Tropico 3 announced

[Coconut Kid]

Once again I suggest it is well worth investigating Hidden Agenda a 1988 text based game which was reportedly the inspiration for Tropico. It gives a lot of ideas about the direction which T3 might take.

A good place to start is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_Agenda_(game)

The article is good as far as it goes, but is rather brief.

 

[Anguille]

I'm sorry. You said tutorial was all you had played so far. Somehow that transmogrified in my brain to "demo." Very careless of me.

I know time can be a problem. 

I thought it was important...if i played only the demo would mean that i may buy the game, while playing the tutorial means that i actually want to play it...

Cheers

[dierighty]

wow CK this hidden agenda game is AWESOME.
hidden agenda is very different from tropico its like reading an interactive book.  I don't think tropico is as politically complex as this game, because its easier to appease the factions in tropico.

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Folks,

Along the same lines as Hidden Agenda, check out this message post -> http://tropico.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/cafe/index.php?topic=10360.0

[dierighty]

wow that's oldskool

[Coconut Kid]

... Again, I can only stress that IR and G/Roman are not Tropico 3 and we will have to wait to get some information to get a better idea. ...

Assen at Haemimont said on Nov 27:

CoconutKid, we understand that simulation of individual units is what makes Tropico Tropico, and rest assured that the entire simulation of the game will be based on simulating the workcycle, work experience, family, needs and attitudes of individual citizens. Just as in Glory of the Roman Empire and Imperium Romanum, btw.

http://haemimontgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15868#15868

I am not sure how to intrepret the "btw" since it seems that Haemimont considers their two previous (named) games to be primarilly unit based with the implication that buildings are secondary. That's not how I have seen them described elsewhere. Nor does it seem to be the way you see them.

 

[Anguille]

Tropico 3 will be different from GotRE and IR. How much? i don't know either (you can bet that i'd like to sneak in the offices of Haemimont).

GotRE and IR are very different than Anno 1602 and 1503 where the building is the base. I did say that each building has a specific range. This is more up to where the individuals can go. As i told you, putting away the range and allowing the individuals to go wherever they want would make it closer to Tropico.
The individuals choose whever they want to work here or there, whether they have to buy food etc. In Anno, as long as you are within the range, everyone gets food, has access to the church etc. In GotRE, it's the people who make decisions. I still have to play Tropico more to see how big the difference is.

Maybe you should try the demo of IR and tell us what you think.

Cheers

[Anguille]

Here you can find some links for the demo of IR:

http://www.imperium-game.com/us/

Cheers

[Coconut Kid]

... Maybe you should try the demo of IR and tell us what you think.

I am very sad to admit that I am crippled in that respect. My PC dates back to 2002 and has no video card - rather 'Integrated Graphics' of that era. There is no way I can play that demo.

I would like to buy a new PC, but I am terrified (and have been for three or more years) that whatever I carry out of the store will not be able to play the next game I am interested in. Money is not the question. I live in a technological wilderness. Competent nerds are available only if you can pay for their private jet to fly in.
Drop 'ANNO', o.k.? I understand that system. It is building based and nothing to do with Tropico.

In Tropico, units search globally for the building which meets their current, urgent need. The building radiates many effects on an entirely different basis than 'needs satisfaction'. An example: a unit's religion meter hits the critical (red) zone. There is a fully staffed Church with a "Quality Rating" of ~60 very near; but there is also a fully staffed Cathedral with a "Quality Rating" of ~95 half-way across the island. I have observed an economically essential unit spend two years walking to the Cathedral while neglecting its work. And then it had to rest, eat, etc. before going back to work.

I don't expect that to mean much to you. And it is only one example.

Kind regards.   

[Anguille]

I am very sad to admit that I am crippled in that respect. My PC dates back to 2002 and has no video card - rather 'Integrated Graphics' of that era. There is no way I can play that demo.

Even though the engine Haemimont uses isn't very demanding (for a 3d game), i am afraid you won't be able to play Tropico 3 unless you upgrade 

In Tropico, units search globally for the building which meets their current, urgent need. The building radiates many effects on an entirely different basis than 'needs satisfaction'. An example: a unit's religion meter hits the critical (red) zone. There is a fully staffed Church with a "Quality Rating" of ~60 very near; but there is also a fully staffed Cathedral with a "Quality Rating" of ~95 half-way across the island. I have observed an economically essential unit spend two years walking to the Cathedral while neglecting its work. And then it had to rest, eat, etc. before going back to work.

So far in IR there isn't a "quality rating" per se. However, when people upgrade their houses, they have other wishes. When a simple worker was happy with a stone altar, a citizen will request a temple. All in all, i truly believe that they could reproduce exactly the game mechanics of Tropico with their engine. How far will they go? don't know.

Cheers

PS: i've played so many strategy/simulations/city-builder games that i can understand pretty much any kind of mechanics 

[Coconut Kid]

... PS: i've played so many strategy/simulations/city-builder games that i can understand pretty much any kind of mechanics 

That means that we have to defer to you.

If you ever have time to play Tropico, you will be able to explain it to us.

 

[Unsigner]

Hello everyone,

Assen from Haemimont Games here.
Our first two citybuilders, Glory of the Roman Empire and Imperium Romanum, were based on individual simulation of units. For example, the bakery didn't produce bread until the baker got to work - meaning you could reduce your overall bread production by placing the bakery far from the baker's home.

Our latest game, Grand Ages: Rome (aka Imperium Romanum 2 - we don't come up with these names, publishers decide them) is based on a per-building simulation, with bakery looking for a unemployed inhabitant of a house inside its radius of effect, marking it as employed, then proceeding to provide the bread resource to all houses in this radius.

Both systems have their pros and cons. However, we do realise that the unit-based simulation is important for Tropico, and we're returning to it for Tropico 3.

System requirements: I'm afraid that a 5-year old PC might have trouble running the game. The system requirements for Tropico 3 won't be any higher than those for Grand Ages: Rome, which will have a playable demo before the end of 2008, so you'll be able to tell if the game will work on your PC.

Just for fun (and taking a page out of Crytek's book), I tried to build the cheapest possible new PC that will be able to run Grand Ages: Rome at the highest detail level; it came up somewhere in the $300-350 range (without a display, of course). If you can run any major new PC game released in 2007 and 2008, you'll probably be able to run Tropico 3.

Also, expect first screenshots before the end of the year ;-)

[TeamStar]

Hello Unsigner, thank you for droping by.

I really can't wait to see those screenshots! It'll work as a Christmas gift for the Café.

I already posted this question twice, with no answer yet: are there any plans for a Mac release of Trop3?

[Unsigner]

I already posted this question twice, with no answer yet: are there any plans for a Mac release of Trop3?

This is a question for Kalypso, the publisher, to answer. If they can justify it financially to themselves, we'll be happy to do the actual porting.

[Coconut Kid]

Thank you for this reply.

I am not assured,  but no one cares about my mental state.

There are a hand-full of "old-timers" who have looked in here to know even that T3 is in progress. Perhaps some more of them will drop around later. You seem to have come just as the Cafe Tropico finally became ready to close up. One customer can't keep it open.

I shall upgrade my new purchase of a PC so as to play the latest edition of  the railroad game Trainz.

Meanwhile, I shall stop by from time-to-time to see what is happening with Tropico 3.

Best regards ------------

[Anguille]

Thank you for this reply.

I am not assured,  but no one cares about my mental state.

There are a hand-full of "old-timers" who have looked in here to know even that T3 is in progress. Perhaps some more of them will drop around later. You seem to have come just as the Cafe Tropico finally became ready to close up. One customer can't keep it open.

Dear Coconut Kid,

You worry too much  . Kalypso is a brand new publisher and they decided to buy the rights to Tropico from people who didn't care about it and were not doing anything with the franchise. Kalypso's management likes city-builders, strategy games, economic simulations and so on...for my part these are type of games i enjoy...and i am very happy that such a publisher exists because there are not so many of them (there are enough, if not too much publisher who are into action and shooter games). So it's great that they decided to make Tropico!
Assen is the lead programmer from Haemimont...how many times does it happen that the lead programmer reads the forums of the fans and even posts? This shows that he is genuely intersted a) in the game b) in what you guys think about the game...

Cheers

[el_malo]

This shows that he is genuely intersted a) in the game b) in what you guys think about the game...

I have to agree, Haemimont deserves raise for having talked to the old Tropico "farts"... on their own ground 

All I ask is that  Kalypso and Haemimont, keep us in the loop and consider this their "home-away-from-home", too 

Maybe, when it is time for some game-testing, an offer for our assistance... would be appreciated 

and i am very happy that such a publisher exists because there are not so many of them (there are enough, if not too much publisher who are into action and shooter games

I cannot be grumpy or unhappy, that someone is revisiting Tropico and taking a shot at it 

Take-2 was not going to do anything with it 

[el_malo]

More than one way to skin a cat 

This shows that he is genuely intersted a) in the game b) in what you guys think about the game...

I have to agree, Haemimont deserves praise for having talked to the old Tropico "farts"... on their own ground 

All I ask is that  Kalypso and Haemimont, keep us in the loop and consider this their "home-away-from-home", too 

Maybe, when it is time for some game-testing, an offer for our assistance... would be appreciated 

and i am very happy that such a publisher exists because there are not so many of them (there are enough, if not too much publisher who are into action and shooter games

I cannot be grumpy or unhappy, that someone is revisiting Tropico and taking a shot at it 

Take-2 was not going to do anything with it 

[TeamStar]

Maybe, when it is time for some game-testing, an offer for our assistance... would be appreciated 

Now, THAT'S a nifty idea!

[Capitaligous]

For sure!

[Gen Gizmo]

 8)Played tropico the orginal for 8 years, and they should just make the interace easier to use, but I want it to be like tropico with its snide comments, and the music that goes on.  Mutiplayer be good if you pick another player to run your island for one week, or you play goverment offical for el presidente like Millitary General or head of central bank.  The best feature to add to tropico 3 a player taking you out by coup or ballot box.  Then add in smear merchant like politcal machine 2008 to destory your opponets.   In addition, add in devalution mania or neo-liberalism gone wild or Argentina style default.  Add in a place to dress up your caudlillo or caudilla person.   Just add in features so farmers use tractors as upgrades, and add gargage, autosales lot,  paved roads,  powerlines,  fencing or porperty.   Economics tools like tarriffs, export taxes, income taxes, devaultions, interest rate adjustments, selling of debt. 

Mutiplayer features
Let your friends or crony run your island for 6 days or weeks, years. 
You can play finance minister for your el presdente or millitary general. 
Play peon farmer and see if you can make good money the honest way or otherwise
Allow a player to run a business like hotel, autosales lot, commodity trader. 
Play millitary general and take out another player regime thru a coup or election. 
Set up swiss banking account contest to see which govemrent offical is best in stealing from the till.

[Coconut Kid]

Played tropico the orginal for 8 years, and they should just make the interace easier to use, but ...

No kidding? You didn't check in here until July 25, 2007.

What is it about the "interface" that is so hard to use?

 

[TeamStar]

What is it about the "interface" that is so hard to use?

For instance, not having to go to the main screen to start a new game, but do it directly from the map you're playing. Just like when you press [L] to load an existing game or to save, you could press [N] to start a new map or press

• to open a predesigned scenario.

Hhmmm, maybe this should go to the "Questions for Developers" thread.

[Mobutu Sese Seko]

Thanks for the announcement. I had given up all hope of a Tropico 3.

As had I.

I think (hope) "multiplayer" means team government - players divide ministerial portfolios between them and govern collectively.

[Anguille]

Thanks for the announcement. I had given up all hope of a Tropico 3.

As had I.

I think (hope) "multiplayer" means team government - players divide ministerial portfolios between them and govern collectively.

Maybe. From what i've heard from the MP in Grand Ages: Rome is more sharing the control over a city. Can't tell for sure as i don't have the game yet.