Why Firaxis hold back Civ5 info?
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MatrixTheKitty
Skitty
Because the game is still in Alpha. Most info they could give about the game wouldn't be set in stone.
Anyways, if they did give all the info at once, that would kinda be boring. They want to keep us on our toes, excited, trying to get the next little drop all the way until they release the game.
Anyways, if they did give all the info at once, that would kinda be boring. They want to keep us on our toes, excited, trying to get the next little drop all the way until they release the game.
cf_nz
Prince
Fairly standard marketing I would have thought, drip feed info up until release. No reason to waste all the hype this early.
Disgustipated
Deity
yeah, but it seems like we haven't had a drip in weeks. I need my "fix". 
Abraxis
☮
I agree with the OP, The game is not in alpha if it will be out in 6 months, after 3 or so years of development. They aught to have a Solid foundation and a pretty well complete body by now, just working on the polish, balancing, and fine tuning a game of this complexity requires.
And as for a lack of info, I agree it's best for them to withhold it and make every little detail a treasure. but considering how many details this game aught to have, they should be able to afford to spill them a little more frequently.
And as for a lack of info, I agree it's best for them to withhold it and make every little detail a treasure. but considering how many details this game aught to have, they should be able to afford to spill them a little more frequently.
Gliese 581
Your average civ junkie
There seems to be different philospohies when it comes to marketing & hype. Some companies like Bioware will wait forever before giving out details. Others like Blizzard are fairly liberal with it, then completely change everything several times over before the very delayed release.*
* Some generalisations on my part may occur in this segment, no refunds.
* Some generalisations on my part may occur in this segment, no refunds.
CossackProblem
Warlord
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2007
- Messages
- 131
Peter Molyneux effect.
Abraxis
☮
Please don't say that.
I feel like he may have been a used car salesman before he became a game designer. How do you screw up Black & White.... in theory it was so perfect; but then that's probably still the pre-release propaganda talking.
If Civ5 mirrors that in any way... well I'll probably just keep playing Civ4. but man oh man will I be disappointed!
I feel like he may have been a used car salesman before he became a game designer. How do you screw up Black & White.... in theory it was so perfect; but then that's probably still the pre-release propaganda talking.
If Civ5 mirrors that in any way... well I'll probably just keep playing Civ4. but man oh man will I be disappointed!
frekk
Scourge of St. Lawrence
I think he meant they're trying to avoid being like Peter Molyneux - that's the effect Molyneux has had. He made people cautious about giving out specific details.
I can see where they're coming from with that - even if they're not overhyping. Every detail they give out sparks some bad reactions from people who don't like this or that feature. The fewer specifics, the less angry people before release. The less angry people before release, the more sales. The more sales on release, the more they can cry "success", and then more sales. Also, the critics won't have had time to formulate a really coherent attack on the game as a whole. They'll have to speculate most of their points, which will therefore probably be wrong.
Conversely, you release lots of details, well it might help you design a better game because you'll get more feedback, but it will hurt the reputation and therefore success of the game. More people will rage at features they don't like. They'll rally against the game, and by the time it is released, they'll be able to create an air of disappointment. Also they'll have had lots of time to make their critique more coherent and it will be targetted at real, rather than mostly imaginary, features.
Alot of people just go with the flow, with what they hear, and convince themselves to think the way they hear. Most of us, probably, do it to some degree, unconsciously.
I can see where they're coming from with that - even if they're not overhyping. Every detail they give out sparks some bad reactions from people who don't like this or that feature. The fewer specifics, the less angry people before release. The less angry people before release, the more sales. The more sales on release, the more they can cry "success", and then more sales. Also, the critics won't have had time to formulate a really coherent attack on the game as a whole. They'll have to speculate most of their points, which will therefore probably be wrong.
Conversely, you release lots of details, well it might help you design a better game because you'll get more feedback, but it will hurt the reputation and therefore success of the game. More people will rage at features they don't like. They'll rally against the game, and by the time it is released, they'll be able to create an air of disappointment. Also they'll have had lots of time to make their critique more coherent and it will be targetted at real, rather than mostly imaginary, features.
Alot of people just go with the flow, with what they hear, and convince themselves to think the way they hear. Most of us, probably, do it to some degree, unconsciously.
Abraxis
☮
Anyone who follows the game that closely and gets upset at the new features which will ruin their whole perception of how they enjoy Civ will still buy the game to justify their preemptive criticisms. It's all about ego, especially with a series like Civ with 4 totally innovative AND successful iterations. If Civ 5 does end up sucking, all the fans will buy it, and realize it sucks, and not buy Civ 6 unless it can convince them otherwise.
Just look at Total War: Empire, if you can stomach it.
Just look at Total War: Empire, if you can stomach it.
Gliese 581
Your average civ junkie
It was a sad day when I realised that no real effort has been made at improving the diplomacy and AI of the Total War series since the beginning. 
So far, I am glad on all the confirmed changes... except for the 1 military unit on 1 tile restriction. I think 2 to 3 military units on 1 tile would make war more strategic and interesting. I have no more suggestion due to the lack of info about what will be there in Civ5.
There is still 6 months before the release of CIV5 and this should be the right time to quickly capture more user opinions based on what they have changed! If there is something really stupid they have changed, it won't be too late to change it again.
I think they don't have confidence and guts to face critics on changes they have made.
If holding back CIV5 features is a marketing strategy then I think it is a real stupid decision.
There is still 6 months before the release of CIV5 and this should be the right time to quickly capture more user opinions based on what they have changed! If there is something really stupid they have changed, it won't be too late to change it again.
I think they don't have confidence and guts to face critics on changes they have made.
If holding back CIV5 features is a marketing strategy then I think it is a real stupid decision.
CTH
Prince
I am sure that they have a marketing plan to release new info now and then until the release, sure there has been a little bit of lack of information the last weeks but PAX is right now and we should see more ciV info the next few days (perhaps even today). E3 is in june but I think that we will see a push of info in may perhaps with some new previews.
I think that the reason to why they dont just release all the info about the game is
1. They want the players to get some supprises,
2. The marketing campaign, to keep the intrest up over a long time, releasing some info now and then.
3. They is not finished with everything yet, they will most likely release new info in new previews and people then expect to see new screenshots but graphic is the latest thing you create in a game (or polished graphics at least) so they might not want to talk too much about features that hasent been graphically completed yet.
I think that the reason to why they dont just release all the info about the game is
1. They want the players to get some supprises,
2. The marketing campaign, to keep the intrest up over a long time, releasing some info now and then.
3. They is not finished with everything yet, they will most likely release new info in new previews and people then expect to see new screenshots but graphic is the latest thing you create in a game (or polished graphics at least) so they might not want to talk too much about features that hasent been graphically completed yet.
People might buy a game which have supprised them (say by certain great features), they won't buy a game and hope that it will supprise them... so relasing info earlier should be a better decision
I think 6 months is not a long time... barely enough for us to discuss few key changes and for Firaxis to further tweak them (if they are convinced). i.e. now is the time to release the info all changed features...
frekk
Scourge of St. Lawrence
I think they don't want to face the knee-jerk critics who decided they didn't like the game as soon as they realized it wasn't civ4 anymore, but before actually knowing anything about civ5 (other than the fact it isn't a civ4 expansion). The, uhm, new edition virgins mostly. Got started on civ4 (rarely, 3) and just can't wrap their head around making any elemental changes, because they haven't been through this before.
The first time you have to deal with a new edition being announced is scary. Those who truly love civ, love it with fanatical jealousy and possessiveness. The first time, change is frightening; you love the game, and you're afraid of change, because you're scared it won't be the game you fell in love with anymore. But most of the time, it isn't really the traditionalism it's portrayed as being, because every edition of the game has seen profound change.
CTH
Prince
6 months is not a very long time but every day there is new information about a new game, if you want to keep the intrest up for the normal gamer (not people from civ fanatics that will be intrested with or without information) you have to have alot of time in the media and almost the only way to get that is to release new information. And because 6 months is a fairly short time left for Firaxis to develop and change things I dont think that community input is their greatest goal right now, they have gatherd community input the last 3 years or so from back when they released BtS. There is allways room for tweaking in patches and expansions. Also, how can we say what is good or bad with the big changes (like the hexagon or 1 unit per tile) without having tested the game?
And about the supprise, well that is what I would like to do if I was a game developer, not really so much about money but I would like the players to not know everything when they buy a new game. But that could be just me who want to be a little bit supprised now and then...
And about the supprise, well that is what I would like to do if I was a game developer, not really so much about money but I would like the players to not know everything when they buy a new game. But that could be just me who want to be a little bit supprised now and then...
Firaxis marketing guys might have thought of something like you have stated. But this can never be the case... unless Firaxis holds back certain feature up to the point the game is released. If they release all info, say only when it is few days before game release, the same emotional problem could still happen... and worse still, there won't be time to change their mind (I mean of those who emotionally decide not to buy)
There should be some new information this weekend. Relax. 
Tomice
Passionate Smart-Ass
That's a good summary. In addition, a dev once made a very informative post on the Mass Effect 2 boards. He said that the shareholders of their company force them to announce every feature in a certain way, not just to drop random info bits on fan boards.
When they give a way info in a clumsy way, the stock-market value of their company may be influenced, even if the info is minor. But fans are unpredictable, as the quoted post shows nicely.
So there are legal issues preventing them from chatting to much. Most devs would prefere closer contact to the fans, but the business people see that as risky (and I understand the company doesn't want the fans to know when they have a setback in development).
No, it isn't. It is just a pessimistic look at the issue.
Why don't you think it the other way round?
When Firaxis announces a new feature or change, besides those who do not support the change, there are also many who supports it... Isn't annoucing new feature is a cheap (or even free) advertisement?
Afterall, one can always buy Civ5 few days/weeks after it is released, by doing so he can obtain every info of the game from those who can't wait... then only decide whether or not to buy the game.
What I mean is, Civ5 publisher can delay revealing the game details only before it is released but they can't stop people from learning about what the game has to offer before buying it... then what is the point of delaying?
I think, the more they hold back the game info, the more people will delay buying it... and that is definitely a bad marketing outcome.
