Civilization VII

[CaptainKoloth]

Alpha Centauri from 1999 blows ALL the Civ games out of the water ! Who agrees ? Or tell me why I'm wrong. Love Civ 4 but Alpha Centauri is the best !

I am Spartacus! (I.e. I'm with you on this)

[bobarossa]

I couldn't get into Alpha Centauri because the Tech Tree was so obscure.  Almost nothing made sense from the tech names.

[CaptainKoloth]

I couldn't get into Alpha Centauri because the Tech Tree was so obscure.  Almost nothing made sense from the tech names.

The game usefully divides them into four categories (Explore, Conquer, Build, Discover) with numbering so you can get a sense of where they are in the progression. They actually talk about how this exact issue was a challenge and how they thought about it in the designer's notes in the manual.

[solops]

I couldn't get into Alpha Centauri because the Tech Tree was so obscure.  Almost nothing made sense from the tech names.

+1
and ugly maps

[Anguille]

I couldn't get into Alpha Centauri because the Tech Tree was so obscure.  Almost nothing made sense from the tech names.

+1
and ugly maps

Yeah, the game is not pretty but had excellent gameplay.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

I couldn't get into Alpha Centauri because the Tech Tree was so obscure.  Almost nothing made sense from the tech names.

Yup.  I felt a sense of accomplishment in Civ if I did something like build the pyramids.  Alpha Centauri just didn't offer that.  "You've discovered nerve stapling!".  Ok, cool, I guess...

[CaptainKoloth]

I couldn't get into Alpha Centauri because the Tech Tree was so obscure.  Almost nothing made sense from the tech names.

+1
and ugly maps

Heathens

[FarAway Sooner]

SMAC had the best faction design, the most immersive writing, and the greatest variety of ways to win the game of any 4x title I think I've ever seen.  Your unique faction strengths, your culture/government challenges, and the variability of starting-game conditions made each victory seem unique.  While some bemoaned the lack of customization options, I rather enjoyed the fact that each faction had acute strengths and weaknesses and you always had to balance around them.

By modern standards, I'm not sure it'd measure up, but at the time, I found the story telling and the replayability first-rate.  Few 4x games since then have so seamlessly integrated so many different new features or gameplay conventions in a single title.

That said, most of those new features and gameplay conventions have been used and reused by dozens of titles since then, so nothing about the game would feel groundbreaking or even intriguing today.

[steve58]

Release date has been leaked:  Feb 11

...and some gameplay to be available later today:

[Rayfer]

I was just on Steam for other reasons and saw Civ VII was available for pre-purchase with 3 options ranging from $69.99 up to $129.99. 

[steve58]

I was just on Steam for other reasons and saw Civ VII was available for pre-purchase with 3 options ranging from $69.99 up to $129.99. 

Yeah, that sound you just heard was my wallet snapping shut. 

[steve58]

Just watched the 26+ minute video. Art/graphics look great.  +1 to navigable rivers.  Three different Ages, OK.  Having to change/evolve into another civilization at each new Age, .  Will continue to keep an eye on Civ VII, but it won't be a day one buy, more likely when the Civ VII Complete/Anthology/Platinum/etc version is on sale.

[bobarossa]

/quote]
Did they steal that from Humankind?

[Gusington]

129.99??? 

[CJReich46]

 129.99!?!! Please don't be DLC hell.

I learned my lesson with Civ V, not pre-ordering anything.