[PC] Civilization 5: !#@#!@ Impressions Incoming! Brave New World!

[Roguetad]

Agreed to manage all your games from on app is what it is about

Dumb question:  Can I run non steam games through steam, and not have to insert the game discs to play them?  I have a few steam games, and I love not having to worry about the game discs.

There are some games that Steam will let you install as long as you have a valid serial number, so you could do that with them.  You can also "associate" a lot of games to the Steam interface, allowing you to have all your games listed in one place.  However, that doesn't mean you get to ignore the disk copy protection in the latter case.

That makes sense.  Thanks.  I'll try associating some games tonight.

[tgb]

Since it's a Steamworks game, you can buy the retail box from Gamestop, input the code into Steam, and throw out the physical copy if you want.  The discs can be used to install, or you can just download the thing via Steam.  It's a nice arrangement.  If you wanted to use your Gamestop credit.

I just bought it off the website. I am at work so I have not got to download the client or anything.
   Wish I would have known that first.   But, its not like the gamecard will go to waste.
I like the download thing just because I do not have to "find the box" everytime I reformat. gamersgate had been fine for me.
They will give me a manual or something I can print off right?   

I am a civ nub, and I like to have the tech trees and stuff right infront of me.  In fact, I wouldnt mind actually having that guide book for this game.  Maybe I can run buy gamestop and snag it.

I hate to tell you, but there is no hard copy manual.  Period.  The boxed copy will just contain the disk and a .pdf file.  That said, the game contains a Civilopedia, and everything in the game is hot-linked to it to tell you what you want to know.

[Lockdown]

And just so everyone reading this who doesn't already know what tgb is referring to:

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

The cause is awesome, there is no denying that.  But yes, a lot of people will miss the manual - that is for sure.

[wonderpug]

If you want tech trees and such in front of you there are undoubtedly going to be awesome ones created by the fan community to print out yourself.

[Asharak]

But yes, a lot of people will miss the manual - that is for sure.

I'm skeptical that this is going to work out as well as they make it sound but, if you're going to do away with paper manuals, this is how you do it:

We’ve made the formerly 200+ page printed manual an improved interactive PDF. This PDF manual allows you to click on screenshots to see them clearer than thumbnails, navigate much easier with clickable links, and most importantly, look forward to manual updates as we make changes to the game.

As in, they're giving us something - large screenshots, page hyperlinks - that we wouldn't get in a paper manual in exchange for making it electronic.

The irony, of course, is that the Civilopedia has improved so much in recent versions that Civ, one of the most complex AAA games, is one of the ones that least needs a manual at all.

- Ash

[Morgul]

Well, I have got about 30 hours in on civ 4..  and, I want a fucking manual lol.   

I mean, if I can alt+tab and see a pdf that works fine too.   

But, I am almost always confused on what to build next and such on civ 4.  I see the civlopedia thing when I launch the game.  I know I can click "look at the big picture" sometimes within the game to see the tech tree, etc.

Maybe I do not know where to see the information I need from within the game.   
So, yea, I need a shiny PDF or I am buying the civ 5 strat guide or something.    /shrugs  If non exist, i will wing it.

[Freezer-TPF-]

Hit F12 to access the Civilopedia ingame.  I think there is also an icon on the screen somewhere (top or bottom right? I haven't played in a while).

I think F6 is the tech tree.

You can go to Civfanatics and get handy reference charts, including hotkeys and massive Excel sheets of info.

[tgb]

Rt-clicking on a tech, unit, or concept takes you to the Civilopedia entry, iirc.

[Morgul]

Thanks Freeze and TGB.

[CeeKay]

reviews are coming out.

[jztemple2]

And just so everyone reading this who doesn't already know what tgb is referring to:

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

The cause is awesome, there is no denying that.  But yes, a lot of people will miss the manual - that is for sure.

What a load of crap. Paper is a renewable, biodegradable resource. They are doing this to save money by not printing manuals. And shipping weight is less. Yes, it's all very noble-sounding, but why don't they cut the price a few bucks? How about saving *that* resource?

[Blackadar]

And just so everyone reading this who doesn't already know what tgb is referring to:

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

The cause is awesome, there is no denying that.  But yes, a lot of people will miss the manual - that is for sure.

What a load of crap. Paper is a renewable, biodegradable resource. They are doing this to save money by not printing manuals. And shipping weight is less. Yes, it's all very noble-sounding, but why don't they cut the price a few bucks? How about saving *that* resource?

Yes, it is a load of bull and for any other game I would give a damn.  Call me a fanboy or whatever, but in my experience the Civliopedia just makes a manual redundant.  Yes, I'd still like to have one, but if there's any game that can get by without it, it's Civ simply because the in-game help is so damn good (or at least it was in Civ IV).

[Lockdown]

Speaking of the pdf manual...

LINK

[Lee]

What a load of crap. Paper is a renewable, biodegradable resource. They are doing this to save money by not printing manuals. And shipping weight is less. Yes, it's all very noble-sounding, but why don't they cut the price a few bucks? How about saving *that* resource?

Paper takes a lot of energy to make.

[CeeKay]

I know I don't need another game right now but screw it, I'm preordering it off of Steam. Pre load FTW!

[Tals]

Likewise!! This and f1 2010 omg what a great month. Ordered a gtx 460 so I can savour the greatness

[Qantaga]

Pre-loaded and ready to go on Tuesday. 
   
I ended up going with the Direct2Drive deal. Who knows what the DLC will be, but I took the chance on the first DLC instead of the maps the other sources are offering. Plus, having the free Civ 3 without having to go dig all my discs out is nice, too.
     
It was a piece of cake copying and pasting the activation key into Steam for the pre-load. Can't wait for Tuesday!
   
Now, I just need Brian Reynolds to wake up one day and find that he desperately needs to make Alpha Centauri 2.

[Tals]

What does he do now, I was gutted when he left firaxis

[Qantaga]

What does he do now, I was gutted when he left firaxis

   
He went on to found Big Huge Games (Rise of Nations, Rise of Legends). They even did an AoE expansion and a Catan game. They are working on an RPG now called Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning that's still a couple years out.
   
Rise of Nations and Rise of Legends were both good games, but neither approached the elegance of SMAC/X.
   
I keep hoping he'll want to return to an outer space 4X game one day. I'm even hoping maybe Sid and Brian will want to reconnect some day. One can dream.

[tgb]

EA holds the IP for Alpha Centauri.  Don't hold your breath waiting for a remake.

[Qantaga]

EA holds the IP for Alpha Centauri.  Don't hold your breath waiting for a remake.

   
Hush you.
   
<puts fingers in ears - "na na na na na na na">
   

[CeeKay]

EA holds the IP for Alpha Centauri.  Don't hold your breath waiting for a remake.

what if we want him to hold his breath?

[Qantaga]

EA holds the IP for Alpha Centauri.  Don't hold your breath waiting for a remake.

what if we want him to hold his breath?

 
With the help of a noose, I suppose?

[Lockdown]

In case you didn't know Gametrailers had their review up:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-civilization-v/704829

Couple more days....

[Victoria Raverna]

What does he do now, I was gutted when he left firaxis

   
He went on to found Big Huge Games (Rise of Nations, Rise of Legends). They even did an AoE expansion and a Catan game. They are working on an RPG now called Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning that's still a couple years out.
   
Rise of Nations and Rise of Legends were both good games, but neither approached the elegance of SMAC/X.
   
I keep hoping he'll want to return to an outer space 4X game one day. I'm even hoping maybe Sid and Brian will want to reconnect some day. One can dream.

Brian Reynolds left Big Huge Games and joined Zynga (Farmville, Mafia Wars). Brian Reynolds is the chief designer of Zynga's Frontierville.

[Qantaga]

Brian Reynolds left Big Huge Games and joined Zynga (Farmville, Mafia Wars). Brian Reynolds is the chief designer of Zynga's Frontierville.

   
Thanks for the information.
       
I didn't realize he had left Big Huge Games.
   
For the uncounted hours of joy he gave me with SMAC/X, I'll always be interested in his career. Thanks for the heads up.

[Lockdown]

ign weighs in...

...to the tune of 9.0

And I have to give Anthony (the reviewer) kudos for not being afraid to point out the weaknesses of the game, as he sees them.  With the unbelievably high praise the game is getting - this is refreshing.

1 more day!

[Slabety]

I waited until the last minute as am never going to have time to play, but I'm in. Pre-ordered and downloaded in steam and ready to roll.  Can't wait

-Slabety

[Glycerine]

Pre-loaded on Steam, doubt I'll do it ever again though.  For some strange reason I thought it would unlock at midnight.  Not sure why they have to wait until 10-11am.   No more of that, I'll stick with sales from now on.

[Lee]

Pre-loaded on Steam, doubt I'll do it ever again though.  For some strange reason I thought it would unlock at midnight.  Not sure why they have to wait until 10-11am.   No more of that, I'll stick with sales from now on.

Box orders will be waiting too, it's a steam game even if you have a DVD.

[Chaz]

Pre-loaded on Steam, doubt I'll do it ever again though.  For some strange reason I thought it would unlock at midnight.  Not sure why they have to wait until 10-11am.   No more of that, I'll stick with sales from now on.

They usually wait until the business day starts on the west coast.  They want to have their people in the office to deal with any crap that arises from multiple thousands of people suddenly hitting the servers, and their people likely don't want to work a midnight shift.

[lex]

it looks like they just unlocked it!!!!  too bad my pre-load is sitting on my computer at home, taunting me until I can get to it tonight.

[tgb]

It's unlocked but decrypting slowly.  One can only imagine how much worse it would be without the pre-load.

[Qantaga]

Woot!
   
Good news. Mine is unlocked and I get to launch it to take a quick look.
   
Bad news. I'm out the door in 15 minutes.
   
Great news. Tonight is all Civ 5, baby.

[TiLT]

I hate you all so very, very much! 

[Qantaga]

Oh... my... goodness...
   
It is beautimous!!!
     
I can't believe I can't play until tonight. I imagine my productivity level will be way down today.
   
I can't wait to dig in  and play this evening.
   
I have a feeling I'll be a little bleary-eyed come tomorrow morning.

[CeeKay]

Oh... my... goodness...
   
It is beautimous!!!
     
I can't believe I can't play until tonight. I imagine my productivity level will be way down today.
   
I can't wait to dig in  and play this evening.
   
I have a feeling I'll be a little bleary-eyed come tomorrow morning.

do you realize you just guaranteed that the day is going to pass really slow for you too?  you never sample the goods before the work day!

[Qantaga]

Yes, the pain of that decision is starting to sink in. I just couldn't help myself.

[ydejin]

I'm about an hour in.  As of now, I'm a bit disappointed.  I won't say I dislike it, and I haven't gotten far enough in to give most of the new stuff a good evaluation.  But right now my main issues are:

(1) I really preferred graphic indication of economic input, food input, and production input on the city screen.  Just having numbers there instead of hammers, wheat, and gold coins, takes some of the charm out of the game, and makes it feel more like a spreadsheet.

(2) There's some awkwardness to the interface, as if IMO they didn't really think these things through.  

For example, I can either display in the top left corner a big graphic image showing the current technology I'm researching or I can see a list of all my units.  I'd kind of prefer a list of units, as that's more useful.  But if I've got the list of units up, I can't see my tech progress.  IIRC in previous Civ games, I would have had just a note in the top bar telling me what I'm researching and how far along I am.  Why can't I have that while having a list of units up?  It's not like it takes a lot of space.  But no, the choice is big old 100 pixel icon showing the current tech under research, or no indication of current tech at all, and having to do a bit of mouse clicking to switch to show the current tech.

Another example, I can't seem to determine what the current strength on enemy units is, unless I'm right next to them and attacking them.  I've hit enemy units with my city bombarding.  I know they aren't at full strength.  But unless I start counting the little guys in unit, there is no way to display the strength of the unit unless I've got a unit who can attack them and bring up the estimated results screen.  There's a little tool tip that shows up when the mouse is over them, but it only displays the type of unit, now it's current strength.

I've played all the Civ's since Civ1, and liked all of them including the maligned Civ3.  I expect I'll like the new combat, but so far, I've only gotten very simple combat against other Civs.

[tgb]

To see the strength of a unit click on it.  Next to the symbol is a vertical bar that runs red-yellow-green indicating health.  Mousing over it shows the exact strength.  (At least for Barbarian encampments.  I'm assuming it works like that for all enemy units).