Behind the scenes at Firaxis

Ubergeek · May 18, 2000, 16:28

I want to start by saying that the following information has NOT been confirmed, but here goes:

I occasionally game with the quality control manager of a game testing company (he showed me the latest build of Deus Ex last night and it rocked, by the way) who has frequent contact with Firaxis, as he helped test SMAC, Gettysburg! and Antietam!. I asked him what the deal was with Brian leaving, and he said that, in addition to wanting to do other things, Brian told him that Sid's ego was interfering with the development of Civ3 because he kept drawing resources off to work on his own projects. No surprise, really; a lot of speculation on this board has focused on that very thing. It was just interesting to hear a sort of "inside" scoop.

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Better living through tyranny

May 19, 2000, 03:50

No! I cannot believe it!!!! Blasphemy!!!! Have faith Dracon!!!!

civiii.dk · May 19, 2000, 05:02

I think I'll kill myself.......!!

Urban Ranger · May 19, 2000, 05:09

Burn the heretic!
Burn the heretic!
Burn the heretic!

Ugh!

Adm.Naismith · May 19, 2000, 06:11

I can believe there is some truth into Ubergeek words. I already saw similar things in other companies (not game related).

But IMHO we must put on the balance the "need for cash" Firaxis probably has.

A Civ 2.5 should be ready for Christmas 2000, but people will probably revolt and press review can't be good enough. SMAC too has not been as succesful as CIV II has.

So Sid must bet every coin on Dino for a Christmas release: "pedal to the metal", every available resources, no time for E3 show.
Be really aware of Dino first release: bugfest candidate IMO.

This is only my guess, no internal hint, no offense intended to Firaxis: this is business, we know.

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Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant

Ubergeek · May 19, 2000, 11:45

In all fairness to Sid, my friend said that Brian's ego was pretty big too. I get the impression that he just like Brian more than Sid on a personal level.

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Better living through tyranny

Thunderfall · May 19, 2000, 19:05

Maybe Firaxis should focus on one game at a time...

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Thunderfall
Webmaster of Civilization Fanatics' Center @ Strategy Gaming Online

May 19, 2000, 20:06

You know what I reckon? Get rid of Dinosaurs, **** it! Focus on CivIII!

Urban Ranger · May 19, 2000, 21:53

It's hard not to be egotistical when you are deemed successful, even something of a legend, in your field.

Par4 · May 19, 2000, 22:10

I would agree I think Brian's ego is pretty damn big too. I subscribe to the belief that Sid will do Dinos first with Civ3 graphics and superficial crap at the same time then work on Civ3. I think Sid will{hopefully} bring some new ideas to the old Civ gameplay. I am tired of Civ2 and SMAC... well kinda. I hope all those civil war games help with the war department, warmongers like me need some killing in our empire building games. I like RTS though, a lot actually. I can't wait to see what BHG first title is about. RTS an aquired taste, or is it the other way around, TBS an aquired taste. Hmmm

RTS RULZ!!

*Par4 tacks "RTS RULZ" over "GO TBS"*
*Hears cries of unruley mob at door*

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I use this email
(stupid cant use hotmail)
gamma_par4@hotmail.com
Don't ask for golf tips
Your game will get worse

tniem · May 20, 2000, 23:05

Personally I thought there had to be some behind the scene squabbling at Firaxis. There were to many of the greatest game designers in the world working under one roof for their to be a utopia environment.

Brian creates Civ II and AC and it is Sid's name on the cover. Sure Sid is famous and sells copies but it has to sting Brian. It also seems that they probably had different ideas about the future of the company (RT v. TB).

Oh well hopefully great games can come out from the both of them seperately.

tniem · May 20, 2000, 23:13

One other thing. I am not completely sure why Firaxis is so strapped for cash. I know SMAC was not as successful as hoped, but it and its add-on had to generate funds for the company as did SMG and SMA. Does anyone know why Firaxis is in such dire straits?

May 21, 2000, 10:15

Yknow, I couldn't give a **** who made the game, or any game.

I could have come up with something better than Civilization, I'm betting most of us could. I mean, we complain about flaws in games all the time. Most of us know what we want, but those lard arses don't make it, well, every 1 in 3000 games made might actualy be a good one.

I didn't know who Sid Meier was, and when I found out, I still didn't give a ****.

I just want a good game to come out, I don't care about who is successful and who isn't.

I mean, honestly, if you were truely successful, you wouldn't be taking it for granted, you would be focused to a good, honest A+ game.

If you ask me, putting the name of the designer of the game on the front of the box, is just a waste of ****ing space.

pris · May 21, 2000, 10:50

Hmmm it's probably not wise to post such 'detailed' information of the web. You might just get people fired...

Interesting though how he had a build of an Eidos game (Deus Ex) when he works for EA.

Par4 · May 21, 2000, 13:08

If this is true, I think his friend works at a company that beta tests games from whichever company pays them to, not a specific company like EA or Eidos.

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I use this email
(stupid cant use hotmail)
gamma_par4@hotmail.com
Don't ask for golf tips
Your game will get worse

pris · May 22, 2000, 15:58

Well EA have their own testing group but I guess Firaxis don't have to use them.

MidKnight Lament · May 22, 2000, 20:45

Hey, that's ok if you don't like it. No need to apologise. It only bugs me when people don't like it for no reason. I can understand that it disappointed some people.

- MKL

Ubergeek · May 23, 2000, 00:00

Par4 is correct. His company beta tests games for a lot of different producers. The laundry list of games he's worked on reads like, well, a laundry list. My envy of his job has reached a point where I'm thinking of killing him and assuming his identity. Well, not really, but I do envy him because he never has to waste money on a bad game; he knows it's bad before it's released. If only I'd have known him before I put my money down for CtP (sorry MidKnight Lament).

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Better living through tyranny