Update 2.0

[Sal]

Anybody know more about this?

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/03/12/big-2-0-update-to-fix-conservative-civ-beyond-earth/

Looks like a huge change. I have not played BE in ages but will give it a second shot of this brings some flavour in.

 

[joncnunn]

That article is quoting the top posts of http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=544415 and http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=544724.

 

[Sal]

Thanks

 

[Sherlock]

They've announced they're working on a 'super patch' they call '2.0' but we have no news on what's in it or the schedule?

Is that right?

 

[bite]

no real idea, besides we can assume they will be incorporating more lore, and from their comments also some of the feedback from players I would amuse (they mentioned it was a mistake not to beta test it) but nothing solid

 

[Gorbles]

We don't know anything else, no.

 

[Minor Annoyance]

I noticed something on the workshop. There's a filter for mods taged "version_2". While uploading my own mods I don't remember if I ever saw a way to create tags myself. I'd think if there was I'd have seen more new tags pop up. Although if you could it would explain why there is a tag for "virtues" and "policies" which are the same thing just with terminology from civ 5 used. However if the tags are created by the developer then it does indicate stuff is in development.
I missed the article that referenced a version 2 and didn't hear any specifics since so I wasn't sure if that was an official announcement or just an off hand comment being read into. Perhaps they havent given official details because they don't know what it is yet. Expansion, DLC or an uberpatch. Anyway, this workshop tag, assuming tags aren't user created, is the first official indication I've seen that a version 2 is a real thing.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Well, I hope it comes soon, or we get some tangible information at least.
It's been about half a year since release, and we only got two patches which both leave a lot to be desired. Firaxis has earned a top spot on my naughty list with this one.

 

[Strategist83]

naughty list

Thing is, unless Firaxis shifts gears and suddenly gets serious as well as puts the development of BE 2.0 in the hands of some different people there is no reason whatsoever to expect anything good from a "super" patch. On the contrary, given the record, there's much more reason to expect a new patch to fall short.

Just sayin'. So what's it gonna be, Firaxis, you up to it now, half a year later? Or should we just start looking elsewhere in the future for our 4X fix?

Best thing about this whole BE debacle for me has been motivating a revisiting of a series of older games and mods - Civ3 Conquests (with the insane micromanagement - no overflows whatsoever, manipulating tile yields is a minigame unto itself!), Civ IV with Next War and K-mod mods, Master of Orion as well as the rather excellent Pandora: First Contact. There's even Civ V, which - although cruddy in many ways - eventually became quite the game, after a few trillion customer dollars were poured into it and its expansions. Firaxis certainly has a legacy of fine previous games, so there's precious little reason to spend time with BE until the developer team shocks the world by doing something proper. It sure would be nice to see that happen, though - I'd much rather put Firaxis back on the 'good list'.

 

[Gorbles]

The funny thing about "good" is that it means something completely different to each person who posts it. Firaxis aren't going to be able to please everyone, nor should they.

Shoving ultimatums in your posts does nothing to further both this topic, or Firaxis' motivations.

 

[Barathor]

I noticed something on the workshop. There's a filter for mods tagged "version_2".

Ooh, that's very interesting. Perhaps that's a good sign of this update's size and changes.

 

[Callonia]

I'm fairly certain that world map will be tiny and you will be able to defeat the bugs with a single bugfree fence from the super patch.

 

[joncnunn]

Moderator Action: Two BE 2.0 threads merged.

 

[Vasire]

I am going to share a somewhat unpopular opinion and actually ask Firaxis to tread lightly with 2.0. There has been a massive blowback in reaction to CIV:BE. It might push the developers to make some drastic changes to the game which I, for one, am having a blast with.

 

[Alkaid]

I am going to share a somewhat unpopular opinion and actually ask Firaxis to tread lightly with 2.0. There has been a massive blowback in reaction to CIV:BE. It might push the developers to make some drastic changes to the game which I, for one, am having a blast with.

Somewhat the same here. While I do agree with a lot of the issues people have, I don't want them to revamp everything so much that it were to become something like a true re-skin of Civ V. I hope they more genuinely try address flaws like the balance of seeding options, AI interaction, victory wonders being only affinity 13, and "sciences is the be-all-end-all" focus every time. (And I did like Civ V a lot, but so far I enjoy BE a bit more, despite being a less complete game) Otherwise it's lots of fun, just I wish there was more (aka expansions or something) rather than re-doing too much of what's already here.

I also hope they don't forget to fix those couple of still-broken wonders.

 

[Hail]

why would Firaxis balance seeding options?
they want you to buy Starships and unlock new and better seeding options.

 

[The_Quasar]

If 2.0 turns out to be a DLC or an expansion, it would be nice to get more options to play with. More factions, more this, more that... BE is weak on this, and is one reason why so many have left it after far fewer hours than previous Fraxis games. There is only so many repetitions of the same thing before it begins to get tedious.

I'd also like to see 2 or 3 scenarios too. They are always fun.

I'll say it again, this game (BE) has a lot of potential, but it needs a lot of filling out, it's very skinny at present. Let's hope this gets sorted!

 

[nimling]

The new seeding options are ridiculous. Cryotome is far and away the best starting pick, Pioneers is stupid and cheesy. They're not exciting, they're a blatant "buy Starships if you want to compete in MP" move.

I don't mind that they want to tie Starships to BE, but both games should be playable on their own in MP without a bunch of DLC stuff. It's bad enough that Civ5 MP is plagued by this.

Anyway I hope the 2.0 patch is made free to download - that would give the patch wider reach, in the long term it's more money for Firaxis. How many people will shell out $30 for an expansion to a critically panned game?
I maintain the worst part of BE is that it was based on Civ 5, and Civ 5 had specific flaws that were well known before BE went into development. I'm sure the people behind the game could have taken the basic tools in Civ5 so they didn't have to re-invent the wheel with graphics and interface programming, but 1UPT was and still is a terrible idea.

The lack of leader personality, unbalanced gameplay, and so on are things that can be worked with... I for one don't consider it a flaw that players can beeline for their preferred victory condition. Requiring players to fill out the tech tree would just drag out the game for longer.

I'd rather have the game focus on balancing the 8 starting sponsors and other start options than introduce new ones, else there is a situation like Civ V again where a small selection of civs are OP and everything else is just making the game harder. AC did a good job of balancing the 7 main factions and making them interesting, because the factions could have drawbacks as well as bonuses.

I also think that Virtue acquisition should be flatter in general, so that Artists and AU are not so strong. Players that run away with the game should be able to build up a culture advantage for sure, but having a culture advantage built in shouldn't be so strong, or something like Franco-Iberia's bonus which kicks in later in the game. Something as simple as granting +5 culture in the capital and increasing virtue cost could go a long way towards balancing start options.

Of course 2.0 might just throw away most expectations of how the game is currently structured, and that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Like they said, they can afford to change things up more. The really big change I'd like to see is 1UPT done away with once and for all, and ranged combat shouldn't be as stupid as it is now.

 

[Minor Annoyance]

Anyway I hope the 2.0 patch is made free to download - that would give the patch wider reach, in the long term it's more money for Firaxis.

I've never heard of a pay for patch. If you have to pay for it it is not a patch, it's DLC, and if it is only as much content as a patch then it is bad DLC.

How many people will shell out $30 for an expansion to a critically panned game?

Expansions are only for existing games. You only get expansions for a game you already have. If I already have the game, why would I care if it was critically panned? The only opinion on the game that matters to me at that point is mine. Why would I not consider buying an expansion for a game I like because someone else disliked the base game?

 

[gunnergoz]

I hope they take a hard look at some of the outstanding mods like the oceanic cities one for inspiration when they design 2.0's new features.

I'd like some new sponsor factions, myself, and more unique units, buildings and traits for them. New critters would be good and a playable and truly alien faction that lands on planet to fight for its own share and agenda, would be great. Finally, more biomes and planetary types would make my day.