The Gamechanger: Unleashing the Power of Time in Civilization 7
Enhancing the iconic strategy series, Civilization 7 must offer gamers the freedom to play at their preferred pace Allowing players to accelerate gameplay will boost accessibility and enable experienced enthusiasts to experiment with new tactics
Highlights
Civilization 7 needs to add an accelerated time feature to allow players to enjoy the game at their own pace and eliminate tedium.
An accelerated time feature would enhance accessibility and enable newcomers to rapidly explore diverse strategies.
For experienced players, the accelerated time feature can be utilized to experiment with new strategies and save time during lengthier gaming sessions.
Speculation has been rife among fans of the Civilization franchise since Firaxis Games announced the development of Civilization 7. While it can be assumed that the game will bring a host of new features, Firaxis must ensure that a much-needed quality-of-life improvement is included. After more than 30 years of slow and methodical gameplay, Civilization 7 should finally offer players the option to enjoy the game at their own pace by introducing an accelerated time feature.
The notion of increasing the speed of gameplay may raise eyebrows among die-hard fans, but it could also broaden Civilization 7's appeal to a wider audience. Unlike other modifications that could be made to expedite gameplay, such as altering construction times, Firaxis could include an in-game option to accelerate time without alienating series purists. By implementing this feature, Civilization 7 would not only enhance accessibility by reducing the tedium of turn-based gameplay, but also grant long-time players the opportunity to swiftly experiment with new strategies for world domination.
Letting Players Speed Up Play in Civilization 7 Would Be a Win for Accessibility
While Civilization 6 allows players to adjust the game speed from the Game Setup menu, the gameplay itself can still feel extremely slow for new players. This system offers some flexibility in determining the duration of a game, but lacks finesse as it simply reduces the number of turns for faster gameplay. By allowing players to accelerate time within the game without compromising the number of turns, tasks that consume a lot of time, such as building powerful weapons, in Civilization can be done more quickly without forcing players into a shortened experience.
In order to make Civilization 7 more accessible to casual gamers and newcomers to the franchise, Firaxis could implement the ability to accelerate time at any point during gameplay instead of selecting a speed at the beginning of a new scenario. This would allow players to play through the standard 500 turns of Civilization without having to wait for each turn to resolve for a significant amount of time, enabling new players to feel more at ease while exploring different paths to victory. Returning players could also benefit from this feature as it would allow them to quickly test out new strategies.
Veteran Players Could Speed Up Civilization 7 to Test New Strategies
Casual players would benefit the most from faster games of Civilization 7. However, series veterans can also take advantage of the ability to accelerate time. Finding the best civilization and leader for one's play style can be time-consuming, often resulting in hours of gameplay only to realize that the chosen leader isn't suitable. The ability to accelerate time allows gamers to quickly play through a full round of Civilization 7, gaining an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a particular civilization before committing to a longer session.
Once a suitable civilization is found, the accelerated time feature enables players to swiftly handle small tasks, giving them more time to focus on expanding their empire. This feature is especially helpful for players who prefer to play with more than the standard number of turns, as it significantly reduces the time spent during these extended sessions. Additionally, when waiting for a construction or unit to finish, players are often left with little to do other than occasionally clicking the Next Turn button. In such cases, the ability to accelerate time becomes particularly valuable.
Fans of the Civilization series eagerly anticipate more information on Civilization 7. It is hoped that the upcoming announcement will include the long-awaited accelerated time feature, which would enhance the gameplay experience for both casual and dedicated players, while also ensuring the series remains innovative and engaging for years to come.
