60 Second Preview of…

Civilization III at E3 2001

The Specs

Civilization III returns with an emphasis on giving the game a facelift instead of reconstructive surgery. Besides new graphics, there will be some new combat options, including air missions, bombardment siege, and withdrawal from battle, an enhanced trade system, expanded diplomacy, and new wonders, technologies and units. Civ 3 will also have some new concepts, such as culture, nationality and arts, and the game will support multiplayer options. Sid Meier is playing the game and offering suggestions, but development is being driven by Jeff Briggs.

The Speculation

Mark's Comments: I'm probably being a bit unfair to this game, but I was so far below being whelmed by Civ 3 that I needed a pick and shovel just to mine my way back up to underwhelming. The best part about the presentation I went to was watching Jeff Briggs' bald head start to bead up when I asked how they were going to get rid of the end-game tedium that has always plagued the Civ series. He showed me a streamlined tech tree, like that was some kind of answer? All the while Sid Meier was standing in the corner of the room with his arms folded in front of his chest, never uttering a word during the presentation. He was like the Godfather and Briggs was his lieutenant, and you just knew Meier was going to bust Briggs over the head with a coffee mug if he said something stupid. So what's Civ 3 like? It's Civ 2 with improved graphics and a few new wrinkles.

Tom's Comments: Sid Meier isn't the Godfather of game design for no reason. Even if he has been letting lieutenants like Jeff Briggs and his former collaborator Brian Reynolds do all the dirty work, he's a man whose name on a game means something. Civ 3 may not make for a stellar demo and it may not be radically different from the lightning Meier caught in a bottle oh-so-many years ago with the original Civilization. But when I think of all the hours I've spent on games with titles that began with "Sid Meier's...", I can't help but sit back, trust that he knows what he's doing, and look forward to a compelling strategy game this holiday season.

Back to 60 Second Previews

May 22, 2001