August 29th 2024.
It's been such a long time since the release of Civilization 6, almost a decade to be exact. So when GameCentral had the chance to play a demo of the highly anticipated Civilization 7 at Gamescom, they were more than excited. The only problem was, with all the hustle and bustle of the event, it wasn't exactly the ideal environment to fully immerse oneself in a game like Civilization 7. Nevertheless, the team at publisher 2K made sure to make a big impression and showcase the new features of the game.
Although the demo was only 15 minutes long, the team at GameCentral were already quite familiar with the basic mechanics of the game after playing Civilization for over 30 years. However, with the promise of bold changes and a complete redesign of the game, they were eager to see what Civilization 7 had in store. From what they could gather, it seemed like the changes were for the better.
It's worth mentioning that a full game of Civilization can take several hours to complete, so whether they got to play for 15 minutes or 30 minutes didn't really make a difference. However, they did have the opportunity to see the new interface and visuals, which were a slight improvement from the previous game. They also attended a 30-minute presentation by developer Firaxis, which shed more light on the new features and changes in Civilization 7.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Civilization is an epic strategy game where you guide your chosen civilization from prehistory to the modern era and beyond, while exploring and attempting to dominate the world through military or cultural means. Despite the best efforts of modern games, it's quite challenging to make a visually captivating game like Civilization, but the level of control and accessible controls make it a truly immersive experience.
One of the major changes in Civilization 7 is the introduction of three ages: antiquity, exploration, and modern eras. This creates a more structured gameplay experience, with the added ability to switch civilizations and leaders at the start of each new age. This change not only adds to the realism of the game, but also compensates for the fact that exploration is often the most exciting part of the game. Each age also ends with a specific crisis, setting the tone for the next age and keeping players engaged.
There are other significant changes, such as the introduction of commanders that allow armies to move as a single unit, but the overall theme of Civilization 7 is "history is built in layers". This is evident in many of the new features and sets the tone for the entire sequel.
GameCentral had the opportunity to talk to creative director Ed Beach after the demo, who was also a player of the game. He explained that players now have the option to switch leaders and assign them to different civilizations, even if it may not have been historically accurate. This adds an element of unpredictability and allows for more diverse and unique gameplay experiences. However, for those looking for a more historically accurate game, there is an option to play with only historically accurate combinations.
The question of balancing realism and gameplay has always been a challenge for the developers, and it's something they've had to consider carefully in Civilization 7. For example, the term "barbarians" has been replaced with "independent powers", but they still function in a similar manner. Depending on the randomized game, these powers can be friendly or hostile, adding an element of surprise and strategic planning for players.
One of the biggest struggles for the team at Firaxis is finding the right balance between realism and gameplay. They have even hired historians to help with this task, as they want to accurately represent different cultures and their histories while still creating an enjoyable game. However, they also understand that at the end of the day, Civilization is still just a game and some elements may not be entirely realistic.
One of the touchy topics that arise in the game is the concept of invading other countries. While it may seem like a fun gameplay element, it can also be a bit sensitive and controversial. The team at Firaxis has made sure to include some historical context and consequences for such actions, while still keeping the game engaging and enjoyable.
In the end, the demo of Civilization 7 was a success for GameCentral, as they were already eager to play more. With its new changes and improvements, Civilization 7 seems like a promising addition to the series. The team at Firaxis has managed to balance realism and gameplay, creating a game that is both educational and entertaining.
It has been quite some time since the last Civilization game, hasn't it? It's been almost a decade since Civilization 6 was released, and now we finally have a new installment in the series - Civilization 7. GameCentral had the opportunity to get their hands on this highly anticipated game at Gamescom last week, and let's just say it was a challenge to play in such a noisy and time-constrained environment. But despite the circumstances, it was clear that Civilization 7 is a big deal. Publisher 2K went all out to make sure everyone knew about it.
Although we only got to play the game for 15 minutes before taking a break to speak with creative director Ed Beach, it didn't matter much. After all, GameCentral has been playing Civilization games for over three decades, so we're quite familiar with the basics. However, it's been eight years since the last game, and developer Firaxis has promised some major changes and improvements. And from what we saw, they seem to have delivered on their promises.
A full game of Civilization takes several hours to complete, so whether we got to play for 15 or 30 minutes didn't make much of a difference. But during our brief playthrough, we did get to see some of the new interface and visuals, which seem to be a slight upgrade from the previous game. However, the real insight came from watching a 30-minute presentation from Firaxis. That's when we truly understood the scope and ambition of this new Civilization game.
As with all previous installments, Civilization 7 is an epic strategy game that takes you on a journey from prehistory to the modern era and beyond. You must carefully manage your chosen civilization, slowly exploring the world and trying to dominate it through military might or cultural influence. While the modern games have tried their best to make the visuals more appealing, it's the level of control and accessibility that truly makes these games so engrossing.
The main new feature in Civilization 7 is the division of the game into three distinct ages: antiquity, exploration, and modern eras. This adds a level of structure and progression that was missing in previous games. Additionally, you now have the ability to switch your civilization and leader at the start of each new age. This was done to increase the realism of the game and also to compensate for the fact that exploration is often the most exciting part of the game. Each age ends with a specific crisis, setting the stage for the next age and ensuring that your interest never wavers - a common issue with older Civilization games as players get bogged down in administrative tasks.
But the changes don't stop there. There are also new features such as commanders, which allow you to control entire armies as a single entity, and the overarching theme of "history being built in layers" that influences many aspects of the game. GameCentral had the chance to discuss these changes in detail with Ed Beach, and it's clear that a lot of thought and effort has gone into creating a more realistic and immersive experience for players.
During the conversation, it became clear that the developers have taken the age-old debate of realism vs. gameplay into consideration. For example, the term "barbarians" has been replaced with "independent powers" in an effort to be more sensitive and accurate to historical cultures. However, there are still moments of lightheartedness, as players can choose to have non-historical setups and mix and match leaders and civilizations.
One of the biggest changes in Civilization 7 is the ability to choose a different leader for your civilization, even if they historically wouldn't have been in power during that time period. This raises interesting questions about the balance between realism and gameplay, and it's clear that the team at Firaxis has put a lot of thought into this issue. They have even hired PhD historians to help them accurately portray different cultures while still keeping the game enjoyable for players.
One of the main concerns with portraying historical events in a video game is the potential for controversy. For example, the concept of invading other countries may seem like harmless fun when it's France, but it becomes more complicated when it's a different culture. The developers have acknowledged this and have made efforts to address it, such as including small narratives to remind players of the consequences of their actions.
Overall, GameCentral was thoroughly impressed with Civilization 7 and can't wait to play more. It's clear that Firaxis has put a lot of effort into making this sequel a more realistic and immersive experience, while still maintaining the addictive gameplay that has made the series so popular. We may have only had 15 minutes with the game, but it was enough to convince us that this is a Civilization game worth getting excited about.
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