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Tropico 5 delayed on PS4, now arriving in 'early 2015'
Despite prior word that Tropico 5 would reach the PlayStation 4 during 2014, a new announcement from publisher Kalypso Media bumps the banana republic simulation to "early 2015." Kalyspo offers no explanation for the PlayStation 4 delay, but does note that the Xbox 360 version of Tropico 5, which has long been scheduled for a November 2014 release, has not been delayed. In more positive news, the aforementioned message issued by Kalypso announces the launch of both Mac and SteamOS versions of Tropico 5. "Starting today, Mac & SteamOS users can now visit the island paradise of Tropico in the award-winning dictator sim," the announcement states. Those suddenly interested in picking up a copy of Tropico 5 can find the game either on the Mac App Store or Steam. [Image: Kalypso Media]
Humble Weekly Bundle Kalypso 2: Omerta, Airline Tycoon 2
Kalypso is double-dipping into Humble waters with this round of the Humble Weekly Bundle, offering Grand Ages: Rome – Gold Edition, Imperium Romanum – Gold Edition, Airline Tycoon 2 and Disciples 3: Gold Edition for whatever price you'd like to pay. Oddly enough, the Humble Bundle doesn't accept gold as payment. Pay more than the average to grab Tank Operations: European Campaign, Patrician 3 and Patrician 4, and for $9 or more, add in Omerta: City of Gangsters and Port Royale 3. Purchased separately, all of the games in this week's bundle would cost $159. Payments this time around benefit Child's Play Charity and the American Red Cross, plus the developers and Humble itself. [Image: Humble Bundle]
Wings! Remastered Edition touring prettier skies in 2014
Cinemaware's World War 1 bomber is circling over PC, Mac, iOS and Android for a second round as Wings! Remastered Edition. The update will retain the top-down gameplay from Wings!'s 1990 debut on the Amiga, but HD polish, new sound effects and a redone soundtrack will help freshen up the experience. A press release notes pilots will join the 56th Squadron for "over 230 diverse missions taking place between 1916 and 1918." Surely most of those conflicts will be resolved with subdued diplomacy ... Wings was meant to be revisited via Kickstarter in 2012, but Cinemaware's campaign for Wings: Director's Cut only managed to gather a sixth of its $350,000 funding goal. [Image: Kalypso Media]
Tropico 5 plans a trip to Xbox 360 in November
El Presidente extends his dictatorial rule to consoles once again, as Kalypso Media announced that its island-subjugating sim Tropico 5 is coming to the Xbox 360 in November. Tropico 5 introduces a string of new and expanded features, including improved trading mechanics, an island exploration element, and cooperative and competitive multiplayer that supports up to four players. The Xbox 360 version will include a free copy of "The Big Cheese" bonus DLC, allowing amateur dictators to promote and manage their own brand of artisanal cheese with a new sandbox map and standalone scenario. The retail Xbox 360 version Tropico 5 will launch in a Limited Special Edition package that includes a bonus postcard, faux passport, and the "Bayo del Olfato" DLC. A PlayStation 4 version of Tropico 5 is also slated to premiere later this year. [Image: Kalypso]
Dungeons 2 goes gold digging in 2015
If EA's reboot of Dungeon Keeper was just too innovative, Kalypso Media will hopefully have a better experience for players with Dungeons 2. Developed by Realmforge Studios, the dungeon management simulator will be ready for overlords everywhere in 2015. The game will have an "extensive" single player campaign mode, as well as four competitive modes supporting up to four players. The game features dungeon management in the underworld and real-time strategy in the overworld to deal with the pestilence called humanity.
Kasedo's strategy-RPG Crowntakers launching for PC, tablets this year
Kalypso's digital-only label Kasedo Games announced that it will release the procedurally generated tactical RPG Crowntakers for PC and mobile platforms later this year. In Crowntakers, players hire a party of mercenaries with unique abilities and travel through eight randomly generated environments, fending off enemy soldiers and wildlife in turn-based battles. Crowntakers also includes crafting and character-leveling components, and the quest features multiple endings, giving players an incentive to finish their battles quickly as they rush to save a kidnapped king. Crowntakers will launch for Windows, Mac, Linux, and iOS and Android tablets in 2014. [Video: Kasedo Games]
Put those goats to use in Tropico 5's 'The Big Cheese' DLC
Mmm, cheese. Tropico 5's first DLC pack is called The Big Cheese, and it involves actually making cheese in El Presidente's very own artisan factory, The Creamery. The Big Cheese is available now for $4, or free for those who pre-ordered the game via Steam or purchased a physical boxed copy. "'The Big Cheese' DLC, available today, challenges players to create and promote an artisan cheese brand by introducing a new production chain with The Creamery: a new building that enables you to make the most of Tropico's local goats and llamas," Kalypso says in a press release. "Put on the chef's hat and face international competition in an epic quest to create the best cheese in the world!" Update 1.04 is live today as well, enabling saves in multiplayer and squashing some bugs. We can't have bugs in the cheese factory, after all. [Image: Kalypso]
Rise of Venice: Gold Edition out now
Strategy trading game Rise of Venice is available now in a complete "Gold Edition" on Steam, featuring the expanded content of the Beyond The Sea add-on, along with the Steamships and Sea Monsters downloadable elements. The premise of the game is simple: "Remove competing political rivals and eventually rule as the powerful and illustrious Doge of Venice." Wow. So Rich. Very power. Quite illustrious. Rise of Venice: Gold Edition will be available today digitally for $29.99, with a retail version available August 22 and 26 in Europe and the New World, respectively.
Tropico 5 launch most successful in series history
El Presidentes around the world have elected with their wallets to make Tropico 5 the most successful launch in the franchise's history, according to publisher Kalypso. The game reached sales of "over six figures," topping the Steam sales charts and showing impressive debuts in the UK and Germany. We mentioned in our review of Tropico 5 that we felt Tropico 4 remains a better experience, but it's still good to see players voting to play the sunny banana republic simulation series. The Xbox 360 and Mac versions of the game are planned for summer, with the PS4 expected to welcome the Tropico delegation this autumn.
Tropico 5 review: New presidente, same as the old presidente
Tropico 5 is another fine example of why the franchise is at the forefront of the simulation genre, but now, more than ever, the series has clearly gotten lost in its own iteration. For veterans of Tropico, the latest installment is a continuation of the evolution we've seen since Tropico 3, but newcomers to the series would be best served by Tropico 4, which had a clearer sense of self. The premise of the banana republic sim remains the same. You are El Presidente, glorious leader of the Tropican people, attempting to build a paradise of your design in a now-persistent island nation through various multi-hour missions. Pushing back against your ambition are the world powers (now from various eras). You will maintain control and prosper by having your citizens plant farms, herd cattle, create institutions of higher learning, revel in bureaucracy, mobilize a standing army ... and embezzle some cash in your personal Swiss bank account. Some of the key enjoyable components of Tropico remain. The writing is playful and brings a colorful narrative to a simulation game. Placing buildings is still a dream and cleaner than ever. It also continues to be a nice touch that if you play as La Presidenta (instead of El Presidente) there's a well-executed female voiceover. The mechanics are sound. If you're a casual fan of the series and all you're looking for is a fresh sandbox with salsa music, El Presidente's got your back. The inescapable itching irritation that becomes a burning flaw in Tropico 5's campaign is the introduction of time periods. An idea meant to ease new players into the world by creating a tiered progression, it gets in its own way with awkward results. Represented by the Colonial, World War, Cold War and Modern Eras, they act as artificial barriers to technology development. The addition of a tech tree not only makes systems convoluted, but is done with the elegance of a three-year-old using markers to draw a Frida Kahlo painting.
Joystiq Streams: Everybody wants to rule the world in Tropico 5 [UPDATE: Relive the stream!]
"What are we going to do tonight, Joystiq Streams?" "The same thing we do every night: TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!" Tropico 5, the latest installment in Kalypso and Haemimont Game's series of cultishly adored management/tyrant simulators, thankfully makes taking over the world an attainable goal. Out on Friday, Tropico 5's spin on the formula is sending you back in time to build a nation from its founding on through World War II. Joystiq's resident Tropico presidente, Alexander Sliwinski, is going to give a guided tour of Tropic 5 in a one-hour stream right here and on the Joystiq Twitch channel starting at 4PM EST. Not only that, Joystiq's giving out Steam codes for the full version of the game in the chat. Swing on by for a chance to snag one. Joystiq Streams broadcasts every Tuesday and Thursday at 4PM EST on Twitch.tv/Joystiq and at Joystiq.com. [Images: Kalypso Media]
70 minutes of Tropico 5
El Presidente believes in transparency in all things except for his personal Swiss bank account. Here is nearly an hour and 15 minutes of Tropico 5's gameplay. No voice-overs, just some of the devs playing the game. The game will be available to the masses next Friday, May 23.
Tropico 5 imports multiplayer trailer for false democracy
El Presidentes rule alone. The only power is absolute power. But, sometimes, it's in their best interest to work in partnership with someone for an objective. The part about betrayal and a firing squad come later
Kalypso unveils Tropico 5 Limited Special Edition, pre-orders now available
As if ruling your own banana republic with an iron fist wasn't tempting enough, publisher Kalypso has announced a swag-packed special edition of its upcoming island nation simulator Tropico 5. Alongside the core game, Tropico 5 Limited Special Edition includes an additional map for Sandbox mode, an "authentic" Tropico passport, a postcard from the faux island and an El Presidente avatar costume. Best of all, you won't have to shell out extra cash for these items. According to Kalypso, the Tropico 5 Limited Special Edition will be available at no additional charge to anyone who pre-orders the game or purchases a boxed copy at launch. If you'd prefer a digital copy, you can now pre-order Tropico from Steam or the Kalypso launcher. While this version will lack the items included in the Limited Special Edition of the game, the digital release comes with its own bonuses including a separate, exclusive map for Sandbox mode and a "Businessman" avatar costume. To further sweeten the pot, those who pre-order Tropico 5 before May 23 will receive a 10 percent discount, though that price break jumps to 15 percent if you order the game directly through Kalypso. Tropico 5 is slated to make its PC debut on May 23, with Xbox 360 and Mac incarnations following at some point this Summer. A PlayStation 4 version of Tropico 5 is also in the works, and barring catastrophe should be available this Fall. [Image: Kalypso Media]
Tropico publisher creates mobile division, launching three games this year
Kalypso Media, publisher of games such as Anna, Rise of Venice and the Tropico series, announced the launch of a new mobile division today. Based in Berlin, Kalypso Media Mobile GmbH will develop games for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. While the publisher didn't unveil any projects in the announcement, Kalypso did note that the mobile studio plans to launch three games this year. The developer also intends to "port and/or re-design our own IP for mobile platforms such as tablets and smartphones." It will focus on paid content at first but will also look into the free-to-play model "as this will also play an important role in our growth strategy." As for the publisher's other games, satirical construction sim Tropico 5 received a May 23 release date for PC just yesterday and Kalypso revealed the "comprehensive" Gold Edition of Omerta: City of Gangsters in late March. [Image: Kalypso Media]
'Comprehensive' Omerta: City of Gangsters Gold Edition arrives today
Publisher Kalypso Media has revealed details on a new version of Prohibition-era gangster simulation Omerta: City of Gangsters that collects all of the game's content into a single, convenient package. Included in the Gold Edition are Omerta: City of Gangsters, every piece of DLC released for the game to date, and the sizable expansion dubbed The Japanese Incentive. While Omerta itself allows players to build a crime empire in a fictionalized version of Atlantic City through all sorts of illegal means, The Japanese Incentive adds new weapons, gameplay mechanics, player abilities and a wholly original story. This new release of Omerta: City of Gangsters is slated to make its digital debut later today on both PC and Mac, with a retail release appearing on April 25. Kalypso's announcement fails to specify a price point for this new release, and our attempts to contact the publisher have so far been in vain. [Image: Kalypso Media]
Tropico 5's latest trailer embraces piracy
Tropico 5 sees El Presidente experiencing a Lazarus existence, traveling through the many historical phases of the island, from pirate times to modern socialism (under dictatorial rule, of course). The latest teaser has El Presidente sparrowing no expense for Russian nuclear weaponry.
Tropico 5 trailer takes quick tour through time
Tropico 5 is all set to keep you safe from the sun this summer, as you rule a banana republic paradise through the ages from the comfort of your shaded domicile. The game's beta test is scheduled to begin this month.
Tropico 5 soaks up early summer rays on PC, Xbox 360
Tropico 5 launches on Xbox 360, PC, Mac and Linux early this summer, Kalypso Media announced today. A PS4 version is due to launch later this year. Tropico 5 places players in the role of El Presidente on the island of Tropico, beginning in colonial times and aging into the 21st century. This is the first Tropico game to feature cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes. The Tropico 5 beta test is scheduled to begin in March (yes, this month). [Image: Kalypso Meida]
Tropico 5 enters beta in March, would-be despots urged to register
Whether you're a benevolent ruler willing to sacrifice everything for your island nation or a greedy sociopath looking to get rich on the backs of the working class, Kalypso Media wants your help. Tropico 5, the latest entry in Kalypso's banana republic management series, enters beta testing at an as-yet-undetermined date in March. The beta test wouldn't be very effective without players to stress the game, thus Kalypso has issued an announcement inviting interested players to visit the game's website where they will find a simple beta registration page. "We're looking for gamers who have a huge enthusiasm for city-building titles and with a wide experience playing within the genre," noted Kalypso in this morning's announcement. More details on what you'd be getting into by joining the Tropico 5 beta test can be found at the game's website. Unlike prior series entries, Tropico 5 sees players grooming a tropical country from the colonial era to the modern day, a change that both expands the game's scope and offers new, historically accurate ways of grinding the proletariat masses under your megalomaniacal bootheel. [Image: Kalypso Media]
