Civilization V this fall

[cool breeze]

http://e3.gamespot.com/video/6265591/#toggle_video

Civ 5 video stuff
 

[Stoney Mason]

embed of that video

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[Brehvolution]

Minute 1.

[Beezy]

PC GOTY

[Stoney Mason]

I, like many others, have been playing Civilization games for well over a decade. Over this time I've developed several habits and ticks that have become ingrained in my play style. I habitually name my first city 'WillisCool', the second city 'WillisVeryCool' and (should any metropolis be founded near a particularly disputed border) the third: 'F***theRomans'. Or indeed any other civilisation I wish to textually bait. Civilization V, however, horror of horrors, does not let you rename cities.

This caused great pain and anger during my first turns within Firaxis' latest. It was such a break with tradition that my first city had been forcibly called Paris that I physically shook with emotion. Oddly enough, this was a pattern that would continue on a larger scale throughout repeated sorties in Civ V's hexagonal worlds. The game's core concept seems to be to shake you out of accustomed patterns of play, erasing your accustomed Civ-building 'racing line' and insisting that you come at everything from a slightly different angle.

Civilization V isn't simply piling in a barrage of new features and calling it a sequel. In fact, it's actively removing recent additions to the canon. Religion is out on its arse, while many of the features added in Civ IV expansions are similarly erased. This iteration is all about looking deeply at the features that form the bedrock of Civ, yet are so often skimmed over by players or simply left to sustain themselves in rarely frequented menu screens. It's about repackaging the more bewildering things into something palatable, and ensuring that the player is tooled-up and informed enough to deal with them.

As a Civ player I've always been lovingly bewildered and somewhat out of my depth: forever proud of building the Sistine Chapel, yet somehow blind to the starving millions. At some point, Firaxis must have put a Civ player like me in a blank-walled room and asked him politely what he didn't really understand but pretended to anyway in social circles and on internet forums.

He'd have said things like: the way individual tiles work, which style of government he should choose and the use and abuse of luxuries and resources. If he's anything like me, then he'd also reveal a slight unease when it came to naval manoeuvres - and given time, in that small white room in Maryland, he'd break down and through incessant tears admit that he's totally rubbish at combat, and especially crap at keeping track of his myriad of upgraded units.

Civ V soothes these worries. Not by evaporating them, but by explaining them better and giving you clear reasons to engage with them, pulling their roles into sharper focus through active use.

To explain, let's highlight something that in a previous Civ game I'd have had completely automated. Say you notice a particularly fruitful-looking resource spot where you can mine iron. First off, you'll need it within your borders - and to absorb it you can now speed the growth of your Empire by purchasing new tiles through your city screen rather than simply waiting for culture and population growth to do the job. This not only encourages a reinforced appreciation of the fruitfulness and roles of Civ's different (and newly hexagonal) tiles but will also lead you to order a worker to go and busy themselves so you can mine yourself some ore.

Automation is tucked away to some degree within the UI and it's clear that Firaxis wants you to become intimate with the individual advantages and disadvantages of your randomly assigned land-mass through the worker, previously the lowliest of your units. This is further underlined by the game's more stringent approach to resources. The amount of mounted units you can create, for example, directly correlates to the limited number of horses your nation contains - meaning that their acquisition is a necessity, yet if you have a surfeit of the equine beauties then it can suddenly be an even bigger bartering chip (or prompt for an early war) with your neighbours than before.

Similarly, when one of your cities screams for a certain luxury, say ivory, then your eyes will be anxiously scanning the desert or tundra your people laughably call home, before inevitably eyeing up the Romans next door with their green fields and plentiful elephants.

What is increasingly looking like Civ V's triumph, then, is rendering its less glamorous constituent parts interesting, fun and comprehensible. Another example is the constant worry of the research and institution of a blanket society variant (Feudalism! Nationalism! Communism!). This has been given extra texture, depth and control through a social policy screen that lets you sit in multiple camps (where applicable) as well as unlock various new civil branches within each structure of rule.

As for an Iron Age warrior being buried beneath a pile of units and waking up in the manner of California Man, worriedly blinking in the light of nuclear explosions and aeroplanes buzzing overhead... The idiots among us can't let that happen now, either.

In fact, this move away from tiled-up unit-spam, the overall reduced numbers of military units and (more importantly) the way that the game underlines the way units develop through XP-gathering and consequent upgrades, makes you an awful lot more aware of just what kinds of firepower your Civ is brandishing.

And as for the old complexities of piling your little chaps into boats and setting them off across a few tiles of water for a jolly boy's holiday beating up Roman scum, at a certain point of maritime tech, discovery units develop the ability to travel short distances in self-created boats. The days of countless turns in which you were nothing but a glorified ferry operator seem to have been partly erased.

If there's something within Civ V that I'm yet to be convinced by then it's City States: independent, one-city power blocks that are there to be allied with or trampled underfoot. On one hand, they provide an excellent way of expanding early on without the need to build Settlers (an alternative being to establish them as puppet regimes) but to an extent they also seem to get in the way of the traditional argy-bargy with the civilisations that are your direct competitors.

It's more fun to start research pacts, secrecy pacts and "why don't you give me the contents of your Treasury" pacts with the big boys than piddly old Warsaw. Although, as is the way with Civilization, if you don't want Warsaw and his chums in your game then they be turned off before the game begins.

Ultimately - with a UI that's frankly astounding, its polite hand-holding tutorials and event reminders somehow never becoming intrusive - there's little doubt that Civ V is onto something of a winner. The framework of classic Civ has been deconstructed, and its dustiest and most misunderstood parts have been ushered into the foreground, reappearing with a gleam, like the shiny C3PO when he throws his arms in the air at the end of Star Wars.

Established hacks will miss the religion, espionage and suchlike, and those features, surely, will be waiting in the wings as expansion packs. As for being able to name your city after how cool you are (or how cool you intend to be), I'm hoping this is an issue that can be dealt with before the September release, or at the very least in a post-release patch. WillisCool shall be triumphant once more. It has been written.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-08-05-sid-meiers-civilization-v-hands-on?page=1

[Brehvolution]

[pilonv1]

And as for the old complexities of piling your little chaps into boats and setting them off across a few tiles of water for a jolly boy's holiday beating up Roman scum, at a certain point of maritime tech, discovery units develop the ability to travel short distances in self-created boats. The days of countless turns in which you were nothing but a glorified ferry operator seem to have been partly erased.

Amazing, this is brilliant.

I also like the fact you can't rename cities.

System reqs:

Minimum System Requirements:

Operating System: Windows® XP SP3/ Windows® Vista SP2/ Windows® 7
Processor: Dual Core CPU
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free
DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation
Video: 256 MB ATI HD2600 XT or better, 256 MB nVidia 7900 GS or better, or Core i3 or better integrated graphics
Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX®: DirectX® version 9.0c

Recommended System Requirements:

Operating System: Windows® Vista SP2/ Windows® 7
Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free
DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation
Video: 512 MB ATI 4800 series or better, 512 MB nVidia 9800 series or better
Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX®: DirectX® version 11

[Brehvolution]

Kestastrophe

Getting my system up to spec.

[Dickie Dee]

One of the biggest changes to the game is the new one-unit-per-hex restriction.

Cities will automatically defend themselves now, and can benefit from increased defense based on certain structures or technologies, so you don't necessarily need to garrison a unit for defense but you can if you want to.

Civ 5 is sounding like the best civ already.

that's awesome, i'm pretty guilty of expanding early and quick and not building enough garrison units - i know i shouldn't but just can't help myself. then i get caught with my pants down and it's Ooops->New Game. I do adjust at at higher levels when I want to play well but HATE IT.

[Stoney Mason]

http://www.giantbomb.com/civil-service-the-road-to-civ-v/17-3013/

[CajoleJuice]

That linked to a SCII review

[Stoney Mason]

That linked to a SCII review

Weird. It was working a few minutes ago. I think they broke the link or took it down for a bit because you can't access the video at all now for some reason.

[Stoney Mason]

pics

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[Great Rumbler]

Hexagons

[pilonv1]

That looks so hot

[archie4208]

The RPS preview made my hype meter go through the roof.

[Dickie Dee]

http://www.giantbomb.com/civil-service-the-road-to-civ-v/17-3013/

This is back working now btw 

edit: holy crap 36 min

[The Fake Shemp]

This game is making me get a desktop.

[Joe Molotov]

Need to get a new PC before I can run Civ 5. Need to get money before I can get a new PC. Need to get a job before I can get money.

[Beezy]

Need to get a new PC before I can run Civ 5. Need to get money before I can get a new PC. Need to get a job before I can get money.

same here

[Dickie Dee]

Would've thought it'd be a Civ game that'd finally break me and my system  :'(

[archie4208]

My computer should be able to max it out.  Feels good man.

[cool breeze]

I just hope they let you change the hud size.  With Civ 4 (unless there is a mod I don't know about), setting it at my monitor 1680x1050 resolution makes all the text too small.  I set it as a lower resolution just so the text and hud would be a decent size.

taking away stacking actually makes it sound like combat would be more simple to me.  I've seen people complaining that it would be the other way around.

[Diunx]

This game sounds great, the last civ I played was 3 never tried 4 since I assume it doesn't run on my machine.

[Brehvolution]

I'm interested in knowing what the difference between dual and qaud core is going to be. Will it be a much more noticeable a difference?

[pilonv1]

[naff]

I'm interested in knowing what the difference between dual and qaud core is going to be. Will it be a much more noticeable a difference?

Likewise, I got a i5 Arrandale that only emulates quad core (2 physical cores), I'm interested in testing some highly threaded apps to see if it helps much. As for with Civ 5, it depends, if you've got a fast core 2 it should be swapping processes in and out fast enough you shouldn't really notice too much. Of course if they've optimised it for quad core a good quad cpu will obviously outstrip any dual cpu.

[Brehvolution]

I understand. but if it's a difference between a  3.5 hour game and a 4 hour game, it's not that big of a deal to me to wait a couple extra seconds each turn. I have my music going anyway.

[pilonv1]

http://downloads.2kgames.com/civ5/site13/community/feature_socialresponsibility/Civ_5_Manual_Features.pdf

Manual sample

[Brehvolution]

20 more days

peanutbutterjellytime.gif

[archie4208]

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/civilizationv/video/6275453/sid-meiers-civilization-v--video-walk-through

Nine days.    The GUI looks like a massive upgrade from Civ4. 

[Rman]

I haven't played a Civ game since the first one, which I loved.

Is it still turn based?

[CajoleJuice]

I haven't played a Civ game since the first one, which I loved.

Is it still turn based?

Yep

[Brehvolution]

Stategy Game of the Year, real talk.

Better than anything else released in September.

[fistfulofmetal]

pre-load now in Steam gogogogogog

[Brehvolution]

Can't buy til Wednesday.  :'(

[Dickie Dee]

Wait what, this week? 

I've just been getting back into IV and it crept up on me. If only it wouldn't CRUSH my laptop LIKE DRAGO.  :'(

[pilonv1]

WTF my release says the 24tH!?!?!

[cool breeze]

yeah, what? it's coming out this week? I was going to order the box copy from amazon.  If I can get it sooner from Steam I'll just do that.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

no he's just saying he's a poor taco who cant afford it until wednesday. its out next week

[pilonv1]

Phew

[pilonv1]

CHEEVES

Not going to post all of them, just the fun ones

Paul Bunyan
Chop down 1000 forest tiles, across any number of playthroughs.

Three Musketeers
Kill a unit with a French Musketeer when two other Musketeers are providing flanking bonuses.

He Threw A Car At My Head!
Have any city ransomed by Barbarians.

You shall not pass!
Defeat a tank with a spearman

Do no evil
Win a game without going to war or killing a single unit (Barbs included)

See you in hell
Raze and destroy every single city not built by you

Nostradamus
Win a space victory by 1566

The World is Flat
Lose to a space race victory before having entered the renaissance

I hate you all
Lose to a diplomatic victory while being less than friendly with every city state

All alone
Lose to a domination victory while only having 1 city

Better Dead than Red
Nuke every single city of another civ in the same turn.

[Brehvolution]

Nostradamus
Win a space victory by 1566

lol wut

[archie4208]

Turn off barbarians when you're gunning for that cheev.

[Brehvolution]

A 2 hour play through from the gaf OT. hype x 1000000000

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9553042

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9553920

[cool breeze]

so I'm playing Halo Reach and really, really, really liking it a lot...but I randomly start humming Baba Yetu.  Why can't it be next week 

I don't think I've heard any music from Civ 5 yet.

[Brehvolution]

Watch a couple minutes of the first vid I posted bro. It's gonna be another epic. 

[archie4208]

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197962691824/stats/appid/8930/achievements

Full cheesement list. 

[archie4208]

http://www.civilization5.com/#/community/feature_manual

Manual is online. 

Four more days. 

I don't know if I will be able to afford it yet.  :ro..:'(

[rodi]

Shit, I didn't know it was coming out so soon. I just bought Mafia II on Steam, literally five minutes ago

...now I have to wait till next payday 

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Mafia 2 is awesome though and you'll enjoy it.

I can't wait for this to come out. Does anyone want to play against each other

[archie4208]

I'm ready. 

[Stoney Mason]

Unfortunately my video card blew out on me and I probably won't get around to replacing it until next year.

This the game I will miss. :'(

[Brehvolution]

We'll still be here, Stoney.

[Himu]

AUGH

THIS OR DEAD RISING 2

ADFJF;DJF;AFJ

[CajoleJuice]

I'm waiting until Xmas Steam sale. I really don't need another gaming distraction at the moment.

[archie4208]

AUGH

THIS OR DEAD RISING 2

ADFJF;DJF;AFJ

Dead Rising 2 will be $20 in 6 months.

Civ5 will be....$25 during Steam's Christmas sale but still it is FUCKING CIV5.

[pilonv1]

I need to sort out some VPN trickery to unlock this on the 21st and not the 24th

[archie4208]

Civ5 will unlock at 10 AM EST.  I thought it would be 1 PM. 

[Stoney Mason]

The game sounds awesome. Some of the changes they've made sound really neat.