A Chat with Sid Meier
We tried, at this year's GDC, to have a quiet sit down with a number of different developers. And for a number of different reasons, many of them fell through, but I was able to beg 2K into giving me 15 minutes with one of the developers who probably most adversely effected my college career: Sid Meier. If it weren't for Civilization it probably wouldn't have taken me six years to get my two bachelors degrees... OK, that's probably not true, but I did spend a shocking amount of time playing his games in college.
In this 15 minute chat we talk about the death of the PC gaming market, how GDC has evolved and what type of character he plays in WoW... among other things.
3:01 AM on Tue Feb 26 2008
by Brian Crecente
View: AU Comments (0) | US Comments (34 comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this entry.
I hope you behaved yourself, Brian.
Can't listen to it where I am. What class does he play?
thenino85
Crecente's curly locks, neat goatee, and foolish smile truly made my day.
Well, not really, but it did brighten it up some.
RPharazonius: Is a Mechanical Man
Sid plays RTS!!! Does that mean all the rivalries can go to rest now? haha. Nice job tracking down Sid, Brian!
Though I can't believe he asked Sid if PC market is going to die. LoL. Crecente, I DARE you to ask someone from Valve is PC market dying. They'll slap you with Steam sales report and make you feel sad.
ssh83
Every time I look at you your mane looks more and more magnificent. What do you wash it with? I bet it's really soft as down feathers and smells like field of flowers of every kind. For the love of all things beautiful and holy don't cut your hair. I would cry rivers of crimson blood.
On Topic: Civilization is a pretty cool game. Alas, I totally suck at it. I can never get past the bronze age. Before I can move up my people get killed off by invaders.
TheDollHouse
I tried to listen but the background noise was driving me nuts. Crecente you should get a bootleg kit, it's a couple of mics and a white noise canceling box. The box will kill all of the crowd noise. My friend had one and it worked like a charm. You could also use it to record Celine Dion next time you go see her live.
kemicon
@zanzibarlegend: DAMN, beat me to it!
I knew I wasn't the only one to notice.
You should totally cosplay.
YUYU
Wow, Crecente looks just like Vamp.
YUYU
Thank you Sid for mentioning Dan Bunten. Keep Bunten's memory alive.
xot
Brian reminds me of Vamp from MGS for some odd reason. :D You rule daily :D
@Kirbytheslayer: In-Kirby XMB: love the name...lol u never cease to maze me with your humorous name changes. lmao
zanzibarlegend
Damn B .... you lookin' all GQ and shit! Haha!
dead_red_eyes
Wow Brian great smile
Violater
@huginn - No I will not give you a hug!:
Sorry too busy playing Civ. Only have time for Civ, food, water, and poop.
BTFzor_Freestyle
I too just reinstalled Alpha Centauri, damn that game is addictive. What is your favorite Sid Meier game? For me Alpha Centauri and Pirates!. To me Alpha Centauri is the pinnacle of Civ games, and pirates! was so awesome with its open game play. (I played Pirates! Gold back on the pc years ago, haven't tried the new versions)
greeble
The other day I was talking to someone about AAa game of Aplha Centauri I played a while back. It got me thinking that I would enjoy it again, so i scrounged around and found it. This was around 4 am last night. Cue time to 1:30 pm. I finally notice i need to take a piss and grab something to eat. I also forgot why I stopped playing. He makes damn good games, but they sometimes get a bit TOO addictive.
Zippidydoodaa
I'll be playing Civ tonight :)
But damn it Crecente! Ask about Alpha Centauri!
Project Thanatos
Any chance of seeing it in a written form?
Ilia Chentsov
Right Right
Hellcom
Crecente always looks like he's up to no good in his photos.
Lixie
Theres a interesting stuff from McLuhan called "Tetran"
[en.wikipedia.org]
1. What does [some media or technology] enhance or intensify?
2. What does it render obsolete or displace?
3. What does it retrieve that was previously obsolesced?
4. What does it produce or become when pressed to an extreme?
Civi III seems to use something alike that concept.
[strategyguidewiki.com]
"The Hanging Gardens... Obsolete With: Steam Power".
So I ask...
What today technology obsolete with Videogames? TV? tabletop games? social sports?
Do Sid Meier introduced that concept on purpose from McLuhan, or whas other people?
tei
Sid Meier chats with a PIRATE!!!
holy crap, now video game characters can jump out of games into real life? put bush on terrorist watch.
HigglyPiggly
Introducing....
Sid Meier's A Chat with Sid Meier.
Foxfingers
@Crecente: Don't bachelors usually take about 3 years? (That's the case here in Holland.) If so, did Civ cause you to be really disciplined and get both the degrees in the proper time-frame?
Protector one
Looking at that picture of Crecente just makes me happy.
That reminds me, must fire up Civ IV today. Just starting, loving it so far. (My first Civ).
Krondonian
Great interview; thanks Crecente. I liked hearing a little about the beginnings of the game design process from him. Who is that woman that chimes in at the end - some kind of 2K PR flak trying to make sure he gets the plugs in for Civ Revolutions?
the-hypnotoad
Good ol Sid. Will have to take a listen when I get home.
Shiryu
That picture makes Sid look like the happiest man on earth.
Sorry Brian your pearly whites lose this round. ;D
Witzbold
@Groodle: I dunno, it looks like he's Vlad's disturbingly happy sidekick to me (kinda like Kai from Heavenly Sword but with a more Magnificent beard), but either way ;)
And I'm with Witz, before today I would have called anybody who said I could have more respect for Sid Meier than I already did a liar and a fool, and yet here it is. Truly, a great gamer and designer, and we are all fortunate to have him.
DaiMacculate
Tell Sid I love him and his creative genius. And he has given this fan many hours of fun playing in the world he has created! And if he ever wants to Raid in WoW I'd be happy to hang with him!
-EDGE-
Ahhh for a second i thought we could actually chat with the legend himself using that ODEO thing, silly me.
TheHun
@Kirbytheslayer: In-Kirby XMB: lulz buttsex? :)
huginn - No I will not give you a hug!
Hmmm...I've always considered Pirates his finest work. I spent a crapload of time in that game. I never liked Civilization, though.
And He's ugly. Though it may just be because he's being compared to you.
@huginn - Yes I will give you a hug!: I would definitely not kill to get into his raiding group. I have this fear of jail.
Kirbytheslayer: In-Kirby XMB
After listning to this I must say that Sid is just even more totally awesome than I had originally thought he was. :D
Witzbold
I have nothing intelligent to add, other than the fact Crecente looks like Vlad the impaler.
And that, my friends, is awesome.
Groodle
Who else wouldn't kill to be in Sim Meier's raiding group?
huginn - No I will not give you a hug!