Civ 5 demo

Darkness · 23-09-2010, 10:59

Who else has been playing the demo (or the real game) these last few days?

I wasn't really sure about buying the game (and if my computer could run it), so I downloaded the demo tuesday night.

Technical:
My old PC (2.8 ghz, 3 GB RAM, 2600 XT graphics card), with the graphics card at the bare minimum, and the rest well above minimum requirements, can handle the game fairly well. It runs fairly smoothly, with only the diplo screens being clearly "wrong", having all leaders blacked out. And I am sure that the map would look far prettier with a better machine and graphics card.

Gameplay:
I've played the 100 turn demo with all three available civs now and this is what I got from it:
- It's definately civilization, although it "feels" a bit different. Much like Civ 4 "felt" different from Civ 3.
- Great Library to Civil service slingshot is ridiculously powerful. A real MP game-breaker, IMHO.
- Population is still equal to power in civ, no matter which version you play. Especially now in Civ 5 where research is linked directly to population points. No population really means no new shiny weapons.
- Workers are key in the early game. But they don't stop growth in your cities when you build them (as opposed to settlers).
- The AI is still crazy for wonders. Even on warlord level, by the time turn 100 came around, the AI has built a handful of wonders.
- I love the "embarking" option. No more stupid transport ships needed...
- River starts are key to early game domination.
- The unit upgrades from city ruins are very powerful. I upgraded my starting warrior in the Egypt game first to a spearman and then to a pikeman due to good goody hut results. Needless to say he then was all the military I needed for a peaceful game for 100 turns.
- I like the implementation of the strategic resources. That you can only build so many swordsman from a single iron source feels very natural to me.
- City states are naggy whiny babies. But keeping them happy has great benefits.

And many more things of course...

So, the questions of this Steam demo experiment for me were: Can my PC run it and will I like it enough to buy it?

The answers: yes (within certain limitations), and yes!

So, Shabba, I'll be joining that Steam group that you've been promoting so diligently soon...

Rik Meleet · 23-09-2010, 13:10

I'm downloading the DEMO right now.

Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2,0 GHz; 2x 2 GB Ram, Radeon X1950 vid card. In a couple of hours we'll see what it does.

Rik Meleet · 23-09-2010, 13:16

Oops, according to Can You Run It (http://cyri.systemrequirementslab.com/CYRI/) I fail...

killercane · 23-09-2010, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rik Meleet

Oops, according to Can You Run It (http://cyri.systemrequirementslab.com/CYRI/) I fail...

That site gave my regular vista pc 2 below recommended marks but it runs much better on that than my 6g RAM win 7 laptop! So pretty video card dependent.

killercane · 23-09-2010, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkness

Who else has been playing the demo (or the real game) these last few days?

I wasn't really sure about buying the game (and if my computer could run it), so I downloaded the demo tuesday night.

Technical:
My old PC (2.8 ghz, 3 GB RAM, 2600 XT graphics card), with the graphics card at the bare minimum, and the rest well above minimum requirements, can handle the game fairly well. It runs fairly smoothly, with only the diplo screens being clearly "wrong", having all leaders blacked out. And I am sure that the map would look far prettier with a better machine and graphics card.

Gameplay:
I've played the 100 turn demo with all three available civs now and this is what I got from it:
- It's definately civilization, although it "feels" a bit different. Much like Civ 4 "felt" different from Civ 3.
- Great Library to Civil service slingshot is ridiculously powerful. A real MP game-breaker, IMHO.
- Population is still equal to power in civ, no matter which version you play. Especially now in Civ 5 where research is linked directly to population points. No population really means no new shiny weapons.
- Workers are key in the early game. But they don't stop growth in your cities when you build them (as opposed to settlers).
- The AI is still crazy for wonders. Even on warlord level, by the time turn 100 came around, the AI has built a handful of wonders.
- I love the "embarking" option. No more stupid transport ships needed...
- River starts are key to early game domination.
- The unit upgrades from city ruins are very powerful. I upgraded my starting warrior in the Egypt game first to a spearman and then to a pikeman due to good goody hut results. Needless to say he then was all the military I needed for a peaceful game for 100 turns.
- I like the implementation of the strategic resources. That you can only build so many swordsman from a single iron source feels very natural to me.
- City states are naggy whiny babies. But keeping them happy has great benefits.

And many more things of course...

So, the questions of this Steam demo experiment for me were: Can my PC run it and will I like it enough to buy it?

The answers: yes (within certain limitations), and yes!

So, Shabba, I'll be joining that Steam group that you've been promoting so diligently soon...

Agreed with all points, especially starting city location. You can get really screwed if you dont have multiple resources nearby. Im not sold on the effectiveness of the worker early yet since he only provides +1 whatever to most tiles (other than luxuries).

The AI loves building wonders.

Matrix · 23-09-2010, 17:40

I didn't expect my computer would handle Civ5 so well! I'm very happy with that!

I have only played a few turns though, so I can't make much of the gameplay. But my first impressions are above expectations!

Rik Meleet · 23-09-2010, 19:47

It's on the limits of my videocard. Since I cannot afford buying a videocard upgrade I'll postpone buying ciV.

Shabbaman · 23-09-2010, 23:05

Rik, I got a broken 9600GT that you can get for free. Chances are high that it will run troublefree unless you play FPS games.

Rik Meleet · 23-09-2010, 23:53

Thanks. Appreciated.

Samson · 24-09-2010, 00:25

I think it will grow on me, but a few things iritate me about it:

The One Unit Per Tile seems like you really need to micro manage combat. Even in this 100 turns you can build a large enough army that you need to think about how you can efficently move it down a penisular and end up with you swordsmen in front of your archers when you get to the city. What it will be like in the industrial age I do not know.

Are you missing tools in the demo? Can you find out which civs are protecting which city states?

Is healling random? Or do they just not bother telling you how long a unit will take to heal?

23-09-2010, 10:59	#1
Darkness Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Netherlands. Posts: 4,169	Civ 5 demo Who else has been playing the demo (or the real game) these last few days? I wasn't really sure about buying the game (and if my computer could run it), so I downloaded the demo tuesday night. Technical: My old PC (2.8 ghz, 3 GB RAM, 2600 XT graphics card), with the graphics card at the bare minimum, and the rest well above minimum requirements, can handle the game fairly well. It runs fairly smoothly, with only the diplo screens being clearly "wrong", having all leaders blacked out. And I am sure that the map would look far prettier with a better machine and graphics card. Gameplay: I've played the 100 turn demo with all three available civs now and this is what I got from it: - It's definately civilization, although it "feels" a bit different. Much like Civ 4 "felt" different from Civ 3. - Great Library to Civil service slingshot is ridiculously powerful. A real MP game-breaker, IMHO. - Population is still equal to power in civ, no matter which version you play. Especially now in Civ 5 where research is linked directly to population points. No population really means no new shiny weapons. - Workers are key in the early game. But they don't stop growth in your cities when you build them (as opposed to settlers). - The AI is still crazy for wonders. Even on warlord level, by the time turn 100 came around, the AI has built a handful of wonders. - I love the "embarking" option. No more stupid transport ships needed... - River starts are key to early game domination. - The unit upgrades from city ruins are very powerful. I upgraded my starting warrior in the Egypt game first to a spearman and then to a pikeman due to good goody hut results. Needless to say he then was all the military I needed for a peaceful game for 100 turns. - I like the implementation of the strategic resources. That you can only build so many swordsman from a single iron source feels very natural to me. - City states are naggy whiny babies. But keeping them happy has great benefits. And many more things of course... So, the questions of this Steam demo experiment for me were: Can my PC run it and will I like it enough to buy it? The answers: yes (within certain limitations), and yes! So, Shabba, I'll be joining that Steam group that you've been promoting so diligently soon... __________________ "Death is lighter than a feather, but duty is heavier than a mountain..." - The Eye of the World

23-09-2010, 13:10	#2
Rik Meleet Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands. Posts: 2,502	I'm downloading the DEMO right now. Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2,0 GHz; 2x 2 GB Ram, Radeon X1950 vid card. In a couple of hours we'll see what it does. __________________ Social life ? Sounds like fun !! Where can I download that ?

23-09-2010, 13:16	#3
Rik Meleet Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands. Posts: 2,502	Oops, according to Can You Run It (http://cyri.systemrequirementslab.com/CYRI/) I fail... __________________ Social life ? Sounds like fun !! Where can I download that ?

23-09-2010, 17:40	#6
Matrix Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 4,828	I didn't expect my computer would handle Civ5 so well! I'm very happy with that! I have only played a few turns though, so I can't make much of the gameplay. But my first impressions are above expectations! __________________

23-09-2010, 19:47	#7
Rik Meleet Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands. Posts: 2,502	It's on the limits of my videocard. Since I cannot afford buying a videocard upgrade I'll postpone buying ciV. __________________ Social life ? Sounds like fun !! Where can I download that ?

23-09-2010, 23:05	#8
Shabbaman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Costa La Haya Posts: 8,493	Rik, I got a broken 9600GT that you can get for free. Chances are high that it will run troublefree unless you play FPS games. __________________ "Our spam is backed with COMETS!"

23-09-2010, 23:53	#9
Rik Meleet Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands. Posts: 2,502	Thanks. Appreciated. __________________ Social life ? Sounds like fun !! Where can I download that ?

24-09-2010, 00:25	#10
Samson Warlord Join Date: May 2004 Location: . Posts: 397	I think it will grow on me, but a few things iritate me about it: The One Unit Per Tile seems like you really need to micro manage combat. Even in this 100 turns you can build a large enough army that you need to think about how you can efficently move it down a penisular and end up with you swordsmen in front of your archers when you get to the city. What it will be like in the industrial age I do not know. Are you missing tools in the demo? Can you find out which civs are protecting which city states? Is healling random? Or do they just not bother telling you how long a unit will take to heal?