REALAUDIO VERSION Listen to this week's news instead of reading it! Click the speaker to begin. (Left-Click To Stream; Right-Click 2.9MB D'load) COLUMN #108; BY KORN469 (25 March 2000, 22:56 EST) This week's installment of the "The Column" comes from an author we first encountered just six weeks ago. korn469's second expose is solemnly entitled "Death of Game". He asserts that both Firaxis and Activision can learn from some invaluable lessons from MicroProse as what NOT to do in terms of product support. Comments? Questions? Head over to our forums to help get the discussion going. Speaking of "The Column", we are running severely low on articles -- in fact, we have one more in the queue to be published. Follow this link to submit your written masterpiece today! -DanQ IDEAS FOR MP SCREENS WANTED (21 March 2000, 15:43 EST) Jeff Morris of Firaxis posted in our Dinosaurs forum asking for comments and ideas on the multiplayer setup screens. Give yours now! -MarkG IDEAS FOR MP SCREENS WANTED (21 March 2000, 15:44 EST) As you can also read in the Dinodaurs section, Jeff Morris of Firaxis posted in our Civ3 forum(as well as the Dino one) asking for comments and ideas on the multiplayer setup screens. A sign that some things like that will be common in the two games? We'll have to wait and see. For the time being go post your ideas! -MarkG

Apolyton &Friends News 19-25/Mar 2000

(23 March 2000, 17:24 EST) This is a really rare moment. A biblical(j/k) feeling inside me. Sid has spoken and we are bringing his message to you :)
With all the latest events it seems something like this was the best thing to do. Actually, the only thing that should be done.
Sid is making clear that he and Jeff Briggs are leading the development of Civ3. He publicly notes that ideas from the Civ3 List WILL be in the game(YEAH!). There are also hints on the improvments in the trade("corner the market"), combat("leaders", "armies"!) and diplomacy(based on smac) models, as well as the graphics engine. Check the whole thing here and post your comments on the forums. -MarkG

NORDICUS` TRADE GOODS!
(20 March 2000, 20:10 EST) Another great piece of CTP modification is finally here. Nordicus' New Trade Goods mods(for a Non-CD(original) install as well as for use with the Apolyton Pack) adds 33(yes thirty three) new trade goods! And it's just 700k... For full details check the readme
-MarkG

(23 March 2000, 2:05 EST) Brian Reynolds gave an interview on Daily Radar on... what else? His departure from Firaxis and the creation of BHG. Unfortuantely most of it already said. An interesting part is when Brian is asked the "Sid Meier's" part of the titles of all(and those in production) Firaxis games:
Q: By the way, can you give us any insight as to why Firaxis keeps doing that "Sid Meier's this" and "Sid Meier's that" thing?
A: You mean putting his name on the box? It must work from a marketing point of view. It was intended mainly as a stamp of approval thing. That is how we thought of it at the time. But I think even if Big Huge Games hadn't happened, it's something that would have been phased out anyway.
As well as if things will be similar on BHG:
Q: So, do you plan on having the first Big Huge Game be "Brian Reynolds's...." something? Or you could just use the byline you used on Alpha : "A Brian Reynolds Design."
A: Yes, it wouldn't be the other way. It would be after the title and just a byline. It might say, "a Brian Reynolds design," or it might say, "a Brian Reynolds Company Design." We haven't really discussed it yet.
There's more stuff in there, like that Brian, while in Firaxis, didnt exactly feel like... Riker of Star Trek: The Next Generation :) Do check out the full interview! Our thanks to yin for posting about it. -MarkG

TRAIN TALKS TO GAMECENTER
(25 March 2000, 12:57 EST) Yesterday C|Net's GameCenter posted an interview they recently conducted with Tim Train; the two-page expose has Train answering questions about what's going on at Big Huge Games right now, where they are headed and, interestingly enough, why BHG has no intention to publish games for the console platforms anytime in the near future.
Some excerpts:

"GC: What are you working on right now?
T.T.: We're in "the good ol' days" phase of the company--where everything is new, fresh, and exciting, and there's enough work to occupy you 24/7. Dave Inscore [vice president of graphics] is setting up the Web site and jobs page, while Jason Coleman [vice president of software] is working on hardware, software, and anything technically related. Brian [Reynolds] and I are focused on finding the right publishing partner...

GC:How big do you want to get, and when do you think you'll hit that number?
T.T.: Our immediate goal is to staff a top-notch development team of around 30 people. We hope to have the 30th person hired about 12 to14 months from now. We're very focused on controlled growth...

GC: Is Big Huge going after the console market too?
T.T.: Unfortunately, the console systems lack the controller necessary to make strategy games work. The thumbstick is too imprecise to zero in on one unit, or one tile, and the lack of a keyboard means you can't use shortcuts--you're dependent on navigating through layers of menus with that darn thumbstick..." -DanQ