As Firaxis shares a new trailer for Civilization: Beyond Earth, they reveal a much demanded feature received the axe, and may be a possible deal breaker for many of you.
To begin, the game is still 4X at its core; explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. The game’s conceit is human civilization is leaving Earth after a major global conflict referred to as ‘the Big Mistake’. Cleverly enough, one end scenario from older Civ titles (building a space station and launching your first shuttle) is the starting off point for this one.
Matching this new paradigm shift are new mechanics fitting your new role as colonizer-ambassador. With the new affinities, you can choose to play for Harmony, Supremacy, or Purity, directing whether you will mingle and breed with the natives, take over, or assert human dominion.
A lot of core elements have been heavily improved for faster play. For example, the older tech trees have been replaced with weblike structures, that increase permutations so heavily you can’t explore them all in a single game.
@RKade8583 Hello Ryan. We wanted to reach out and let you know that we were mistaken – strategic view is not in Civilization: Beyond Earth.
— Civilization (@CivGame) September 26, 2014
However, there is one feature fans were looking for that did not make the cut, and this is one fans really wanted. Strategic view, allowing players to watch their civilization move on its own on a 2D map. This feature allowed players with older graphical displays play the game.
@CivGame I guess that's all I can ask for. Low detail, organized, high contrast. It was perfect for people with bad eyes or bad computers…
— Ryan (@RKade8583) September 26, 2014
While the technology has changed today, older fans had specific expectations for modern day strategic view. Low detail, high contrast, and organized presentation would still be good for players with bad vision or low spec computers.
Firaxis won’t comment on whether they can bring the feature in a future update. They have gone on record that if they can add it in, they will announce it.
Civilization: Beyond Earth will be released on October 24, for Windows, OS X, and Linux.
