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Civilization 5 adds Koreans, ancient wonders DLC August 11
Civilization 5 continues its rapid DLC expansion with two new packs, featuring the Koreans and Ancient Wonders on August 11. The "Civilization and Scenario Pack: Korea" will have Sejong the Great presiding over events, with the new Turtle Ships and Hwach'a artillery at his command. The pack also includes a scenario that finds the Koreans holding off the Japanese warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi from invading the peninsula. You can play as Korea, China, Manchuria or Japan in the scenario. The "Wonders of the Ancient World Scenario Pack" adds three new wonders: The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Statue of Zeus and Temple of Artemis. The scenario for this pack will have civs competing to build (or capture from neighbors) the most wonders in a set amount of time. The packs are $4.99 apiece, or $7.49 for the "Korea and Ancient World Combo Pack".
Civilization 5 marked down to $17, Altitude free-to-play this weekend on Steam
It's far too hot to even consider crossing the threshold of your domicile this weekend. We suggest you tap into Steam's two big deals instead: Until Monday at 10 a.m. PT, Civilization V is down to $17, while the biplane combat title Altitude is half-price and free-to-play until Sunday afternoon.
Upcoming Civilization 5 update to add 'Hot Seat' multiplayer
As the countless hours we've poured into Dance Central and Wii Fit can attest, we're big fans of gaming activities that also help keep our bodies from atrophying into nothingness. Firaxis is sympathetic to our aerobic cause, and is implementing a bit of movement into its latest turn-based strategy title, Civilization 5: A "Hot Seat" multiplayer mode, which allows two players to take turns ... taking turns on a single computer. Just think about how much physical activity this oft-requested gameplay mode will bring to your lengthy Civilization skirmishes! Hoisting yourself up and standing for minutes at a time, then sitting back down when your friend is done taking their turn? Why, that's practically doing squats, if you think about it. You can look forward to blasting your glutes and delts and stuff when the feature arrives in the game's next patch, which launches in June or early July.
PSA: Civilization 5 Viking and Explorer DLC packs now available
You spent the last week gathering up your chainmail shirt and a handy seax for battle, knowing full well that this week brought both Viking and Explorer downloadable content to Civilization V -- that's a given. But have you gotten your fancy exploring telescope oiled? Or your ship captain's wig powdered? Let's hope, as both DLC pieces are now available on Steam for $4.99 each or $7.49 together. And frankly, where would you be without your telescope at the ready? Lost, is where.
Civilization 5 adds Viking, Explorer DLC packs next week
Next Tuesday, May 3, Civilization 5 will be invaded by Vikings. The "Denmark Civilization and Scenario Pack" adds the Dutch, with Harald Bluetooth as the civilization's figurehead. It also includes the "1066: Year of Viking Destiny" scenario, which finds players competing against three others to seize control of the British Isles. Also available next week is the "Explorers Map Pack," which adds ten new single-player maps to the game. Five of them are based on real-world locations, the other five are "scripted map environments." The maps will change from game to game and "focus on an exciting gameplay theme." Examples include an arid sandstorm, the Amazon, the Caribbean and the Bering Strait. The packs are $4.99 apiece or $7.49 as a bundle.
Civilization 4 and 5 marked down for Amazon Deal of the Day
When it comes to kicking off a campaign of wholesale world domination, there really is no time like the present. Actually, there's doubly no better time than the present, as both Civilization 4: The Complete Edition and Civilization 5: The Only Edition are on sale today through Amazon.
Civ 5's Polynesia DLC sets sail on Thursday
Civilization 5's premium Polynesia scenario pack and a free multiplayer map pack will be available on March 3 for the PC version of the game. The Polyneisa DLC will include the "Paradise Found" scenario, which tasks players with becoming the dominant culture in Polynesia among four kingdoms. The Polynesian civilization is represented by Kamehameha; who brings with him Maori warriors, Maoi statues and the ability to embark on ocean tiles from the start of the game. The add-on pack will cost $5 (£3). The free multiplayer map pack will include a skirmish map for one-on-one battles, a map called "Ring," which will have "enemies on your flanks," and "Ancient Lake," which features an inland sea with a "secret."
Dragon Quest VI, Medal of Honor, and a bunch of Wii music items in Amazon Gold Box
Amazon is offering a spate of gaming deals in its Gold Box today, revealing a new time-limited offer every couple of hours. Strangely, the discounts are about half Wii music-game themed -- things like the Wii versions of Michael Jackson: The Experience (the Deal of the Day at $30), Rock Band 3, and Dance Dance Revolution. However, the non-Wii part includes savings on the DS version of Plants vs. Zombies, Dragon Quest VI, Civilization V and others, so the lack of a fully committed theme is forgivable. Find the list after the break.
Civilization 4 and 5 on sale this weekend through Steam
Two Civilization titles that are sure to stand the test of time are on sale this weekend through Steam. Civilization 4: The Complete Edition is $7.50, 75 percent off the regular price. It includes the core game, plus the two expansion packs (Warlords & Beyond the Sword), along with the Civ 4 spin-off Colonization. Civilization 5, in both the regular and "digital deluxe" editions, is 40 percent off, allowing your wallet to complete download production of the games for $29.99 and $35.99, respectively. This civilized offer will be extinguished next Monday. [Thanks, Steve]
Aspyr updates Civilization V for Mac with downloadable content
Aspyr Media has updated the Mac version of Civilization 5 to fix a few bugs and include support for all of the various DLC packs. The downloadable content includes various new civilizations to play with, plus map packs that load up certain areas or scenarios to rule and conquer as your favorite civ. Unfortunately, the game isn't in the Mac App Store, but it's available at the usual places to buy Mac games online, including Steam. As you'll know if you've ever played any version of Civ, it's a terrific game, and it's good to see that the Mac version has capability for all the DLC now as well.
PSA: Civilization 5 DLC now available on Mac
Rejoice, citizens of the Grand Kingdom of Macintosh! You've been forced long enough to live without the premium, downloadable Civilization 5 content that's been available to your cousins of the Land of Windows for ages. The DLC, which unlocks new civilizations for various prices -- except the Mongol expansion, which is free and installs automatically when running the game through Steam -- is now available for all Mac users. You can grab the "Mediterranean," "Mesopotamia," "Asia" and "Americas" expansions for $2.99 each (or $9.99 as a bundle), or the "Babylon Civilization pack" and "Spain and Inca pack" for $4.99 a pop (or $7.99 for the pair). Our position on which one you should buy first should be well known by this point, but if not, here's a hint: You should buy the civilization responsible for the music of both Bruce Springsteen and Menudo. That's a cultural powerhouse if we've ever heard one.
Stardock hires Civ V designer Jon Shafer and fantasy writer Dave Stern
It was odd to hear about Jon Shafer leaving Firaxis a couple weeks back, what with him being an avid member of the Civ community and lead designer on the latest iteration, Civilization V -- a game our own Alexander Sliwinski called "a 'friendly' strategy game." During an interview with our sister site Big Download, Shafer once again stated he'd left Firaxis on good terms and will help Stardock on its newest title, Elemental: War of Magic, as well as an unannounced project he'll be overseeing. Stardock also announced it has hired acclaimed fantasy author Dave Stern to "oversee creative storytelling and lore implementation in all future projects." Stern, who has penned various Star Trek works and novelizations of the Tomb Raider and Blair Witch Project movies, will get right to work on enriching the world of Elemental: War of Magic, which Stardock CEO Brad Wardell admits was "one of the things we felt was weak." Specifically, Stern will "head up all further integration of the Elemental: War of Magic lore" in the game, which will see two upcoming expansions where "lore implementation will be essential."
Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010
Dance Central This is how the dancing genre should be done. Harmonix brought it on and stepped it up with Dance Central, a full-body follow-the-choreography game that showed off Microsoft's Kinect tech and ended up being the device's killer app at launch. Authoritative, yet fun, Dance Central felt like the first step in a franchise that could potentially have an amazing future. Dance Central 2 is a given and I can't wait to see what it delivers. Harmonix has shown us with Rock Band that it can rapidly build upon a core foundation. Chained dance routines? Online dance battles? Customizable routines? It's probably all on the table... and I would dance on that table using a stripper pole for all of it. But, my gawd, I would give anything for the option to remove or exchange freestyle sections for more moves.
Civilization 5 lead designer Jon Shafer leaves Firaxis
Lead designer for Civilization 5, Jon Shafer, has left Firaxis, his LinkedIn profile shows (via Flash of Steel). Shafer, who's been with the company for over five years and a longtime member of the franchise's devout modding scene, was the biggest proponent for uploading and sharing custom maps in this year's entry. Shafer revealed to the Flash of Steel blog that he was not let go from Firaxis -- he resigned on his own, apparently. We've reached out to Shafer and 2K Games for further comment. [Image credit: Firaxis]
Civilization 5 deploys biggest patch of 2010 AD
The Civilization 5 mega patch for 2010 is available today. The update includes a laundry list that would make the old lady that lives in a shoe throw up her hands in defeat. The most important fixes are probably applicable to the AI, which apparently couldn't recognize that there were no more "stacks of doom" in Civ 5, leading it to send wave after wave of troops to their death against even the most lax of defenses. There will also be far greater transparency in diplomatic negotiations once the update is applied. The patch comes a day (as promised) before the "Double Civilization and Scenario Pack," which will add Queen Isabella of Spain, Pachacuti of the Incan Empire and the "New World" scenario. Have your team of advisers read over the patch notes after the break and inform you on the best course of action.
Civilization 5 paid DLC adds Spanish, Incan nations and new scenario
The "Double Civilization and Scenario Pack" is the second DLC bundle for Civilization 5, adding two civilizations and a "New World" scenario that takes place in 1492. The additional civs have Queen Isabella repping for Spain and Pachacuti being the go-to negotiator for the Incan Empire. The pack will hit the interwebs on December 16 for $7.49 on PC and Mac. The "Cradle of Civilization" DLC pack, which was a pre-order bonus, was released earlier this month for $10. All this DLC nickel and dime talk may be distressing, but a major, free patch should be available before the next bit of paid DLC goes live. %Gallery-110229%
Civ 5 'Cradle of Civilization' DLC maps available on Steam
Does your copy of Civ 5 need just a tad more civilization up in it? Perhaps you'd just like to visit your own brand of global domination on your real-life hometown of Duluth, Minnesota? Whatever your motivation, you can now add the Americas, along with Asia, Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean, to your stomping grounds with the "Cradle of Civilization" map pack, now available on Steam. The four new maps can be added for $2.99 apiece or as a single bundle for $9.99 to the PC version of the game. Or, you could hold off and finish your campaign to conquer the entirety of Greece. Sorry, Napoleon -- no dessert until you finish your supper, young man.
Field of Glory, Civ 5 out for OS X
Here's two good strategy game releases for Mac OS X this week (in case you want to spend a little time away from the family after the turkey's carved and eaten). First up, Freeverse has released a game called Field of Glory -- it's a turn-based hex strategy game that's originally based on a tabletop title and has you fighting medieval Roman warfare across single player and multiplayer as well as a number of different scenarios and setups. The game is US $39.95, and includes three expansion packs from the PC version, all ready to go right away. But as cool as that sounds, here's the real hex-based strategy game you're waiting for: Civ 5 is out now for the Mac. And it's available on Steam under the SteamPlay banner, which means for $50, you get both the Mac and Windows versions, digitally delivered to whatever computer you'd like. If you've ever played any Civ game, you know this series is the pinnacle of strategy titles, and the new version not only adds hexes to the mix, but revolutionizes battle (no more stacks of doom) and streamlines city defense as well. I love Civ, and having it available in this way is something to be very thankful for.
Civilization 5, Vanquish and more struck by Amazon Lightning sales today
We know we're entering that time of year where you're not technically supposed to buy games for yourself but, rather, for your fellow man. Still, the upcoming wave of Amazon Lightning Deals is making it hard for us to not treat ourselves to a few discounted gems. In fact, Amazon's made it all the more difficult by accidentally revealing the identities and prices of all the offers therein, those monsters: 8:15 AM PST: Write your own epic story each time you play -- Civilization 5 (PC) for $29.99 10:15 AM PST: Suit up in this sci-fi shooter -- Vanquish (X360 or PS3) for $44.99 10:15 AM PST: The premier device in handheld gaming -- Nintendo DSi XL (Midnight Blue) for $139 1:15 PM PST: Customize your spy in this RPG/Shooter -- Alpha Protocol (X360 or PS3) for $29.99 4:15 PM PST: Don't forget to put your hands up -- Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum (PC) for $14.99
Conquer Azeroth in Civilization 5
Civilization Fanatics forum-goer Maze has designed a map pack for the recently released Civilization 5 that looks very familiar, and for good reason: the map mimics that of classic World of Warcraft, with the two main continents and the Maelstrom in the center. The map is actually very accurate, with precisely placed bodies of water and coastlines and small details like purple creep in Silithus. There are also details like Thoradin's Wall and the Deeprun Tram pointed out. Maze has created two versions of the map, with differing sizes for faster- or slower-paced games. Even if you aren't a fan of the game and don't plan on playing it, the graphics and attention to detail are pretty awesome. Check out some shots of the map in our gallery below. %Gallery-106850%
