Soren: Where's the info?

[Commander Bello]

As I noticed Soren quite some times now being around here, I would like to invite him to occasionally drop some nuggets of knowledge.

As most people will know, I am at the moment rather sceptical about Civ4.

We have learned about the new graphics which may be liked or not.
We have learned about new game concects like religion and civics, which may be liked or not.
We have learned about readjustments as for the combat system with new stats and promotions and some kind of unit-classes. Again, one may like this or not.

What I miss is just some information about how these things are intended to work in combination.

I perfectly understand that there still may be tweaking and adjusting going on. Yet, I do expect some main ideas to be the basis of all this.
About these ideas I really would like to know a bit more.

How are empires now expected to evolve, after we have learned that cities may come with initial costs?

How are religion and missionaries expected to influence the player's decision (and the reaction of the AI), considering that one just might shut the borders?

Which impact might this have on trading?

In turn, which impact are expected for benefial trade agreements to have on diplomacy and attitude between the leaders of different nations?

And so on...
In short: how does the project lead expect the game to "tick"?

Would be nice to get some kind of answer to these or related questions...

 

[Meleager]

As a side note: I have been keeping a close eye on Soren's Public Profile (yes, I am a spy) and he has been lurking almost every day for the last week or so.

I'm sure he will just keep doing what he's been doing - dropping just enough info to keep us interested, a little tase you could say, making us even hungrier for more info. His really here just to torture us , and, ofcourse, to end our squarels.

EDIT: That being said, we should feel quite privelaged to have that chance to get tortured.

 

[Craterus22]

As a side note: I have been keeping a close eye on Soren's Public Profile (yes, I am a spy) and he has been lurking almost every day for the last week or so.

Yes - apparently he did not log off of the site when he left for his annual vacation...

ba da bump! chish!

I kiid!

 

[apatheist]

Soren's appearances and answers on this board are part of the marketing campaign. You're not going to get him to reveal information that he isn't planning on revealing. They want to reveal information at a slow trickle that's just enough to keep you interested, but not enough to satisfy. Just be patient.

 

[Phoenix_56721]

Soren is trying to get Civ4 ready to ship by Nov.15th lets not bother him too much! Besides if he were to open up a dialog here on this forum he would never get away, can you image how many questions would be asked of him and it would be impossible for him to try and answer these questions. I think he’s doing it the right way, he checks on the forums to see what the talk is, then he might clarify a question on a debate then he leaves its really to only way to do it. BTW we want him coming and checking on this forum so lets be nice, and let him do his job because I think we all want the game to ship on time!!!!.........

 

[vbraun]

Shhh... hes lurking right now.

 

[homegrown]

Shhh... hes lurking right now.

There are many copies.

 

[Jaybe]

The Info is In The Future.
Many of us remember how it was the same situation before Civ3, with everyone screaming for more hard game info.

Advance information in large amounts indicates excessive hype. Excessive hype indicates a game of MOO3 proportions (i.e., disappointing).

While I am as eager as (most) anyone else for information about the game, I don't blame them a bit for being more concerned with concentrating their attention on producing a better game.

 

[Trajan13]

There are many copies.

And they have a plan.

While I would like the good sir to reveal just a tad more... I'm just kind of happy to know that he is actually lurking this site. At least we know they listen to us, sometimes.

If he's lurking now - keep up the good work, man!

 

[ThePersian]

Anyone know where he lives? We should send him offerings and expect info in return.

 

[Commander Bello]

Well, I don't think I asked about too much details.. just about some principle idea, what kind of picture is expected to be built with all that many little mosaic stones....

 

[warpstorm]

Anyone know where he lives? We should send him offerings and expect info in return.

LIves? No, but I know where he spends most of his time.

 

[Captain Howdy]

Does anyone know anything about the music soundtrack for Civ IV? I get pretty bored with the Civ III music after 6 or 8 hours of listening in a single sitting.


"If only all of Rome had but one neck!"
Caligula Caesar

 

[Padma]

Does anyone know anything about the music soundtrack for Civ IV? I get pretty bored with the Civ III music after 6 or 8 hours of listening in a single sitting.

In reply, a quote from the Civ4 Pre-Release Info Page:

Music for Civilization IV is also a major focus. Jeff Briggs (Firaxis' CEO) himself is taking charge of this aspect of the game (and he is perfectly suited to do so as well, since this was his first career. Jeff anticipates that Civ4 will have much more music than any other game ever released. The game will include music from some of Jeff's original compositions, as well as licensed performances by old greats such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, company, as well as contemporary greats like John Adams and Christopher Tin.

Jeff will also be composing the music for all 28 wonder movies included in the game as well as all of the game's diplomacy music. Where possible, folk tunes are used to represent the character and attitude of each Civilization and each ruler. The music for Franklin D. Roosevelt for instance is the Marine Hymn. Jeff has also gone as far as to arrange each piece of music to fit the various time periods of the game. If you meet with Roosevelt in the early part of the game, you'll hear ancient instruments playing the theme. By the end of the game, the tune will have swelled and taken on a more Sousa-like quality.

 

[SJSerio]

The music for Franklin D. Roosevelt for instance is the Marine Hymn.

Is that referencing Semper Fidelis?

 

[Captain Howdy]

Civ III had a nice tin box edition when it was first released. Has anyone heard if they will do the same with Civ IV?

" If only all of Rome had but one neck!"
Caligula Caesar

 

[wotan321]

In another thread someone mentioned pre-ordering a "special edition" of the game from EB Games, IIFC. It included the game, a music CD, a printed tech tree... no mention of the metal box though.

 

[Akka]

Jeff anticipates that Civ4 will have much more music than any other game ever released.

Well, I think that either they really put some incredible means into the music, either it's (and it's more probably the truth) just yet another false publicity.
I highly doubt that the amount of music can even be compared to, let's say, GTA San Andreas

But well, it's good to see that they put a lot of emphasis on the sound. I mainly hope that it'll blend into the background, or strike us at superb, rather than become annoyingly intrusive, like the asian-flavoured track in Civ 3 was.

 

[nicae]

I highly doubt that the amount of music can even be compared to, let's say, GTA San Andreas

of course - who could beat such a cooperation between roadstar games and sony music?! that gives them so much available..!
but then again.. in civ4 the diplomacy theme songs will have changing instruments acording to the era of the game..! thats an absurd effort if you come to think about it!

 

[MCincy]

On the music front, it would be a killer feature to get a musical effort similar to that in Rome: Total War. Of course this would be more difficult concidering the bredth of CIV IV, but putting that sort of spin on things would be ideal. (IMHO )