My interview with Civ 5 lead designer Jon Shafer about OOTP's "unique unfairness"

BradC · 08-01-2013, 04:59 PM

I interviewed Jon Shafer, who was the lead designer on Civ 5 and who is working on his own indie strategy game now. He's been playing OOTP since Dec. 2011 and had a lot of interesting things to say about the game, including its "unique unfairness."

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...nfairness.html

bwburke94 · 08-01-2013, 09:00 PM

A fellow failed game developer? Should be interesting to see if we can get Jon Shafer and Curt Schilling to do something together.

Sorry for bashing Civ 5, but I'm a Civ 4 player.

The Wolf · 08-01-2013, 09:42 PM

Curt Schilling Baseball?

Biggio509 · 08-03-2013, 02:15 PM

I know you were joking but there is actually a link with Schilling and Civilization as well! I had to edit this because I was not remembering correctly. In the late 1990's a small gaming company called Avalon Hill sued Microprose for infringing on the Civilization name. Avalon Hill won and then Hasboro bought them for the name and discontinued their products. From what I have read Schilling was a Advanced Squad Leader player. That game was made by Avalon Hill and Schilling joined with a company to continue ASL. They eventually signed a contract that allowed them to continue publishing the game and updating the living rules. So the Civ lawsuit actually impacted Schilling's non-baseball career.

professor ape · 08-03-2013, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwburke94

A fellow failed game developer? Should be interesting to see if we can get Jon Shafer and Curt Schilling to do something together.

Sorry for bashing Civ 5, but I'm a Civ 4 player.

The initial release of Civ V was disappointing. The Gods & Kings update was a big step forward. I just got the Brave New World expansion. I haven't played it but it is getting rave reviews. I can't wait to give it a try.

After reading the interview, it seems to me that the release of Civ V was very similar to the overhaul of OOTP back a few versions ago (I'm forgetting if it was 9 or 10). In both cases it was realized that there needed to be a significant shakeup of the code if the game was going to move into the future. Both efforts went through significant growing pains, caused a good bit of controversy and stress within their core audience. but I believe that in both cases the games have come out of the other side much better for it.

Let's just hope they keep moving forward.

Painmantle · 08-03-2013, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggio509

I know you were joking but there is actually a link with Schilling and Civilization as well! I had to edit this because I was not remembering correctly. In the late 1990's a small gaming company called Avalon Hill sued Microprose for infringing on the Civilization name. Avalon Hill won and then Hasboro bought them for the name and discontinued their products. From what I have read Schilling was a Advanced Squad Leader player. That game was made by Avalon Hill and Schilling joined with a company to continue ASL. They eventually signed a contract that allowed them to continue publishing the game and updating the living rules. So the Civ lawsuit actually impacted Schilling's non-baseball career.

And THAT SUCKED, cause I loved Avalon Hill's Games...I still have a whole closet full of them!

Biggio509 · 08-03-2013, 06:34 PM

It did I still have a few of them as well. I grew up playing AH games. At least Schilling helped keep ASL alive. I never really played that. I think it came out in early college for me. The expense was kind of steep. I did play the original squad leader a lot though.

08-01-2013, 04:59 PM	#1
BradC All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: northern CA Posts: 1,878	My interview with Civ 5 lead designer Jon Shafer about OOTP's "unique unfairness" I interviewed Jon Shafer, who was the lead designer on Civ 5 and who is working on his own indie strategy game now. He's been playing OOTP since Dec. 2011 and had a lot of interesting things to say about the game, including its "unique unfairness." http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...nfairness.html

08-03-2013, 02:15 PM	#4
Biggio509 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,027	I know you were joking but there is actually a link with Schilling and Civilization as well! I had to edit this because I was not remembering correctly. In the late 1990's a small gaming company called Avalon Hill sued Microprose for infringing on the Civilization name. Avalon Hill won and then Hasboro bought them for the name and discontinued their products. From what I have read Schilling was a Advanced Squad Leader player. That game was made by Avalon Hill and Schilling joined with a company to continue ASL. They eventually signed a contract that allowed them to continue publishing the game and updating the living rules. So the Civ lawsuit actually impacted Schilling's non-baseball career. Last edited by Biggio509; 08-03-2013 at 02:30 PM.

08-01-2013, 09:00 PM	#2
bwburke94 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Belchertown, MA, USA Posts: 4,522	A fellow failed game developer? Should be interesting to see if we can get Jon Shafer and Curt Schilling to do something together. Sorry for bashing Civ 5, but I'm a Civ 4 player.

08-03-2013, 06:34 PM	#7
Biggio509 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,027	It did I still have a few of them as well. I grew up playing AH games. At least Schilling helped keep ASL alive. I never really played that. I think it came out in early college for me. The expense was kind of steep. I did play the original squad leader a lot though.