Walking Through the Early Turns of Civilization: Beyond Earth

[sisko]

Kat Bailey from usgamer.net explains how to get off to a good start if you're new to the Civilization series.

Civilization can be pretty overwhelming for new players, and Beyond Earth is different enough that even longtime fans will have to spend some time getting acclimated. So why don't we all learn together?

Watch as Kat walks through the early points of Civ: Beyond Earth and offers some helpful tips ( such as how not to lose a settler to alien attack  ).

The early stages of Civilization: Beyond Earth

[BlaneckW]

Civilization can be pretty overwhelming for new players

No.  I played it when I was twelve....  might have even been earlier.

[Green1]

Maybe not for you or I because we grew up on them. I came from a Commodore 64 RPG start, so the jump was not too bad. Alpha Centuari was my first true 4x. I do not count Panzer General as one because it was basically a set of scenarios.

But, I could imagine someone who comes from casual puzzle game or some phone games only background would be lost at first. A 4x, even with claims that they are getting "dumbed down" are more complex than Bejeweled or Candy Crush. (and ultimately more rewarding)

[BlaneckW]

You could argue that AC is overwhelming for new players because you see the pink fungus and your mind blanks. 

[Buster's Uncle]

That's the fungal gin you drank.

Potent, that fungal gin is.

[Flux]

Civilization can be pretty overwhelming for new players

No.  I played it when I was twelve....  might have even been earlier.

I played my first game of Civ V when I was 10.
After that I used DOSbox to play the original. I actually like that one better...

[BlaneckW]

After that I used DOSbox to play the original. I actually like that one better...

I'd recommend Civ 3 but Alpha Centauri is better anyway.  Civ 3 might make a good introduction to AC.

[BlaneckW]

I played my first game of Civ V when I was 10.

You have my condolences.

[Flux]

After that I used DOSbox to play the original. I actually like that one better...

I'd recommend Civ 3 but Alpha Centauri is better anyway.  Civ 3 might make a good introduction to AC.

Yeah. I have all the CIV games but CivII. Though I don't have any expansions except for III, since it came with everything on it.
In CivIII though, I normally ended up just automating all of my workers and waiting for things to heat up while I made settlers until the borders were final.
It probably goes like this for me:
1. AC
2. IV
3. I
4. III
5. V - I can't quite put a finger on it, but something about this just makes me wish the game was over. Feels almost like a chore when I start this up. (which is rare)

[BlaneckW]

It's the atmosphere.  Or I assume it is.  I never played Civ 5.

[Green1]

It's the atmosphere.  Or I assume it is.  I never played Civ 5.

It was not so much the atmosphere... but it felt almost sterile. I personally think it was the factions. You did not have recognizable "personalities" like was in Civ 4.

Now do not get me wrong, the game looked gorgeous. BNW's culture system with theming works of art and artifacts was absolutely brilliant and what culture actually is. But with the combat, the maps felt cramped even on large maps. The AI would be very drpy at time in war. It also did not seem to flow as smooth as Civ 4.

Yeah, it's playable. Yeah, sometimes it can be quite strategic. But sterile.

[Yitzi]

After that I used DOSbox to play the original. I actually like that one better...

I'd recommend Civ 3 but Alpha Centauri is better anyway.  Civ 3 might make a good introduction to AC.

Yeah. I have all the CIV games but CivII. Though I don't have any expansions except for III, since it came with everything on it.
In CivIII though, I normally ended up just automating all of my workers and waiting for things to heat up while I made settlers until the borders were final.
It probably goes like this for me:
1. AC
2. IV
3. I
4. III
5. V - I can't quite put a finger on it, but something about this just makes me wish the game was over. Feels almost like a chore when I start this up. (which is rare)

I (or my family) have all but V.  My favorite is AC, then IV; I played the others too young to remember clearly.