Sid Meier talks about consoles stepping up to strategy

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 3rd 2007 at 5:30PM }

When we got our first real look at Civilization Revolution at E3 -- the Civilization designed for consoles -- it was a strange sensation. You know you're looking at a Civilization game, just a very different type of Civilization game. Civ guru Sid Meier recently spoke with CVG about Revolution and says, "I think the console audience has evolved to where it's not just hand-eye action games that we're seeing, there's a much wider variety of game genres becoming interesting on the consoles."

Meier makes sure to point out that Revolution isn't hurting Civilization 5, it's just a different path. The game is expected in the spring of '08. We're definitely looking forward to seeing more of Revolution -- what we've seen so far just shows it as being more playful than its PC counterpart. We have no idea how it'll control, so we're definitely looking forward to getting some hands-on time to see how easy it'll be to manage an empire without a keyboard and mouse.

Gallery: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Tags: civilizationrevolution, civilizationrevolutions, civrev, meier, sidmeier

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Justice @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:38PM

Hmm, never really got into this type of genre. If they pull it off, it can be a hit with XBL and having K&M compability w/the PS3, so PC gamers feel at hime.

Vegnagun @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:40PM

Can't be done on a console as well as it could on PC.

Justice @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:42PM

You can always try, and just build up from there.

Vegnagun @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:57PM

You can try but you can never get the precision that a mouse and tons of buttons would give you, all you can do is throw in a ton of menus to bring up to simplify it. Either way I heard the LOTR RTS on 360 wasn't bad.

Korova @ Sep 3rd 2007 7:22PM

Dont all consoles have some version of qwerty operational now: chatpad for 360, usb for ps3, I dont know about the Wii, but they got a wireless mouse pointer thingy.

Anyway, I hope its somewhat of a different concept. There is no point in trying to recreate the pc civ for console. Look at Sims. It is like trying to build a cathedral on a bridge. It can be done, but something else would be advisable.

Justice @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:43PM

Never hurts to try, and you can always build up from there.

Mike-453 @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:44PM

"Can't be done on a console as well as it could on PC."

You mean it canne be done as well with a gamepad as it can be with a pointer device and many buttons.

F1 @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:47PM

You know if Halo wars & Civilization works then there's going to be a flood of RTS (is that the right term) onto the 360. Here's to hopping The Warcraft series finds it's way.

Vegnagun @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:55PM

I dunno about warcraft, but I have heard about wow on 360. I don't hink it would work, how can a controller be used to hit buttons quick enough? You couldn't roll a rouge, spend time hitting 70-80, then spend months trying to find a guild that will let you in to hit up SSC and TK. Without that what is it really.

Korova @ Sep 3rd 2007 7:24PM

RTS is real time strategy. Civ is always turn based, so its just called strategy, w/o the RT

Todd Rabanus @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:05PM

games like civ rely on the mouse to point and click. until consoles allow a mouse to be used then this argument is redundant. You know for Sid Meier being considered a genius in the gaming world (and he is) he can say some really stupid things.

F1 @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:15PM

You know Vegnagun they could always use the same system they did on oblivion with the quick spell/item system through the d-pad.

Neebs @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:21PM

Sure, you could do an RTS on a console. Would it be at all skilled with no hotkeys or micros? No. There would only be enough skill to build order, mass an army, and attack.

Vegnagun @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:24PM

"Can't be done on a console as well as it could on PC." I didn't say can't be done, I said can't be done as well, and it can't. Sure they could give the d-pad an extensive workout, but without a mouse and keyboard you cant do it as well and you end up with a bunch of clutter.

Kazi @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:29PM

I've always used my analog sticks to map spells in games that require a lot of buttons. I don't know why no one else does this. 8 spells per analog aka 8 commands or 8 squads of units shortcut. The 360 does this sometimes with the Dpad for switching weapons in FPS but you don't see enough analogs getting that kind of action. And it's actually easier than the dpad (even the diagonals!)

Word of the street. @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:30PM

I can see a RTS game being developed for the Wii or the PS3 using the keyboard and mouse but in the x360,Mmmmm...Maybe if it uses the Text Messaging add-on or a USB K&M.

MR @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:59PM

I don't think I'd want to play an RTS game using a joystick. Maybe a Wiimote will work but we'll see.

Mr Khan @ Sep 3rd 2007 7:29PM

We're getting to the point where RTS is viable, between KB/M compatibility and the Wiimote, but strategy has never been a big hitter, even though turn-based has been around for some time between FF Tactics, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Fire Emblem

blooh @ Sep 4th 2007 12:09AM

that's a hot cleopatra

i bet the in-game graphics aren't nearly that good tho

and rts's are boring :(

k @ Sep 4th 2007 2:58AM

What Sid Meier needs to do is talk about the vapour that is Master of Magic 2.

SeriousKriss @ Sep 4th 2007 3:44AM

What's with all the comments about RTS? Civ is turn-based, and I could play any of the PC versions with a pad without if I wanted to, it wouldn't be a handicap like it is for RTS or FPS.
That said, it looks like Civ Revolution is just going to be a dumbed down version of Civ IV, so I probably won't bother with it.