New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
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- tgb
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New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
The only place I've seen anything on this is on Qt3
Civ style 4X on another planet, but it is NOT (supposedly) a sequel or remake re-imagining of Alpha Centauri.
This Fall seems awfully soon for a game that hadn't even been announced until now. I wouldn't be surprised if it slips into 2015. Also no word that I can tell if Sid was actively involved in the project or they are just slapping his name on it.
One way or another, you know I will be on this like stink on a monkey.
Civ style 4X on another planet, but it is NOT (supposedly) a sequel or remake re-imagining of Alpha Centauri.
This Fall seems awfully soon for a game that hadn't even been announced until now. I wouldn't be surprised if it slips into 2015. Also no word that I can tell if Sid was actively involved in the project or they are just slapping his name on it.
One way or another, you know I will be on this like stink on a monkey.
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- Sudy
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
My jam. I have just found it.
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- Lordnine
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Would have preferred Alpha Centauri 2 but this will do… for now.
I actually remember an interview with, I think, Bryan Reynolds, who said that Alpha Centauri was pretty much a perfect storm. Many of the things that set it apart from the main Civ games were done out of necessity of the setting. They jam packed the game with so much extra personality, voiceovers, and flavor text so that the player would have something to connect to. Since AC was my first 4x game I was super disappointed when I went onto the normal Civ games and discovered how barren and devoid of personality they are in comparison.
I actually remember an interview with, I think, Bryan Reynolds, who said that Alpha Centauri was pretty much a perfect storm. Many of the things that set it apart from the main Civ games were done out of necessity of the setting. They jam packed the game with so much extra personality, voiceovers, and flavor text so that the player would have something to connect to. Since AC was my first 4x game I was super disappointed when I went onto the normal Civ games and discovered how barren and devoid of personality they are in comparison.
- Smoove_B
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
I'm excited, but I do hope it's a self contained game...not something that has 75% of the feature's we all agree would make it great..only to then have $30 DLC packs released 6 and 12 months later to fill in those final missing pieces. As much as I want to get excited over this game, I can't help but think the new design/publishing model is more focused on maintaining a longer presence in the marketplace via DLC.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
- astyanax
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
THIS. My thoughts exactly.Lordnine wrote:Would have preferred Alpha Centauri 2 but this will do… for now.
I actually remember an interview with, I think, Bryan Reynolds, who said that Alpha Centauri was pretty much a perfect storm. Many of the things that set it apart from the main Civ games were done out of necessity of the setting. They jam packed the game with so much extra personality, voiceovers, and flavor text so that the player would have something to connect to. Since AC was my first 4x game I was super disappointed when I went onto the normal Civ games and discovered how barren and devoid of personality they are in comparison.
Additionally, I felt that Civ was always been more about re-creating actual or alternate histories, whereas AC is more about "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it".
But for a new Sid Meier game set in the future? The fanboy inside of me can't see how they could top AC. But who knows- maybe history will repeat itself.
.
- Smoove_B
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Kotaku has a preview up now:
The Alpha Centauri comparisons can't be avoided. But the folks at Firaxis—most recently responsible for XCOM, a much different kind of sci-fi game—say they want Beyond Earth to feel different than that 90s classic.
"This is going our own direction," Beyond Earth designer Anton Strenger said in a phone interview earlier this week. "But that's not to say that we have not, you know, drawn some inspiration from Alpha Centauri. When I was in sixth grade I played Alpha Centauri. That was my first 4X game, and I remember learning it over my friend's shoulder and not knowing exactly what was going on but loving every minute of it."
...
Pre-game preparation is a big thing here.
Factions are a little different than they are in Civ.
You can't play as an alien race.
The tech tree is non-linear.
You'll also be able to...
Do quests and side missions while exploring the planet.
Negotiate with other factions, build trade routes, and do all the other little management activities that make a Civ game a Civ game.
Find alien relics, not unlike in Alpha Centauri.
Build satellites for different kinds of military, economic, and technological advantages.
Go insane and declare war on everybody in a mad attempt to take control of the planet by killing everyone else.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
- Smoove_B
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
And the official trailer from 2K. I think I'm most impressed at the Fall 2014 delivery. They did a great job of keeping this under wraps, that's for sure.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
- tgb
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
That trailer makes it appear like a huge mod, just as Colonization was for Civ IV, so the time frame may not be that unrealistic.
IGN has an article up too:
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/04/12/f ... yond-earth
Sounds like the developers are borrowing from more than Alpha Centauri:
Of course, both of those had plenty of room for improvement, so I remain cautiously optimistic.
IGN has an article up too:
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/04/12/f ... yond-earth
Sounds like the developers are borrowing from more than Alpha Centauri:
Sounds like Endless Space to me......... the switch from the traditional, linear tech tree that drives other Civilization games forward through established history to a more open-ended “Tech web” system.....“We’re huge fans of sci-fi from every part of pop culture and history, so we went to that and imagined a web where you start in the middle, surrounded by techs that are relatively recognizable based on conventional technology, and you go outward into any frontier you can imagine,” says McDonough
And that sounds like Pandora:First Contact.At the same time you’re competing with the other colonial powers on this planet, you’ll also be up against the native life you find there – much of it initially hostile. “Civ 5’s barbarians are really more like a speed bump or an early-game punching bag for you to kind of get your military chops before you’re ready to get into a real war. In this game, they’re completely different. It’s really a whole other opponent that plays completely asymmetrically to any of the human players,” says McDonough. He promises that the indigenous aliens, while not sentient, will react intelligently and with some coordination to what you’re doing on their world,
Of course, both of those had plenty of room for improvement, so I remain cautiously optimistic.
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- Lordnine
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Uh, sounds like Alpha Centauri. Pandora is almost an identical clone of AC, except with worse production values and much less personality. The campaign of Alpha Centauri had you arrive on a planet that was a specie in of itself. As the game went on the planet started to awaken with a a fairly diverse array of of alien life forms moving against you. Too large of a focus on industry and Planet would become incredibly hostile towards you. The Transcendence victory condition even went so far as to have you merge your consciousness with the planet and become like a god.tgb wrote:
And that sounds like Pandora:First Contact.
- JonathanStrange
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
It's a good find and something I've bookmarked for future looking into. Thanks. <Goes back to lurker mode off Rigel-7>
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
If I was given the power to choose Sid Meier's next game, this would be it. Hands down my most wanted game!
- Hrdina
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Wow, my RSS feeds were exploding with delight this morning about Beyond Earth:
RPS
Polygon (announcement and video)
Qt3
Escapist (preview and screenshots)
Too bad TBS is dead, or this might have gotten some coverage.
To say I am looking forward to this would be a bit of an understatement.
RPS
Polygon (announcement and video)
Qt3
Escapist (preview and screenshots)
Too bad TBS is dead, or this might have gotten some coverage.
To say I am looking forward to this would be a bit of an understatement.
Conform or be cast out!
- tgb
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
I played both, and there's a greater variety of native life in Pandora (it's only strong point, imo). Also the native life is a lot more aggressive from the beginning. In AC, the planet didn't start fighting back until pollution became a problem, if I remember right.Lordnine wrote:Uh, sounds like Alpha Centauri. Pandora is almost an identical clone of AC, except with worse production values and much less personality. The campaign of Alpha Centauri had you arrive on a planet that was a specie in of itself. As the game went on the planet started to awaken with a a fairly diverse array of of alien life forms moving against you. Too large of a focus on industry and Planet would become incredibly hostile towards you. The Transcendence victory condition even went so far as to have you merge your consciousness with the planet and become like a god.tgb wrote:
And that sounds like Pandora:First Contact.
That's why I posted what I did.
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
pcgamer has a pretty long interview that gets into how factions work, victory conditions, planet types, and more.
I'm trying not to get excited considering this is months and months from release.
I'm trying not to get excited considering this is months and months from release.
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
I will definitely be buying this. At this point Firaxis is one of those automatic purchase companies.
- JetFred
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
New Thief, new AoW, now this. Party like it's 2001.
I have but one advocate.
- SpaceLord
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Shut up and take my money!
Speaking of Civ, I need to get the expansions for V, I've heard that turned the game into a fantastic, soul-sucking experience.
Speaking of Civ, I need to get the expansions for V, I've heard that turned the game into a fantastic, soul-sucking experience.
They're going to send you back to mother in a cardboard box...
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
How is it that you waited this long? Then again, I probably should not be the one to ask, I've played nothing else in years.SpaceLord wrote:Shut up and take my money!
Speaking of Civ, I need to get the expansions for V, I've heard that turned the game into a fantastic, soul-sucking experience.
Alpha Centauri was the only game I ever beta tested and continued to play after release (which was good because we (the beta team) were called upon to test Alien Crossfire as well). I thought its biggest accomplishment was raising the bar for diplomatic AI in a 4X. Sadly, years later, nobody has still even approached what AC was able to do.
Alpha Centauri was Brian Reynold's baby -- Sid was pretty much just the name on the box. It doesn't surprise me that they aren't going to use the same setting; which drew inspiration from a number of sci fi books Brian had read around that time. Someone without the same vision could run a sequel right into the ground.
For better or worse, Firaxis typically doesn't miss announced release dates. If this proves to be a hit, it's going to be hard to find time for the next Gal Civ game when it comes out next year.
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- Lordnine
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Strongly agree with this.Jeff V wrote: I thought its biggest accomplishment was raising the bar for diplomatic AI in a 4X. Sadly, years later, nobody has still even approached what AC was able to do.
Alpha Centauri was Brian Reynold's baby -- Sid was pretty much just the name on the box. It doesn't surprise me that they aren't going to use the same setting; which drew inspiration from a number of sci fi books Brian had read around that time. Someone without the same vision could run a sequel right into the ground.
In a way I’m happy they are not making this an official sequel. Alpha Centauri is my all-time favorite game and I highly doubt that this will live up to that standard. As a standalone title, it will be easier to judge it on its own merits instead of comparing it to what it SHOULD have been.
- Island Dog
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Can't wait for more details about it.
- Lassr
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Oh yea! Cannot wait. Firaxis is the only company where I will even consider a pre-order anymore.
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- El Guapo
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
My favorite thing about Alpha Centauri was the flavor, particularly all of the awesome character quotes. I hope that they capture some of that in this game, though my suspicion is that they will not. But we'll see.
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Well, it will depend on the approach of the designer. It was not by accident that many of the characters were reminiscent of those from well-known authors in novels about space colonization. The literary background made it easy to flesh out a story including faction agendas. Most 4X games don't take this approach, they leave the story to player's imagination as the game plays out.El Guapo wrote:My favorite thing about Alpha Centauri was the flavor, particularly all of the awesome character quotes. I hope that they capture some of that in this game, though my suspicion is that they will not. But we'll see.
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- LordMortis
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Civ V was the end for me and this model. My reward for being a full price early adopter of Civ V was apparently to find about 1/3 of a game that was pretty much "meh" but with hexes. I've since heard good things about the game with all of the other goodies. I'll rebuy the platinum complete pack when it hits maybe $15 and I won't buy another Sid Meir game until I can get a complete pack for $15. A DLC ransom arc for an incomplete game after paying full price for a game puppies. If you want me to subscribe to a game to get all of the content be up front and show me your plan. If you want me to wait and see then I'm going to wait until you sell the game at GOG pricing.Smoove_B wrote:I'm excited, but I do hope it's a self contained game...not something that has 75% of the feature's we all agree would make it great..only to then have $30 DLC packs released 6 and 12 months later to fill in those final missing pieces. As much as I want to get excited over this game, I can't help but think the new design/publishing model is more focused on maintaining a longer presence in the marketplace via DLC.
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Well, before it was called "DLC", it was called "expansion packs." Civ 3 and Civ 4 both made use of that model. The benefit of DLC is that portions of it can trickle out when available, which keeps the game fresh for regular players and keeps an income stream coming in to fund further development. Even if I tripled the amount I spent on Civ 5, I would probably have paid less than a penny an hour. I can't think of a single game that ever gave me more value.
BTW, it's not like the un-expanded version was complete suck. It had some issues on release (like they all do), and that was corrected in the usual manner with massive patches that tweaked the game and added features. By the time the first expansion pack came around, it simply made an awesome game incredible.
BTW, it's not like the un-expanded version was complete suck. It had some issues on release (like they all do), and that was corrected in the usual manner with massive patches that tweaked the game and added features. By the time the first expansion pack came around, it simply made an awesome game incredible.
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- Lagom Lite
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Really clever of them to do a SMAC sequel this way - let's face it, it is just that but they dodge the big problems in a smart way. They're dancing around the copyright/IP while also trying to make something different enough to avoid the inevitable SMAC comparison critique. I mean, how could a straight sequel ever compare favorably to that classic game - SMAC was, uniquely, a story-driven strategy game which relied heavily on the superb writing and voice-acting, moreso than on the mechanics which were basically Civ2 with some unit and civics customization slapped on. Acting a worthy successor to Chairman Yang just cannot be done...
But you've seen who's in heaven
Is there anyone in hell?
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- Lagom Lite
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Firaxis tends to do this. Keep it secret and quickly build up hype just a few months before release.tgb wrote:This Fall seems awfully soon for a game that hadn't even been announced until now.
But you've seen who's in heaven
Is there anyone in hell?
"Lagom you are a smooth tongued devil, and an opportunistic monster" - OOWW Game Club
Is there anyone in hell?
"Lagom you are a smooth tongued devil, and an opportunistic monster" - OOWW Game Club
- The Meal
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
No.Lagom Lite wrote:SMAC... mechanics... were basically Civ2 with some unit and civics customization slapped on.
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- Kraken
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
The closest thing I've ever seen to SMAC was the Fall from Heaven 2 mod for CIV. Whatever happened to the fellow who made that?The Meal wrote:No.Lagom Lite wrote:SMAC... mechanics... were basically Civ2 with some unit and civics customization slapped on.
- Zurai
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Kael got hired by Stardock to fix Elemental and make Fallen Enchantress.Kraken wrote:The closest thing I've ever seen to SMAC was the Fall from Heaven 2 mod for CIV. Whatever happened to the fellow who made that?The Meal wrote:No.Lagom Lite wrote:SMAC... mechanics... were basically Civ2 with some unit and civics customization slapped on.
- $iljanus
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Some articles came out today writing about actual gameplay in Beyond Earth. Some folks were able to play up to 50 turns of a pre-Alpha release. Haven't read through them yet but here are the links for our perusal:
Kotaku article
Arstechnica article
Enjoy!
Kotaku article
Arstechnica article
Enjoy!
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Add a Polygon article to that list.$iljanus wrote:Some articles came out today writing about actual gameplay in Beyond Earth. Some folks were able to play up to 50 turns of a pre-Alpha release. Haven't read through them yet but here are the links for our perusal:
Kotaku article
Arstechnica article
Enjoy!
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
So excited about this!
- Kraken
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
I burned out on Civ 5 a few months ago after playing more hours than I care to admit. Looking forward to this Alpha Centauri-ish reboot. Will probably be one of those very rare games for which I'm willing to pay full price.
- Smoove_B
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
~8 minute video from Game Trailers that includes game play, but is primarily an interview with developers.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
- Orgull
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Anyone see the gameplay livestream last thursday?
http://www.twitch.tv/firaxisgames/c/4858326
I MUST HAVE THIS GAME NOW.
http://www.twitch.tv/firaxisgames/c/4858326
I MUST HAVE THIS GAME NOW.
- Lordnine
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
I didn’t watch the full video but I liked what I saw. It doesn’t hit all the things I loved about Alpha Centauri but it does look like the game to come the closest to that experience. I’m cautiously optimistic.
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
Exactly. I'm really looking forward to it. I don't just want a straight-up clone of Alpha Centauri, and it looks like they are trying a few new things.Lordnine wrote:...It doesn’t hit all the things I loved about Alpha Centauri but it does look like the game to come the closest to that experience...
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
It's still one unit per tile and that was a decision that absolutely crippled Civ 5. I have yet to see anything which indicates that the problems created by one unit per tile have been solved. In fact, that stream quite neatly showcased the fact that at least some of the flaws havn't been fixed. The map is still tiny and restrictive. Units still get in each others' way. The game is still tuned so that science outpaces construction. I'm willing to bet the AI is no better at handling the tactical situation than it ever was in Civ 5.
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Re: New From Sid Meier - Beyond Earth
+1. I was a happy Civ4 player, but I tried and tried and just couldn't get happy with Civ5. Maybe the gameplay with Beyond Earth will compensate for it, but I'd like to see it in a demo first.Zurai wrote:It's still one unit per tile and that was a decision that absolutely crippled Civ 5. I have yet to see anything which indicates that the problems created by one unit per tile have been solved. In fact, that stream quite neatly showcased the fact that at least some of the flaws havn't been fixed. The map is still tiny and restrictive. Units still get in each others' way. The game is still tuned so that science outpaces construction. I'm willing to bet the AI is no better at handling the tactical situation than it ever was in Civ 5.
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