Take-Two bought Civilization

[schild]

Ya know, my guess was definately not that. Here's the story:

"New York - January 26, 2005 -Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
(NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that it has purchased certain rights to the multi-million unit selling Civilization franchise, and has signed a long-term, multi-title publishing agreement with FIRAXIS Games(R), developers of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, SimGolf, Gettysburg, Civilization III, Pirates! and other critically acclaimed simulation and strategy games. Kicking off this new partnership will be the highly anticipated Sid Meier's Civilization IV for PC, which will be published by Take-Two's publishing label 2K Games in late 2005, with future expansions and additional PC and console games to follow.

"The Civilization name brings with it an expectation of quality from millions of fans around the world," said Susan Lewis, Vice President of Publishing for 2K Games. "It is a pleasure to be working with a company like FIRAXIS that has developers who have proven with every successive title that they are masters of this genre."

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with 2K Games on a new journey into the evolving world of Civilization," said Jeff Briggs, Founder, President and CEO of FIRAXIS Games. "2K Games' emergence as a publisher dedicated to producing high-quality, genre-defining games ensures that Civilization IV and FIRAXIS titles will continue to push the creative envelope and reach bigger audiences than ever before."

"In Civilization, we've created a world with endless possibilities that has been embraced by game players all over the globe," said Sid Meier, Director of Creative Development at FIRAXIS Games. "With the upcoming addition of Civilization IV, our core fans and newcomers alike will enter a world of unparalleled scope and detail."

The fourth game in the PC strategy series that has sold over five million copies, Sid Meier's Civilization IV is a bold step forward for the franchise, with spectacular new 3D graphics and all-new single and multiplayer content. Civilization IV will also set a new standard for user-modification, allowing gamers to create their own add-ons using the standard Python and XML scripting languages.

Sid Meier's Civilization IV will be released for PC in late 2005. For more information please visit www.firaxis.com or write kgilmore@firaxis.com."

I don't know whether to be sad or glad. And why does Civ need 3D graphics? Isn't that...pointless? Maybe someone can help me see the light. Not that it matters, Sid Meier is running out of steam by the minute.

[Paelos]

I'm not sure 3D would do anything for the gameplay. Perhaps they are considering some sort of tactical battle game between units ala R:TW. I doubt it though, they have a winning system as is. My guess is they'll probably make it look more like a globe that you can spin around to check on cities instead of a flat map.

[Biobanger]

Heck, they could take Civ3 and just make the nuke animation 3D, and I'll buy it.

[Nebu]

I'm not sure why the 3D move.  I think that most strategy/building sim gamers would gladly sacrifice graphic glitz for better AI and game polish.  Building a 3d engine would be a reallocation of resources that could instead have been used for more interesting gameplay elements.  

Then again, if I can have both gameplay and teh shiney, I'm all for it!

[Pineapple]

I'm not sure 3D would do anything for the gameplay. Perhaps they are considering some sort of tactical battle game between units ala R:TW. I doubt it though, they have a winning system as is. My guess is they'll probably make it look more like a globe that you can spin around to check on cities instead of a flat map.

Remember, Warcraft 3 was 3D. Making the camera have restricted movement and a default isometric view doesnt remove the fact that the game is 3D. The isometric camera can be moved some, zoomed, the characters are 3 dimensional and not sprite based.

There are many types of 3D. Black and White, R:TW, WC3. All look and handle differently, too. 3D could be just about anything.

[Calantus]

I think 3D is the way you have to go if you want anything more than a niche product. Even if you just make it functionally the same as a 2D game (ie. fixed camera), you get to slap 3D onto the box and naturally that stops people from simply dismissing it as a 2D game.

[MrHat]

I really like the idea of a 3D globe that spins.

You can get a feel for the size of a city better.  Maybe throw in some of the nifty arial views we have now, like the City Lights and Forest Fires and Republican/Democrat stuff.

[Paelos]

I think one of the later Populous games did a 3D spinning globe setup if I remember correctly. It was a fun game with you playing as a shaman of a tribe. I forget the premise though since it was forever again when i played it.

EDIT: Populous the Beginnings, I looked it up.

[Toast]

Take Two is very console-centric. I wonder if Civ is going to get watered down for multi-platforming.

[AOFanboi]

One major reason for a game developer to go 3D no matter the genre is that that's where most tool/engine development seems to be happening. So if you want the latest, greatest, most featureful and simple game development, go 3D because of the tools. 2D? You either write too much from scratch, or reuse some older stuff.

Even small developers seem to know that.

[Lum]

Making a game use a 3D engine doesn't necessarily mean it's turning into a shooter. From a technical standpoint, rendering a game like Civ in Direct3D makes many things much easier to do at a higher level of quality, such as unit sprites, screen resolution, and so on.

[Sunbury]

I've been waiting for a Civ game based on a spherical earth since Civ 1 and X-COM 1.   Are there ANY games with a spherical earth model since X-COM 1?

[Big Gulp]

I've been waiting for a Civ game based on a spherical earth since Civ 1 and X-COM 1.   Are there ANY games with a spherical earth model since X-COM 1?

The Superpower series, but they suck.  Great idea (basically just Supremacy for modern computer gaming), horrible execution.

[Train Wreck]

I think one of the later Populous games did a 3D spinning globe setup if I remember correctly. It was a fun game with you playing as a shaman of a tribe. I forget the premise though since it was forever again when i played it.

EDIT: Populous the Beginnings, I looked it up.

I love that game.  Drowning the commoners, setting them on fire, or feeding them to flying monsters is much more fun in 3d.  If anybody sees this game in a bargin bin anywhere, they should definantly pick it up.