To whom it may concern

[WarISgood]

First off I know some of you have to be feeling the way I do, to you people feel free and please add somthing to this. I certainly know little about all the technical jargon.

To be honest I cant afford the "best pc" But I can afford a decnt one that gets built one piece at a time.

The game runs fine for me. Wait I have had no probs enjoying this game at all. tech probs are non exsistant.

My vid card? A card I bought two years ago for $200 Gainward geforce ti4200 xp platinum to be exact. You can get a card equal to or better for 50-100 bucks I bet these days.

I have 1 gig ram. DDR ram. pc 3200 maybe? I got that by buying 2 sticks of ram from NEWEGG.com each stick was like 49 buck... so $100 for a gig of ram. not shabby and not over priced.

The cpu I have is AMD Athlon xp 2700 $100

None of this is state of the art equipment. Alot of you know this im sure.


Anyways I just want to say that a game in my opinion should have lasting power. This game will be out for awhile and in 3 yrs it may not look as good as it's going to if they worried about slower comps running it.

Not trying to offend anyone and I know this statement doesnt apply to everyone. But jees I have seen too many complaints about too manny things ranging from no action gameplay (witch I totaly disagree with) to interface probs man accept it or wait for a mod or mod it ( me, I don't have a prob with it) to not being able to run it ( if your system is good wait for them to patch it. If your system is not able to run it sorry but you will have to upgrade or take a $50 hit in the wallet) And most ALL games on the PC have these issues due to the crazy wide variety of pcs out there.

Bottom line I am seeing alot of annoying ass whining. Flame me I don't care, I can post my oppinion the same as you can. And a flame by someone who is already posting negative crap about the game is no suprise to me.

The only reason I am writing this is because this game has only been out for a few days. But to be honest I have a problem mostly with the civ gamers claiming the gameplay isnt that good. As far as the tech probs go I really do sympathise but the answer for you is to be patient and hopeful or to say screw it... But why do that in these forums?

Btw I think the game is great and alot of if not most of these complaints will disapear with time. There will be patches (for those with tech issues) and people will realise that they spoke to soon about a great game. (For those nagging about the gameplay)

 

[SimaYi]

I agree, the whinning has got to stop. The game was JUST put out a few days ago. OF COURSE it will have problems. Name one game that doesn't have glitches. And like most PC games, there will eventally be a PATCH that will FIX the GLITCHES.

 

[Mujadaddy]

Anyways I just want to say that a game in my opinion should have lasting power. This game will be out for awhile and in 3 yrs it may not look as good as it's going to if they worried about slower comps running it.

After I put the RIGHT disc in the RIGHT disc drive (it didn't like my CD-R, but it likes my DVD...go figure), I haven't had a single problem...

MY machine?

AMD 1.5ghz, 512mb RAM, 128mb Nvidia, Win2k

See the irony of people complaining on technical issues now?

I'll say it again (I said it in some other thread): The glitches are Bill Gates' Fault®, not Sid Meier's fault

 

[Prince James I]

I'll say it again (I said it in some other thread): The glitches are Bill Gates' Fault®, not Sid Meier's fault

Is 'fault' a Registered Trademark or M$ now?

-James I

 

[Lord Shadow]

I'll quote what I posted in another thread. Pretty much sums up my opinion on the constant whining around.

I haven't played enough to confirm or deny (whether it's the best Civ to date or not) that, but I do know that some people just expect a remake of Civ III in 3D with no improvements nor changes whatsoever. Too many conservatives around.

 

[Fobok]

I totally agree. There are some glitches, but for the most part it runs smoothly for me. Nothing a patch won't fix. I also have an average machine.

Athlon XP 2400 (1.9 GHz), 768mb RAM, and a GeForce 3 Ti2400.

I do notice that when a lot of games come out, people with top-of-the-line machines complain the game won't work. It seems, from observation, a lot of newer equipment is more prone to driver conflicts. By the time I upgrade, those problems have been patched out.

 

[bewm]

Thank you, thank you thank you for posting this. I actually signed up for the forum just respond to your post WarISgood.

I don't think I have seen so much complaining about a game... ever... Especially a game this good. People didn't complain this much about the Myth 2 install/uninstall debacle (for those that don't remember that 'bug' actually erased your whole hard drive).

There are people complaining about bad game design (you want bad game design check out one of those strategy first titles or one of those bargin bin games), people complaining how this game is not like civ 3 or civ 2 and how they are going to go back to a previous civ. I got news for you... the title is civ 4 (not civ 3)... get used to it.

I can feel for you guys that are having hardware issues... I have been in your shoes at one point or another... but the fact does remain that people with your system specs did test this game and were able to play the game effectively... obviously there is something in your setups that is causing problems. You guys need to get together with some peeps with similar system specs that the game is working on and hash out what is causing you issue rather than keep posting threads complaining that this game was not properly tested or making outlandish statements about how violated you feel. (maybe that last statement was a little too dramatic)


Look I am not trying to get to down on the whiners. The internet gave everybody an equal voice. I am just disappointed that people have decided to use the amenity that the internet provides to make sure everybody else out there know that you are dissatisfied.

 

[jajohns8]

I think the game is awesome. Been playing Civ since the mid 90's and this one keeps the great legacy going.....The music itself will probably win an award...
The bottom line is, people are entitled to their opinions....Saw the same thing when Halo 2 was released.....People whining and crying about this or that (had hardware trouble on that release too; remember the widescreen TV issues?...LOL)....bottom line is, got it for myself and formed MY OWN OPINION.....
Same thing with Civ IV.....it's an excellent game.....
People are entitled to their opinions....Here's mine: The game is awesome.

 

[coolfish]

guys,hoorah for you. the game works for you guys. you are lucky. you have to realize a good chunk of people are having some problems, and these are the kinds of problems that would have been caught with better beta testing.

granted, i don't know if this is the average number of bugs for games nowadays. to me, that doesn't matter. I expect more from the civ line. I mean, let's take a look at the issues I alone am having:

- french tech tree
- no manual provided
- movies stutter / audio stutters (intro and wonders) - to the point of being unwatchable
- game slows down considerably after playing for a bit.
- game can't be played at high detail low resolution, or high resolution low detail despite having a more than capable system (amd 2500+, 1.5gb ram, geforce ti 4400)

add it all up and you get a less than pleasant experience. and I've been eagerly awaiting this game (I even went out and bought a new $300 video card just in case, and although it helped, it didn't solve most of the problems)
So imagine my, and a lot of other people's, dissapointment after waiting for so long to be hit with all these issues.

I'll wait until a patch comes. But if I don't get a manual like other people got, I'll return the game until I get a box that does have a manual and an English tech tree.

 

[Mujadaddy]

guys,hoorah for you. the game works for you guys. you are lucky. you have to realize a good chunk of people are having some problems, and these are the kinds of problems that would have been caught with better beta testing.

"Better beta testing"? Have you decompiled the game to make sure that it's not the individual systems' driver conflicts that are causing the "Good Chunk" of problems? Also, I've read maybe 50 posts about people who have bad problems --- out of 500,000 copies sold (the game is Gold) that's less than ONE-HUNDREDTH of ONE PERCENT.

let's take a look at the issues I alone am having:

Let's. Let's also try to fix them.

- french tech tree

Packaging and distribution's fault. I got one. I'm getting a new one mailed to me, gratis. "Problem" solved.

- no manual provided

I got a manual, so I don't know why you didn't.

- movies stutter / audio stutters (intro and wonders) - to the point of being unwatchable
- game slows down considerably after playing for a bit.
- game can't be played at high detail low resolution, or high resolution low detail despite having a more than capable system (amd 2500+, 1.5gb ram, geforce ti 4400)

When you say the game "can't be played" I think you're exaggerating. You *DO* realize that if *SOME* people with half the processor and 1/3 of the RAM you have can play the game that there's PROBABLY a hardware/driver issue out there, not a fundamental flaw with Civ4, right?

add it all up and you get a less than pleasant experience. and I've been eagerly awaiting this game (I even went out and bought a new $300 video card just in case, and although it helped, it didn't solve most of the problems)

My system wouldn't SELL for $300, and I can play the game just fine. The wonder movies skip, but Cry More, N00b...

So imagine my, and a lot of other people's, dissapointment after waiting for so long to be hit with all these issues.

Again, "a lot of other people" is a relative number. The issues you're talking about, while real, are just hiccups, not cancer.

I'll wait until a patch comes. But if I don't get a manual like other people got, I'll return the game until I get a box that does have a manual and an English tech tree.

If you stop whining, and actually contribute to helping determine WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PATCH, the patch will come faster. And it still won't be the programmer's fault that the BOX didn't come with what they wanted it to include.

 

[Chopperhead]

Ya I didnt get a manual either got some stupid quick refrence guid or something not a big deal though I would like to have the manual.

 

[coolfish]

"Better beta testing"? Have you decompiled the game to make sure that it's not the individual systems' driver conflicts that are causing the "Good Chunk" of problems? Also, I've read maybe 50 posts about people who have bad problems --- out of 500,000 copies sold (the game is Gold) that's less than ONE-HUNDREDTH of ONE PERCENT.

Let's. Let's also try to fix them.

50 posts? are you kidding? learn how to count. take a look at how many posts/threads there are in the bug forum alone.

Packaging and distribution's fault. I got one. I'm getting a new one mailed to me, gratis. "Problem" solved.

I got a manual, so I don't know why you didn't.

at this point i'm starting to realize you're one of those people who if everything is fine and dandy for you, then screw everyone else. Blaming it on "packaging and distribution" - well no frikken duh that's what the issue is. So I shouldn't blame it on Fireaxis/take2? I shouldn't mention that they (and their subcontractor) screwed up considerably??

When you say the game "can't be played" I think you're exaggerating. You *DO* realize that if *SOME* people with half the processor and 1/3 of the RAM you have can play the game that there's PROBABLY a hardware/driver issue out there, not a fundamental flaw with Civ4, right?
My system wouldn't SELL for $300, and I can play the game just fine. The wonder movies skip, but Cry More, N00b...

I've been playing civ since civ 1. i'm a computer systems engineer and yes, I know that it's probably hardware/driver issues. That's what beta testing is for, to make sure your game runs on as many systems as possible. Do you think I only have my software tested on one or two machines, and just assume that the rest will work? No, where I work we run our software against multitudes of machines to make sure it works. And if it doesn't, we don't blame it on someone else, we try and fix it.
And when I say it's unplayable, I mean it's a painful experience to sit there while your screen slowly moves over, all the wonder/intro movies are unwatchable.

Again, "a lot of other people" is a relative number. The issues you're talking about, while real, are just hiccups, not cancer.
If you stop whining, and actually contribute to helping determine WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PATCH, the patch will come faster. And it still won't be the programmer's fault that the BOX didn't come with what they wanted it to include.

Whining to you means listing bugs. Whining to you means posting a comment to the glowing reviews that don't mention any of these bugs, that make Civ4 sound soo amazingly good, meanwhile ignoring all the problems that people are having.

Moderator Action: Flaming removed. Warned.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[bewm]

coolfish - it is obvious that the game was rushed... there really is no denying that... and yes that is fine to complain about that (make one thread about it… there doesn’t need to be fifty about the same thing). But do not allude to the fact that this game was beta tested on two systems... I can assure you that Firaxis and Take 2 have released a few games in their day and know how to beta test a game and I am sure that they are trying to fix the issues the community has raised. The game has been out for less than a week... how fast do you want them to turn out a patch? (Don’t answer that... it is a rhetorical question).

But seriously the reason this thread was started was because most of these complaint threads are childish, trolling, and irrational.

At the time I am writing this there is a poll thread asking if there should be a class action lawsuit against Firaxis and Take 2 -- I think most 'rational' people would say that is excessive.

I have seen a few threads with the classic 'so long everyone I am not going to play this game again and here are my reasons why... and I am going to tell you in the form of a letter to whomever it may concern' -- again nobody 'should' care. If this was a MMORPG people would be saying ‘can I have your stuff?’

Whining is fine... it just needs to get toned down. People are acting like they have been physically abused by this game. The reason the reviews are so glowing is because the game is, in fact, that good. The reason that they do not mention the bugs is because the bugs were probably not apparent on their testing rigs (top of the line machines or just up to date drivers will do that). Just because a group of people on these forums is very vocal please do not assume that 'most people' are having problems and that their is some sort of conspiracy by the developer and publisher to not fix the bugs.

 

[controlledchaos]

I agree with you. I'm a little upset that I had to shell out an extra $80 to upgrade my video card, but I'm sure I would have had to do this sooner or later anyway. I love CIV and it was worth the extra investment to be able to play this game.

 

[Willem]

...or making outlandish statements about how violated you feel. (maybe that last statement was a little too dramatic)

Not at all, I've actually seen many posts like that. Some people are taking it as a personal insult that their systems are creating problems for them.

 

[Skedastic]

Of course, this is the perfect place to "whine" (that is, list problems).

First, it will warn potential purchasers of problems.

Second, partially because of the first reason, it will help induce the devlopers to provide patches remedying the problem.

I find it absolutely fascinating some consumers have become so numbed to shoddy releases they actually write things such as "It's only been out a week, how quickly do want a patch?" The consumer-friendly way to release the game would, of course, be to polish it BEFORE retailing it rather than treating the release as an extended beta test (or in this case, alpha test).

 

[Willem]

But if I don't get a manual like other people got, I'll return the game until I get a box that does have a manual and an English tech tree.

You could have returned it immediately when you discovered there was no manual. And blame the packaging company who Firaxis/Take 2 contracted out the work to. Obviously one of the workers, who might have been working for minimum wage, screwed up. Same with the tech tree. If it's really that important to you, just go the web site and they'll mail you a tech tree at no cost to you.

 

[bewm]

Skedastic - your right -- there was a time that the game out of the box was really polished and that patches were more game tweaks than full blown code rewrites... however since those days games have become alot more complex and production values have gone up... plus publishers want to recoop their investments... i think the day of the really polished game is over.

 

[Willem]

Skedastic - your right -- there was a time that the game out of the box was really polished and that patches were more game tweaks than full blown code rewrites... however since those days games have become alot more complex and production values have gone up... plus publishers want to recoop their investments... i think the day of the really polished game is over.

Not to mention that computer systems are also more complex with millions of different configurations in use. What works well on one machine may not on another. And it's impossible to test for them all.

 

[Mujadaddy]

i'm a computer systems engineer and yes, I know that it's probably hardware/driver issues.

Really? I'm a ninja!! With heat vision!!

If you "know that it's probably hardware/driver issues" why are you blaming Take2? Why not Bill Gates? Or Nvidia? Or Crucial? Or Intel? Or...you get my drift?