Who else agrees that Civ 5 has been dumbed down?

[PieceOfMind]

You as well. If you want to accept this half baked, bug riddled, unbalanced, boring garbage that is ciV, then that's your right. Don't let me stop you.

Don't however pretend you or anyone else that validates this woefully substandard product are doing any favours to this community or Civ fans anywhere. It's not much different than the big game reviewers that gave this game glowing reviews. They did a disservice to the Civ community as well by outright lying to us.

This isn't going anywhere useful. I'm out.

 

[da_Vinci]

This isn't going anywhere useful. I'm out.

Just now, you notice this fact? This thread hasn't been about useful for quite a while, just two immovable sides sparring with each other, for the fun of it. Everything that can be said has been said, just dressing it in new language now.

It is like Democrats and Republicans arguing with each other ... which may explain why Congress isn't going anywhere useful either ...

dV

 

[Thormodr]

if this was the first civ ever, it would be a bad strategy game.PERIOD. but it wouldn't be insulting. that's the whole thing. civ fans didn't suddenly become a bunch of children, so why would they think we'd like this dumb, empty and, above all, boring game. why would someone think that after civ iv, and all it's expansions, and all it's great mods, we'd get into that. if they told me this is some kind of eductive games, to teach children in a fun way, i'd ask what exactly do they want to teach children and where is the fun. it's a lame, boring, dumb, and for someone who's been into civ from the first one, damn insulting attempt of a game. just because it's also called civ, it doesn't mean it's a part of the franchise. clearly someone hugely underestimated civ fans. we are not that dumb. not enough to like their game and not enough to say we do just because of it's name. damn shame!

Completely right. I think somehow, in their hubris, Firaxis and 2K Games greatly underestimated Civ fans and tried to slip one past us. It's a clear insult to the people who worked so hard to make the Civ series what it was up to this point.

 

[Thormodr]

This isn't going anywhere useful. I'm out.

No problem. Obviously we don't see eye to eye.

If you can enjoy playing ciV then more power to you.

 

[n0rse]

If you are willing to put up with this half baked garbage called ciV then that's your choice. It certainly does Firaxis and the general gaming community no favours by rolling over and accepting this disgrace.

Its the responsibility of any true fan of Civ to stand up and tell Firaxis and 2K Games in no uncertain terms that this product is completely unacceptable.

So what can the civ community do to send a message that hits home? I see a lot of other fans here are in the same boat, but there must be something we can do to get our message across.

 

[Thormodr]

So what can the civ community do to send a message that hits home? I see a lot of other fans here are in the same boat, but there must be something we can do to get our message across.

We could send a petition to them or we could organize a "Let's not play ciV day."

If the people playing ciV on steam dropped abnormally low after we warned Firaxis and 2K Games about "Let's not play ciV day", then perhaps some of the higher up mucky mucks for Firaxis and 2K Games would take notice.

Also, perhaps we could get together and write a letter that we could send to the Better Business Bureau. It can't hurt.

 

[da_Vinci]

So what can the civ community do to send a message that hits home? I see a lot of other fans here are in the same boat, but there must be something we can do to get our message across.

Don't buy Civ V as a gift for your gaming friends for one thing (oh wait, they all aready pre-ordered it and have it already ). I was going to get it for my nephew, but I got him Civ IV complete instead.

Options are scold them (as we are doing), embarrass them in public ... next level would be a boycott, but that may lead to worse products in the future if it does have a financial impact. What else can we do?

Have them sit in time out? Like to see 2K and Firaxis put out the apology trailer with Sid sitting in the corner with a dunce cap on, taking his time out.

At least Toyota put out all the adds saying that they screwed up (in advertising euphemisms) and were working to make things right ... have we seen that yet (or with any prominence) from Firaxis and 2K?

dV

 

[polypheus]

We could send a petition to them or we could organize a "Let's not play ciV day."

If the people playing ciV on steam dropped abnormally low after we warned Firaxis and 2K Games about "Let's not play ciV day", then perhaps some of the higher up mucky mucks for Firaxis and 2K Games would take notice.

Also, perhaps we could get together and write a letter that we could send to the Better Business Bureau. It can't hurt.

I think that having low ratings on consumer sites like Amazon and such would go a great deal IMHO. If you haven't done so, please add to the ratings and comments on that and other sites. Note that it is perfectly valid to review something on that site even if you didn't buy it through them. That will get the word out and counteract the bogusly high paid-for professional reviews.

 

[n0rse]

We could send a petition to them or we could organize a "Let's not play ciV day."

If the people playing ciV on steam dropped abnormally low after we warned Firaxis and 2K Games about "Let's not play ciV day", then perhaps some of the higher up mucky mucks for Firaxis and 2K Games would take notice.

Also, perhaps we could get together and write a letter that we could send to the Better Business Bureau. It can't hurt.

I'm up for anything Also maybe the community could draft a letter with some sort of X amount of digital signatures and send to these places:

Firaxis Games
10 Loveton Circle
Sparks, MD 21152

2k games
10 Hamilton Landing
Novato, California
94949
United States

 

[da_Vinci]

Also, perhaps we could get together and write a letter that we could send to the Better Business Bureau. It can't hurt.

I think the issue in a letter to the BBB would have to be a complaining about deceptive or unfair business practices. I am not sure that mere stupidity or incompetence is in their jurisdiction. Unless the game is actually dangerous or hazadous, the fact that is is dysfunctional might not be a BBB issue.

dV

 

[n0rse]

That will get the word out and counteract the bogusly high paid-for professional reviews.

This has also gotten me thinking. I wonder how much a publisher has to pay some of these sites to give such a product _fantastic_ reviews ? Maybe they should have cut the marketing budget and used some of that for QA and development.

 

[Thormodr]

I'm up for anything Also maybe the community could draft a letter with some sort of X amount of digital signatures and send to these places:

Firaxis Games
10 Loveton Circle
Sparks, MD 21152

2k games
10 Hamilton Landing
Novato, California
94949
United States

Yes, that sounds like a good idea. We need to organize ourselves.

BTW, I wonder how embarrassed Maryland must be now after having ciV day.

 

[Deep_Blue]

Definetly dumped down.

not only that, but it is also a differwent game making it shifting away from the series. thats why many people are disappointed with it, most people like CIV IV and they expected an upgrade to CIV IV with better graphics , better AI, big improvments, new addittons here and there, more wonders, more units, more buildings, more luxuries, more GP types, more resources... but what I see in the new game is less in everything (including less fun) !!!

 

[n0rse]

Don't buy Civ V as a gift for your gaming friends for one thing (oh wait, they all aready pre-ordered it and have it already ). I was going to get it for my nephew, but I got him Civ IV complete instead.

Options are scold them (as we are doing), embarrass them in public ... next level would be a boycott, but that may lead to worse products in the future if it does have a financial impact. What else can we do?

Have them sit in time out? Like to see 2K and Firaxis put out the apology trailer with Sid sitting in the corner with a dunce cap on, taking his time out.

At least Toyota put out all the adds saying that they screwed up (in advertising euphemisms) and were working to make things right ... have we seen that yet (or with any prominence) from Firaxis and 2K?

dV

ROFL ! You just had me crying from laughter

 

[frookenhauer]

Just the fact that 50% of the people that have taken the time to enter into the poll say that there is something inherently wrong wth the game says everything.

That kind of majority kills the potential troll label straight away, and in fact means that I will not be buying the game just yet. Cheers guys. I'll wait until there are some DYD / FFH mods or suchlike before I take it up.

I am however annoyed with the press who have been unanimous in their love for the game, maybe they let someone else play and wrote the review later. IGN (okay maybe not the best place to look, re: MOO3) , Gamespot and so on have given the game a lot of love, but the fan reviews have been significantly lower. It's a sad sad world when you cant trust your reviewers any more

Anyway, I hope the expansion does something about this. Thanks for the heads up.

...hmm, is it as bad as MOO3

 

[da_Vinci]

BTW, I wonder how embarrassed Maryland must be now after having ciV day.

Probably going to cost the Governor the election! (Note my location )

Actually, as long as the company is still paying its corporate state taxes and local property taxes, its all good.

dV

 

[Thormodr]

This has also gotten me thinking. I wonder how much a publisher has to pay some of these sites to give such a product _fantastic_ reviews ? Maybe they should have cut the marketing budget and used some of that for QA and development.

I don't think they outright bribe them per se.

If the game reviewer gives a poor review of a company's product (especially a well known one) then that company will be far less likely to advertise on that company's website or in their magazine. So, the game reviewer essentially loses money for a poor review even if its entirely justified. Small game companies usually can't afford to pay for expensive ads so their games actually get "honest" reviews.

Whatever the case, it's all about the money sadly.

 

[da_Vinci]

Definetly dumped down.

Is that pun intentional, or just the best Freudian Slip of the day?

dV

 

[n0rse]

I am however annoyed with the press who have been unanimous in their love for the game, maybe they let someone else play and wrote the review later.

As of yet this is the only review that I have read that somewhat even comes close to hitting the spot. Obviously he this guy didnt get any kickbacks:

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?pager.offset=1&cId=3181540&p=1

quote from the article:

Some of these problems are minor, but they're the sorts of things I'd expect from a rookie developer scrambling to meet a deadline. What are they doing in 2K's flagship strategy game, under the brand of one of the greatest game developers we've ever known?

 

[Thormodr]

Just the fact that 50% of the people that have taken the time to enter into the poll say that there is something inherently wrong wth the game says everything.

That kind of majority kills the potential troll label straight away, and in fact means that I will not be buying the game just yet. Cheers guys. I'll wait until there are some DYD / FFH mods or suchlike before I take it up.

I am however annoyed with the press who have been unanimous in their love for the game, maybe they let someone else play and wrote the review later. IGN (okay maybe not the best place to look, re: MOO3) , Gamespot and so on have given the game a lot of love, but the fan reviews have been significantly lower. It's a sad sad world when you cant trust your reviewers any more

Anyway, I hope the expansion does something about this. Thanks for the heads up.

...hmm, is it as bad as MOO3

I will say in the game reviewer's defense that the game seems somewhat fun at first. Being a brand new Civ, it is exciting to discover new things. However, after that short honeymoon period, the wheels really come off. (Amply demonstrated by how these poll numbers turned around so sharply) The game is exposed for what it really is. It's been streamlined and watered down/dumbed down for the mass markets and frankly isn't any fun at all. It's quite boring. After a short time playing, you discover that there really isn't anything new to discover.

Perhaps the game reviewers just didn't spend enough time playing the game. All they saw was the "organic" game world that had made the game more "accessable" and all that marketing BS that 2K Games trotted out.