Why is the Internet still here?

[BenniusCaesar]

I can't believe it survived 3 editions of this game.

If you were so far behind to get any benefit from it at such a late stage in the game you won't have the time or resources to devote to building it.

It is strange it doesn't deliver any cultural or economic benefit as it does in the real world. Or a more useful scientific benefit.

 

[Gaius Octavius]

I was about to say this is in the wrong forum until I realized what you meant...

You raise a good point. I can't see anyone building it unless they are already ahead or keeping up. All it basically does is cement a space-race victory by allowing you to focus your efforts without worrying about certain techs.

I suppose if we were to change it, it should give a scientific boost like in the old Civ III way (free research lab in every city) but once again, you wouldn't be in dire need of it if you're able to build it.

 

[Infantry#14]

the internet is much better than in warlords, because it comes earlier via computers instead of fiber optics. We all know how Great Library was so powerful in civ 3 right? This is a nerf version that doesnt go obsolete. If you have a lot of opponents left and they trade a lot, then you can just put science slider to 0 and concentrate on gold, build more units.

 

[0R4NG3]

The internet can be useful in certain situations, it allows to win potentially lost games.

 

[methane]

I guess none of you play in close games in the late era. By targeting the internet tech early (and not researching things like artillery, flight, and anything else not directly on the path unless you can trade for them) you can get 6 techs easy if you start out with a slight lead before targeting internet, and more if you start out behind. Might not happen on small maps, where you only have a handful of civs, but on large maps you can get a lot out of it.

If you avoid the tech until you go up several other paths (which I think is preferred by most people; I sometimes do) you won't get much out of it, but there's a huge reward for targeting it early in competitive games.

 

[0R4NG3]

I guess none of you play in close games in the late era. By targeting the internet tech early (and not researching things like artillery, flight, and anything else not directly on the path unless you can trade for them) you can get 6 techs easy if you start out with a slight lead before targeting internet, and more if you start out behind. Might not happen on small maps, where you only have a handful of civs, but on large maps you can get a lot out of it.

If you avoid the tech until you go up several other paths (which I think is preferred by most people; I sometimes do) you won't get much out of it, but there's a huge reward for targeting it early in competitive games.

That's exactly what I meant, but you actually bothered to put it in words

 

[Delan]

I guess none of you play in close games in the late era. By targeting the internet tech early (and not researching things like artillery, flight, and anything else not directly on the path unless you can trade for them) you can get 6 techs easy if you start out with a slight lead before targeting internet, and more if you start out behind. Might not happen on small maps, where you only have a handful of civs, but on large maps you can get a lot out of it.

If you avoid the tech until you go up several other paths (which I think is preferred by most people; I sometimes do) you won't get much out of it, but there's a huge reward for targeting it early in competitive games.

There's another benefit. The Internet is the gift that keeps on giving. Once you have it you continue to get the techs the AIs research that you don't yet have. It's not a one-shot deal. That is, you get caught up with any techs they have that you don't, and then you're given any techs they research in the future that you don't have. Even being way ahead in tech in one game, the Internet still gave me some techs I'd neglected because the AIs researched it before me.

 

[Bushface]

There are two basic flaws in The Internet in Civ4. Firstly, even in BtS it comes late (and via a tech you don't necessarily want and which renders three useful Wonders obsolete) and unless you are sadly behind in techs the ones you may get from The Internet are probably ones you bypassed as unnecessary. Secondly, if you have the Internet and no other civs do, how does it access their techologies ? As an analogy, if I have the best radio transmitters and receivers in the world they won't pick up transmissions from foreign stations which do not exist.

 

[Monkeyfinger]

Read the later rounds of this:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=4948499

For an example of how to make the internet useful.

I've never gotten use out of it myself, but I acknowledge that it can certainly happen.

 

[Bast]

On Noble I found it was useless. But now that I'm playing Prince, this has become extremely useful.

 

[Ball Lightning]

It can be useful, but in most games i've played it isn't.

 

[toft]

IMO the internet should give a "Great Nerd" in every city

 

[IronCrown]

Secondly, if you have the Internet and no other civs do, how does it access their techologies ? As an analogy, if I have the best radio transmitters and receivers in the world they won't pick up transmissions from foreign stations which do not exist.

It's not meant that way. Even if it's 'your' Internet, of course it's a global thing - everyone has it. But you get the benefit because you built it. Well, that's not quite realistic, but otherwise no one would ever build it

 

[SPQR300]

the later era the game starts at, the internet becomes more and more useful, at modern era starts I could even say it is way overpowered...

 

[Dominico]

There's another benefit. The Internet is the gift that keeps on giving. Once you have it you continue to get the techs the AIs research that you don't yet have. It's not a one-shot deal.

wow i never knew this. Thanks for letting us know. Is this something which has changed with beyond the sword because i was sure in the past when i have built internet i didnt continue to get techs but i havent had the chance to build it for a long time.

 

[Desert-Fox]

wow i never knew this. Thanks for letting us know. Is this something which has changed with beyond the sword because i was sure in the past when i have built internet i didnt continue to get techs but i havent had the chance to build it for a long time.

Nope, It was always as Great Library in previous versions of Civ.

 

[MrCynical]

I have got some benefit from the Internet on Deity level games, and in OCCs, but other than that its a very dubious wonder. It can only be of relevance if there are at least two AIs keeping pace with you technologically, which is quite rare. It appears with computers, which is a dubious tech to take in a space race since it takes out three wonders, and is non essential. Finally it can't be rushed, which makes it very slow to build compared to everything else at this stage.

The best fix would I think be to either move it to a different tech, or rearrange the late tech tree so that computers are essential to the space race. I'd also switch it from being a project to a wonder so it can be rushed.

 

[qwertz]

what are you guys talking about? the internet is the most useful wonder in the game. it really saved me several times. if you are the tech leader at this point of the game, you are going to win anyway, but if you aren't the tech leader, you can easily get 5 or 6 techs from it.

 

[MrCynical]

what are you guys talking about? the internet is the most useful wonder in the game. it really saved me several times. if you are the tech leader at this point of the game, you are going to win anyway, but if you aren't the tech leader, you can easily get 5 or 6 techs from it.

The issue is that there have to be two other AIs with relevant techs that you don't have. The most common late game scenarios are that you're either tech leader, or chasing a single runaway AI, and in both cases the internet is useless. If you have multiple AIs ahead of you, getting the Internet is problematic anyway, and it's position on a non required tech means you need to be seriously behind for it to be worth it.

 

[ButSam]

I have yet to use it, but usually lead in tech. Other AIs lead in other areas, but I am generally superior for techs.

I miss the Great Library of old. It is, IMHO, more useful to have a boost to early-mid game research than to end-game research. If it is made to expire relatively quickly, it is not overpowered.

Especially with BtS though...imagine the benefits of building Internet, setting research slider real low for awhile and espionage cranked up, then switching back when Internet expires?

I wish the Internet's function returned to the Great Library again. The Internet should provide a research boost and +1 happy, or something like that.

Sam