StrategyInformer, one of our affiliate sites, has posted an interview with Alex Mantzaris, lead designer of Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword. The interview consists of 15 questions and covers topics such as random events, graphical updates, new Wonder, new leader, return of privateers and paratroopers, scenarios, moddability improvements, AI improvements, and demos.
Origineel Artikel: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.p...mp;goto=newpost
Here is a list of new info from the interview:
- The title “Beyond the Sword” suggests that the expansion gives more depth to the second half of the game, and also implies players will have more options when it comes to building up their empire through peaceful means.
- There are large numbers of random events in Beyond the Sword. They don’t all occur in every game, so each game feels unique. Some events simply ask the player how to deal with a situation that has arisen, but other events are quite intricate, sending the player on quests in order to receive some reward, for example.
- The graphics will be more polished and the look of the game has been completely transformed for some of the scenarios.
- Space race now allows you to customize your 3D spaceship before you send it off to Alpha Centauri.
- Apostolic Palace, a new Wonder, allows you to leverage your diplomatic standing to manipulate the world like never before. Build it and civilizations sharing your religion can vote on resolutions you put forth, like stopping and starting wars, enforcing trade embargos, or even assigning cities to their "rightful" owner.
- Queen Boudica (Traits: charismatic and aggressive) of the Celts is one of the new leaders.
- Privateers and Paratroopers have returned, and the AI knows how to use them.
- The scenarios are not part of single-player campaigns and have very high replay value. They range from fantasy to hardcore WWII simulations and range in time from the Renaissance to centuries into the future. Some are played on random maps, while others are played on historical maps.
- In multiplayer front, it's now possible to select any leader-civilization combination. This new option likely will give Civs and leaders that were previously unpopular in multiplayer new attention. The traditional sequential turn play mode has been improved so all players on the same team take their turns simultaneously.
- More game mechanics have been exposed to XML and Python, making it possible to do things that you couldn’t previously do with just Civ4. You can now completely alter the look of the interface, and have civilization-specific graphics for the same unit.
- The AI has been improved and no longer needs hefty bonuses to compete with a smart human.
- Firaxis will release demos showcasing two of the scenarios.
- The expansion has been in development since the release of Warlords last summer.
EDIT (5/8): StrategyInformer has taken down the interview and said it will be back on June 16th. Apparently they published it too early…