News: February 1999

Sunday, February 28th, 1999
What’s that smell? Must be Ancient Egypt!

I’ve received an interesting little email from Angel Draco – a bit of trivia from Mailbits which suggests that ancient Egyptians liked nothing better than a bit of Chanel no.5…Read on:

It’s obvious that perfumes began as a method for masking foul odors, but the fragrances weren’t originally meant for use among the living. After all, as anyone who has ridden on a New York City subway can tell you, most people don’t seem to realize how bad they smell.

The word “perfume” is a compound of the Latin words “per” meaning “through” and “fumus” meaning “smoke”. Perfume began as a deodorizer, sprinkled on a carcass to cover the awful smell of burning flesh in an animal sacrifice.

In time, people skipped the sacrifice in religious rites and just burned the fragrance. By 3000 B.C. Egyptians of both sexes took the practice a step further, anointing themselves with scents, typically using a different fragrance for each part of the body.

Clever, eh? That’s not the only news related to Draco today – he’s secured an interview with none other than Darrin Horbal, the artistic director for both Caesar III and Pharaoh! So, if there are any questions you want put to him, then you can propose them in the Caesar III Heaven forum.

Just a quick update on the progress of the poll – so far, 87% of you have voted for a governor walker. So, if you disagree, then you’d better make your vote count!

Also today, if you head over to the buildings section, you’ll find that there are 4 new pics there for your viewing pleasure.

Angel Reckless Rodent


Saturday, February 27th, 1999
Ooh! A Poll!

The more observant amongst you will notice that a new little feature has appeared next to the Pharaoh Heaven logo. Yes, we decided that it was time for you to have your say about what direction you would like Pharaoh to take. There will be weekly polls, the results of which we shall pass on to Impressions. So, don’t delay, have your say!

–Erm…sorry about that;)

Moving on, there is loads more action in the forum. There is one particularly pleasing message from Itchy, QA Manager at Impressions, thanking you all for your input. No problem Itchy – we are all trying to make Pharaoh even better than C3!

So, just who are these people? Well, according to Xander of Impressions, these are block haulers, who:

“are bringing stone to the sphinx for construction. Each
monument requires raw materials. As the game progresses, the monuments you are required to build become more and more grand, and require a wider array of raw materials and other commodities, such as grave goods, jewelry, etc.”

So, looks like resources might well be part of the game after all. If this makes it to the final version, then that would be really cool;)

Angel Reckless Rodent


Friday, February 26th, 1999
What about the nature of Pharaoh?

The forum is really taking off! Nearly 50 posts in a day:)! Thanks to all of you who have been there over the past few days – keep on heading over there for more exclusive information and news from Impressions:)…

There have been concerns raised that Pharaoh will merely be Caesar 3 with an Egyptian veneer. However, this criticism may well be a bit premature, as this little quotation from someone at Impressions illustrates:

“It will be similiar, but definitely not the same. The basic engine will still be there, but with changes to reflect both Egypt and whatever gameplay issues need to be addressed because of the Egyptain setting.”

“The walker interactivity is really one of the strong points of the game – it shows the player a ton of info. without feeling like you to micromanage.”

Sounds cool:). Stay tuned for more cool stuff tomorrow!

Angel Reckless Rodent


Thursday, February 25th, 1999
Comments on Building by Xander!

Ha, the forum numbers over 100 posts already! Thanks fans, Impressions/Sierra Studios Dudes and PH Dream Team for making the forum a great and fun place to be and post after just 3 days of going live! There are some great wishes posted in the forum.

Now I believe there is some interest in building times in the Buildings folder. Why not hop and skip over to RR’s brand new folder on the topic called Building Times and add your views. While you are at it, see and write what you think about setting up your own Dynasty in the game! Especially Jayhawk had some cool ideas about that. Oh, almost forgot: Xamazing Xander has this to say about building times:

SPHINX UNDER CONSTRUCTION
This shows one of the many giant monuments, the Sphinx, being built. You’ll also work on other giant wonders like pyramids and temples.”

Note Xander’s use of the form of the verb to be: “being” indicating that you will gradually see the Sphinx and other wonders being constructed as game time goes by. Now that is what I call realism! Speaking of realism, I suppose however, that you should not expect too much of your slave population during construction!

Angel Alexander I


Wednesday, February 24th, 1999
A Quick Comment on Multi-player

You probably already noticed the big discussion going on in the forum about multi-player. Here’s an interesting quote from an Impressions Staff Member that puts the whole thing in a different perspective and really makes you think whether Pharaoh and indeed Caesar III would benefit from a multi-player feature:

“I think some games lend themselves extremely well to multiplayer and some just don’t. Ever try Civ multiplayer? Watching a car rust is more fascinating than waiting hours for someone else to take their turn. But Civ2 may be one of the best singleplayer games. I think some things in a game have to … [be changed] or modified in single-player to make multiplayer work. C3 would have suffered in single-player if a multiplayer option was included.”

To be honest, this makes a lot of sense to me. I would not like to see single-player playability sacrificed for a multi-player feature. I’m the kind of guy who would try to get the best of both worlds.

Speaking of adding or not adding features, it is important to remember that development has just gotten started on the game. Basically, all features are greatly subject to change. Please keep this in mind when viewing, reading and discussing any of the material presented at the site. This will keep you from possibly being disappointed when the game comes out and a feature you had your heart set on is not included or is downplayed. Should you forget in all the excitement, don’t worry we will remind you. 🙂

Because you listened so attentively to that little lecture I will tell you that a gentleman only known to us as Xander, Impressions’ Marketing
Weasel, has informed us that the cut-out of the screen shot you see on the left is Pharaoh’s Palace! Xander adds: “Here the Pharaoh administers affairs of state.   The palace is also a storehouse for gold.” You are worth your weight in gold Xander from Xanadu, I thank you most profoundly and look forward to your additional revelations. Or should I say Oracular Visions because, remember folks, it’s early days yet (told ya I’d remind ya)!

Now the fireworks at this site are dazzling enough but don’t forget our big sister site Age of Kings. Angels Omnivac, Hamlet and Mack slaved away at a whole new look and feel for the site. But that is not all, it has such new and different content that it is really almost a new site altogether. Trail blaze over and leave the hard-working Dudes a note saying what you think of their work. Note that it has a new address as well.

Angel Alexander I


Tuesday, February 23rd, 1999
Itchy Speaks from Pharaoh Heaven!

Just the second day the site is live and we have a teeming forum with words of approval from Itchy himself. As you may know, Itchy is a pretty important Dude at Impressions. Thanks for visiting, complimenting and posting, Itchy!

Today we would like to share with you an Impressions staff member’s response to a question about how the idea for Pharaoh evolved.

“I’m not really sure what the genesis of Pharaoh was, quite frankly. I think it may just [have] been one of those things that just seemed to make sense, given C3 and the similar subject matter and interest in Egypt.”

Well, I’ve been looking closely at the screen shot and it all seems to make a lot of sense to me. I can hardly wait for future developments of the Pharaoh concept!

Now, for some forum action! Join in the discussion on aspects of warfare for Pharaoh!

Angel Alexander I


Monday, February 22nd, 1999
Pharaoh Heaven Welcomes You!

After what may seem like a long time, Heaven’s Gaming Sites is proud to announce the opening of our newest site, Pharaoh Heaven! As you may know, Pharaoh is the sequel to Impressions’ wonderfully received Caesar III. As soon as the C3 Dream Team heard this game announced, site planning got underway. Tell us what you think of it.Pharaoh Heaven open for business!

To help you meet other fans and for more information on the game, please use our forum. Those of you who are new to HGS should find it a great way to communicate with other fans, ourselves and the very developers of the game! Those of you who have visited other sites in our collection will need no introduction to them, and will be well aware what a useful and fun source of information it is.

As with all new sites, content may be somewhat limited to begin with and subject to major changes as the game is developed. However, we will be updating regularly with details on the game as they become available to us. Your hosts, Angels Alexander I, Reckless Rodent, Draco and b:real, will be working away at each of the sections updating regularly (currently, all but the Strategy section have some content). The content of many of those updates will originate directly from the staff at Impressions itself whom we thank most heartily for their cooperation. Recently, in a cordial chat with one of the people working on this mouth-watering game, RR and I asked how prominently warfare would figure in Pharaoh. It would seem that the prayers of a lot of you have been heard and answered by Impressions and naval warfare for one will be featured. In case you have any doubts, check out the screen shot…hit the deck…er…water! Exclusive comments from Impressions’ staff on aspects of the game will feature regularly at the site.

So you see fans, like in Caesar III Heaven, visiting Pharaoh Heaven and voicing your opinion in the forums as well as in the chat room and polls soon to be featured at the site will bring you closer to those magicians that are making this game happen for you and because of you.

Now, I bet you are dying to have a long, hard look at what the game will look like. We have been informed that Heidi Mann, Senior Art Lead at Impressions, is largely the creative force behind this awe-inspiring screen shot of Pharaoh early art on display in our Sneak Peeks section. Looks like Heidi knows her art and her history and we are looking forward to putting up more of her works of art at Pharaoh Heaven!

Angel b:real