We are mostly as fan of some football (soccer) or basketball team (or chose any other team sport you like it).

We want a great game, we want to see them to win after a good "fight", or at least throw in all their energy into their best efforts.

Some fan will enjoy the game anyway, or at least until it end in a (may be miserable) victory or a useful draw, others want to see some great play, something to tell to the friends for months, maybe years.

But, as in sports, there are lots of factor to play a part, and money are always in.

Most of the fan know, and they understand it, as long as the line is draw enough near they needs (or dreams). So I think that complaining is part of the game (and to tolerate it is part of game developers job ).

At the end we'll see, but I bet that if Firaxis will sincerelly do its best, fan player will applaude them loudly, at least with their wallets, you know.

quote: ...most of the threads has had negative comments on almost every aspect of the game.

they aren't negative comments per se...they are subjective critisism, QC, or simply put...player feedback. I mean honestly, how many people here who are barking about what they see, or dont see, are NOT going to buy the game? Remember, if it wasn't for Cid and Civ none of us would be the fans we are now. personally, i might gripe or praise certain features, but there is NOTHING that would detain me from buying this game. I *****ed and moned about CTP I, so I returned the equally horrible sequal. but THIS Civ III is a sequal to a sequel, and i think we all know, deep down, that this programming team overseen by Cid, is going to produce another captivating and entertaining sequel to the sequel to the original...got that? And we all want that great team to ackowledge what we say. i mean how cool is it to see an idea you thought would be a great feature, actually added to the game? or something you tought was lousy taken out of the game?

Just think that at least for everyone of us in the forums, there are probably a 1000 fans of Civ3 that are going to buy it the day it releases. Do you think we (members of the forum) are representative of those others? I simply don't think we are. We (most of us) are reminisce of those that others tell "It's ok to love your pets, just don't LOVE you pets!" I'm not implying beastiality here, just that some may take this game a bit too seriously. Therefore, why should Firaxis worry too much about what a small percentage of its customers think as far as what stage the game is in and what kind of information it wants to pass on to us. I want to thank Firaxis for all the information they have provided. Don't get me wrong, I love to read about it also, but I know that the game will still develop and deploy regardless of the what or when of "updates" we get.

Nemo they are very negative comments in some cases where one person wanted everyone to write Firaxis about the unique units and 7 civs to complain.
Back when I first hear about Apolyton I just look in from time to time to see what was going on, and I did this for several months before I asked for a log-on name and password. Once I got the name I only posted one in a while, now I post a lot more. What I’m wondering about is how many people are just looking in and saying no way I’m going to get a log on and post with all that negative stuff being said to one another.

Bigfree it may be more like 10,000 copy the first day. I know this if I don’t get one the first day I will be very unhappy with someone. And yes I agree let’s have the game yesterday so I can be playing this game during the summer break.

quote: Originally posted by joseph1944 on 05-02-2001 10:00 PM Recall CTP, it sold around 30,000 + however Civ 3 will in my opinion sell 50,000+ and maybe cross into the 100,000 areas. There are how many Apolyton people with log on? We are a small minority in the total number of people who will buy this game.

Internet community isn't so big (but don't forget many simply lurk and never ask for a login, for some reason), but dedicated players have a relevant role, as always have dedicated customers of, let say, HiFi or cars: some company works to please "instant customers", as HiFi with glossy design and lot of unnecessary buttons, some works for audiophiles that care of great, clear sound and can live with black/silver racks.

Of course, for money reason, lot of companies try to please a large share of customers, and customer care is the tool they use to manage customers difference: Internet community write, speak, send messages about products, while most of "common customers" don't.

That's why Apolytoner's voice should be listened and considered: they are dedicated, they are often competent users (players) and know a lot about games. We aren't always right, and often we miss the point because we don't have all the info, but this is how things works.

I bet Firaxis developers know it, and simply take all the best from every rant... if there is any

Isn't it interesting that CTP 2 sold only 30,000 copies - especially after the negative comments started coming out about it Game companies take note!

With about 20,000 visiters (members and lurkers) to these forums each month, means that if each of these people knows 3 people, and those people each know 3 people - well, you can see the multiplier effect. This multiplier will be either good or bad for a game company, depending on how good the particular game is.

You can bet the farm - that when Civ 3 hits the stores - it will sell like hotcakes - and will continue to sell for years afterward. Word of mouth will guarantee big sales for this game. Just look at Civ2 - it's still selling copies.

A classic game will always have a future