Open letter to Firaxis from the scenario community - Page 4

Hans2 · November 15, 2001, 05:20

As do I.

Hoek · November 15, 2001, 08:40

I am not going to wait for a new patch to come through for Civ 3....I'm going back to civ II for a while. I started a new scenario called "Manifest Destiny" and was wondering if anyone was interested in assisting me in it.

techumseh · November 16, 2001, 01:37

Attn. Dan of Firaxis,

Having had our letter officially for several days now, I'm wondering when we might expect a response? I certainly don't expect one immediately, since we raised a number of difficult issues which require due consideration. But I certainly believe that one should eventually be provided, either here or by return email to the people who signed the open letter. How about it? Thanks.

ravagon · November 16, 2001, 05:24

Or at the very least an announcement on your own website (which MarkG/DanQ will undoubtably pick up and repost here) regarding patch/editor/MP current status and your future intentions regarding such.

techumseh · November 16, 2001, 19:54

bump #1

klesh · November 17, 2001, 01:22

#2

El hidalgo · November 17, 2001, 05:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Hoek
I, for one, am not satisfied with the product that they produced, and as such, I plan on excercising my power as a consumer to withold my money until Firaxis produces something decent for scenario makers, and I encourage everyone else who is dissatisfied to do the same. If Firaxis sees a surge in sales after they release an editor patch, that will speak in a language they can understand: money. I really think they miscalculated here. I know that there are alot of rookies who don't see what's so bad about it, but there are alot of us that expect more from several years of waiting and 50 bucks. If Firaxis is going to put such a high premium on selling the most units possible, then we as fans need to use that goal to produce a better civ product. I say boycott Civ 3. I may be the only one doing this, but I don't really care. They're not getting my fifty dollars without showing some consideration to the scenario community.

You're not the only one... I too am withholding my money until we get some decent editing tools. This is not something I thought I'd have to wait for -- it just seems so basic. The ability to set starting locations, for example. I am dumbfounded as how they could have left out such a simple, important thing. You can set locations where a civ, some civ, will appear, so it seems to that it would not have been much more trouble to take that extra step of allowing you to specify exactly what that civ shall be. Anyway it's these little thoughtless omissions that will have me waiting for the patch before I part with my $$.

Roman · November 17, 2001, 10:43

#3

klesh · November 17, 2001, 20:46

#4

Roman · November 17, 2001, 22:35

Come on, let's not let this thread die!!!

DinoDoc · November 18, 2001, 01:35

Bounce

Thoth · November 18, 2001, 02:20

Found on the Civ3.com site:

(Original can be found here: civ3.com/devupdate.cfm )

By Jeff Morris
Firaxis Games

One of the enduring strengths of the Civilization franchise has been its ability to be customized by the fans. It's really a matter of 'resolution'. Whereas the developers of the core game take upon themselves the challenge of surveying the entirety of human history, the fans can render specific periods of time in as much detail as they can muster. This versatility is a real marquee feature, transforming a title about mankind's civilizations into a gaming construction kit for any setting imaginable.

When we approached the editing tools for Civilization III, we were determined to offer a contemporary customization environment. In previous incarnations of this franchise, users were capable of making radical changes to the game systems, but often needed to locate and edit text files to do so. In Civilization III these changes are still possible, but can now be made within an application that follows the interface rules of standard Windows programs. This editor not only allows you to alter game elements such as advances, civilizations, units and wonders (to name a few), but also includes a robust map editor. Using the editor, users are empowered to create scenarios that we never dreamt of during development.

The editors in Civilization III are only the beginning. Based on feedback from the mod and scenario community we will make additional improvements and incorporate new features. The editors are just tools, ones that the fan community needs to make meaningful by creating new scenarios with. As those in the 'trenches' of creating new content run into limitations, we'll work on eradicating those barriers. Firaxis is very interested in Civilization III having an active mod community, but need to know where our efforts are best spent. Together we can make Civilization III a potent platform for not only exploring factual history, but also your creativity and interests.

techumseh · November 18, 2001, 02:42

Thank you, Thoth. But this is not new, nor is it an answer to our letter. It doesn't answer our concerns and it isn't even posted by Firaxis. We're still waiting....

Marko · November 18, 2001, 11:39

I postponed all work with new scenario projects (Fall Weiss and one surprise project) this Spring because I waited Civ3. I believed that it will come with superior scenario editing tools.

Such a dissapointment!

All my next scenarios will be for Test of Time.

Yoleus · November 18, 2001, 11:51

Is this decomposing thread still crawling??
(stomps, whacks, stomps...)
Well, it deserves the "Zombi of the Year 2001" award for afterlife endurance

Yoleus · November 18, 2001, 13:14

BUMP!

klesh · November 18, 2001, 16:17

#8

Roman · November 18, 2001, 17:55

#9

Nothing is being announced

master on high · November 18, 2001, 19:15

I downloaded a pirated copy of CivIII and promptly uninstalled it after testing it for modding. The engine is crap and I don't see how it would be possible to make a scenario even with the ability to place units and cities. Here's to Firaxis --> thanks for nothing.

MarkG · November 18, 2001, 19:26

bumping a thread every two hours isnt going to do anything guys

ravagon · November 18, 2001, 19:49

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
bumping a thread every two hours isnt going to do anything guys

Neither is Firaxis from the (absence of) sound of things.

"will make additional improvements and add new features" sounds very much like a form letter.

Unless YOU know something you're not telling us Mark?

techumseh · November 18, 2001, 19:51

Have they given you any indication as to whether or not they will provide a reply? There was an implication that having you convey the letter officially would result in a reply.

techumseh · November 19, 2001, 10:04

I'm not inclined to let this matter drop, Markos. Have they given any indication if or when a reply might be given?

ScottVib · November 19, 2001, 10:09

Quote:

Originally posted by master on high
I downloaded a pirated copy of CivIII and promptly uninstalled it after testing it for modding. The engine is crap and I don't see how it would be possible to make a scenario even with the ability to place units and cities. Here's to Firaxis --> thanks for nothing.

I suspect Firaxis would say the same thing to you for downloading a pirated copy.

Of course since you promptly deleted it maybe they wouldn't care...

MarkG · November 19, 2001, 10:15

Quote:

Originally posted by techumseh
I'm not inclined to let this matter drop, Markos. Have they given any indication if or when a reply might be given?

cant answer right now. i'm in the middle of organizing with firaxis our plans to make civers forget that civ games ever had scenarios

Quote:

There was an implication that having you convey the letter officially would result in a reply.

i'm sorry if you understood such a thing. Dan just said that he was waiting for the letter to be mailed to them, and i said i'll do the mailing in order to be sure that they get it. i couldnt and didnt make any promises on geting a reply from them.

i'll post any info i have when i have that info and if my "source" feels ok with it's publication.....
that might not be very far away though

techumseh · November 19, 2001, 10:45

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
cant answer right now. i'm in the middle of organizing with firaxis our plans to make civers forget that civ games ever had scenarios

I knew it!

Are you working with El Quaeda or the CIA?

Quote:

i'm sorry if you understood such a thing. Dan just said that he was waiting for the letter to be mailed to them, and i said i'll do the mailing in order to be sure that they get it. i couldnt and didnt make any promises on geting a reply from them.

i'll post any info i have when i have that info and if my "source" feels ok with it's publication.....
that might not be very far away though

Sounds hopeful.

Case · November 19, 2001, 18:54

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
cant answer right now. i'm in the middle of organizing with firaxis our plans to make civers forget that civ games ever had scenarios

So that explains the strange flickering my screen does whenever I load the Scenario League page

Quote:

i'll post any info i have when i have that info and if my "source" feels ok with it's publication.....
that might not be very far away though

ravagon · November 19, 2001, 20:07

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
i'll post any info i have when i have that info and if my "source" feels ok with it's publication.....
that might not be very far away though

I hope you're not yanking our chain here Mark. If you are there will be hell to pay...

klesh · November 19, 2001, 23:08

I dont mean to sound lame, but instead of seeing Firaxian posting in thoughtless lame-o newbie type threads, I would like to have a little "Yes guys, we hear you and we will be taking your things into consideration." Would it be that hard? I mean we (the collective group here) have made a very professional plea to the makers of this game to try to make their product better. I can't understand how they look at this post and ignore it day-in and day-out. I am not trying to bust anyones b*lls, but geez... I feel totally ignored here. It would be great to have some info from you Markos, but you shouldn't be the one we look to to get info from a company we all spent $60+ on.

I will stop now before I post something I will regret.

-FMK.

Case · November 20, 2001, 00:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Field Marshal Klesh
I can't understand how they look at this post and ignore it day-in and day-out.

Probably because they'd be sacked if they posted in it

(marketing and all that)

I went to buy Civ 3 today only to find that it costs A$100!

I'm saving my money untill Firaxis confirm that scenario editing tools will be made advailable.

(BTW, congratulations on your upcoming king-dom FMK

)