Where is Civ4 in Dev Cycle?

[Kolath]

Hey folks, its been a long time since I visited these forums for anything other than the latest C3C mods/scens but the news of some actual info about Civ IV has brought me back! So my question is this: Does anyone know how far along they are in developing Civ IV? I had heard it was only in the preliminary design phases. But in Soren's presentation notes it says:

"Multiplayer: we have a working mp system already and have been playing 4+ hour games after work."

That would suggest to me that they are quite a bit farther along than just the preliminary stages of development. I assume the game is still a good year or two in the future but is anything else known? And are there any expected times for the release of new info (besides E3 2005)?

 

[Jon Shafer]

Nothing else is known besides that. But if they're able to play 4 hour MP games, you have to assume that things are fairly far along, as you said.

 

[covenant]

but would that not also mean many of the ideas in the forum have aleady been somwhat solidified? Which means many of these great ideas may be for not?

 

[warpstorm]

In March, Soren said that they used the comments here to come up with their design. This and MP games comment does imply that the main design has been fleshed out. I wouldn't say it is too late though. During Civ3 and its expansions they were willing to listen to ideas up until shortly before the titles shipped. I would say that in general the more conservative the proposed change the more likely it'll see the light of day.

 

[playshogi]

Quote:
"Multiplayer: we have a working mp system already and have been playing 4+ hour games after work."

So, is the game over after 4 hours? Did they go from 4000 BC to the Modern Age in an afternoon? If so, sounds like a slower form of RON.

 

[warpstorm]

MP games of Civ3 don't last as long as SP games generally. The players generally play on smaller maps and have early wars of extermination. All of the games I played MP were decided before the Middle Ages were and most in the Ancient era.

 

[Kolath]

Do the devs ever comment on these forums? (i.e. Are we likely to get any info on the forums about how far along the game it?)

 

[warpstorm]

They occasionally post on these forums. The issue is that anything they say here this early will come back to haunt them later. Wishful thinking on their part becomes gospel to the fans and when it isn't in the game they get flamed.

 

[thestonesfan]

They tend to post a lot more around the time the game is released, and then when they are getting ready for a patch or expansion.

 

[Kolath]

Yeah that makes sense. I wonder if Soren mentioned anything else about Civ IV at the GDC that wasn't on the PP.

 

[warpstorm]

Not really. He stuck fairly close to the pictures and notes, IIRC.