Sid Meier on His Legacy, Game Design, & the Appeal of Turn-Based Strategy: BIG TALK w. Adam Sessler

[@JordanPool13]

What an inspiring person. Such a cool dude, no ego, just a guy who wants to include people in experiences he is interested in making.

[@SubBrief]

He can have all my money. Thank you, Sid, for a lifetime of entertainment!

[@mrovelino]

we owe Sid Meier in a big way. basically he defined turn based strategy genre

[@antiRuka]

And made them stupid.

[@Minecraftkeener]

nekorain your opinion

[@mrovelino]

extremely stupid one

[@gisellewong4057]

I had soooo much fun as a teen playing Railroad Tycoon and Civ 1, thanks to Sid! I spent hours upon hours just making new railroad lines, watching the cities grow in size, outsmarting my rivals by trapping them with my railroad lines and having 2/3 of the map all to myself~ the games in the 90s were so much fun. Just recently got back into the Civ series and now we're waiting on Civ 7, can't wait to see what new ideas are being brought into the long-standing series!

[@Shimarenda]

Really enjoyed this. For anyone else who does, I can recommend Sid Meier's Memoir! (yes, that is the actual title) He is there as here genuine, funny, and reflective. It's a great book for any creative, not just in games.

[@TerrorTerros]

Truly a incredible, creative pioneer. Such a shame so many ''new'' gamers don't appreciate his kind of games anymore. While his influence is still felt in nearly all new games these days.

***** Also it's only available on PC and many gamers have yet to put away their consoles out of brand loyalty and peer pressure from friends that own them. I used to be a console gamer until around 2004 but nowadays everything get's ported to PC's anyways with controller support. Also, I don't understand how somebody can stomach FPS games for more than an hour at most in a single sitting. You literally kill, die, rinse and repeat with no objective other than to capture and hold flags or get more kills on your team than the other. In Civilization games your in charge of shaping a country and it's future with all that entails, there is just so much more substance. I'll admit that I've been playing a lot of Dragonball Xenoverse lately with 14 hours logged on Steam for it but even though that game is shallow there is still some sense of direction and a fluid fighting system. When I was a teenager I used to play a lot of Counterstrike, almost daily but as I grew older I noticed that those games felt hollow and repetitive. Honestly even GTA games in their sandbox glory are still meh to me, modded Skyrim is still my old faithful though due to mods alone and even though I take a break for months at a time from it on occasion I always go back for 10-15 hours before moving on again, Daggerfall is another great game I still play. I couldn't imagine myself owning a console anymore because the games are so limited and expensive, I remember getting Assassins Creed 4 in a Steam sale for like $20 and I got bored of it within around 10 hours, then I tried Shadow of Mordor after that and it was a "meh" experience as well, Inquisition was okay but also shallow.

[@TerrorTerros]

***** I wholeheartedly agree. And find myself in a very similar position. But I did like shadow or Mordor though. I think it added some nice lore to the LOTR universe, and the nemesis system was the best. Even though gameplay wise it was basiclly just a beat'm up.

Terros Idk, I have tried to like other games but most are shallow, in my earlier post I failed to mention Watch Dogs which was also underwhelming, so was Far Cry 3, I still buy games but they just suck. For instance Xenoverse is challenging, overly so in all honesty and has pushed me to my limits. Dragon Age 3 has not even come close to that. Sure DA3 has more content but Skyrim owns it in that department via mods and possibly even in vanilla in all honesty. Regardless, this world is going to shit and I couldn't care less at this point.

[@TerrorTerros]

***** Yea, the whole UBIsoft open world formula is awful. They use the same template for every single game nowadays. and it makes playing those games joyless. WD, FarCry, AC all boring games. Whilst their premise's could be pretty interesting. I've never been a big Dragon ball fan myself. When it comes to a challenging game I always play Dark souls. haha, I'm not to worried about the world going to shit though.

[@sherifelsharkawyful]

Terros It's a shame Civilization is underrated and avoided by many and they find it "boring". So many strategy games are of excelsior quality, yet the market and audience is limited. People just don't appreciate strategy anymore. Games such as Total War and Rise of Nations have so much effort and money milked into them, yet "mainstream gamers" find these game uninteresting and condemn them just because they believe that their selection of games is superior. I don't know about you, but I am a die-hard strategy fan; been playing the genre since I was 6 years of age and find it to be much more stimulating and creative, and less linear of course, than mainstream games.

[@knossis1]

Sid is a legend, his Civilization game was the first game I played where I would think I'd only played for an hour and would realize eight hours had actually passed. Now a days games can only keep my attention for an hour or less. Miss the time when game play ruled over graphics.

[@Th3Downz]

I'm here responding a decade later. Have you found anything else in this time that captures your attention/passes time like Civ does?

[@commandantee]

Greatest genius of the game developing! 😍 Every Sid's Microprose Game I saw, I lobe them at first sight (F-19, F-15, Pirates!, Rail Road Tycoon, Silent Service). And cf course CIVILIZATION and descendants (Master of Orion, Colonization, Master of Magic, Alpha Centauri)! 😁 Greate thanks Sid for Civilization, game of all time!! 😃 There is no other game in history, that would be the biggest jump in creativity and playing quality! 🥰

[@Rev3Games]

Happy birthday, @sid_meier! Reflect on Sid's legacy with this rare one-on-one interview he gave to Sessler: rev3gam.es/19biqC0

[@AudieHolland]

I played "Pirates!" much like a strategic military game. Since both the Spanish Silver Train and Treasure Fleet had set routes, traveling from major city to major port, planning for the big strike was essential. Both targets had extra soldiers that came with the gold so it was always going to be a difficult mission. Either raid the fort or wage a landwar where your entire band could very possibly be wiped out by the town's militia and cavalry. In the end, I found out that the Silver Train and Treasure Fleet only had about 25-50 extra soldiers. So if I could hit the next port or city that they would visit with a preliminary strike (making sure to exterminate every single Spanish soldier) then when the train or fleet arrived, they would be an easy target for my 200+ pirating band. How did I exterminate entire garrissons? Simple. During the sword fight with the enemy commander/captain, keep hitting him untill he is about to panic. Then allow him to hit you one or two times. This would bring enemy morale back somewhat, prolonging the fight. I would have the sword fight last as long untill the enemy only had a single soldier left (the commander, who could not be killed but would surrender).

[@commandantee]

Yes, greate game! Ancestor of Mount and Blade, in 1987!! 😁

[@chadpursley]

The first Civilization game was one of the first games I remember loving. Now I am on Civ 5, and I play this more than any other game. This is the first Sid Meter interview that I have ever seen. I loved this quote "You are adding to the game alot of your own imagination and that is what makes it feel huge and... fun." Civilization is huge and fun! Thanks for the game Sid.

[@Deus.Grande]

Did you like "Beyond Earth"?

[@buckskinword422]

Chad Pursley still playing civ v love it

[@midnightrizer]

and it is not hard to see why he was inspired by will wright and sim city pretty much the same kind of designer after all they both made games not only they wanted to play but knew others would as well.

[@armandomendoza9028]

And that, my Friends, is what we call a living legend.... Alpha Centauri is the definition of "perfection"

[@jasonpiano25]

Colonization was one of my first computer games (around 1994, I think). I loved it immediately and have played through the game countless times since. I still have my disc and have played as recently as a few months ago. I even learned a great deal about American history! So, thank you Sid Meier! Keep up the good work!

[@Homeworkbad]

I really enjoy these interviews with classic video game creators. They are educational and cover topics most people don't think about/ talk about. Keep them up if possible.

[@metrekkie]

I am so excited for the latest innovation in turn based strategy; Sid Meier's Tic Tac Toe.

[@bishop186]

I can hardly believe Pirates! was so long ago. I can still fondly and acutely remember playing that game.

[@laughingpotato]

Great interview, brought back so many memories. I sunk soo very many hours into Rail Road Tycoon. I would love some of these early games to come to Andriod tablets. PLEASE make this happen Sid

[@Aggyro]

As a designer... not a game designer... But a designer nonetheless, this interview was just so inspiring. Thank you Adam for always asking the right questions with the appropriate tone to match. You two really sent my creative gears spinning. Too notch quality content. Keep being yourself, it is the most invigorating thing I've seen in gaming journalism today.

[@PaleBlueDott]

Happy birthday Sid Meier.You and I celebrate our birthday on the same day!

[@mrfatibe]

Oh my God, a interview where the interviewer actually lets the person being interviewed talk! This is why I love Adam and Rev 3. High quality videos and meaningful questions.

[@MrFlac00]

I have to say, these interviews are great. Especially when you guys at Rev3 find people involved in the industry who genuinely love games and everything about them. It's a lot of fun to see their own excitement for something which we all take for granted. I don't think I stand alone in saying that these interviews are great. Please keep coming out w/ them

[@BogWraith1]

His last game for MicroProse was the RPG element added to the original Magic: The Gathering digital game & it was known as "Shandalar". It still is one of my favourite games of all time and still the best implementation of the MTG multiverse in game form to this day. Many people still play it more then 20 years after it's debut. Thanks for that one Sid, and all the other incredible games you've developed over the years!

[@ronpaulprofessionalsexsymb7197]

Sid seems like a very intelligent individual. He really needs more attention. He's able to make a game that is original (looking at you, COD). He is amazing.

[@DarknessBinds1000]

Don't blame COD for the massive surge of brown shooters, after all Sid's games still haven't changed all that much from his initial ideas, but it was his initial vision which we all love. COD had an original vision, not the most original, but still original, blame the rest of the industry who decided that the best idea would be to copy the successful games rather than make their own original games.

[@flyerton99]

Jack Ribar Not RTS. RTS is real time strategy, this would be TBS.

[@OrionCallisto]

Thanks Sid for all the memories. Your remake of Pirates is still entertaining the hell out of me to this day, as does your Civ games and the wonderful new X-Com. And also, thank you Adam for this interview and for years of laughter and reflection upon the craft that I love so much. Xplay was a blast while it lasted. Great interview.

[@blasthf]

Came here for sid and was so happy to find Adam after all these years

[@johnclark3531]

Glad to see where my favorite game came from. Its good to keep up with our gaming origin stories, because these guys are our forefathers. We owe so much to the developers of the good and bad old days. Keep it up Sid! And like the role change for Adam. These interviews make him seem like a traveling monk communing with the elders. Miss the laughs, but more enthralling stories at Rev3 so far than most I can remember of G4.

[@bofop]

"The Player is the star of [our] game[s]." I love this guy.

[@1969cmp]

There were thought I had as a kid, designing city street with pencil on paper, or world war scenarios and drawing and running out frontlines. This was in the early 80s. A decade or so later, Sid helped my thoughts and day dreams come alive.

[@ZamboinElite]

Watching this and G4's Icons episode; Sid really hasn't changed his story or decidedly left out key people. A real testament to his humility.

[@RossLlewallyn]

Thank you for bringing quality interviews covering the history of the video game industry to us. I don't feel like it's done enough.

[@TheMemoman]

I was the one who said in the recent Saints Row IV interview that it was a waste of time to speak with PR guys. After seeing this amazing, engrossing, thought-provoking and encouraging interview with one of the greatest developers, do you now understand why I said what I said? Wasn't this interview a million times more intellectually and emotionally stimulating? Who would you prefer to get your answers from: the artisan crafter of games or from the kid spinning the sign in the curve?

[@TheVirg]

I really enjoyed this interview, thank you. I'm sure I'm not alone with very fond memories of Railroad Tycoon. It remains my Father's favorite game, and one that filled me with fond memories when I saw the starting screen in this interview.

[@StraightShooter01]

"Are we still having fun ..." Simplistic genius. Thank you Mr Meier for the years of dedication - love your Civ games! Any chance of updated Tycoon series games for today's graphics? Thanks again!

[@firebirdgao]

Pirates was one of my favorite game on amiga 500

[@TheOldTomster]

Sess this was a stupendous interview. Standing ovation. Thunderous applause - and still going long after you expected it to abate.

[@RaysRailVideos]

Sid you are a legend, thank you ever so much for the best games in my childhood, pirates, railroad tycoon, civilisation all games i still have with there old computer systems and i still love playing them.

[@connor1564]

These interviews are fantastic and very interesting, please continue to conduct them.

[@verynotsuspicious]

Oh this is a great, great interview! Thank you so much for it! :) Pirates is one of my favorite childhood games, the feels.

[@TonyScimeca]

two incredibly intelligent people in a 30 minute long conversation. I love it.

[@RaoulDuke-cs2wn]

This man is an innovator in gaming history Sid miers pirates was the game of my childhood and I still play it today may your name go down in history Sid

[@atticus4u]

Wonderful interview, Adam! You took great advantage of Sid's history in the industry.

[@OhSUPREMO]

Sid Meier was the start of my gaming addiction.

[@The79AU]

I really want to meet this guy once :-) I bought: Gunship Sid Meier's Pirates! Sid Meier's Colonization like 20 years ago for my Amiga :-) I still have Amiga 1200 with harddrive working :-)

[@benoitcrevier8861]

I played those games too, even Colonization

[@ChescoYT]

you owe this man RESPECT for what he has done for the gaming industry! He changed the 'game'!

[@jetmanjason]

Wow, so awesome to hear from Sid. Been playing Civ for so long, it's like hearing from a personal hero. Thanks Rev 3.

[@Fitotheman]

I haven't seem u "Adam" since xplay so glad ur still there for the gaming community

[@TheWheelsMcCoy]

So glad you can do these type of interviews now Adam. Really to hear from the guy who created most of my first PC games.

[@ThePenguinMejia]

Very cool, thanks for getting us this interview Adam!

[@corootai]

Great interview adam~! hope to see more spotlights like this

[@TheMike82nd]

Great Interview! I'd like to see more of these in the future.

[@MilanMJReviews]

Adam, your interviews are amazing. I loved this. Sid & his teams had an astounding effect on my viewpoint of the interactive medium we call video games. It's great to see that there are still people out there pushing for these wholly unique experiences amongst a myriad of tired gameplay designs & safe marketing. Keep it up man, it's great. Also I guess I need to leave a question since you always asked so I'll ask this! Adam, who's your favourite video game character of all time? Thanks!

[@SuperToughnut]

yes, please do more of these interviews with stories about the good old days.

[@Centurion119]

Keep doing these Big Talks. They are great.

[@ParadigmShift85]

One of the best interviews i've seen in a while...Congrats Adam!!!

These interviews are the best Adam. Just awesome :)

[@blutrariv]

Great interview..Don't understand how someone can dislike it though.

[@hjaltemller1077]

my dad is very fond of Sid Meier´s Pirates

[@Cody1JZ]

Say what you want about Sessler, i thought he did a great job with this interview and asked great questions. Sid Meier is true genius and seems like a really genuine and great guy. LOVED the depth of the games from Microprose and Sid back in the day and still do!

[@1SWINZ1]

This video and the Tetris video i have enjoyed very much! Keep hunting down these game designers from the old school Adam, they make for some of the most interesting video's on this channel in my opinion.

[@SFledz]

Sid Meier, a god among men when it comes to games. Absolute legend.

[@PatMagroin90]

Love these quality interviews. Very informative and interesting interview. Love you Adam!

[@Xanatissimo]

True then, true now with Civ 6 in 2017. Awesome interview, great job.

[@vincentwilliams7538]

They wrapped images for Pirates in font files. Simply amazing.

[@Chivalrics]

This is a fantastic interview. Good job guys, keep it up!

[@martinlatvian5538]

He is a God of strategy games. And civilization series are amazing!

[@CarlosIDK956]

Sid meier's looks pretty much how i imagined him

[@blackrockftw]

A Golden God?

[@ExemptuousAquatic]

Andy Richter?

[@alexyoung5725]

I imagined him more as the man from civ 5: Gods and Kings

[@CarlosIDK956]

i've only played Civ Rev on mobile and 360 though ;p

[@alexyoung5725]

wasn't this comment from las year?

[@EluCCCY]

Great Interview and also i remember when i was so young, when i was 5 years old my dad showed me Civilization 4 and gosh I still play that game to date. Some 9 years later and that is easily in my top 3 games ever. :D

[@bryan567ful]

hey here we got the racism man!

[@EluCCCY]

Bryan tehking Yay. That is now what I will be known as the racism man for the rest of my life.

[@VlaamsSoldat]

Remake Pirates! I beg you!

[@shootgunMarvel]

- First time i see him.. WoW! im impressed.. i play Civ since n1, i love him so much..- Thank you Sid! You are such a cool guy.

[@marcopolo3001]

Most people unless in their late 20s or 30s and above, don't remember the bad old days. Hell even I just remember as far back as the C64, A500 and Atari 2600 days or those PC 286s with the monochrome screens. But I wish we had more competition in this game genre, which to me is the pinnacle of gaming. I have some ideas of my own to rival what Sid Meier did. If only I had a lazy $100 million, I would show him what I'm brewing.

[@Jarek.]

Marco Polo “Only if I had”... You’ve heard him, for long time it was a hobby to him, he was doing it after his daytime job. I’ve also heard that developing whole Civ game costed something around 200k. So relatively not too much.... just cost of a house or two 😉

[@MarshmallowMadnesss]

Mark Anders, being a hardcore gamer is more than playing your shooters and your Assassin Creeds; it's truly about understanding the culture. You clearly are just a kid. That's cool too. When I was playing NES, I didn't care much about the visionaries either. Then again, I was about 7, like you. Eventually, my English got better as did my appreciation for gaming history.

[@truthbetold7718]

Civ Rev and Pirates! Two staples that I'll never uninstall.

[@ShammpooDessert]

I love this series of quality interviews. Please keep them coming.

[@strhopper1]

Civilization has influenced my life more then any other game

[@rib9985]

Rev3Games has SO MUCH POTENTIAL. I need a whole network of gaming from these guys.

[@truirnbru]

Sid you are the Best never Stop!!! Very hipped for Beyond Earth!

[@Mpalafertis]

They are saying that Sid is the nicest person in this industry and from what i ve seen all these years i believe them.

[@MrDonaldLeonard]

What a great interview! Thanks Rev3Games for this!

[@ThePointMutation]

I'm loving these interviews. Keep 'em going!

[@u.thebruce7493]

"And, why is Gandhi threatening me with nuclear weapons?" 17:27

[@AvihuTurzion]

We did it because we didn't know we can't do it. - Best answer EVER!

[@mikegutierrez6778]

That was a wonderful interview with so many great takeaways from Sid, he seems like a really great guy.

[@ConstantlyRushing]

Playing CIV5 while I watch this. Sid's games truly define the strategy genre in gaming.

[@goyatley]

Played that too. It was a lovely game! I'm still hoping for a remake.

[@WheelieTruther]

Loving these interviews, keep 'em up Sess.

[@ThePhillkillv2]

The ways this man has changed gaming. I love Civ Rev.

[@geordiewood]

Adam Sessler: Game journalism's MVP

[@manueldeabreu1980]

Crusade in Europe is still the godfather of them all. I wish we would see an updated version of it. It is still the best version of a real time game I see because of the unpredictability of movement. It has all the elements of games today but was 40 years ahead of it's time.

[@gblenemy]

Big Talk is great! Really love this interview!

[@blackrockftw]

Sid Meier's this is a love letter. Dear, Mr Meier I Grow up playing your games especially Civ 1. Which brings up my main question.... Why add a unit the looks like the water heater in Home Alone, I called knights water heaters for years after that. Lots of love, A grateful fan!

[@pauloskinner]

Simulation and History is a great combination! 10/10 - Informed Gamer

[@greydef]

Awesome interview, thanks for making me feel old but grateful. I'm hoping the proliferation of touch devices will encourage a new generation to discover real gameplay. The last few decades have been great, but come on Firaxis - let's start seeing some games on Android devices :-(

[@NigelBurn]

Great interview with a really good guest........

[@entoris476]

I remember spending days playing Civilization 2! Thank you Sid Meier!

[@icosiel]

Really enjoying these interviews, top job.

[@gabefabia228]

Does anyone else find Sid's voice really calming

[@orodrigoyao]

0:15 name that game plz

[@MrDoctorBucket]

Loving these interviews Adam. Looking forward to seeing who else is on the docket :coughcough:TimSchafer:cough:.

[@walkhikerun6918]

Wow - great video. Sid was charming and the interviewing was thoughtfully done. I learnt a lot.

[@Pizzapartydad]

Totally digging the public domain computer chronicles b-roll, Rev3