Civilization VII: Interview with Dennis Shirk gamescom 2024

Summary

In this Gamescom 2024 interview, Dennis Sher, executive producer at Fexus, discusses the development of the new Civilization game. He highlights the game's innovative features, such as evolving civilizations and the ability to select leaders independently from civilizations. Sher also addresses the game's simultaneous release on all platforms, the introduction of verticality and navigable rivers, and the enhanced UI scalability. Additionally, he talks about the integrated tutorial and crisis system, designed to challenge players and keep the game engaging.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Dennis Sher, the executive producer at Fexus, has been with the company for 19 years and has played a pivotal role in the development of Civilization games.
• 🌟 The new Civilization game aims to break the predictable pattern of previous versions by introducing new concepts and changes, keeping the core game loop intact.
• 🛠️ Sher acts as Ed Beach's right-hand man, ensuring that the development team has all the necessary resources to complete the game.
• 📈 The game has been in development since just before the pandemic and is described as the biggest release in the Civilization series in terms of scale.
• 🗣️ Players are beginning to understand the new mechanics of civilization evolution and merging cultures, as opposed to a binary switch between civilizations.
• 🔄 A new feature allows players to select leaders independently from civilizations, although there is only one leader per playthrough.
• 🏛️ The game includes historical recommendations for civilization and leader pairings to enhance role-playing experiences.
• 🌐 The game world becomes larger as players progress through the ages, simulating the historical discovery of new lands and civilizations.
• 🎉 The game is released on all platforms simultaneously, which required the development team to optimize the game for a wide range of hardware capabilities.
• 📊 The game introduces a crisis system at the end of each age, challenging players to manage unexpected events that can affect their civilization.
• 🖥️ The UI has been improved to be scalable, ensuring that important information is displayed without cluttering the game's beautiful maps.

Q & A

What is Dennis Sher's role at Fexus in the development of the new Civilization game?

Dennis Sher is the executive producer at Fexus and has been with the company for 19 years, working on Civilization games for almost the entire time. He is Ed Beach's right-hand man, ensuring that the team has everything they need to complete the game, acting as a facilitator for the production process and removing any roadblocks.

What was Ed Beach's vision for Civilization 7 compared to previous iterations?

Ed Beach wanted to introduce a new concept that would be unpredictable for the fans, unlike Civ 4, 5, and 6 which were iterative. He aimed to keep the same foundation and core game loop but change the approach to surprise and engage the players.

How does the new Civilization game handle the evolution and merging of civilizations?

The game allows civilizations to evolve and merge based on the player's actions and how their people are changing. It's not a binary switch but a cultural merging, which is a new way of experiencing civilization progression.

Can players select leaders independently from civilizations in Civilization 7?

Yes, players can select leaders independently from civilizations, but there are historical recommendations to guide players who prefer role-playing. However, each player can only have one leader throughout the game.

What is the significance of the Peabody library in Baltimore in the context of the game?

The Peabody library in Baltimore was used as a shooting location for the game's promotional material due to its stunning appearance, as suggested by the art director Jason Johnson.

What is Dennis Sher's favorite civilization and leader combination in Civilization 7?

Dennis Sher's favorite combination in Civilization 7 is Hatshepsut with Egypt, as he enjoys playing as a culture builder.

How does the game's length compare to previous Civilization games?

The length of a Civilization 7 game is similar to that of Civilization 6, with each age having a cap on the number of turns, such as 200 turns for the Antiquity age.

What is the maximum number of players supported in Civilization 7, and does it vary with the game's ages?

The maximum number of players in Civilization 7 varies not only between platforms but also between ages of the game. The number of players can increase as the game progresses and new civilizations are discovered.

How does the simultaneous release on all platforms affect the game's development?

The simultaneous release on all platforms required the development team to ensure high-quality graphics and performance across all platforms, including the less powerful ones like the Nintendo Switch. This influenced the game's art asset creation and engine capabilities.

What new features have been added to the map generation in Civilization 7?

Civilization 7 introduces verticality to the map with sea cliffs and navigable rivers that flow downhill, adding strategic depth to movement and military positioning.

Are there plans to release a demo of Civilization 7 after Gamescom?

As of the interview, there were no confirmed plans to release a demo of Civilization 7 after Gamescom.

How does Civilization 7 handle the display of information without cluttering the game's maps?

Civilization 7 features a scalable UI that allows players to adjust the size and visibility of the interface elements to their preference, ensuring the game's maps remain uncluttered.

What improvements have been made in Civilization 7 to assist new or casual players?

Civilization 7 integrates an interactive tutorial into the game and allows advisers to interact with the UI to guide players. It also introduces natural breaking points with the age system to help new players manage the game's complexity.

What is the Crisis System in Civilization 7, and how does it affect gameplay?

The Crisis System in Civilization 7 is a feature where, at the end of each age, players must deal with crisis policy cards that can lead to worldwide catastrophes if not managed properly. This system adds an extra layer of strategy and preparation for players.