it famous for having totally out of the blue announcements made at it?

 

[Modeltrainman]

I'd like to think we'll hear something from Firaxis.

 

[RedRalph]

Fingers crossed. The timing seems right, however I must admit the total lack of rumours makes me wonder.

 

[RedRalph]

No word yet, does anyone know the structure of the game announcements? Are they all done one one day? Is there any particular times Firaxis would be making an announcement if they are making one at all?