EC3 Fix #19 - FASTER, SMOOTHER GRAPHICS/INTERFACE

raingoon · February 25, 2000, 05:32

by FinnishGuy

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font>Make the graphics move fast. No slowdowns, none, no matter how many units or cities or whatever graphics items are on screen. FAST, get it? Thanks.

I'm now extending my proposal to include the CIV3 user interface, which should respond quickly and smoothly. Furthermore, the graphics should be well-designed and of high quality, not horrible looking like in SMAC (credits to Lordstone1 for the quality suggestion). And to elaborate a bit...

What are the strengths... Well, SMAC is an example how horribly sluggish graphics and interface can ruin an otherwise excellent game. I'd really want to like SMAC but whenever I start a new game, soon after the first few dozen turns it starts to feel more and more like a burden instead of fun. Every damn unit seems to take seconds to move! I don't understand how some people can play SMAC on huge maps with zillion cities and units, for me small maps are the largest tolerable. Consequently, I regard SMAC only a barely good game instead of brilliant. I'm glad to hear that the first thing Firaxis did when they started designing CIV3 was to throw out SMAC's graphics engine. My proposal is there to remind them that they should pay special attention to make the new graphics/interface really FAST and snappy, and in no case repeat SMAC's failure or be satisfied with mediocre solutions.
I don't mean that overall game time should be extremely short or game elements like AI should be compromised. It'll be all fine with me if a game of CIV3 will take several evenings. I just want the graphics/interface to do its' job fast and smoothly so I can fully enjoy the game itself.
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by raingoon (edited February 25, 2000).]</font>

korn469 · February 28, 2000, 05:35

first can you define what the problem is? is it a significant problem? how does your ideas fix that problem specifically? does your fix effect any other areas of the game? if it does effect another area does it upset game balance in those other areas? is there a simpler way to fix the problem? does your idea hurt gameplay? why out of all of the ideas does your fix belong on this list?

FinnishGuy · February 28, 2000, 06:43

Korn, you really should read these proposals before you spam the same questionnaire all over several threads. Oh well...

first can you define what the problem is?:
uh, well, SLUGGISH GRAPHICS!!!
is it a significant problem?
HELL YEAH!
how does your ideas fix that problem specifically?
By introducing FAST GRAPHICS. Doh!
does your fix effect any other areas of the game?
No.
if it does effect another area does it upset game balance in those other areas?
...
is there a simpler way to fix the problem?
???
does your idea hurt gameplay?
No. Quite the opposite, I presume.
why out of all of the ideas does your fix belong on this list?
I already answered that in my above proposal: "SMAC is an example how horribly sluggish graphics and interface can ruin an otherwise excellent game. ... My proposal is there to remind them [Firaxis] that they should pay special attention to make the new graphics/interface really FAST and snappy, and in no case repeat SMAC's failure or be satisfied with mediocre solutions."

korn469 · February 28, 2000, 07:10

finnish Guy

i have read the proposals, actually i have reads your quite a few times...many of the fixes threads had fallen off of the page and i was bumping up some of them and trying to encourage discussion on the rest of them...i tried to include something personailzed for each thread but my mind was kind of dead tonight so the first five i did only got the question and none of the stuff pertaining to the particular thread, like what each of the rest of the threads did...

i could have just typed in *bump* but i was hoping that this would encourage some thought and maybe some discussion...because out of the twenty fixes threads, 16 of them had five posts or less and only three of those threads had ten posts or more...so i really think that more discussion is needed

korn469
<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by korn469 (edited February 28, 2000).]</font>

FinnishGuy · February 28, 2000, 07:24

Relax korn, I wasn't offended really! I just thought first that I had answered most of those specific questions already, or that they were pretty self-explanatory in my case.

I see your point. Those questions only seemed a bit funny.

Of course I welcome discussion and thoughts!

korn469 · February 28, 2000, 07:28

hehe i'll try to relax but it's 6:30am here and i have been up since 8am yesterday without any sleep so you know how it is :|

and your post is actually a good example of a clear idea that is easily understood

FinnishGuy · March 8, 2000, 11:40

FINAL DRAFT

Make the graphics move fast. No slowdowns, none, no matter how many units or cities or whatever graphics items are on screen. FAST, get it? Please? Civilization III should also have top quality graphics and a very responsive and snappy user interface. Thanks.

Sluggish graphics/interface is a major fun killer. This is a reminder that in no case should mediocre or poor solutions be accepted.

FinnishGuy · March 8, 2000, 11:47

I guess my draft pales in comparison to the others. I've had a rough day at work. Actually a couple of rough days. I couldn't come up with anything deeper for now. Sorry.

Yippee, I'm Warlord...