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PolyCast Evergreen, Season 5
Celebrating a decade of podcasting, a look-back at the show's fifth season: ten selected topics that most retain their relevance and ten moments that best represent delivery style. Hosted by show co-creator Wouter "Locutus" Snijders.
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Christmas Special 2011: Rockin' Around the Civvin' PC
- 02m21s | Email #1
Answering Norman Ma regarding the effect of game speed in Civilization V and particular victory conditions.
- 07m05s | Email #2
Responding to a message from Jason Hermsen who makes inquiries on a number of topics to Civ: comparable strategy games, adaptability of the franchise to other gaming genres (12m03s), preferred talent that would be new to its development (14m55s), minimizing warfare desirability (23m50s), and renewing the expansion vs. Downloadable Content (DLC) release consideration (27m06s).
- 32m54s | Forum Post #1
From "Dale", on the direction of the Civ franchise from its adaptation to the console to a presumed Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game.
- 42m28s | Forum Post #2
From "eastkitton", looking for the "most INTERESTING to play" DLC for Civilization V.
- 46m06s | Forum Post #3
From "Alexander", what an "ideal" holiday modification for Civ would be.
- 49m33s | Forum Post #4
Select points from "MARDUK" on the pros and cons to a number of gameplay suggestions.
- 60m03s | Forum Post #5
Addressing both a question and a request from "Tremonti".
- 62m50s | Forum Post #6
From "AwesoMe", seeking the panel's view on science as executed in CivV.
- 70m36s | Forum Post #7
From "E_T", on the "resurgence" of CivIV play as backlash to the state of CivV.
- 78m30s | Forum Post #8
From "Mythdracon", choosing and being specific about the most important "fix" needed for CivV presently.
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Episode 136: Strike Our Fancy
- 00m55s | Forum Talk
The best way to cure city sickness in Civilization IV's later(r) game, and then an intensive focus on both the best and worst unique civilization abilities in CivV (08m12s).
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Episode 135: Take the Blame
- 01m41s | News
On the carrying out, and fallout, of the hacking of Steam's servers that permitted access to user forum accounts and financial information.
- 18m29s | Research Lab
Implementing an national currency system in the Civilization series.
- 28m53s | Forum Talk
Choosing the best civilization for a One-City Challenge (OCC) in first CivV, then CivIV, and are Nuclear-powered weapons unfair in CivV with inevitable comparison to CivIV.
- 49m03s | Community Focus
Looking at the youngest of the largest Civ fan websites at present, WePlayCiv.
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Episode 134: All's Fair in Love and Civ
- 02m15s | Forum Talk
Concern over a tactic being seen as cheating in a co-operative Civilization IV multiplayer game, on the use of Airports and air lifting in CivIV and CivV (10m39s) and sharing food between cities within your empire in either game (26m08s).
- 43m43s | Open Mic
Comparably last experienced during the show's first season, engaging in telephonic message tag over a misdirected missing rental.
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Episode 133: Not Just a Lame Clip Show VII
- 00m34s | Open Mic
Being proactive in Civilization IV warfare (recorded for and on the general difficulty of CivIV and CivV (recorded for Episode 124).
- 08m30s | Senate
Whether or not to accept Friendship offer from a remote civilization in CivV (recorded for Episode 119), how many Stables should one build in a CivIV game (recorded for Episode 125), on using roads and railroads in CivV (recorded for Episode 127) and comparing and contrasting a CivIV Cottage vs. Farm economy (recorded for Episode 129).
- 27m37s | Miscellaneous
Making sense of of the "Top 5 Cities" in Civilization IV (recorded for Episode 90), the difficulty behind bringing Civ to the Macintosh platform (recorded for Episode 97) and on the war delcaration mechanics of CivIV's Artificial Intelligence (recorded for Episode 99); then, discovering El Dorado National Wonder in Civilization V and ending point for Civ sessions (recorded for Episode 110), why people play Civilization (recorded for Episode 120), what if your people wrote books about you (recorded for Episode 124) and noting a trick in CivIV (recorded for Episode 125).
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Episode 132: Make No Promises
- 01m10s | Forum Talk
Mandatory for use within an online Civilization community, yet optional otherwise, the seeming impact of the release of a substantial multiplayer-oriented modification for CivIV (32m25s) followed by a spreadsheet-based combat calculator (11m52s), and then comparing the demographics of CivV with reference to its immediate predecessor as well (19m51s).
- 37m31s | Senate
A so-called "trick" in beelining for the Alphabet technology with CivIV.
- 49m55s | Research Lab
Arguing for the inclusion of a Commercial Victory in Civ.
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Episode 131: Not Just a Lame Clip Show VI
- 01m00s | Forum Talk
Are one-tile island cities worth the effort (recorded for Episode 112); has anyone ever made a defensive pact (recorded for Episode 120) (08m03s); the purpose of Hydro Plants (recorded for Episode 122) (20m15s); should jungle tiles be developed (recorded for Episode 124) (26m48s) and what should and should not be Downloadable Content (DLC) (recorded for Episode 127) (32m25s).
Then, roleplaying with Social Policy trees (44m14s) and bringing back culture conquering (recorded for Episode 129) (46m58s).
- 53m21s | Research Lab
Making Culture civilization-wide to limit over expansion (recorded for Episode 125).
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Episode 130: Not So Cut and Dry
- 02m12s | Open Mic
Reacting to some responses to the most previous episode the show.
- 05m57s | Forum Talk
An argument to modify the movement and effect of Great Generals in Civilization V, dealing with quitters in Civ multiplayer, and using the cultural slider in CivIV.
- 32m10s | Senate
Stealing the Settlers and Workers of CivV Artificial Intelligence (AI) opponents and dissecting a 1190AD Conquest win on Deity in CivIV.
- 46m08s | Miscellaneous
Brainstorming ideas for a children's Civ-themed birthday party, and acknowledging the approach of the show's fifth birthday.
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Episode 129: The Letters T and Eh?
- 03m12s | Forum Talk
On the eve of the first anniversary of Civilization V's availability worldwide, taking a pulse on people liking to play the game and is it worth playing.
Then, how to get a city to size 30+ (29m47s) and arguing for buffs for several units (42m04s) also in CivV.
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Episode 128: Open to Abuse
- 02m30s | Forum Talk
Using Civilization IV Governor's ability to stop growth in a city, seeing an incorporation of a colonization system (11m55s) and another means to war without diplomatic penalty (25m19s), both in CivV.
- 36m49s | Miscellaneous
Counting your favourites as traits in V, and on Electronic Arts seeking copyright renewal of Alpha Centauri amongst a few other gaming titles.
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Episode 127: Lot of Resetting Still
- 01m08s | News
On the August 2011 patch for Civilization V being just released, and on the game's new Downloadable Content (DLC) in the form of Korea and "Wonders of the Ancient World" (23m17s).
- 44m53s | Open Mic
Responding to an email on the challenges of carrying out Succession Games (SGs) for CivV as compared to CivIV or CivIII, and then a call-in to discuss the DLC competition in writing CivV strategy articles (55m28s).
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Episode 126: Dividing by Zero
- 01m48s | Senate
In the first cluster of four-topic Civilization V strategy, moving from a starting Settler position), the importance of rivers for cities (07m49s, when to prioritize a Granary city improvement build (09m05s), and if and when to build on top of a resource (16m53s).
In the second cluster dealing with being denounced, how to get other civs to like you (23m48s), avoiding the "warmongering menace to the world" label (27m09s), and if selling 'lost cause' cities is a good idea (38m22s).
- 42m53s | Miscellaneous
An extension of CivV diplomacy on blending Alpha Centauri's Planetary Council mechanics into the mix, and why so many City States want to see others dead.
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Episode 125: The Ripple Effect
- 01m50s | Forum Talk
Responding to a statement made by the President of 2K Studios in an interview that strategy games are "not contemporary"; preferring a number of aspects of Civilization IV or V; rolling back to an earlier version of CivV following a patch release, and research efforts teach a computer to play FreeCiv yields considerably encouraging results.
- 40m04s | Research Lab
Fleshing out a concept to have technologies spread gradually throughout a civilization once discovered.
- 53m36s | Miscellaneous
Whether playing a civilization with a "butt ugly" colour is bothersome or not.
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Episode 124: Patch Your Eye Out
- 02m22s | News
Initial impressions following first playthroughs of the substantial June Civilization V patch. Starting with Social Policies, the conversation then moves onto science and technology, including Research Agreements (13m22s); Infinite City Sprawl, also known as I.C.S. (25m22s); difficulty levels (29m42s), and finally Declarations of War (34m58s).
- 44m01s | Forum Talk
What to think, and make, of CivV's starting bias for civilization placement on maps.
- 50m12s | Miscellaneous
Weighing in on the substantial examination into stock image use in Civilization V.
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Episode 123: Not Just a Lame Clip Show V
- 01m00s | Miscellaneous (Part 1 of 2)
Accounting for the most nuclear weapons launched in a game of Civilization IV (recorded for Episode 85).
- 04m16s | Senate (Part 1 of 2)
Maximizing the mechanics of technology 'bulbing', and whether making the Lumbermill improvement available earlier than presently in CivIV would unbalance gameplay (recorded for Episode 91).
- 17m00s | Miscellaneous (Part 2 of 2)
Classifying one's identity, CivIV-style (recorded for Episode 113).
- 26m23s | Forum Talk (Part 1 of 2)
Responding to an article arguing that liberals play computer games like conservatives (recorded for Episode 114).
- 34m53s | Senate (Part 2 of 2)
The viability of a Civilization IV economy based on religion (recorded for Episode 120).
- 45m47s | Forum Talk (Part 2 of 2)
The worthiness of building one-tile-island cities in CivIV (recorded for Episode 122).
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Episode 122: The Proof Is In the Pudding
- 01m38s | Forum Talk
Weighing the advantages of using a Civilization V Great Artist to "culture bomb" over its other uses.
- 12m16s | News
Extensive coverage of the the then-up-and-coming June/July 2011 patch for CivV. Following a thorough interview: changes to the Happiness (22m46s) and Social Policies (28m12s) systems, technology tree/combat system considerations (31m18s) and assorted changes (34m27s).
Then on minimal treatment of the game's Mutiplayer mechanics (37m59s), incremental vs. comprehensive patching (43m13s), beta testing practices (48m42s) and summarizing thoughts (53m34s).
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Focus: "Civilization: World"
- 00m25s | Introduction
An introduction to Civilization: World, a strategy/online multiplayer-hybrid game to bring Civ to the Facebook platform.
- 03m19s | Impressions
Panelists share what their initial impressions were upon learning of the game being in development.
- 08m13s | Design
For better and worse, on the design elements of CivWorld.
- 15m09s | Mechanics
Reviewing a number of the game's mechanics that are still very much a work-in-progress.
- 20m55s | Concept
Considering the concept towards what CivWorld is looking to accomplish, and its effectiveness to date.
- 28m49s | Minigames & Maps
What is, and what is not, present within the title's minigames and on its maps to its benefit and detriment.
- 38m34s | Implementation
Assessing the implementation of CivWorld, including whether the means are looking to justify its ends.
- 45m59s | Miscellaneous
The state of the game's Throne Room, Wonder's of the World and reflecting on the involvement of Sid Meier himself.
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Episode 121: Not Just a Lame Clip Show IV
- 00m51s | Miscellaneous (Part 1 of 2)
On interest and desirability for Civilization: World, then still with its original Civilization: Network title (recorded for Episode 91) and the Trading Post improvement replacing Civilization IV's Cottages in Civilization V (recorded for Episode 103).
Then the removal of a Religion mechanic to CivV during development and multiplayer woes twice over (recorded for Episode 106); then, both missing a Replay feature, and favourite and least favourite Ruin bonus, in CivV (recorded for Episode 108).
- 30m27s | Forum Talk
Questioning first whether CivV's Longswordsmen unit replaced the Horsemen as the game's leading offensive unit, and then if Research Agreements are exploits (recorded for Episode 110).
- 50m35s | Miscellaneous (Part 2 of 2)
Preferences for either warring over or building up cities in Civ with its fifth installment front and centre (recorded for Episode 120).
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Episode 120: Pounce Like a Tiger
- 01m44s | Forum Talk (Part 1 of 2)
Critiquing Civilization V's National Wonders to come up with a "best of" list, with the National College in a steady lead.
- 24m20s | Miscellaneous
An extension on the first topic, debating the merits of a 'Tall' (fewer, larger cities) versus a 'Wide' (more, smaller cities) empire in Civ with an emphasis on its fifth iteration.
- 38m04s | Forum Talk (Part 2 of 2)
On a call for the removal of the minimum 1-hitpoint damage in attack in CivV.
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Episode 119: Depending Upon the Numbers
- 02m19s | Open Mic
Responding to an email from a frequent listener on bringing the Permanent Alliances (PAs) concept from Civilization IV into CivV.
- 10m15s | News
The first walkthrough video of Civilization: World having been released by publisher 2K Games.
- 28m59s | Senate
Countering the sneak naval attack in CivIV, and then in CivV choosing between Research Agreements and befriending City States and why "Pledge to Protect" one of the latter.
- 52m01s | Miscellaneous
CivWorld may have some competition in the form of the also up-and-coming Empires & Allies.
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Episode 118: Everything Comes From Somewhere
- 01m39s | News
First preview and fact sheet for CivWorld surfaces which leads to much discussion.
- 20m00s | Senate
Returning to top Unique Units for Civilization V to consider the Renaissance, Industrial and Modern Eras -- again sans those found in paid-for Downloadable Content (DLC) -- with reference to ranking them across all eras.
- 34m20s | Open Mic
Responding to not one, but two, listener emails: first, on a missing element towards informed diplomacy in CivV, and second how to increase difficulty within a difficulty level in it or immediate predecessor Civilization IV, last discussed pre-Beyond the Sword expansion.
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Episode 117: Skillful In That Regard
- 01m15s | News
New Downloadable Content (DLC) for Civilization V is now available for purchase.
- 13m16s | Forum Talk
Maintaining a preference to do no exploring in, and criticism of the calculation of Victory points in, CivV; then, how does a player stop their civilization from striking in Civilization IV.
- 35m26s | Open Mic
An email inquiring about CivIV saved game sources and mods, and another message on having this game's resource variety reflected in CivV.
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Episode 116: Not a Paraphrase
- 01m10s | News
Dissecting the list of the latest upcoming patch for Civilization V.
- 14m57s | Open Mic
Responding to not one, but two, emails 'on-air': one from a "Patrick M." requesting tips to guide a new Civilization IV player, and another from "Creatureboy11" about a thread he started on Cottaging vs. Farming flood plains titles in the game.
- 36m17s | Forum Talk
Teaching CivIV to a friend, and one's favourite Downloadable Content (DLC) civilizations for CivV.
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The First 100: A Listen Back
- 01m07s | Preface
Introducing this special highlighting episodes from the show's first 100 of them... with #50 in top spot.
- 03m16s | Maki's List
Makahlua's "Top 5", covering Episodes 01 to 49.
- 06m14s | Dan's List
DanQ's "Top 5", covering Episodes 01 to 49.
- 11m40s | Lisa's List
qnl's "Top 5", covering Episodes 51 to 100.
- 14m43s | Phil's List
TheMeInTeam's "Top 5", covering Episodes 51 to 100.
- 18m00s | Epilogue
Closing comments from the show's three most senior regular co-hosts.
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Episode 115: There Is That
- 05m59s | Forum Talk
Tips for different and interesting games in Civilization IV, and who wants wildlife back for Civilization V.
- 25m13s | Senate
Research priority for the Curency technology in CivIV, and then both general city build priority and constructing Watermills in CivV.
- 40m07s | Research Lab
Taking a stance to reinterpet game maps in Civilization V.
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Episode 114: Never Hear the End of It
- 02m21s | Forum Talk
On initial impressions of the Civilization V 1.0.1.217 patch.
- 46m45s | Senate
Considering the top Unique Units in CivV's Ancient, Classical and Medieval Eras sans those found in paid-for Downloadable Content (DLC).
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Episode 113: Rolls Right Off The Tongue
- 03m15s | News
There is new Downloadable Content (DLC) for Civilization V: pay-for Polynesia, and three freebie multiplayer map types.
- 15m14s | Research Lab
The pursuit of unhappiness; an idea for bringing back health; a unitless espionage model, and idea: Great Philosophers.
- 46m45s | Senate
Constructing the Industrial Park city improvement in Civilization IV.
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Episode 112: Let It At That
- 02m50s | Forum Talk
In-depth consideration and analysis of the massive February patch notes for Civilization V, and removing city bombardment for cities that are garrisoned.
- 49m58s | Community Focus
All about the oldest and largest Civ multiplayer league, CivPlayers.
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Episode 111: Slightly More Balanced
- 02m16s | Forum Talk (Part 1 of 2)
The position that Civilization V's resources need to adapt as the game advances in time, and arguing that cities are too strong on defence.
- 14m03s | Senate
Spreadsheeting CivV diplomacy by its numbers.
- 21m16s | Forum Talk (Part 2 of 2)
Should Unique Units keep their special abilities upon upgrade, and moving from a resource supply to resource demand-based economic system in Civ.
- 44m41s | Open Mic
"MadDjinn" calls in to add to the discussion on a number of topics covered to this point, and both on Deity difficulty complaints and Great Person points comparison between CivIV and CivV.
- 55m21s | Miscellaneous
On some colourful observations of CivV leaders' personalities and habits.
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Episode 110: Plausible Deniability
- 01m55s | Open Mic (Part 1 of 2)
Answering a letter from a listener regarding naval combat in Civilization V and how it differs from previous Civ titles.
- 11m19s | Forum Talk
The "Chick Parabola" and CivV relevancy, and liking or not liking the game's Denouncement diplomatic mechanic.
- 22m29s | Senate
On a long standing practice of stealing Worker units in Civ, with a focus on CivV, and the good, the bad and the ugly of Wonders of the World in this latest series iteration.
- 40m27s | Open Mic (Part 2 of 2)
Continuing the Wonders discussion from the previous segment with a call-in from Daniel "dacole" Cole, a past guest co-host: beyond Domination Victory efforts, singleplayer versus multiplayer approaches, and a way within to generate wealth for one's civilization.
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Episode 109: Starting to Speak Nerd
- 01m34s | News
Civilization V Lead Designer Jon Shafer leaves Firaxis Games and joins Stardock Systems; Civilization: Network is renamed Civilization: World, with an alpha testing opportunity; version 1.0.1.135 patch for CivV is now available; and on CivV Downloadable Content (DLC) released to date.
- 72m23s | Forum Talk
What do those still opposed to Civilization V like about the game, and an open invitation by someone who rejects this position.
- 89m30s | Research Lab
A suggestion for Unique National Wonders per civilization in CivV.
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