Space elevator

[Amenhotep IV]

Anybody know what's its prerequiste? I developed Robotics and just didn't see its icon in any city. After a few turns I could build it, but only in 2 cities (both coastal ones, with little hammers though). Or was it just a bug?

Fortunately I built it with 2 great engineers, but it was a little annoying, especially that I was afraid of loosing SS race on Immortal standard map...

 

[Shillen]

I had this problem in one of my games with the space elevator also. If someone could shed some light that would be great.

 

[Subtestube]

I've had this 'bug' before as well - as far as I know, no-one else built it, I won by space race, and never got the opportunity to build it. Is there a resource requirement? Because I didn't see one.

 

[Raggamuffin]

Maybe someone snatched it before you got the chance?

 

[Denniz]

Someone posted that it can only be built in a city close to the equator. Something like 30 degrees laditude was the limit in an XML file.

 

[Shillen]

That would make sense. In my game I could only build it in one city and it was my northernmost city on a southern continent. But if that's the case there needs to be some documentation about that in game...

 

[Amenhotep IV]

Yes, that would be the case. In the game I could build it only in 2 southmost cities (and I was in the north). Anyway, civilopedia doesn't explain that...

 

[ew0054]

Just wondering, where the heck did they come up with an idea like a Space Elevator? I mean, the game is supposed to be about history, not science fiction. And what about the Apollo Program? Please don't tell me they replaced it with this work of silliness!

 

[Shillen]

The Apollo program is still required to build a spaceship...

Read the civilopedia entry on the space elevator for your "history" if you want to call it that.

 

[ew0054]

I don't have the game. But an elevator to space? Come on!

 

[scienide09]

I don't have the game. But an elevator to space? Come on!

The idea of a space elevator is hypothetical, but backed by sound scientific theory. Unfortunately, the technology does not exist here on earth, at least not yet. But perhaps one day.

For the basic ideas, check here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

The creation of something like this would *drastically* reduce the cost of sending material into space.

 

[Amenhotep IV]

Anyway, the advantage that the elevator gives is not too big - in most time you have more than 50% of the SpaceShip built when you "build" the elevator. It usually helps me just a bit with Stasis Chamber and Engine which are expensive and appear late. But combined with golden age it may give a few turns of advantage comparing to the AI. But on Immortal that may be crucial...

 

[Shillen]

I don't know anything about it but the civilopedia entry makes it sound like a very real concept that people believe will be possible before the turn of the century. Something about attaching a very long cable to a satellite. I have to admit it would be a lot easier and less risky than sending rockets up all the time. Not saying it would be easy but I see the possibility after reading the civilopedia.

 

[ew0054]

Yeah but the game is supposed to be based on history. I say let someone make an Extended Earth mod like in Civ2 Test of Time and put this sort of thing in there.

 

[Zaius]

This game is supposed to based on making a great civilization, past or future. Of course it will spend the majority going over the past, but a great civilization also makes innovations towards the future- the space elevator being a possible one.

 

[Harry Haller]

We will see a working space elevator long before we see a working civ4-style SDI.

 

[kingpenguin]

Yes, the game goes to 2050. I doubt there will be any space elevator before that, but in an alternate reality, (where one might colonize Alpha Centauri in 1936 AD), it could happen. The true modern age wouldn't have a diplomatic victory via the UN either. None of the resolutions would actually hold with anyone who didn't vote for them. I don't mind it, though, it's just making a game.

 

[ew0054]

I think they should have kept it go to 2100 like in the previous versions.

 

[QiZhe]

I think they should have kept it go to 2100 like in the previous versions.

Civ3 was only 2050, IIRC.

And if you turn off the time victory, you can go as long as it takes for someone to win another way.

 

[Tactician Zhao]

I typically disable the space race victory, so I have not had much occasion to build this structure, though knowing a equatorial city can be the only building location is good to know for future possible need..

also, I read the entry for the space elevator at wikipedia and it freaked me out greatly.. I'm not sure why, it just conflicted with my working view of reality for some reason.. very interesting information