Hi there!
I have been thinking a little about what I like to call the minigames, which is basically small games within the game. In CIV IV warring is a minigame, the balancing of peoples happiness is a minigame, the diplomacy is a minigame and there are many more.
What minigames are we expecting in Elemental, and how are they shaping up? All games like this (most of them anyways) have war, diplomacy, scouting the new world, research and so on. But Elemental seems to have a few extra (or sligthly different for normal formula):
1. The family dynasty (tied into diplomacy)
2. The NPC recruiting
3. The quest system (not unique, but more advanced than CIV IV)
4. Creating your own units
5. The developing of cities
For this game to be great these small elements have to be fun within themselves. There must be desicions to make that are not obvious. Always treating your family the same, always looking for the same super NPC to recruit, always making the same units with the same equipment +++ will soon be boring.
The sum of all thes buildingblocks will make or break this game in my opinion. They will also create immersion. I think things are looking good, but I am skeptic to the August deadline for making all these elements fit into the puzzle. I will wait for the feb 2011 release if I have to.
What do you ppl think?
