Action-Heavy Version of Civilization Heading to Consoles

GameDaily is reporting that Take-Two will be publishing a new Civilization title in Spring of 2008, with a twist. Instead of the traditional strategy gameplay Civilizations Revolution will be an 'action-packed' console game, streamlining the experience for different generation of gamers. They also mention they'll be aiming this game at handheld gamers. "The title will include 16 civilizations, numerous historical leaders to play as or compete against, online play with integrated video and voice chat, more accessible maps, a streamlined time scale for quicker games, and more ... 'Civilization is one of the world's top selling PC game series with more than 8 million units sold, and continues to be recognized as one of the greatest franchises ever created,' added Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. 'We are excited to have Sid Meier getting back to his roots as the game's Lead Designer to carry on its legacy with Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution.'" This seems somewhat similar to EA's decision to offer up a streamlined version of SimCity in their next iteration of the series.

Comments

Good idea or not?

[ThisIsWhyImHot]

I was a big fan of the first two civilization games and the idea of making one that is more action heavy is quite mouth watering. I just hope they don't put too much effort into the action and not enough into the planning and strategy that made the originals so good.

Re:Good idea or not?

[spun]

The Civilization IV: Warlords expansion pack adds quite a bit more action. If I want a military victory, I usually play on epic or marathon speed. Building takes proportionally as long, but you have far more turns to maneuver your armies. I think units are produced slightly quicker as well, so you can have bigger armies. Warlords adds to the 'great people' idea with great generals. Some scenarios are virtually all fighting. For instance, in one, a normal game world is generated, the computer players take 20-60 turns, and then YOU play as the barbarians, bent on destroying civilization.

Re:Good idea or not?

[DerekLyons]

I was a big fan of the first two civilization games and the idea of making one that is more action heavy is quite mouth watering. I just hope they don't put too much effort into the action and not enough into the planning and strategy that made the originals so good.

I would think that calling them an 'action-packed' game featuring a 'streamlined experience' would be a clue of how faint your hopes are.

Re:Good idea or not?

[Bullet-Dodger]

I've loved all Civ's and improvments that have come with new versions. I've played a some Age of Empires, but mostly I'm for strategy genre games. When thinking about action packed CIV, I get this mental image of Defender of the Crown + Risk + CIV. A lot of large scale micromanagements task done to your cities, but once on war with neighbouring region, of you got with your catapult blasting defending cities walls(or castles).

it would propably take something out of the management side of CIV, but honestly, I'd like to command my armies to battle field taking world piece by piece RISK style.

I'll just have to wait what they will produce and hopefully be a happy camper. Have you tried Rise of Nations? It's like a combination of Age of Empires and Civilization. And, it has the RISK style gameplay you describe.

Re:Good idea or not?

[LarsWestergren]

the idea of making one that is more action heavy is quite mouth watering.

Oh, so you are part of the coveted drooling console player target demographic then. ...sorry, couldn't resist. ;)

Action heavy?

[gEvil (beta)]

Action heavy, huh? So I guess they're planning on using some of their unused Manhunt 2 code in the game?

not sure how it will translate

[circletimessquare]

the thing about the addictiveness of civilization is that it is so mentally absorbing, all of the little details. i've often thought civilization would be a great test for alzheimers, because you have to remember so many little short term action lists. as an addict, soon you get stuck in the "just one more turn" mode and... blink, look at that, the sun is rising, it's morning... how'd that happen?

i'm sure they'll make a great game and that it will sell well, but it will be absolutely nothing like the real civilization game experience except in name alone

"Action-heavy" "Civilization"?

[The One and Only]

This is the worst idea I've heard in my life. I guess people who think are no longer in the video game market, huh? Instead we're stuck with action, action, and participatory anime (RPG's).

Re:"Action-heavy" "Civilization"?

[The One and Only]

I guess in your world, people aren't allowed to criticize anything. I would hate to live in your world.

Re:"Action-heavy" "Civilization"?

[Dancindan84]

They're thinking of making a picture based dictionary to cater to this generation too. The sun entry is left blank because it scares them.

Re:"Action-heavy" "Civilization"?

[Hatta]

Tell you what, if you don't like people complaining about it, you don't have to read it.

...urgh.

[FishWithAHammer]

I just died a little bit inside when I read this. It's like 'honest politician'--it doesn't work that way!

Imagine the Outcry

[Enderandrew]

Imagine the outcry if and when this title allows you in first-person gore-mode to hunt down and kill various ethnicities.

This is worse than "Kill all Haitans" in GTA:VC.

Re:Jump the Shark

[roystgnr]

Can a video/computer game jump the shark?

Yes: "modifying the next version for the console audience" is, in fact, the computer game equivalent of adding Ted McGinley to your cast. Brace yourselves for "Civilization: Invisible War"!

After Civ IV: Beyond the Sword - all is forgiven

[dtolman]

After Civ 4.5 comes out (aka the Beyond The Sword edition), who cares what crap they throw at the console market? CIV IV BTS is going to the definitive civilization version for years to come on the computer - its hard enough for me to break away from the game with just the crappy Warlord expansion - this new version is going to be like silicon crack.

Its their loss if they don't think kids can understand this excellently crafted strategy game - but honestly if they're worried about attention span, just make small maps and idiot AI the default options for the console version, and leave it alone. Civ IV is just as intuitive as the original, which plenty of kids played when it came out 15 years ago - and it has pretty graphics to boot - why wouldn't it work on the console?

That may be why

[Sycraft-fu]

They are doing the "action-heavy" thing. They may have realised that Civ, as it is done on the computer, wouldn't work so well on teh console and thus are using it as a starting point, but changing the gameplay. Sounds like they aren't going for a perfect copy since they know that won't work, and aren't just going to water it down, but rather change it to be suited to the new environment. It'll be interesting to see how well it works.

Hope it isn't like HOMM for PS2

[SomeJoel]

Does anyone remember the absolutely horrible Heroes of Might and Magic:Quest for the DragonBane Staff game that came out on the playstation 2? It removed all the "complicated" mechanics that made the game what it was, even going so far as to restrict the user to a single castle-type. I bought the system specifically so I could play that game, but after an hour of playing I punched my television.

Oh no!

[Dr. Photo]

It's the end of Civilization as we know it!

Just what the Civ series needs

[Digital Vomit]

Great. Just what the Civ series needs. Civilization V: Attention Deficit Disorder Edition.