30-04-2005 06:52									#1
	New Release date Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

I received an e-mail from the Pub 2 days ago, stating the new release date is now Nov 1, 2005. I got the e-mail because I have already paid for the game.

	30-04-2005 08:01									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Still may be a little optimistic.

	30-04-2005 20:46									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Not thinking about cIV release date, and still immersed in Civ3 and ctp2 and trying to enjoy them before cIV is out. Once it's out, I might not return to Civ3...

	30-04-2005 20:55									#4
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Normally I consider it arrogant when people quote themselves, but in this case I'll make an exception

quote: Publisher and developer are the only ones who can say anything meaningful about a release date. Everyone else is full of it...

	01-05-2005 03:25									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

I thought you amended that, to "Everyone is full of it".

	01-05-2005 04:12									#6
	Put an end to popups!

No, I used the amended version here (it used to say something about 'unless quoting aforementioned parties', but then someone came around and claimed to quote them when clearly they weren't)

	03-05-2005 14:41									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

I still guess 2006.

	03-05-2005 19:19									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

EB Games has it listed for 11/2/05.

	03-05-2005 20:59									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

I'd say it will be Nov 15th, 2005.

	03-05-2005 21:09									#10
	Remove this text

I'd say noone has any real idea at all at this time.

	03-05-2005 21:21									#11
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

My guess is the publishing people will aim for the xmas release...That makes sense.

	03-05-2005 21:26									#12
	Inflate your Upload Space

Obviously. But I hope Firaxis has enough guts to postpone it, if the game's not ready by then...

	03-05-2005 22:43									#13
	Got spare money?

I will not buy Civ4 unless they can tell me that Civ4 will have a different design team whose idea of difficulty levels is a progressively stronger AI decision-making algorithm. Not "lets make the AI civs real strong and weaken the player" as difficulty level rises. A new team that is commited to design of a balanced game out of the box - not just offering some tweaks in a patch to hordes of dissatisfied customers.

I just started a game of Civ3 after having not played for almost a year. All of these shortcomings reminded me why it has been so long since I have played. It is impossible to play a peaceful game at Emperor or above. If you edit to make the AI less aggressive - is that REALLY solving the problem?

Firaxis is popular with scenario makers becuase they offer editting software to allow the user to "fine tune" his civ experience. That is just a way to market the fact that they did not want to spend time balancing the game.

Civ-series is a great concept - but I wish that Firaxis was more concerned with turning out a masterpiece than turning out something that falls far short, knowing that they will be able to cash-in either way... I hate waiting for patches.. How many do you think Civ4 will need?

Bethesda, the makers of Morrowind, now THERE is a company dedicated to an awesome product.

	03-05-2005 22:45									#14
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Or like Paradox. Magnificent support.

	04-05-2005 00:26									#15
	Suffering from ads?

quote: I will not buy Civ4 unless they can tell me that Civ4 will have a different design team whose idea of difficulty levels is a progressively stronger AI decision-making algorithm.

Of course we can hope that Firaxis will ship cIV with a few small guys in the box that'll act as an AI. That's in fact the only way to do what you want.

Remember that even with a fairly easy game as chess it's barely possible to build a computer that can beat a human player.

	04-05-2005 01:38									#16
	Support Apolyton

quote: Originally posted by CyberShy Remember that even with a fairly easy game as chess it's barely possible to build a computer that can beat a human player.

That is a double-edged sword, though. Chess is simple, therefore all decisions matter a lot. On the other hand, small mistakes can be overcome in games like Civ, if the overall strategy is good. Note that the AI is already considerably better in Civ3 than it was in previous games.

Not perfect, but at least somewhat challenging at the "even" (no bonuses to the human nor to the AI) Regent level. This seems weird, but the complexity of the game actually allows rather simple algorithms (like: build many Settlers fast) to work. So, since the graphics will be crappy and music non-existent , I think the AI can and will be fine-tuned to challenge the player.

The next step would be to make the AI learn, but I think we will have to wait for Civ5 (or SMAC 2 ) for that to happen.

	07-05-2005 11:51									#17
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Originally posted by curtsibling My guess is the publishing people will aim for the xmas release...That makes sense.

No, no. Definitely released after blitzball season. Nobody will care about Civ4 while the Luca Goers are still playing for the cup.

	07-05-2005 14:10									#18
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by The Templar No, no. Definitely released after blitzball season. Nobody will care about Civ4 while the Luca Goers are still playing for the cup.

	08-05-2005 00:29									#19
	Suffering from ads?

quote: Originally posted by Locutus Normally I consider it arrogant when people quote themselves, but in this case I'll make an exception

Didn't he say that it was an email from the publisher?

I would like to be on that list.

	08-05-2005 08:48									#20
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Dear EBgames.com Customer, Thanks for pre-ordering from EBgames.com! As an added benefit to ordering from us, we’ll keep you informed of ship date changes. We are writing to let you know that we have changed the projected ship date for Civilization IV PC to 11/1/2005. The publisher did not provide us with a specific date so this is our best estimate only and should not be considered firm. We will update this date again as we receive new information. As always, EBgames.com will not charge your credit card until we ship your order. To check the status of your order, please visit https://www.ebgames.com/ebx/myaccou...tus/default.asp If you need further assistance, you can reply to this e-mail or give us a call at 1-877-432-9675 (internationally at 1-702-614-1570). We're here seven days a week from 8:00 AM to Midnight (EST). Thank you for choosing EBgames.com. Best Regards, EBgames.com Customer Service Team About release dates: EBgames.com works tirelessly with game publishers to ensure accurate release dates on our site. Occasionally, publishers decide to delay production to improve quality or add new features. Sometimes dates move forward; more often they move back and frequently they get changed more than once. If a game is scheduled for release far in the future, the publisher may not even give us a date. In those cases we rely on the collective wisdom of our buying staff to estimate a date based on their knowledge of the industry and the publisher's history. We guarantee that we will always post the best information provided by publishers. We know that you want that hot new game yesterday and we want to be the company that gets it to you quicker than anyone else.

Here is what I received.

	08-05-2005 09:50									#21
	Remove this text

Oh. So it wasn't from 2K. Oh well.

	08-05-2005 19:10									#22
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: In those cases we rely on the collective wisdom of our buying staff to estimate a date based on their knowledge of the industry and the publisher's history.

Insert your own release date joke below.

_____________________________________

	10-05-2005 07:47									#23
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

i hope it comes out after christmas, thatll make the game about 10 times better, cause before christmas and you know theyll be rushing it....

	10-05-2005 20:13									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by Footballgod128 i hope it comes out after christmas, thatll make the game about 10 times better, cause before christmas and you know theyll be rushing it....

Yeah but they have us expecting to receive about 3 patches, so part of the project planning was to leave some of the actual development to be included as "enhancements" in patches..

	10-05-2005 21:34									#25
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

I think DrSpike should run one of his contests to guess the date. "When will Civ4 be released?"

Paging DrSpike, paging DrSpike, to the Civ4 List Forum -- STAT.

	10-05-2005 22:57									#26
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

* DrSpike appears.

I think that would be a great idea Shogun. I'll PM MarkG to see if we can get a 'Poly t-shirt or something as a prize.

	11-05-2005 00:58									#27
	Support Apolyton

Great, when we start picking release dates, I'll select the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving, Nov 25, 2005.

Wow, DrSpike, you are omni-present -- just like a Diety

	11-05-2005 01:40									#28
	Increase Your PM Length

November 11th

	11-05-2005 01:45									#29
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by CyberShy November 11th

2006. And no patches, please.

	11-05-2005 02:36									#30
	Put an end to popups!

Just to clarify, exact dates will be required.