Wall Street Journal Review (Sept 17)

[mantis2007]

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/17/civilization-v-nation-building-by-video-game/

" I had to drag myself to bed both nights I played it. And that’s the point, isn’t it? I have to say Civilization V is the best turn-based game I’ve played since the original SimCity."

 

[Thormodr]

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/17/civilization-v-nation-building-by-video-game/

" I had to drag myself to bed both nights I played it. And that’s the point, isn’t it? I have to say Civilization V is the best turn-based game I’ve played since the original SimCity."

Hopefully ciV won't crash like Wall Street did.

This is good to hear though:

I was playing a press-review version downloaded from www.steampowered.com on a PC that just barely met the minimum standards of a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 256MB video card and didn’t really notice any problems or lag. This is a graphically-heavy game relative to other Civilization and turn-based games, but there’s not that much motion to render and it’s not a big resource hog.

 

[PawelS]

AFAIK the original SimCity wasn't turn-based.

 

[CommanderZ]

Original sim-city was turn based? Just asking, I played only SC 2000 and its sequels

 

[Johnny Be]

... is the best turn-based game I&#...he speed and even pause it, but it's not TBS.

 

[zurichuk]

Interesting paragraph though regarding his PC that barely met the minimum requirements, good news

 

[Hsinchu]

The downside is that there’s often so much stuff on your screen informing you of what’s going on that it looks like a poorly-produced cable news channel, the key map and main gameplay action relegated to a small slice in the middle.

I wonder which news channel is getting the finger, here.

Seriously, though, the review reads like the first time I picked up the Civ4 Demo. I am so happy that an intelligent journalist that isn't an over-the-top hardcore gamer was able to pick this one up. Kudos to the WSJ.


In other news, let's hope the menus feel as sexy as they did for Civ4, and maybe even sexier thanks to a better "paint job" as the author put it. One of the trademarks of the Sid Meier timesuckers is ultimate micromanaging. I like it, but balancing between "It's there if you want it" and "You don't need it so you don't see it" is a hugely awesome accomplishment that I hope they achieved at least as good as if not better than last time 'round.

 

[Lancor]

Obviously the writers there consumed many things the last 20 years which took their toll on memory :x

 

[ipris]

well it is the WSJ.
i'm wondering who exactly their audience is for a post like this.

 

[Hsinchu]

The WSJ is read around the nation (and the world) by persons that like to keep up with VARIOUS industries and potential investments. The purpose in publishing such an article would be to give an investor a little idea of a product in the market that seems to have a following. This investor then may decide to, say, invest in Firaxis and affiliated organizations that were part of the project.

Otherwise, economists (not just the paid ones) often read the WSJ because it has a lot of articles of varying interest and provides a different perspective than specialist magazines and Consumer Reports.

 

[King Jason]

well it is the WSJ.
i'm wondering who exactly their audience is for a post like this.

I searched and searched but could not find the video clip of a U.S. politician (senator or house rep) saying something to the affect of; "I myself enjoy playing civ4 from time to time" while adressing the room in a speech obviously having something to do about gaming.

but seriously, it's for economic folk like the above fella mentioned.

Also, minor snag with simcity reference aside... this is actually one of the best written reviews we have. This person seems to have a grasp of the subject matter with which their discussing.

 

[ipris]

as an investor i think i'd more interested in sales figures (forthcoming) and what's in the wings for the company and less interested in the inter workings of the game.
i get the point being made, but it still seems a bit odd to me.
don't get me wrong, the more reviews the better to my mind!
.. just checked my 401k and i have no stock in the company a part from purchasing the game.

 

[bernlin2000]

Also, minor snag with simcity reference aside... this is actually one of the best written reviews we have. This person seems to have a grasp of the subject matter with which their discussing.

Yeah the reviewer got the genre of another long-running series wrong, when describing his last favorite strategy game . Anyhow, he did seem well versed on Civ (not SimCity obviously), but what surprised me the most was what he said about having a computer that just met the minimum requirements. The fact that the game ran without problems for him is contrary to what I've heard form some other reviewers, but it's good news indeed: my comp just barely meets the recommended requirements so that gives me hope I can play on very high settings without having problem, probably until the late game.

 

[bhavv]

Where can I see the full video demo of the one that is in that link?

 

[narmox]

uhm obviously the interest of such a story is:

- more hits
- more ad clicks
- more money

The rest is secondary.

(not sure if this was published in the paper version of the magazine too, in which case all bets are off!)

 

[Abraxis]

as an investor i think i'd more interested in sales figures (forthcoming) and what's in the wings for the company and less interested in the inter workings of the game.
i get the point being made, but it still seems a bit odd to me.
don't get me wrong, the more reviews the better to my mind!
.. just checked my 401k and i have no stock in the company a part from purchasing the game.

Sales figures emerge after sales... you'd miss you train mate.

 

[Pinstar]

"Very accurate grammar and syntax and excellent choices for voicing. Every leader sounds like Orson Welles."

*pictures opening up a diplomatic screen with Catherine and having Orson Welles start speaking to me*

*laughs*

 

[Zhahz]

Meh. The dude played like 1.5 games of civ which IMO doesn't really qualify one to do a comprehensive review. I'll have first impressions after a couple games but won't really know the game for a while, methinks.

Where can I see the full video demo of the one that is in that link?

Is this what you're after?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwdmF6zyClY

 

[tcjsavannah]

"Very accurate grammar and syntax and excellent choices for voicing. Every leader sounds like Orson Welles."

*pictures opening up a diplomatic screen with Catherine and having Orson Welles start speaking to me*

*laughs*

Even better would be if you try and trade luxury resources with Catherine and she tells you that she will sell no wine before its time.

 

[ButSam]

I particularly like how the reviewer decides to test the product's limits with a minimum recommendations computer. Why do reviewers always want to put it on their latest-and-greatest state of the art machine they are probably the only ones that have access to? I'm glad to see someone test out whether the requirements are right or not.