Civ coming to consoles/handhelds

suadeo

So, over at kotaku, they just posted that Civilization is coming to consoles and hand helds.

It will be named: Civilization Revolution

Press Release:

2K Announces Civilization® Revolution™ -

Sid Meier's First Game for Next Generation Consoles

Legendary designer Sid Meier builds the Civilization® experience from the ground up for consoles

Windsor, England - June 28, 2007 - 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that it will publish Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, the first next generation game designed by world famous game designer Sid Meier. Slated for a spring 2008 release for next generation consoles and handhelds, Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is being developed by Firaxis Gamesâ„¢, 2K's world-renowned development studio.

Sid Meier put computer gaming on the map when he delivered Civilization® to the gaming world, launching the "God Game" genre and creating one of the most award-winning and addictive strategy series of all time, including Sid Meier's Civilization IV™, the Gamespy and GameSpot 2005 Game of the Year. Driven by sheer passion for the game concept, Meier is now handcrafting a brand-new Civilization experience designed and built from scratch for next gen consoles and handhelds.

"Civilization Revolution is the game I've always wanted to make!" said Sid Meier, Director of Creative Development at Firaxis Games. "We are excited to take advantage of the power of next generation consoles and the ingenuity of handhelds, to create a great and unique strategy game for newcomers to the series, as well as the millions of fans around the world who enjoy Civilization on the PC."

In Civilization, players strive to become ruler of the world by establishing and leading a civilization from the dawn of man into the space age - waging war, conducting diplomacy, discovering technologies, going head-to-head with some of history's greatest leaders, and building the most powerful empire the world has ever known.

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is a watershed game, offering players a chance to experience the epic empire-building world of Civilization in an all new accessible, visually immersive, and action-packed world specifically designed for the console and handheld gamer. Delivering Civilization's renowned epic single-player campaigns featuring vast re-playability and unmatched addictive gameplay as well as revolutionary features like real-time interaction with leaders and advisors, extensive multiplayer capabilities and integrated video and voice chat, it will completely transport the Civilization series to a level of gameplay that fans have never seen before.

"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," said 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."

Some of the key features that will resonate with fans of strategy games and the Civilization franchise include 16 civilizations to master and lead to victory, an array of famous historical leaders to play as or compete against, and accessible maps and streamlined time scale for quicker games, intense combat, and constant action. In online multiplayer mode, players will compete for world conquest and glory among their peers as they battle in teams, head-to-head or epic free-for-all matches. In addition, auto-matching, ranked games, leaderboards, achievements, downloadable extra content and integrated video and voice chat make the online play more versatile and fun than any previous version of Civilization and will allow players to see where they stand against the competition. Finally, the position of ruler of the world can be settled online.

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution will be released in spring 2008 for next generation consoles and handhelds. For more information please visit http://www.civilization.com/.

I am so god damn happy this is happening. I really want to play Civ IV but I lack a decent computer and money.

Darlan

I've always wanted a handheld Civ game. Excellent.

SirUltimos

If we get a Civ for the DS it may just kill me.

Darlan

"Spring '08," eh? Nice to have stuff to look forward to for next year. It seems like there's a TON of stuff on my radar that's releasing this fall/winter (certainly more than I will be able to afford this year, so it may be a moot point,) but not a whole lot seems to be known yet for 2008.

tofu

Fucking finally, I've been waiting for a Civ 4 DS port since it was released.

The_Scarab

Now I can play Civ while Im not at my computer.

Seriously, my life is over. That's it. Now I have no chance.

suadeo

I wonder what systems this will be released for. Not too long ago, Sid Meier was quoted on saying how he loves the PS3. Also, Pirates! came out for the PSP. I wonder if this will be available on Sony systems only.

Darlan

suadeo wrote: »

I wonder what systems this will be released for. Not too long ago, Sid Meier was quoted on saying how he loves the PS3. Also, Pirates! came out for the PSP. I wonder if this will be available on Sony systems only.

It would kinda make sense...can the DS even do Civ 3? Not that 1 or 2 are bad, of course, and there is certainly precedent for putting old PC games on the DS. Hmm.

GrimReaper

Lets see, I own Civ for the Amiga & pc, Civ 2 pc & ps1, Civ 2 test of time pc, civ 3 & play the world expansion, civ 4 & warlords.

I'll buy Civ for the DS and Wii.

Am I Sid Meier's bitch?

Zek

I'm more interested in the console version. Will this be a version of Civ that is sped up so that we can actually play a game online in less than 5 hours?

BigDes

Didn't the PS1 get a version of Civ II?

This is pretty awesome news.

GrimReaper

BigDes wrote: »

Didn't the PS1 get a version of Civ II?

This is pretty awesome news.

Oh nuts, I forgot.. my Civ 2 isn't for the ps2.. it's for the ps1. Ninja edit time!

EDIT: Here you go, dug it out.. just for you BigDes.

MuddBudd

So I just watched this trailer.

Why is Henry Rollins doing the voiceover?

Hevach

SirUltimos wrote: »

If we get a Civ for the DS it may just kill my batteries.

Fixed. The thought of repeating my month-long Civ 2 game makes me want to start looking at those portable DS chargers again. Maximum map size, maximum number of civilizations, respawn, only military victory allowed, but then I played the game out trying to keep a stable world. It was kind of fun after the first set of countries destabilized and I wiped everybody out. I got to lord over a world full of stone aged tribes like a technological god for a while. Always fun giving a civ that can't even make pottery yet a howitzer or advanced aircraft and seeing what happens. Abandoned the game before the second batch got very far, though. Respawn was the most useless feature in civ 2 - scouts versus mechanized infantry doesn't make for a compelling battle - much less repeated four times before the game ends. And the respawned AI is suicidal - they repeatedly threatened to crush my pathetic globe-crushing empire if I didn't give them electricity. They'd then send their entire army against a random infantry unit I forgot I had and not make a dent. Next turn, their emissary says they'll halt their devastating invasion only if I give them democracy.

Inzigna

The idea of a pick up and go Civ game attracts me to no end.

I'm just thinking if its possible.

malerik

I had civ for the n-gage.

It was awesome.

This will be even better.

Andrew_Jay

-

GrimReaper

Andrew_Jay wrote: »

Bad news is that it seems it's not coming out for the Wii - which would have had awesome controls.

Yesterday Gamespot had pages for all five consoles, now just for four (XBox, PS3, DS and PSP). Plus, no Wii logo at the end of the trailer.

*cries*

No! NO!

There WILL be Civ for the Wii. It's simply a matter of time, they can't ignore the possibility of the sales and the money to be made. It'll come out at some point for the Wii, it's inevitable.

Mojo_Jojo

I'm holding out for more details before I get excited. It's a nice idea, but you need to bear in mind that this is not Civ4 being ported to consoles, it's a new Civ game designed for consoles. Having expectations of being able to play Civ4 on your PSP or whatever is going to lead to disappointment.

BigDes

Mojo_Jojo wrote: »

I'm holding out for more details before I get excited. It's a nice idea, but you need to bear in mind that this is not Civ4 being ported to consoles, it's a new Civ game designed for consoles. Having expectations of being able to play Civ4 on your PSP or whatever is going to lead to disappointment.

Yeah but it doesn't matter. Hell a straight port of Civ II will make me absurdly happy.

Mojo_Jojo

It's a new game, not a port of anything old or new. A brand new game which is better suited to console play. I don't doubt it'll be fun (given that Sid Meier seems to be in charge) but I'm not sure it will bear much relation to the core series.

Seems a little odd that the trailer just showed off the ugly cut scenes too rather than give any impression of how the game might play.

GoodOmens

The press release in the OP mentions "constant action," which leads me to wonder if this is actually some sort of RTS.

Craveon

The concept art for this game is really gorgeous. I don't like the proposed heavier focus on action over TBS though, and console iterations of typical PC games are hardly ever better than the real deal (*cough* The Sims *cough*). I'm pretty sceptical, but let's just wait and see.

Ah_Pook

SirUltimos wrote: »

If we get a Civ for the DS it may just kill me.

BigDes

GoodOmens wrote: »

The press release in the OP mentions "constant action," which leads me to wonder if this is actually some sort of RTS.

Or everyone takes their turn at the same time.

zerg rush

suadeo wrote: »

...intense combat, and constant action....

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

quovadis13

Ah_Pook wrote: »

SirUltimos wrote: »

If we get a Civ for the DS it may just kill any and all productivity I will ever get again. EVER.

Pancake

Honestly, this scares me.

Ubisoft has made me paranoid about moving my favorite franchises to consoles and making the gameplay faster, more action-oriented, and more simple and accessible after they did just that to Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six and then never returned the franchise to how it was because what they had sold so well on consoles.

My fears are probably unfounded since Civ does very well already, but I can still see it happening. They said it would appeal to fans of the PC games, but whether that means that they'll actually be staying close to the series' roots or they just expect it to please people because it has the same name is yet to be seen.

Woodroez

suadeo wrote: »

I wonder what systems this will be released for. Not too long ago, Sid Meier was quoted on saying how he loves the PS3. Also, Pirates! came out for the PSP. I wonder if this will be available on Sony systems only.

Pirates! was also on Xbox, for the record.

EDIT: And pancake's fears probably are not all that unfounded. But obviously, yeah, wait and see.