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Warlords Release Dates US Release: 25 July 2006
World Release: 28 July 2006 More >
Patch 1.61 for Civilization IV The long-awaited 1.61 patch is out! It features several fixes, but also additions, such as scenarios, the PitBoss system, and the SDK (the modmaker's dream). More >
How to design a Mod Kael, the creator of the superb Fall from Heaven Mod, explains how to go about designing a Mod.
Modding Competition Which mods are the best? Submit your mod and win signed copies of Civilization IV or the official game soundtrack!
Simon Bradbury on CivCity: Rome Simon Bradbury talks to Planet Civilization about his new game, CivCity: Rome. He explains new features, research, daily lives of the citizens, and even giant death robots.
Chronicles will include Sid Meier�s Civilization I, Sid Meier�s Civilization II, Civilization II: Fantastic Worlds, Civilization II: Conflicts in Civilization, Civilization II: Test of Time, Sid Meier�s Civilization III, Sid Meier�s Civilization III: Play the World, Sid Meier�s Civilization III: Conquests and Sid Meier�s Civilization IV.
Extras will include Civilization: The Card Game, The Chronicles of Civilization, a Video DVD, and more.
NPD Group
Top-Selling Software
Week of August 20 - August 26, 2006
PC Games
Madden NFL 2007 (Electronic Arts, $37)
World Of Warcraft (Vivendi, $32)
The Sims 2 (Electronic Arts, $33)
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3: Gold (Atari, $20)
Nancy Drew: Danger By Design (Her Interactive, $20)
The Sims 2 Open For Business Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts, $28)
Warcraft III Battle Chest (Vivendi, $33)
Cars Radiator Springs Adventures (THQ, $20)
Civilization IV (2K Games 7 Take 2, $46)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2K Games / Take 2, $42)
PS: Can The Sims please ever leave the top seller list?
Modding Civilization IV Video (5/5) 10:30 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Apolyon has published the last video in its series on modding Civilization IV. In it, Firaxis Games Software Engineer Alex "alexman" Mantzaris and Designer/Programmer Jon "Trip" Schafer discuss modding utilities followed by a discussion on the power and dangers that exist given CivIV's extensive and varied modding capabilities. Schafer offers tips for current and would-be modders to give their efforts the best possible chance of success.
Modding Civilization IV Video (Part 4/5) 13:39 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Sorry for the late news, but this one somehow slipped past me: Apolyton has posted the fourth instalment of its modding video series. Firaxis Games Software Engineer Alex "alexman" Mantzaris and Designer/Programmer Jon "Trip" Schafer discuss the design process for creating modifications and scenarios in CivIV. They also field an inquiry from a number of attendees about why there is no XML editor with the game.
1.22 Rev A Update Changes
- Provides a Universal Binary for both the Civilization 3 Complete and Play the World applications.
- Fixes error "Load Error: Error Reading file: Missing Entry in: Game Data\text\PediaIcons.txt"
- Fixes instances where game would sometimes fail when completing research, giving an error about missing Civilopedia entries or other strange behavior.
- Fixed sporadic crashes when music cues were being stopped.
- Music stuttering should be greatly reduced.
- Custom scenarios (such as the SGOTM at civfanatics.com) are now properly found if placed in "~/Documents/Civilization 3 Complete/Scenarios" (searched first) or "Conquests Game Data/Scenarios" (searched second)
- Saved files are now compressed. (Autosave files are never compressed, which is the same as the PC version.)
- When playing fullscreen (as opposed to a window), you may now temporarily leave the game by using either Cmd-H (OSX's hide command) or Cmd-Tab. Clicking on the game icon in the dock (or using Cmd-Tab again) will return you back to where you were.
- Compatibility fixes for several third-party mods. In particular, the "Rhye's of Civilization" mod now works. As a side effect, network games will not work with previous versions.
Firaxis Games Video Tour (3/3) 1:19 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Apolyton has just posted the third and last instalment of their video tour, which takes us through the last bits of the offices of Firaxis. The company`s Online Marketing Manager, Dennis Shirk, served as their guide. Included within is an exclusive look at a promotion piece for Ultimate CivII, the third CivII expansion pack that in the end was renamed Multiplayer Gold Edition.
Warlords coming to Mac 9:11 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Aspyr Media, the publishers of Civilization IV for the Mac, announced today that they are working on converting the Warlords expansion to the Mac. The release date for the Mac version is some time in November this year.
Click-Mania: Responses 10:12 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News A few days ago we reported on an article on GamaSutra which used CIV3 as an example of too many clicks in a strategy game. The article triggered a lot of feedback to GamaSutra, and the editors were nice enough to share the community's thoughts on the article with us.
CIV Titles in Top 10 13:00 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Here's the report on top-selling games in on the second week of August. Both CIV titles are back in the top ten!
NPD Group Report
Top-Selling Software
Week of August 6 - August 12, 2006
World Of Warcraft (Vivendi, $36)
The Sims 2 (Electronic Arts, $37)
Nancy Drew: Danger By Design (Her Interactive, $20)
Civilization IV: Warlord Expansion Pack (2K Games / Take 2, $26)
The Sims 2 Open For Business Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts, $30)
Cars Radiator Springs Adventures (THQ, $20)
The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts, $20)
Civilization IV (2K Games / Take 2, $44)
Paws & Claws Pet Vet (Valusoft / THQ, $20)
MS Age Of Empires III (Microsoft, $49)
Prototyping Civilization Video (3/5) 12:56 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Apolyton has posted the third instalment of their Prototyping Civilization video series. In this video, Firaxis Games Designer/Programmer Soren Johnson and Artist Dorian Newcomb talk about the incorporation of religion into "CivIV" is addressed first from the practicalities involved to the sensitivities observed. Shifting gears, the game's Version 'E' from May 2004 is analyzed where graphics begin to take priority in the development cycle. The sophistication of the technology tree and Artificial Intelligence (AI) coding follow before reaching April 2005 and Version 'F'.
Jesse Smith Interview 4:30 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News GameProducer.NET interviewed Jesse Smith, game producer at Firaxis Games, who has recently produced Civilization IV: Warlords. The interview covers all aspects of the production process of Civilization IV, focusing on the role of the producer. He explains how stressful but rewarding it was to produce CIV4, and that it is the biggest project Firaxis has ever completed. He also has a few words on Sid Meier:
I can see Sid�s office from mine so I bump into him quite frequently. Sid is a genius and truly inspires those he works with. He is very hands-on with the projects and focuses a tremendous amount of effort on making sure the game is fun and exciting. When he is involved on a project you can feel the entire company humming with excitement. It isn�t often you get to work with a legend so it is an experience just to be a part of the team. And he�s also one of the nicest people I�ve ever worked with.
Civ = Click-Mania 9:02 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Are you also one of those people who never play CIV to the end? Are you also wondering why? Well, here might be the answer. Philip Goetz of Gamasutra wrote a long feature article explaining that games today require way too many clicks, mouse movements, and scrolls.
Overclick isn�t limited to Civilization. Real-time strategy games will leave you with even worse carpal tunnel. That�s why I don�t play Warcraft or its descendants online. In terms of clicking skills, I�m over the hill. Strategy is irrelevant in today�s real-time strategy games when you�re playing against a fourteen-year-old who can click twice as fast as you.
He examines nicely how in Civilization III, you need hundreds of clicks and scrolls just to build a railroad from one end of your empire to the other. A truly interesting and innovative read -- for players and game designers alike.
Iain Banks 'civilized' by Sid 7:00 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News Computerandvideogames.com reports that the bestselling author Iain Banks is addicted to Civilization and therefore could not finish his next scheduled novel on time. When interviewed by the UK newspaper The Independent, he explained why his latest novel isn't published yet:
"It's all because I became a serial addict of the computer game Civilisation. I played it for three months and then realised I hadn't done any work. In the end, I had to delete all the saved files and smash the CD. It is very unprofessional of me. I had to ask for an extension for the first time, which made me feel just like I was a student again."
Top Selling Software in July 6:54 PST | jvdc | Print News | Mail News We've got the report for the top-selling software in July from NDP Group. Civilization IV went back into the top 20, together with the expansion pack. Here is the list:
NPD Group Report Top-Selling Software July 2006
World Of Warcraft (Vivendi, $33)
Cars Radiator Springs Adventures (THQ, $18)
The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts, $19)
The Sims 2 (Electronic Arts, $41)
The Sims 2 Open For Business Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts, $31)
Guild Wars Factions (NCsoft, $48)
Titan Quest (THQ, $49)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2K Games / Take 2, $48)
Half-Life 2: Episode 1 (Electronic Arts, $19)
MS Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection (Microsoft, $20)
MS Age Of Empires III (Microsoft, $49)
The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts, $32)
MS Zoo Tycoon 2 (Microsoft, $27)
Civilization IV (2K Games / Take 2, $48)
Warcraft III Battle Chest (Vivendi, $39)
The Sims Complete Collection (Electronic Arts, $40)
Civilization IV: Warlord Expansion Pack (2K Games / Take 2, $29)
The Sims 2: University Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts, $31)
Heroes Of Might & Magic V (Ubisoft, $48)
Lord of the Rings: Battle For Middle Earth II (Electronic Arts, $44)
