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Action-Heavy Version of Civilization Heading to Consoles

Posted by Zonk on from the killing-me-softly dept.

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.

8 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Good idea or not? by ThisIsWhyImHot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:Good idea or not? by spun · · Score: 4, Interesting

      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.

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    2. Re:Good idea or not? by DerekLyons · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.
  2. Action heavy? by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 4, Funny

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

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    This guy's the limit!
  3. not sure how it will translate by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  4. "Action-heavy" "Civilization"? by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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).

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  5. After Civ IV: Beyond the Sword - all is forgiven by dtolman · · Score: 4, Interesting
    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?

  6. Oh no! by Dr.+Photo · · Score: 4, Funny

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