Off Topic DO NOT BUY CIV 3

Puke · #1 December 20th, 2001, 05:14 AM

not only do they use 386s, they only upgraded to them in the Last 5 years or so. i remember some obscure news article when they got the approval for it, but i dont remember exactly when it was.

hell, that was a few years ago. maybe they are on something better by now. i would not bank on it though, its more important for them to have twelve redundant systems for everything and have them run with low power requirements than it is for them to have fast processors. i mean, its not like they are computing rocket science

(gosh, remember when rocket science was mind-boggling? now its genetics this, molecules that. everything in modern science is so darn tiny! in the good old days people thought BIG!)

Jourin · #2 December 20th, 2001, 08:02 AM

I do agree that CIV III is a disappointment, but I still think it is a good game. Is it better than Civ II, yes. Does it have MAJOR problems, yes. Is it better out of the box than CTP I and II (both truely unfinished games), yes. Is it better then the modded CTP I, NO.

Problems:
1. Can not define historical starting positions for empires so can not play a historical Earth map or create scenarios. User mod fixes this bug.

2. Some of the features do not work. (although the patch did fix the precision bombing bug)

3. Game is VERY unstable and crashes constantly. Patch was supposed to address this problem but did not.

4. Patch:
Pros: Gives user more ability to fix problems with game.
Cons: Majority are just cosmetic fixes like spelling errors, does not fix MAJOR problems. Does fix precision bombing bug, but adds new bugs.
Assessment: If you want to try to mod the game to fix problems, install patch. If you want to play the game with no mods, do not install patch as additional bugs are not worth the precision bombing fix.

5. Pros: Firaxis has committed to fix the game with patches. As long as the company is willing to support the game with patches to fix the problems I am willing to buy the game. I refuse to buy games when the company refuses to support the game with patches. I did not buy CTP II and I will not buy IGIII as the companies refused to support CTP I and IGII but released flawed games, one or two minor patches and that was it. I will not be burned twice.

I was more disappointed with CTP I and II then with CIV3. CTP had great potential but was rushed to the market and totally unplayable out of the box. Activision also refused to support the game. Saving grace was ability to mod game. EXTENSIVE user mods over next two years turned CTP I into a very good game. CTP II was a step backwards and again Activision refused to support the game, so I say stick with CTP I modded. Luckily I did not buy CTP II.

Civ3 is playable out of the box (I think). Unfortunately once you get a good game going, it crashes. I have not been able to get past the middle ages yet. Tech suppost has been no help, as all crash problems are the OS's fault. They also state that only limited help will be available because of the holidays.

If you can wait don't buy CIV3 now, but wait for the patches.

y.a.newbe · #3 December 20th, 2001, 03:59 PM

I bought CTP II one year ago(!) and I couldn't believe how much CIV III lags behind in every aspect. User Interface, fun, movies - you name it!
I wonder if I shall invest(aka waste) another minute an CIV III. I rather play CTP II.

CTPII gives you future technologies, buildings, terains, governments and units packaged with a lot of fun to play them.
CIVIII gives you CIV1 with new graphics, trade system and diplomacy(not that it improves anything) with the same old (10 years?) interface! You want to know your 5 best cities for production? Scroll the list and find them yourself! You want to insert an item into the production queue of those 5 in one easy step? Forget it!
Have you ever played SE-IV? Imagine all(yes all) those listings of planets, ships, fleets ... but you can't sort them. Production queues without pictures just to make sure you paid attention. Hell dunno why I didn't uninstall CIVIII right away!

Safe money and buy SEIV GOLD!

Growltigga · #4 December 20th, 2001, 04:04 PM

I dunno - it is Christmas, the season of good will, joy to all men etc

Even CivIII designers need love and hugs at this time of year just like everyone else.

Be kind, the easiest way to show your preferences is simply not to buy CivIII but pick up SE Gold (or tupperware as I want to call it)

Me? I have an expensive wife to maintain so can't afford her, SE gold and Civ III so one has to go (Civ III)

dogscoff · #5 December 20th, 2001, 05:42 PM

quote:

(gosh, remember when rocket science was mind-boggling? now its genetics this, molecules that. everything in modern science is so darn tiny! in the good old days people thought BIG!)

A quote from "The Young Ones"
Peasant 1: "What's new?"
Peasant 2: "Microchip technology."

Growltigga · #6 December 20th, 2001, 05:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dogscoff:

A quote from "The Young Ones"
Peasant 1: "What's new?"
Peasant 2: "Microchip technology."

Dogscoff mate, you are showing your age if you can remember that

zen. · #7 December 20th, 2001, 06:36 PM

Dracus: I just finished reading my latest PC Gamer Last night...Myth 3 got something like 50%. Purchase at your own risk.

Personally, I'm picking up SEIVG and perhaps an FPS like Max Payne or Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Although I suppose I'd better finish Ghost Recon first.

Simply need something team-like to quench my TFC needs. heh heh

Also, I hear Illwinter's Dominions is also a good turn-based fantasy strategy game. It's produced by three guys, I believe, and their patch list reads frighteningly similar to our own SEIV. Not the best in graphics, but great in scope and execution. Maybe the SEIV for fantasy folks?

zen