I am jack's utter disappointment...

Kaak · April 26, 2001, 17:41

Oh well...I guess i'll have to wait for civ4 to come out before i switch. THE SCREENSHOTS have left me HORRIBLY disappointed. The visual interphase has crap thrown all over the screen like CtP. I like the nice clean interphase MUCH BETTER. What a pitty this great game is ruined....

Ralf · April 26, 2001, 18:11

Now that you mention it I must say that I also get second thoughts.

Not so much because of the terrain-graphics - that can rather easily be updated/changed the next couple of months. Im thinking more about the interface itself.

It reminds me to much of the interface-graphics in CTP. Also, I hated the blurry look of TOT. I prefer the crisp-sharp look of MS windows-graphics. Whats wrong with Civ-2 windows-style, with standard dropdown-menus an added rightclick-menus? Also, I want to be able to play the game in a window. And perhaps with different skins to play around with.

Shadowstrike · April 26, 2001, 18:17

I hope to God that this is an alpha screenshot. Because if the game looks like that in the final release, I doubt that many people would buy it.

SerapisIV · April 26, 2001, 18:35

People don't buy Civ for flashy graphics, they buy it for the game. CivIII would easily be able to surpass The Sims sales if was sold today, even being at an off-time (not holiday)

EnochF · April 26, 2001, 18:40

Oh, here we go...

Aside from some of the terrain squares, the graphics are fine. We've already seen the City Screen and we know it's not going to be plagued by CTP's infernal slider bars. And even if SMAC didn't convince you that pull-up menus can be as effective as pull-down menus, keep in mind that you can still use your function keys to call up pertinent information. There's nothing in the pictures we've seen that points to a problem with the i-n-t-e-r-f-a-c-e.

Sheesh.

Quit whining about the greatest game in the universe.

EnochF · April 26, 2001, 18:43

By the way, that extra stuff at the bottom left of the screen isn't going to be there all the time. It's pretty clear that those icons relate to the possible actions that be taken with the highlighted unit: fortify and go, for example.

Roman · April 26, 2001, 19:42

As far as I am concerned, the graphics are completely fine.

connorkimbro · April 26, 2001, 20:03

I agree, the graphics are FINE!! If nothing else, they make me want the game all the much more.

****, the game is MONTHS from being released, and you're complaining about the graphics because of what you ASSUME about the interface, which probably will change a DOZEN times before release? come on now. .

Sirotnikov · April 26, 2001, 20:48

I guess it's not the final version, but a test version of SMAC with Civish graphics. I read this in Gamespot UK interview with Sid.

ASHBERY76 · April 27, 2001, 10:07

Of course civ games are about gameplay but firaxis claimed that the game will have the best graphics of this genre.
I DONT THINK SO.

Roman · April 27, 2001, 11:14

I don't want the graphics to be any "better" than they already appear to be from the screenshots. Too much animation and graphics would merely make the game look childish.

BTW: Well done Firaxis!!!

EnochF · April 27, 2001, 13:14

By the way, who is Jack, and why are you his utter disappointment?

Ralf · April 27, 2001, 14:14

quote:

Originally posted by connorkimbro on 04-26-2001 08:03 PM
****, the game is MONTHS from being released, and you're complaining about the graphics because of what you ASSUME about the interface, which probably will change a DOZEN times before release? come on now. .

OK, then - perhaps I was a little to quick to comment that. As I said in another post; We havent all cards on the table yet - and the ones that IS available, can be replaced and changed I guess.

By the way, that Domestic advisor screen looked nice.

raingoon · April 27, 2001, 14:36

Enoch, I believe "Jack's Utter Disapointment" was Ed Norton in the movie "Fight Club." By the way, how's Seattle? My own Apolyton name is a reference to that city you live in, my old home town, I'm sure everyone has been dying to know that! Well, now they do.

So yeah, I must say I love seeing the whining and and kvetching start about what's wrong with the game, because it can only mean one thing -- THE GAME IS FINALLY COMING!!!!

drake · April 27, 2001, 15:01

quote:

Enoch, I believe "Jack's Utter Disapointment" was Ed Norton in the movie "Fight Club."

It is a fight club reference, but that doesnt sum it up very well.......anyway......

The Screenshots look fine to me. I don't see what the big deal is. There's nothing overly great about them, but there's certainly nothing wrong with them either.

Cyberbugs · April 27, 2001, 17:46

I guess I shouln't assume that the screenshots look exactly the same as the final game will look, but from what I see, I think the enviroment, for example the ocean, looks kind of dull. I wish they would use more distinct blue colors for the ocean and green ones for the grass.

Make it something you will like looking at for 10 hours in a row - a nice home for the people in your civilization.

Roman · April 27, 2001, 17:49

IMO: This game looks amazing in all respects (other than the 7 civilization per game limit).

jordanz19 · April 28, 2001, 01:27

Ashbery: As has been stated is previous interviews, the Civ graphics you see in the screenshots are like this: As sson as they started to make Civ3, they took the SMAC engine, and replaced it with civ placeholders, and these shots sure look like it. In the 8-12 months until the release, the graphics will change. Don't be so quick to judge.

No wonder Firaxis was so reluctant to show screens this early. Dan M.-I understand now. But I know how it will improve, and I can't wait to spend my money!

Kaak · April 28, 2001, 21:25

hmmm...

I never said anything about the graphics. The graphics will change almost assuredly. It is the interfase(sp?) i have a problem with. As ralf said, I too much prefer the civ2-windows-style display. It makes for cleaner, better organized gameplay.

For all those of you that turned this into a grpahics discussion: post your own thread if you have comments about graphics, don't hijack mine

P.s. Enoch, if you don't know who Jack is, i hope that you live in a country other than the united states. If you live in the US, you really should get out more...

John Paul Jones · April 29, 2001, 05:35

Wait a minute - I know the map screenshot's are from an alpha ver. but they're FLAT. Why go to the trouble of designing funky voxel units when they get placed on a flat isometric map (which DOES look spookily similiar to the CTP series maps). Why not the raised & texture mapped world from SMAC or RailRoad Tycoon ][ ???

Kaak · April 29, 2001, 05:39

i think graphics and maps aren't the main issue in that they are likely to change a great deal before the games release. I think the problem is that they aren't keeping the civ2 window-style interphase...

Bkeela · April 29, 2001, 11:49

If those are the final graphics, I'll definately go the way of warez. With lush looking games like Black & White available these days, those graphics are a big joke. Test of Time looked just as good.

Bkeela.

markusf · April 30, 2001, 11:59

quote:

Originally posted by Kaak on 04-29-2001 05:39 AM
i think graphics and maps aren't the main issue in that they are likely to change a great deal before the games release. I think the problem is that they aren't keeping the civ2 window-style interphase...

Ya i posted a thread on that before, not a single person who plays multiplayer actually wanted a game that wasn't windowed. If they are going to insist on not using standard windows, they should do what ultima did and force it to windowed mode. If they don't I am sure they will feel it in sales...

Roman · April 30, 2001, 16:51

What?? Are you saying that the game is not windowed?!?! I hope this is a bad joke.

Ilkuul · April 30, 2001, 17:03

quote:

Originally posted by Cyberbugs on 04-27-2001 05:46 PM
I think the enviroment, for example the ocean, looks kind of dull. I wish they would use more distinct blue colors for the ocean and green ones for the grass.
Make it something you will like looking at for 10 hours in a row - a nice home for the people in your civilization.

I agree - except perhaps about the ocean! (Reminds me of tropical beaches, where the sea does have a greenish colour...) But the grass should be a vivid green! And your final paragraph expresses my thoughts exactly.

Give us a bright, cheerful world to live in, Firaxis!

markusf · April 30, 2001, 17:40

quote:

Originally posted by Roman on 04-30-2001 04:51 PM
What?? Are you saying that the game is not windowed?!?! I hope this is a bad joke.

i wish it was just a bad joke