What do you think?

[Lucky]

How anxious are you about "Rise of Nations"?

Is Brian Reynolds really able to combine the RTS games´ fast paced battle action with the play-depth of TBS games?

Or will it be yet another AoE clone with a few improvements and additions?

Do you think that combining both elements will result in a too complex game?

What do think about the published screenshots, do you like the graphics?

How do you rate the success chances of this game?

Do you think Brian Reynold should have left Firaxis?

How do you feel about Microsoft publishing the game?

Will you buy it?

Do you think it can compete or even beat Civ3?

Would Civ3 have been better with Reynolds staying and implementing some of the features of RoN?


That´s all, just a few questions about the game and to get the new forum going!

 

[ainwood]

How 'bout a link to a few screenshots or something?

(or should I read the rest of the threads here first...)


P.S. I REFUSE to put my Credit card details in to read the gamespot review!

 

[ainwood]

Musn't be lazy!

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3

 

[knowltok2]

I understand that the graphics are plugs, but they are going to have to really show me something in the way of changed gameplay to convince me it is not just another RTS.

I'll likely wait to here the reviews of my fellow fanatics.

 

[Exile_Ian]

One thing I will say is that I'm pleased that its a 'Microsoft' game. From a stability point alone, I've tended to find the anything with the Microsoft name on it tended to support all flavors of Windows, followed standard conventions for installation, and was inherantly stable. (That's not to say that all Microsoft games have been great gameplay). I was very happy in the past knowing that (for instance) AOE played quite happily on NT whereas Maxis (to name but one company) tended to cater only for Win 9x platforms.

I agree that it looks a lot like AOE/AOK (but with modern units as well as the ancient kind) - but I don't really need any better graphics than that. If it turned out to be AOK with more culture/civ aspects and extended into modern day, that would probably be enough for me to be interested.

I also agree that the micromanagement of units in AOE was a real pain - and that's probably the main reason that I don't play it any more. If they're building more autonomy into units in RON then that would be good new.

Hopefully they will have learnt something about the wishes of players who want to customise the game too. It would be sad to find out that a whole new set of skills was required to create units for instance. (I went through that learning curve for The Sims, abandoned trying for Civ3 and have little time to learn to much more now).

 

[GenghisK]

He heee, cool, a new forum, for a new game
Ok I'm now going to check isonews.com or gonegold.com and I'll see when it's due to be released
I'm sure it's a great game for the GK Store, according to PH

 

[Chaz200]

I have to say that I really enjoyed AOE and AOK. They are pretty simple games and can be fun. They certainly are less complicated than Civ and can be a good distraction when I don't feel like starting a Civ game.


One concern I have so far is gameplay. I read on Big Huge Games that the average game will take an hour.

Q: Can games last longer than an hour?

A: Certainly. They can also be over sooner. We've balanced our "standard game" around a one hour experience, however Rise of Nations has a wide range of game settings and can be adjusted to whatever play style you prefer.

That means that you will go from the begining of time to the modern era rather quickly. It sounds like the game is going to be way to easy. I haven't played AOE or AOK in awhile but I am sure the games lasted much longer than an hour. If I recall correctly they lasted at least 4 or 5 hours.


However, they do offer the first hint that the game will be somewhat customizable.

 

[Genuis]

I would say the average for an AOK game, single-player, was less than 2 hours (depending on which level you play on and how many other civs you have to beat). Campaign scenarios could take longer than that. Of course, if you rush, games could be over in 20 minutes. In my limited multiplayer experience the games were much longer, but I can't say I ever played a 5-hour game. I have a 56k, and that long of a game would involve many, many units and a LOT of lag.

I don't see how you could finish a game that looks so epic in less than an hour. Unless it is using the Empire Earth model, where you can set which eras to begin and end in and games are pretty quick. I agreee with you, Chaz, that it should be more of an epic game, with an option to play shorter games if that is what you want. It's definitely on my want list, though.

 

[CrazyDuck]

is the general feeling among civ players that empire earth sucked a big one?

coz i kinda like it

 

[Myth Maker]

How anxious are you about "Rise of Nations"?

Curious and mildly excited rather than anxious (all right, I know 'mildly excited' sounds a bit of an oxymoron, but it's too far off to be very excited about, though the concept does sound quite exciting).

Or will it be yet another AoE clone with a few improvements and additions?

I hope not; what I've read suggests something rather more different from AoE than that. But of course reality can always disappoint expectations.

Do you think that combining both elements will result in a too complex game?

I assume that the extensive play-testing that is taking place will ensure that the end product is not too complex to be playable, but I'm rather hoping that it will have sufficient complexity to display something of the depth one finds in Civ games.

How do you rate the success chances of this game?

My guess is that it will do well; but without having a chance of actually trying it out or reading reviews of the released version it's hard to tell.

How do you feel about Microsoft publishing the game?

I've no complaint about other MS-published games I've bought, so I'm perfectly happy. At least the game should have solid backing.

Will you buy it?

Very probably, unless either a very lacklustre demo or a string of dire reviews succeed in putting me off.

Do you think it can compete or even beat Civ3?

I think it's probably a mistake to see the two games as in direct competition. RoN will have a strong appeal to people like me who enjoy both RTS and TBS games, but, I suspect, very little appeal for people who love Civ but hate RTS. If anything, I suspect RoN has more potential to be an EE-beater than a Civ3-beater, though the forthcoming EE x-pack may help to keep EE ahead in its own niche.

Would Civ3 have been better with Reynolds staying and implementing some of the features of RoN?

Possibly, though I'm not sure how many RoN-like features could have been incorporated into Civ3 without turning into something more like RoN than Civ3. It may be that the features included in the Civ3 add-on will take Civ3 about as close to RoN as it can go without losing its essential Civish character.

 

[mwernecke]

I agree with Myth Maker. RoN will not compete with Civ III. There are some people that would want both Turn Based and Real Time games, but mostly people like one or the other, and the fact is that it will be impossible for the game to please both crowds (unless it's a GREAT classic game that we will all love for decades). Probably the game will fail to please the Turn Based game lovers, and therefore won't compete with Civ, but with AoK, EE, and the rest of the RTSs.

 

[Desert Fox]

The game as I took it was supposed to be a new twist combining TBS and RTS style game play together. I am wondering how? I know the game will rock all of our worlds because it is Brian Reynolds putting it out. No doubt it will feel like civ when played. From what they are saying it will be much different then AOE, AOK or EE. I am looking forward to it myself big time. Until then I am loving Morrowind and Empire Earth both excellent games.

 

[Thunderfall]

How anxious are you about "Rise of Nations"?
Not very anxious. They can take all the time they want to finish the game.

What do think about the published screenshots, do you like the graphics?
They look nice, but remind me too much of AOK, and that's not good. Anything that makes people think it's an AOK clone is not good.

How do you rate the success chances of this game?
It will be great success, since both RTS and TBS players will want to buy it.

Do you think Brian Reynold should have left Firaxis?
Can't answer that. We don't know what happened between him and Sid.

How do you feel about Microsoft publishing the game?
It's great! Microsoft is probably the best game publisher nowadays. They tend to give game makers ample amount of time to finish their games.

Will you buy it?
Definitely!

 

[Homie]

I`ve seen thye screenshots and I have to say, come on! They should have called,"AOE with improved graphics". I bet it is as lame as Empire Earth. I was excited about that game, tried it and found it`s just a typical RTS game with eras.

I am definately not excited about it, what I am excited about, is the expansion pack with multiplayer for civ3. And we do not get it before fall arrgh!

 

[GenghisK]

Originally posted by Thunderfall
Will you buy it?
Definitely!

Mmmm probably same answer for me unless... it's unofficially released a week earlier on some DC hubs/edonkey

 

[Cunobelin Of Hippo]

This poster is promoting piracy, TF. I suggest a weeklong vacation to correct this unsavory behaviour

RoN sounds promising, but I'll be waiting to see what you guys (other than filthy horsemongers) have to say before rushing out to buy it. Wonder if they'll port it over here in any hurry...

 

[GenghisK]

I never condoned piracy. I never pirated even one game illegally. Only canadians pachyderms with very fast cable connection do. Which is a shame. Yeah TF demote that disrespectful creature always seeking for war with innocent and pure members

I was talking about shareware version version that you share...

 

[Cunobelin Of Hippo]

Your portrait is floating around the Civ 3 regions (on the right) Seems they've finally decided to let your filthy race into the game...hopefully the RoN people won't have the same idea. It'd probably drive down sales.

 

[GenghisK]

This is my foreign advisor:

Message from my High Master. He has no time to spare for petty civs so he sent me to tell that 3 tons race that my master will avoid unleashing havoc on your territory. Have a nice day. Stop.

 

[Reboot]

I'm pretty anxious. I'm playing WarIII now and seriously I'm bored before the Human Campaign is out. A combi of something RTS with CivIII would be interesting - especially since its Brian Reynolds.

The game specs also look interesting, and I would like to try it out. Hopefully the game doesn't get too fast, or I'll not be able to enjoy the Civilization of it all.