Remaking Civilization In Your Own Image 36
Gamecloud has a piece on the moddability of Civilization IV. The article goes into detail about the numerous levels at which content creators can change the game of Civilization. From the article: "The next level offers Python and XML support, letting modders with more experience manipulate the game world and everything in it. XML (eXtensible Markup Language) files can be edited in standard text editors or in special XML file editors that have ease-of-use features like a grid view. Editing these files will allow players to tweak simple game rules and change or add content. For instance, they can add new unit or building types, change the cost of wonders, or add new civilizations." This is a more detailed look at a topic we've discussed before. Gamespot has a preview of the upcoming title, as well.
PC console (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:PC console (Score:5, Insightful)
I doubt it, most people who play the Sims don't know about mods, or even care. What made it so popular was how it appealed to a wide audience
NWN and Total Annihilation were very mod friendly, but didn't have the same level of popularity.
NWN (Score:2)
I can't wait for Civ 4 (That's funny, I was saying the same thing about NWN back in the days..
It's actually a feedback loop (Score:3, Interesting)
For starters, let me assure you that probably most people who play The Sims know about those mods, since they're linked to right on the game's web site and Maxis itself offered one of its own each week. They might not think about it as "mods" or give them as much thought as, say, CS or TeamFortress get, but virtually everyone has downloaded at least one recoloured bed or dress for their The Sims game.
It can also be pointed out that at
Standardization Makes Things Nice (Score:5, Informative)
The open-source Vega Strike [sourceforge.net] also uses Boost.Python.
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www.dejobaan.com - Making games one game at a time.
Not that simple (Score:3, Insightful)
The gaming world doesn't start and end with the HalfLife and NWN engine, you know. Yeah, there the only "problem" was that you needed a C compiler or to learn Bioware's script respectively. But in other games you didn't even get that.
E.g., I was one of the people who whined at the authors of "Die Gilde" ("Europa 1400: The Guild" in America) to let us mod the damn thing at all. They never released any tools or specs
Don't forget FreeCiv (comes with SuSE 9' Pro), etc (Score:4, Interesting)
Oh, there are -also- folks running Civilisation
as [ great, big ] DIY board games.
http://www.civproject.net/ [civproject.net]
Total control, if via "appropriate" paper
technology.
Hey, I'm going to a professional develop-
ment seminar today (for teachers) on how
to use the paper-version to help students
better understand History & related sub-
jects.
Re:Don't forget FreeCiv (comes with SuSE 9' Pro), (Score:3, Informative)
Freeciv is (for the most part) a Free Software clone of Civilisation 2. It can be found at http://www.freeciv.org/ [freeciv.org].
From my own experience, games like these are an excellent way to learn history and geography.
this.... (Score:1)
The only worthwhile source on Civ4 modding... (Score:5, Interesting)
Fluff (Score:5, Interesting)
As in, the article is a complete puff piece.
I have two hopes for Civ IV: (1) That they contemplate an OS X port and don't treat it like the red-headed stepchild it will likely be, if at all; and (2) That the game is put together more cleanly than the string of Civ II-Alpha Centauri-Civ III titles, each of which were plagued with bugs and, in some cases, unbelievable sloppiness that eventually saw clean-up in patch after patch (but never fully). Love the series, more or less, but the games have never been standouts in stability, balance, or efficiency out of the gates.
I halfway fear that the ballyhoo surrounding the player modification system(s) is nother more than another "oh, shiny!" meant to distract from yet another patchfest for the game's core.
Ah, but who am I kidding? I'll probably buy it regardless.
Re:Fluff (Score:2)
Civ 4,,, My next crack hit (Score:2)
And now 4 will be my next additiction without question. Weeks of free time spent civ'ing! I can hardly wait.
Re:Civ 4,,, My next crack hit (Score:1)
Re:Civ 4,,, My next crack hit (Score:2)
Classic Civ (Score:5, Interesting)
I mean Civ 1,3, or 3 but with the new graphics, better multi player and huge maps.
that is what I hope for, since it seams they are going for a shallower more assasable CIV (which will be great most of the time, but some 3-day weekends call for 60 hours of Civ). The changes sound fun, but I imagine I will want a large complex tech tree and hundreds of different units sometimes.
More offtopic. My favorite mod of all time was a Piracy mod for Civ 2 that was real elaborate with canons and ships and stuff. It was great, but only ran on the first expansion pack, I could never get it to run on fantastic worlds (Macro Error).
Really I think the dev team themself should offer classic Civ modes that exactly replicate the previous games as a proof of conept of the modding and to make people obsessed with Civ 2 happy (there are lots of them).
Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
Alpha Centauri (Score:2, Interesting)
There are quite a few people over at Apolyton.net that are hoping to be able to accomplish this. In general, it's a subject that's been actively dreamed about for months (over a year perhaps).
Re:Alpha Centauri (Score:2)
Re:Alpha Centauri (Score:1)
Re:Alpha Centauri (Score:2)
Re:Alpha Centauri (Score:1)
Say goodbye to play balancing (Score:4, Insightful)
Its funny how a promise of "open source" and "modding culture" early on in a title so often means -- "We're not going to spend much time on play balancing". Morrowind was another perfect example of openness vs. gameplay. In Morrowind the emphasis on open-endedness, freedom and expandability ultimately translated into a disastrous in-game economy, weapon imbalances, impossibly overpowered characters and ultimately a play experience that depended on story-line (which was actually excellent) rather than the aspects of the game itself.
I think I'll wait before breaking out my wallet [jfold.com] on this one.
Finally, MoM 2 can be made by somebody... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Finally, MoM 2 can be made by somebody... (Score:2)
Re:Finally, MoM 2 can be made by somebody... (Score:2)
Actually... strictly speaking it's crap. The game balance is so dire. There are so many completely game-breaking strategies that it's only a question of just how munchkin you can possibly be. Ultra-Elite Adamantium Halfling Slingers with Flame Blade, Giant Strength and added blessings from an accompa
Re:Finally, MoM 2 can be made by somebody... (Score:2)
Re:Finally, MoM 2 can be made by somebody... (Score:1)
No, but I played MOO2 to an unhealthy extent.
There was a delightful bit of rules-abuse you could do with a Phasing Cloak and a Timewarp Facilitator, if I recall aright. Decloak, fire, recloak, all before the enemy had a chance to even move.
Some things just work better in 2D. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Some things just work better in 2D. (Score:2)
Re:Some things just work better in 2D. (Score:1)
Not what's needed (Score:5, Insightful)