What's up with the city walls?

[SerapisIV]

What's up with the city-walls? They appear to be worn down and decaying. Do obsolete city-improvements remain on the city-screen? Do city-improvements age? Do city-walls become obsolete with certain tech advances like barracks did in Civ2?

[The diplomat]

We know that wonder movies have been replaced with construction animations. I think that is what we are seeing: the city wall that is in the process of being constructed.

[SerapisIV]

That's a very cool idea, though I would think you'd see scaffolds around the portions that are being built up. Also, in one screen-shot it appears that the martketplace is built in areas where the wall has fallen.

[Steve Clark]

Are you reading too much in the city view screen (or whatever it's called)? Like Civ2, it has absolutely no bearing on gameplay, it's just art and a waste of time/resources, imo.

[Eli]

WOW!!!

So we will be seeing in the cityview the building being constructed???
I love this game!

[SerapisIV]

Originally posted by Steve Clark
Are you reading too much into the city view screen?

What do you think Apolyton's for?

I still don't think they're being constructed, particularly because there are buildings scattered throughout holes in the wall.

Well, by reading in to a screen that has no game impact, but does reflect on game mechanics, I'm guessing that city-walls can become obsolete, with time or technology. That's a big change in gameplay as no longer would units like the howitzer be so unbalanced (though I'm sure they fixed the Civ3 howitzers)

[Steve Clark]

Yeah, and after a couple of times (like the wonder movies and other needless art), you'll just ignore it and concentrate on playing the game.

It has been amazing to see all of the noise about stuff that folks will find irrelevant once the game is released.

[SerapisIV]

Well, being that I'm not playing the game now, I won't be playing for a few months, and instead only looking at screenshots, it's not something I can ignore, instead it's something that I can use to figure out what the game will actually play like.

Tell me this, is having your walls fall apart (ie become obsolete) is not a big change in Civ gameplay?

[Nemo]

i would like to know if the city screen is going to automatically be shown as building things (al la civ I) or is it going to be a useless stupid button that i manually have to click like in civ 2? (oviously i hope it is the first of the two, or else i see no point in incorporting it)

[red_jon]

Civ1/Civnet definently had the best city view screen.

[Eddin]

I think the city walls are really kaput, not under construction

[Zanzin]

if city walls to become obselete over time, thats great - because can anybody tell me a modern day city which actually has defensive walls around it?

BTW, when was it mentioned that wonder movies have been replaced by construction animation??

[Steve Clark]

Originally posted by SerapisIV
Tell me this, is having your walls fall apart (ie become obsolete) is not a big change in Civ gameplay?

No, none whatsoever. You would know what would cause walls to become obsolete (if they do). Hypothetically, let's say it's the discovery of Flight. I certainly don't need some needless graphics to show me that the walls are now obsolete.

[Simpleton]

Originally posted by Steve Clark
Yeah, and after a couple of times (like the wonder movies and other needless art), you'll just ignore it and concentrate on playing the game.

It has been amazing to see all of the noise about stuff that folks will find irrelevant once the game is released.

It's true that most people watch them once or twice and then never look at it but if Firaxis didn't include these bits of eye candy they would be skinned alive. The game reviewers and many Civers would trash them for only doing a half-assed job. Firaxis is caught here because they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
I personally watch the videos and animations once or twice and then turn them off but I do appreciate having them.