quote: The way I was thinking is a 3D-tiled map. So you can 'look around anywhere', but the movement stay a little basic. I think turn based games are not very open too free terain movement, don't you think?

And this was what I figured. Sir Shiva also already mentioned the Populous 3 interface, but movement in that is totally free - in Civ3, the restriction mentioned above, ie tile-based, would no doubt be needed. I see that.

S.

For those computer folks out there...similiar to CA Unicenter? Start with a globe and zoom into the detail you desire...

quote: It would be great visually, but it would increase production time (obviously)

Don't worry, it's ganna be so late that this won't make much of a difference anyway!

Civilization IV, maybe.

Man, I'm dead keen for Civ3 now!!!

First of all: The game is scheduled to be released around 2002. It is predictable that Firaxis wants the game that is perfectly playable also on at least 3 year old systems, in order to give them a maximum number of potential byers.
Also, they have to take into account that the average fan of turnbased strategy, isnt quite as up-to-date with hes hardware, as for example the more dedicated 3D action-gamers out there.

Above means that the minimum requirements for the upcoming Civ-3 should land around 350Mhz Celeron and recommended around max 500+Mhz Pentium-3. Im still not talking about any graphic-accelerator. It will probably be supported - but NOT necessarily demanded.

Now, i think most of us simply DEMANDS sharp 32-bit/1024x768 windows-grapics (in termes of sharpness and ability to read small letters, that is) in Civ-3. We wount settle for anything else!
How the heck can above minimum requirements be meet, yet still on an smoothly turnable/zoomable 3D globe-map with above graphic-demands?

(Edited: perhaps im little too pessimistic here. After all; its 18-20 months ahead of continuing PC hardware development. Much can happen. Anyway, the "support for 2-3 year old systems" is still important. Regardless of above, i still stick to below arguments).

Besides, its a waste of processing-power better needed elsewere. What happens if the option "show enemy moves" is on in late end-games, and 15-20+ AI-units distributed all over the map moves around, one after the other? Fun to watch that erratically tumbling globe? For how long?

Its a turnbased strategy-game. Its not 3D action-game - it isnt even a real-time strategy game. Its a strategical planning- and thinking mans game.

If Russia and America wants to nuke each other, the nukes go over the North Pole (ignoring subs), NOT up to the North Pole, half-way around the world, and then back down south. Similarly, if you try to sail around Antarctica it's a much shorter trip than around the equator.

And as has been mentioned before, it improves the sensibilities of aerial and submarine movement, and allows more realistic scale to movement.

More like a donut shaped sphere with layers like in Rollercoaster tycoon for underground, aboveground, and sky; with options for turning them on or off.

great idea!
it will add some interest to the game.