Release Date

DarkCloud · August 1, 2001, 11:16

Here's the new release date for Civ III according to the ad on the back of the September issue of Computer Games Magazine:

"Civ III is coming- October 2001"

I find something troubling with the ad- it shows NO graphics.
It tells NOTHING about the game

... Could it be that they may yet change the graphics?
No. Release date is too soon

Do they think the graphics are bad?
Most likely- what other reason not to show them.

Sabre2th · August 1, 2001, 11:20

sigh

This pessimistic paranoia is getting old.

DarkCloud · August 1, 2001, 11:35

Eh. I'm just disgusted that they require 3D graphics when it "could" be done in 2D and run on my computer.

As it is, unless I spend 1000+ Dollars/Pounds/ $1million Yen, I cannot play Civ III,

Sabre2th · August 1, 2001, 12:25

I'm sorry your computer can't run it.

Firaxis has said that animations can be turned off and such. Maybe you can adjust the options enough to make it run. Or: Pay $1000+ for civ and pray that it's worth it.

Sabre2th · August 1, 2001, 12:27

Oops. Forgot to ask: How old is your computer?

Urban Ranger · August 1, 2001, 12:51

You don't need $1000. You can pick up some 3D card real cheap (you probably don't need an accelerator) like $50 or so.

Sabre2th · August 1, 2001, 12:56

Well, if that's the way we're going, Ranger, he should get some dirt-cheap ram too.

DarkCloud · August 1, 2001, 15:26

It requires a Pentium III.

I have a 3D card, Pentium I 220
32 MB of RAM

This plays all games older than The Sims quite well.
No game I have requires more than 32MB of RAM and I own quite a few...

A minimum Pentium III, that is a HORRIBLE requirement.

Also, the graphics DO look crummy.

Sabre2th · August 1, 2001, 15:29

It's not THAT horrible. I don't recall prices off the top of my head, but most P3 computers have drop drstically in price since the P4 came out. You know how fast technology is evolving. In another few years, my P4 1.3 MHz will probably be obsolete.

Dan Magaha FIRAXIS · August 1, 2001, 15:48

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkCloud
It requires a Pentium III.

I have a 3D card, Pentium I 220
32 MB of RAM

This plays all games older than The Sims quite well.
No game I have requires more than 32MB of RAM and I own quite a few...

A minimum Pentium III, that is a HORRIBLE requirement.

Also, the graphics DO look crummy.

Civ III does not require a Pentium III, it requires a PII 300Mhz, which is even a middle-of-the-road PII. By the time the game hits shelves, Pentium 4 2Ghz machines will be available, so by contrast, PII-300Mhz doesn't sound unreasonable to me, but I suppose I'm slighly biased

Also, I'm not sure where you got the idea that you needed a 3D video card, because you don't -- you simply need to be able to do 1024x768x16bit color.

As far as your opinion on the graphics, all I can do is say what I've been saying for quite some time, which is that you should wait until the game is released before passing judgment on the graphics. Many of the screenshots floating around the net are *months* old, and we are still in development.

Dan

Ming · August 1, 2001, 16:07

A God has spoken... YES!!!!!!

As a member of the:
The Official Apolyton Optimist Civers Club (OFAOPCiCLu)
all I can say is... We have many reasons to be Optimistic!

Thanks for commenting.

Keep on Civin'

MarkG · August 1, 2001, 16:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan Magaha FIRAXIS
By the time the game hits shelves, Pentium 4 2Ghz machines will be available

ok, people, run for intel's site! when are p4 2ghz scheduled to be on the market?

Quote:

Many of the screenshots floating around the net are *months* old, and we are still in development.

i think i'll add this to my sig so that some people dont forget

KrazyHorse · August 1, 2001, 16:11

Nothin' doin' Mark; P4 1.8 GHz is already available according to Intel, so 2 GHz should be out within two months.

Mahdimael · August 1, 2001, 16:40

I'm sure some would comment on the fact that the screenshots that we have are months old. Not me though

We trust you to make a good product with nice-looking mountains

Sabre2th · August 1, 2001, 16:41

Taken from Intel website:

Quote:

Intel's Pentium 4 processor continues to provide higher performance for desktop computer users. Robust yields have allowed Intel to accelerate the introduction of these products, with a 2 GHz version planned for later this quarter.

Kassiopeia · August 1, 2001, 18:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan Magaha FIRAXIS
Civ III does not require a Pentium III, it requires a PII 300Mhz, which is even a middle-of-the-road PII

Also, I'm not sure where you got the idea that you needed a 3D video card, because you don't -- you simply need to be able to do 1024x768x16bit color.

For all these months that have felt like years I have feared that CivIII might need a bigger machine then my "P2 350 Mhz 64 RAM crummy old graphics card"! Thank you Mister Magaha, if you are reading this you are reading the post of a very happy Civer.

Rasputin · August 1, 2001, 18:53

hey the game must be finished if they got time to post at apolyton again.. well done Firaxis !!!

now lets hope itsa world wide release, not October in USA , November in Europe, December in Asia , Jan in rest of world or even later !!!

Provost Harrison · August 1, 2001, 19:08

Well I seem to be managing just fine with my Athlon 700 (1st gen). I have no need for an upgrade for a good while yet. In fact, I have no money for an upgrade for a while yet

JellyDonut · August 1, 2001, 20:09

I wish somebody would release the Mac system reqs. I don't think I have to worry tho. I've got a 500MHz iMac.

Sabre2th · August 1, 2001, 20:43

IMAC=BLEH

In fact, ALL MAC=BLEH

Is the mac version coming out at the same time? Or are they coming back to that after? I don't have a mac, but this might interest some of the other Apolytoners.

lord of the mark · August 2, 2001, 00:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan Magaha FIRAXIS

Civ III does not require a Pentium III, it requires a PII 300Mhz, which is even a middle-of-the-road PII. By the time the game hits shelves, Pentium 4 2Ghz machines will be available, so by contrast, PII-300Mhz doesn't sound unreasonable to me, but I suppose I'm slighly biased

Dan

Dan, what difference does it make what PC's are being sold when the game hits the shelves. Its what people own that matters. And there have been huge sales of PC's all through the last 4 years - which, given the lack of any new killers apps (other than games) means lots of those machines are still out there - lots of 2 and three year old mid range and budget machines. (anyone have any data on the installed base of PC's?) Now serious gamers of course have better machines, but you will lose part of your market due to the requirements. But then you knew that, there are trade-offs, etc. Ah well.

LOTM

tniem · August 2, 2001, 01:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Sabre2th
Is the mac version coming out at the same time? Or are they coming back to that after? I don't have a mac, but this might interest some of the other Apolytoners.

Another company is making the mac version. Can't remember their names. Any way they said they hope to make the mac version's release coincide with the pc release as much as possible. I do not believe however that they have given any specs yet.

Sabre2th · August 2, 2001, 01:49

LOTM: Civ3's requirements are equal to or lower than most games on shelves now. Firaxis had to start somewhere.

MidKnight Lament · August 2, 2001, 03:06

I whole-heartedly agree. Anything less than a 300 would have been holding back too much. (I can say that despite the fact I'm sitting on a P2 233.) I thought the minimum specs were mighty reasonable actually.

Kudos to Dan for answering in good humour when there's so much pessimistic anarchistic rubbish being posted in the threads here these days. I think they've shown a great deal of patience, and sure enough, they came up with the goods in the end.

Solver · August 2, 2001, 04:07

Dan's comments inspire me very much. I'll be able to play with ease. Just a question, is 300MHz minimal or Medium? Anyway, I'm proud with low requirements for Civ!

Rasputin · August 2, 2001, 04:12

actually i wish they were higher minimum standards, i could justify upgrading then, cant do that till i have a need now !!!oh well theres always civ 3 MPGE !!!!!!!

LaRusso · August 2, 2001, 04:14

In any case, my 600Mz company Dell laptop will be able to handle it. No longer will business travel be a drag (until stupid bateries go blank after 2 hrs)....
There is God, after all...

rah · August 2, 2001, 10:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming
A God has spoken... YES!!!!!!

As a member of the:
The Official Apolyton Optimist Civers Club (OFAOPCiCLu)
all I can say is... We have many reasons to be Optimistic!

Thanks for commenting.

Keep on Civin'

Ditto

RAH

Urban Ranger · August 2, 2001, 10:23

I am a god

Months ago I predicted that Civ 3 will run on PII 400MHz. That's pretty close to the real thing

Seriously it's a very modest requirement, even though Dan hasn't told us anything about how much memory do we need.

I think you can run it on a slower computer, it just takes longer for the computer players to take their turns.

Nikolai · August 2, 2001, 10:25

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
ok, people, run for intel's site! when are p4 2ghz scheduled to be on the market?

I have browsed a norwegian site named hardware.no, and there it stands that P4 2 GHz will hit the shelves in third quarter this year. That could mean [drool] that the unofficial release date that says around christmas are right!

Yes I know Firaxis haven't informed about the release date yet, but hey, we have to do something in the middletime!