A "bull**** generator" should provide future techs

Ralf · June 5, 2001, 12:36

I know that Civ-3 probably will end 2020 AD, and thats all good and well.

Im all for it.

However, in the Is future technology coming back thread, I found the following quotes about replacing Civ-2 style generic "future techs" with something more fun:

Quote:

Originally posted by BigRich
But I digress. What I *would* like to see is an automatic tech selection once you have finished the tech tree. Selecting Future Tech X every few turns gets a bit tedious.

Quote:

Originally posted by Adm.Naismith
Just for fun, Firaxis should add a random tech name composer; you know, that kind of program that generate a phrase adding together different class of words.

Great idea, that also fits splendidly within the somewhat humorous & lighthearted style that Firaxis have announced for Civ-3.

-------------------- edited:
Hmm! The censor will not accept "bull s-h-i-t". OK, copy below link to the addressfield, and replace the * letters.
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[URL=http://www.dack.com/web/bull****.html.[/URL]

On that webpage, a sentence-generator automatically & randomly compose verbs, adjectives & nouns into a nonsense web-economy concepts.
Why couldnt Civ-2 style generic "future techs" be replaced with something similar - but with only 2 word-links (so the result reads like SMAC-style techs)?
Why not provide some SciFi word-links in 2 separate columns under this topic? Start out by getting inspiration from the SMAC tech-tree poster, and also from other turnbased- and realtime SciFi-games - but twist & tweak them, so they become strange and wacky enough. It must be obvious to the civ-player that these future techs only are tech add-ons, without any real purpose in the game. I suggests the following format in the game:

"Future tech 1: [wacky SciFi-tech]", randomly put together each time, and each game.

Quote:

Just as an idea, what would people think of Future Techs that actually did something. Use a random name generator as above (loved this idea btw) and have some names give beneficial effects. Eg. Ultralight alloys - improves unit movement by 1, Genetic computers +2 beakers for each city over size 5, Universal vaccine +1 happiness per city (very rare this one )

No, I dont like that. Civ-2 style generic "future techs" (or random wacky SciFi ones) should only give you more game-points. Nothing more.

Frugal_Gourmet · June 5, 2001, 15:47

This is the best idea for Civ 3 I've heard in months.

Hurrah!

Gramphos · June 5, 2001, 16:15

This is a very good idea, at least the best science my name-change

. The generator must check so that no real tech may be invented.

Gramphos · June 5, 2001, 16:22

One thing that might be bad with this idea is translation of the random strings into different languages. If just hate badly translated games, and most often play the game in the original language if it is badly translated and the original language is accessible.
If FIRAXIS can have a random tech generator working for English what says that the techs would have realistic names in Swedish, if the game is translated to Swedish (as most games are nowadays).

Adm.Naismith · June 6, 2001, 05:46

Of course I must support my same idea, Ralf

Thanks for quoting and launching a dedicated thread.

I agree Future tech must be "score generator", without added bonus.

I remember a similar automatic sentence generator is somewhere into the Dilbert comic site.

Gramphos, you are right about trouble in translating the random name generator rules, but we are speaking about very simple names, not complex sentence generator, so I'm almost sure there are prebuilt routines available in every countries University

Gramphos · July 7, 2001, 10:03

Quote:

Originally posted by Adm.Naismith
Gramphos, you are right about trouble in translating the random name generator rules, but we are speaking about very simple names, not complex sentence generator, so I'm almost sure there are prebuilt routines available in every countries University

You are probably right, and as Civ is very editable I think I should be able to change anything that looks bad.

Urban Ranger · July 7, 2001, 10:13

Hmm...

While this is an interesting idea, it means the "future techs" will be different from game to game, or even different from person to person in an MP game.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Firaxis might as well just make a list of 50 or so of gibberish terms (e.g. Revised Theon Theory).

Executor · July 7, 2001, 10:33

Why doesn't Firaxis just use the techs from Alpha Centauri?

Gramphos · July 7, 2001, 10:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Executor
Why doesn't Firaxis just use the techs from Alpha Centauri?

No Random names are better. You will get a meaning to discover the Future Techs (All the fun names). If it ispossible to add more name parts You wouldn't run out of names after playing a while.

DarkCloud · July 7, 2001, 12:35

Some tech names

Three Columns: Take one from column A,B,C to create a new tech

A.
Quasi
Phony
Photon
Death
Star

B.
Photon
Death
Ray
Trek
Indiana

C.
Ray
Gun
City
Mantis
Spyder

Example: Phony Indiana Gun
Example: Death Ray Mantis

Ralf · July 7, 2001, 15:23

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkCloud
Three Columns: Take one from column A,B,C to create a new tech

Nice try

But I think that these three columns should specifically be A: verbs, B: adjectives and C: nouns. Surf to http://www.dack.com/ and then check out the left column > Whats popular > Web Economy Bull**** generator, for some inspiration.

Grumbold · July 7, 2001, 16:07

I'd like future techs to have tiny positive effects just to make further progress worthwhile but the random names sound fun.

Urban Ranger · July 7, 2001, 22:02

Good try

, DarkCloud, but too MoO-like for my tastes.

A.
Global
Universal
Large-scale
Internet
High
New
Quantum
Photon
Neuron

B.
Genetic
Semiconductor
Cognitive
Neuron
Quantum
Superconductor
Photon

C.
Planning
Foundation
Resonance
Net
Finder
Engineering

For example: Quantum Superconductor Engineering

Gramphos · July 7, 2001, 23:14

The Columns should be editable. The only thing that matters is how the system shall work, not what Technology names there is.

Why not make it more complex?

A: verbs, B: adjectives, C: beginning of nouns and D: ending of nouns.

Urban Ranger · July 8, 2001, 02:38

There's no need for verbs. All these generators work with only nouns, and sometimes adjectives.

MORON · July 8, 2001, 15:13

That sounds like the good idea.

Adm.Naismith · July 8, 2001, 17:38

Nice thread resurrection!

I specially enjoy the Urban Ranger example

Add some more, can be the best Civ III enhancement after the Culture addition

Urban Ranger · July 9, 2001, 00:35

Got some Firaxis wacko, eh, programmer on it

Dauphin · July 9, 2001, 08:41

I think the actual advances will have to split into different categories if you want some "non"- science ones to come along.

Else you may disover something like Advanced Superstring Economics or Quantum Cognitive Bushonics.

Earwicker · July 9, 2001, 13:01

It would be cool to have all the disciplines mixed up occasionally. Future techs could be scientific/ artistic/ cultural all at the same time. Chromatic economics. Solar sculpture. Subatomic Psychology.

While it would be nice to have future techs that actually do something (esp in modern scenarios where research is no longer meaningful), it's probaly better that they don't. It could lead to too much "bouncing the rubble" -- when you get that far, you're usually ready to win and just running up the score.

Dugrik · July 9, 2001, 17:33

A tech jargon generator is a bad idea. The last time someone tried this we ended up with a bunch of Star Trek: Voyager scripts.

Immortal Wombat · July 9, 2001, 17:59

...and that's a problem?

Adm.Naismith · July 10, 2001, 05:19

Quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker
It would be cool to have all the disciplines mixed up occasionally. Future techs could be scientific/ artistic/ cultural all at the same time. Chromatic economics. Solar sculpture. Subatomic Psychology.

Right! It can't be worse than many HW name many company use today: anyone looking at video cards name

Quote:

While it would be nice to have future techs that actually do something (esp in modern scenarios where research is no longer meaningful), it's probaly better that they don't. It could lead to too much "bouncing the rubble" -- when you get that far, you're usually ready to win and just running up the score.

I agree. If you must have a future tech list so wide to manage related advance, you simply move the problem a bit further. No, we need an harmless area where things go too much well to keep a player into the proper, more defined "playfield". Adding some funny can't be wrong, at that point.

BigRich · July 10, 2001, 05:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker
It would be cool to have all the disciplines mixed up occasionally. Future techs could be scientific/ artistic/ cultural all at the same time. Chromatic economics. Solar sculpture. Subatomic Psychology.

While it would be nice to have future techs that actually do something (esp in modern scenarios where research is no longer meaningful), it's probaly better that they don't. It could lead to too much "bouncing the rubble" -- when you get that far, you're usually ready to win and just running up the score.

That was my point really. By the time you are researching Future Techs you've generally got the game won anyway, so why not have em do small things. Its not going to alter the game that much.

Opinion seems to be generally against this though. *Shrug*

Rich.

BigRich · July 10, 2001, 06:02

Quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker
It would be cool to have all the disciplines mixed up occasionally. Future techs could be scientific/ artistic/ cultural all at the same time. Chromatic economics. Solar sculpture. Subatomic Psychology. *snip*

Yes that would be cool

I want to research Advanced Quantum Psychology or Quasi Superstring Orchestral Art

Rich.

Earwicker · July 10, 2001, 14:13

Quote:

Originally posted by BigRich

Yes that would be cool

I want to research Advanced Quantum Psychology or Quasi Superstring Orchestral Art

Rich.

Research it? Heck, I want to go back to college and major in it! Then see if I could get the National Endowment for the Arts to foot my bill . . .