My statement to Firaxis (Firaxians, please read!)

[Solver]

Firaxis has always listened to our feedback. They are building Civilization III listening to what the fans are saying, and have not been ignoring our feedback thus far. This is very appreciated by the entire Apolyton community.
However, recently an issue has risen about the screen resolution. Currently, to our best information from Dan Magaha, you need to be able to run at least 1024x768 pixels in order to play Civ III. However, there is a number of people, who would, for various reasons like to play Civ III with resolution of 800x600. Some prefer how that resolution looks, others have montiors that can not do any higher.
I am asking Firaxis to implement the ability of playing the game under 800x600. If this will not be done, I will not, to my regret, buy Civ III. I understand, that the sales for Civ III will be very good, and I really hope this will be the case, and thus one or 10 customers can't mean so much to Firaxis as 1000 customers. But, 800x600 can be implemented, and other screen resolutions kept.
Firaxis have promised to keep good support on the game, and we sincerely hope this will be case - accepting this offer could well demonstrate the most positive intentions Firaxis have in listening to Civilization fans and providing support in future.
If here's anybody else to agree with me (I know here is), please post here. I would really like to see reaction by somebody from Firaxis on this issue.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Solver
I am asking Firaxis to implement the ability of playing the game under 800x600.

I agree and second that request.

1024x768 pixels gives me a headache and I had to give up playing some games that offered only this resolution.

[Solver]

Yes, my two reasons are and old monitor (and I have three reasons to keep it), and eye hurt I get in approximately half an hour after working with 1024x768. I have discussion on this in the Release Date thread also, by the way.

[yin26]

Assuming they don't officially recognize the lower resolution, I'm certain there will be an "unsupported" 800X600. However, this would likely mean some buttons wouldn't be accessible, etc. It might well be the case that they are packing so much info on one screen they couldn't redesign one with less space without splitting screens or something.

I hope, however, there is an elegant solution to this so nobody gets left behind. Even if most monitors can run a higher resolution, some people's eyes really hurt at higher resolutions...

[Solver]

Best solution would be to implement both 800x600 and higher, this would leave you with the choice . I remember CtP kept the resolution in text file, and you could change it. Hope it will be changeable with Civ III, and won't lead to seeing only half of the buttons. Better would be an official support for it from Firaxis.

[Zanzin]

well, options are always nice. But is up to firaxis and how much they care about the little guy I guess.

[Sabre2th]

I think Yin's post will be the most accurate here. Firaxis seems to be smart enough for this. I don't think they would leave these people out unless it interfered with the gameplay.

[Jon Miller]

at times companies have to move on

it would be silly and stupid to insist on backwards compatability to 386s

like wise in the future it will be foolish to insist on compatibility for 800-600 (I personally dislike it)

this time may be now, find a larger resolution/monitor size you do like and go with it

for your sake though I do hope that Civ3 can be run on the lower resolution

Jon Miller

[Buck Birdseed]

You do realise that something like 50% of everyone who accesses Apolyton have an 800x600 resolution set? Almost all laptops, for one. Also, many many of us have 15" monitors- there is no point in upgrading, really.

[Sabre2th]

MarkG posted this in the Release Date thread.

screen resolution stats for apolyton



Resolution %
1. 1024 x 768 pixels 45.84
2. 800 x 600 pixels 32.11
3. 1152 x 864 pixels 8.43
4. 1280 x 1024 pixels 6.74
5. Other Resolutions 3.08
6. 640 x 480 pixels 1.90
7. 1600 x 1200 pixels 1.34
8. 800 x 553 pixels 0.31
9. 1024 x 721 pixels 0.21
10. 640 x 433 pixels 0.04

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Snapcase
You do realise that something like 50% of everyone who accesses Apolyton have an 800x600 resolution set? Almost all laptops, for one. Also, many many of us have 15" monitors- there is no point in upgrading, really.

I only have a laptop

it is 3 years old

and I have always used 1024 by 768

can't stand less

Jobn Miller

[Jon Miller]

maybe this is ehere I should mention that since I do have a 3 year old laptop

it is not up to spec

and so I will have to find some way to get a new computert

and I am already 3000 short on my college bill
Jon Miller

[Solver]

Of course, I can upgrade my 15" to 17" or whatever, but I can't stand anything more than 800x600. There are very few monitors on which I can sometimes look with 1024x768...

[Jon Miller]

get a flat screen

they are much better (to look at)

I giuess they are spendy right now at 400

Jokn Miller

[Solver]

Are you talking about 400$ here? If so, that would mean cost of Civ 3 to me being 400 $, which is ridicilous.
Also, for 400$ I can buy a good new PC.

[Bereta_Eder]

Can't we figure out what resolution all these civ 3 screenshots are at?

[tniem]

Originally posted by Solver
Of course, I can upgrade my 15" to 17" or whatever, but I can't stand anything more than 800x600. There are very few monitors on which I can sometimes look with 1024x768...

Why? Is it because the text is too small?

If so, every program I know of allows you to make it bigger. Personally the only reason I am at 1024 x 768 is that my monitor can't handle anything more. I need to buy a new monitor but with college bills and all, I guess I am stuck for now.

[Nikolai]

I don't get the problem here!
I have a 15" monitor, on a 4 or 5 year old machine, but I use 1024x768, and that is no problem at all for me!

BTW, I don't think it will be a problem to have 800x600.

[Solver]

Everything is small then. I dunno what exactly, but it make me feel so uncomfortable. If I have hard time working, then I can't play for sure.

[Nikolai]

Maybe you have a light version of the epilepsy it stands warnings about on every manual!

Me, evil today? Naaahh!!! I just want to help...

[Bereta_Eder]

I feel incoftortable in 1024 resolution too. Maybe it's because I'mnot used to it or maybe I have a bad monitor?

But it really makes my eyes hurt and I get slightly dizzy.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Solver
Are you talking about 400$ here? If so, that would mean cost of Civ 3 to me being 400 $, which is ridicilous.
Also, for 400$ I can buy a good new PC.

which is what I have to do..

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

could just be bad monitors

a lot of people skimp on their monitors and just get big ones

quality matters too

if you just get a big one it will hurt your eyes at higher resoltions

I like my laptop screen but have also liked some of the other good monitors I have used (my laptop screen is only a 13.1 inch)

Jon Miller

[Nemo]

Everything is small then. I dunno what exactly, but it make me feel so uncomfortable. If I have hard time working, then I can't play for sure.

I agree that things on a 15" monitor are too small when the monitor is set to 800x600. However, you need to keep in mind that Firaxis has made compensations for this. They know what the statistics are (i.e. most people do use 800x600, but also that an even larger majority are capable of 1024x768). So, one thing you should remember is that Firaxis most likely compensated for there majority of customers. I fully agree with Yin as to the reasoning as why they most likely set it to 1024x768. Therefore, by playing the game (*remember, they are NOT asking you to make your whole computer/desktop, etc. 1024x768...JUST the game) you probably won't even realize that it is 1024x768 because they compensated for it by making the cities, icons, text, et al. bigger or smother.

[Nemo]

could just be bad monitors
a lot of people skimp on their monitors and just get big ones
quality matters too

I agree. At work we have some 30 computers that I administrate. The monitors range from 17" - 21", but whenever I have to do web site, or graphic design/editting I *never* can do it at work because the quality just plain sucks. I have to go home to my very sweet monitor for graphic editting, etc. My work skimped on most of the monitors (there are only 2 trinitron monitors at work -but they are both 17" ...too small for me ) I don't blame them (nor do I care, becasue working at home is the best ). But you are absolutely right about people getting cheap -ss monitors.

Most people dont buy a monitor based on their DPI (Dots Per Inch) like they should, for a clearer monitor.

[Solver]

I think they should also look at what people want to run, and leave it possible to have 800x600 for people as unadvanced as me .
Firaxis, are you listening? Speak, please!

[Sabre2th]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
a lot of people skimp on their monitors and just get big ones

quality matters too

I definately agree here. I've used two monitors at home in the last few years. One was a 17" generic brand. Not great, but useable. With my new computer, I got a 17" Trinitron and there is definately no comparison. The new one is crisp, clear, and easy to look at in any resolution.

[Nemo]

I think they should also look at what people want to run

I think you are missing my point.

You will be able to do "what people want to run" -you are not going to HAVE to change your Video card resolution...ONLY the Game will be set at 1024x768, and even at that, Firaxis will have made compensaions so you will probably not even notice the difference. Do you honestly think that they are going to make their cusomers squint just to read something? when has any civ series had something too small in it? could you not always zoom in/out of any screen? -yes, you could.

[Solver]

Anyway, if it would force me to run 1024, it will mean a new monitor for me, if I wanted that, because my current can't theoretically show it. Then, I'll not buy the game, and not only because of the double cost it would be.

[Bereta_Eder]

That's the same with me. If it's only at 1024 resolutions I'll have to:

1. get a new monitor (I don't want a new monitor)
2. take depon pills every 2 hours in order to fight back the nausea

I will not do anything of the above (especially #2)

I think there are a lot of people in my predicament.