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Richard Bruns
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NC, USA
Nov 1999
time: 06:13
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I know that this topic will probably seem like blasphemy at this point, but I never liked the name "Clash of Civilizations." It doesn't really capture the spirit of the project. I think it makes our project seem like a one-dimensional wargame, when in reality we are aiming for much more than that.
What do you think about Trials of Civilization? I think that it is more accurate and better sounding. I think that this game would still be fun if you were the only civilization on the planet. There would be so many (optional) internal details to deal with that I could have fun in a SimCity type game, without any competitors with which I need to Clash.
To raise a civilization from dust, to guide it throughout history, to help it survive internal and external crises, to meet and overcome every trial that Man or Nature can throw at me, that is the spirit of the game I want. The current name seems to imply a simple slugging match like AoE.
If you agree or disagree, could you use this thread to post your "grand vision" that keeps you working on the game? Here's mine:
On the planet of Apolyton a large public game has been running at the rate of one year per hour for the past twenty weeks. It started in 2000 BC and is now 1500 AD. There are now four dominant civilizations. Each one is being run cooperatively by a team of about half a dozen players in different time zones who split the responsibility of managing their vast empires 24/7. A competent AI manages their civ well in their absence, keeping to policies that the players have set.
In addition to this, there are about a dozen small single-player states who take advantage of the shifting alliances and conditions. Player control is more irregular and difficult here, but the rugged individualists manage to scrape by. Set against this geopolitical backdrop are many other players with different goals. Many players are running business cartels, wheeling and dealing in a world more detailed than any other business sim. Three religious leaders compete for official and popular support. A well-known communist poster has formed a secret organization and is doing his best to unite all of the workers of this world and overthrow the Imperialists. A large multi-player international crime organization is almost as well organized as the larger civs. Smaller pirate gangs pester the civs and work as privateers.
I look over the condition of this world and decide to join. One of the large civs has posted a request for a good general and another is asking for an administrator to help micromanage a troubled area of the civ. But that doesn't appeal to me. I notice that one of the large civilizations has been somewhat isolated and backwards, but is now modernizing. Several AI merchant agents are growing rapidly in this area, ready for possible human control. I e-mail the leaders of that civ, and they are supportive of a human cartel, under certain conditions. I agree that the official support is worth the rules, and jump in the fray. My business grows quickly, thanks to a bit of industrial espionage that gives me a higher tech level that gives me a higher tech level than my host country in some areas. Things seem to be going well.
But the communist was hoping to set off a revolution in this country, and I have come close to ruining this excellent opportunity. My new enemy conspires with a human leader of a widespread religion to foment rebellion against my modernization. Another civ supports this rebellion in order to weaken my host civ. Another civ declares open war on us and starts to take all the overseas colonies. I and my host civ put up a valiant fight, but in the end the religious-inspired communist rebels defeat us using modern weapons from the other civ.
But the worker's paradise is not forthcoming. Blood is in the water, and the experienced Mafia players will not miss an opportunity. They quickly infiltrate the new government until they are the effective rulers of the new country. The communist is abandoned by his former allies, since The Revolution is now a legitimate threat in their own countries. Over time the mafia eventually becomes a respected civilization.
I look for a new job, but am kindly informed that I am out of my league. After all, I only made the game and they are the masters of playing it. I go and work on my modpack, a project to faithfully recreate Master of Magic using the versatile game engine.
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yellowdaddy
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Saoir-Ebhor, Sasainn a tuath, Rialtas Aontach
Apr 2003
time: 05:13
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I still think the name "Clash of the Civilisations" is a bit on the crap side.
I wouldn't mind foisting the name "Cosmos" on is, because it's short, snappy, and encompasses everything (!) (and it was also the working title of that game i vainly aspired to design!)
Sensing a resistance in the force, I thought again, wading through other one-word names like "Man", "Ethnos", "NationState" (yawn) etc...
and arrived at a possibly less radical idea:
"Culture Clash"
but as I don't think i've contributed enough to deserve any say really, i'll shut up and get on with my gfx!
Last edited by yellowdaddy on 29-02-2004 at 21:56
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05-04-2001 05:19
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Yes my sir ! 
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