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NVIDIA GeForce Now loses support for 'Borderlands,' 'Civ' and other 2K games
NVIDIA is dropping even more titles from GeForce Now's shrinking selection of games. In a post on the company's forum, a staff member has revealed that NVIDIA will start removing 2K games from the streaming service today. 2K's most popular franchises include Borderlands, Civilization, BioShock and XCOM. The staff members didn't elaborate on the situation, only telling forum posters that the games' removal was "per publisher request" and that the company is working with 2K to "re-enable [its] games in the future."
'Civilization VI' adds Poland to the fray
Civilization VI was rightly lauded as a return to form for Firaxis following the unfortunate diversion that was Beyond Earth. But, as you'd expect from the first iteration of a complex 4X strategy game, things haven't been perfect. An update last month brought DirectX 12 support and a considerable interface upgrade, along with the standard balancing and AI improvements. This month, the game's developers are adding more features, refinements and, for a price, a new civilization to toy with. For full notes on what's new, you can head to Firaxis' website. There's no headline item per se, but the addition of an "Alert" action that lets you sleep units until they see an enemy, and killing the bug that had Great Admirals randomly spawning on top of wonders (making them functionally useless). Rest assured there are plenty of balancing, AI tuning, aesthetic and bug fixes that should add some polish to the game.
'CivilizationEDU' takes the strategy franchise to school
Minecraft isn't the only game headed to the classroom these days. Next fall, CivilizationEDU takes the storied strategy franchise to schools, too. The game "will provide students with the opportunity to think critically and create historical events, consider and evaluate the geographical ramifications of their economic and technological decisions, and to engage in systems thinking and experiment with the causal/correlative relationships between military, technology, political and socioeconomic development," according to a press release.
A glance at Civilization Online's robust character creator
Let's cut to the chase: Past the break, we have two videos embedded showing off Civilization Online's character creator, which you can use the next time anyone starts talking about the challenges of body sliders with stylized art. It doesn't take much to see that the characters here are pretty heavily stylized, but despite that, the character creator features a huge array of options, sliders, and details. Many of the creation options are controlled by a grab-and-pull system similar to the one seen in The Sims 4, making adjustments to body dimensions more instinctive. There's no official timeline for when Civilization Online will come to the US, so you'll have to either wait or get familiar with Korean if you want to try this out for yourself.
Civilization Online closed beta trailer features building, battles, and drumming
There's something about a good Civilization trailer that always makes me feel downright nostalgic, and I think that factor is the world music being sung. We've got another trailer in this grand tradition for you to watch today, this one from G-Star covering the upcoming Civilization Online. Civilization Online is currently in Korean closed beta, but from the looks of this video, it's coming along nicely. The trailer shows players working together to construct a bridge over a chasm, build cities, assemble armies, and engage on that most sacred of pre-fight rituals, happy drumming. Check it out after the break!
Watch two hours of Civilization Online unfold
Unless you're in Korea, you don't have much of a chance of getting into the Civilization Online beta test, but at least you can enjoy it vicariously! A beta tester posted over two hours of in-game footage of this MMO strategy hybrid. The video covers a wide gamut from the introductory tutorial to horseback riding to building to sieges. There are also plenty of exciting menus and map screens for you to brush up on your Korean as well! Even without knowing the language, one can get a pretty good handle on how Civ Online looks and plays. The advance peek starts after the break.
Get a feel for Civilization Online with this beta video
The first round of closed beta testing for Civilization Online has wrapped up in Korea, and the folks at XLGAMES have put together a video showing off this online spin-off from the classic strategy series. The nine-minute video shows the collaborative efforts to build up a town and the equally collaborative efforts by enemy forces to destroy it. Also there are Dalek tanks, hot air balloons, and large mosh pits of Roman citizens. See for yourself after the break!
Civilization Online review rounds out with combat and replay
Looking at Civilization Online with longing might not be a great idea, as there are currently no plans for a release here in North America, but Steparu has been reviewing the beta, and if you'd like to find out what it's about the last part is available now. This final portion covers the game's combat mechanics, how players can get into games in progress, and gives an overall assessment of how the game is shaping up through testing. While the combat in the game is fairly standard -- tab-targeting, hotbars, and WASD movement rule the day -- it does offer players a variety of options with both main and sub classes, along with a variety of vehicles and mounts that have their own combat uses. Overall, the game gets pretty high marks as what it's meant to be, a very PvP-focused game that sees factions warring for dominance again and again. Which is probably what you expected from the name, really.
Civ Online review looks at building, PvP, and more
Steparu's back with part deux of an ongoing Civilization Online review. There's a lot to digest this time around, including bits about progression, the building and card systems, era changes, and realm-vs.-realm PvP. The review contains a good amount of video content, too, and we've included a seven-minute clip focused on building after the cut.
Firaxis bringing Haunted Hollow to iOS
Firaxis is one of my favorite game developers -- they're the group behind the Civ series as well as the recent (and excellent) XCOM: Enemy Unknown reboot. Today, they've surprise-announced a game called Haunted Hollow, which is coming to iOS later on this spring. As you'd imagine from Firaxis, it's a strategy game, but it's a little more colorful and fun than Civ or XCOM -- you'll be building up a mansion full of monsters, trying to scare townspeople and slowly take over the town you're in. Each monster can be powered up, and there are even some multiplayer modes, either over Game Center or with pass-and-play. It sounds really great. The game will be available for free from the App Store, with the title supported by microtransactions (probably for currency, though extra themes and architecture are mentioned as well). We'll watch out for a release, and let you know when we spot the game available for download.
OnLive now streaming Civ 5, free with Gods and Kings purchase
If you don't own Civilization 5 yet, have heard good things about the Gods and Kings expansion, and have a steady Internet connection to play games on, then streaming service OnLive has a deal for you. It's offering the Civ 5 core game PlayPass for free when you buy Gods and Kings, essentially giving you the entire critically acclaimed title and its add-on for $29.99.What you're buying here is the chance to play them on OnLive, however, which gives you the benefit of running the game as if you're on a high-end PC (even if you're on a Mac or a low-end PC), as long as you have an Internet connection with the bandwidth to stream it. As long as you've got the pipes for streaming HD video, this is the way to jump on the Civ 5 wagon, as the same deal on Steam will currently run you $60. OnLive says the door's closing on this one at the end of this week.
PSA: Free Civ 5 DLC now available for download
Those of you waiting for the first hit of Civ 5 DLC khan get it right now for free. The Civilization and Scenario Pack: Mongols features Genghis Khan and his armies, and is a free gift to players. Also, the Babylonian Civilization (the Civ version of it, not the real thing) is available for $4.99.
Direct2Drive offering free Civ 3 with Civ 5 pre-order
Let's be honest with ourselves: If you're the kind of person who's pre-ordering Civilization V, you're probably the strategizin' type. You likely called around, made comparisons (maybe even put together a spreadsheet -- we won't judge), and then chose the most strategically fortuituous preorder that you possibly could, finding the perfect balance of cost and value for your money. But just like all of those late game German Panzers, Direct2Drive is throwing a last-minute wrench in the gears. Preorder Civ V via it, and you'll get immediate and free access to the classic Civ III, the last iteration in the series to stay 2D, largely viewed as one of the best versions of the game. Plus, D2D preorders also get the new game's first bit of Scenario Pack DLC for free. That's a good deal. Of course, if you want to preorder the new Civ, you probably have the old Civ collecting dust somewhere on a shelf. But you might at least add this deal to your spreadsheet, just to see how it balances out.
GDC 2010: Civilization V probably Mac-bound (eventually)
I've been working like crazy for TUAW here at GDC 2010 (and there's a lot more coverage yet to come), but I did take a little time for myself this afternoon and go see the demo that Firaxis is showing off here of this fall's Civilization V. The latest and greatest Civ is quite different from the past iterations. As you can see in the above photo, the squares have become hexes for the first time ever, units will no longer stack (I know!), and culture will grow only as you pay gold to grow it, one hex at a time. Even though I really only went to see this game because I'm such a huge fan, I did get to ask one question for you: when is this game coming out on the Mac? The rep was noncommittal, as you might expect, but he did say that every single previous version of Civilization has eventually come to the Mac, and that Civ V would probably not be an exception. He didn't have a timeline, but given the recent arrivals in the world of Mac gaming, I'd guess that it'll be sooner rather than later. The game's not due out until fall on PC, but I'll keep an eye out for it. Here's hoping that Valve's big announcement will encourage other great game companies to hit our platform as early as they can.
Lotus Concept Ice Vehicle promises to aid arctic expeditions, Thunderbirds missions
You know, if you're going to go to the trouble of undertaking an arctic expedition, you might as well do it in the most completely over-the-top fashion imaginable. At least that seems to be the thinking behind Lotus' new Concept Ice Vehicle (or CIV), which appears to have been specifically designed to help out the Moon Regan TransAntarctic Expedition. Among other notable features, the biofuel-powered, propeller-driven vehicle boasts an ice penetrating radar to detect potentially perilous crevasses, seating for one brave individual, and a spiked "foot" to stop the thing in a hurry. Be sure to head on past the break for an unfortunately all too short video of the vehicle, and hit up the link below for a few more pics.
WRUP: Waiting for Warhammer edition
Unfortunately, if you really are waiting for Warhammer Online, you're going to be waiting a while (though the good news is that you've got a metric ton of posts to read about it here on Massively). But it does seem that the MMO game has cooled down for a bit. Some folks are still pushing onward in Age of Conan, and lots of people are rushing to finish up their pre-expansion goals in World of Warcraft. And there's a whole lot of Monk playing in DDO this weekend, we're pretty sure, not to mention that the EVE expansion is just around the corner.So What aRe yoU Playing this weekend? Michael Zenke, who definitely is waiting for WAR, can't wait to ding 60 and get his epic Chocobo in Azeroth this weekend. I'll be playing my usual diet of World of Warcraft, with a little Guild Wars thrown in for variety. And outside of the MMO realm, I can't wait to try out the Civilization Revolution demo this weekend -- if they actually have put Civ in console form, it could be more addictive than any MMO I've ever played.So what are you playing in your free time this weekend?
Sid Meier mentions possibility of a Civilization MMO
Be sure to take this one with a grain of salt, but Sid Meier is apparently very interested in making a Civilization MMO at some point in the future -- according to a recent interview. However, Sid basically goes on to say that he doesn't think that sort of game is his next project, as he's interested in doing some more single-player games (Alpha Centauri 2, please?) before tackling something else.We've got to admit it though, the concept of an MMO where you start your very own civilization and slowly expand it over time sounds intriguing to say the least. Aside from all sorts of design hurdles, there are some very exciting ideas in the concept. The easiest method of doing a massively Civilization game would be to take a few notes from Guild Wars in terms of subscription-style. That way, a player could work on their civilization for as long as they wanted, take a break for however long they felt like and then come back for expansions or just because they felt like it -- all monthly-payment free.[via MMORPGdot]
Civilization Revolution has no alibi (it's ugly)
While DS development for Civilization Revolution continues (and progress on the Wii version, uh, un-continues), we can't say it's looking too great based on the initial batch of released screenshots. Check out this janky image on the right; it's almost as if someone tried to mash together Fire Emblem with Age of Empires: Age of Kings, but somehow messed it up.Of course, no one plays Civ for its graphics, and, according to a recent interview with IGN, Firaxis made sure to leave in the strategy title's core mechanics. The DS release will, for the most part, have the same mechanics as the 360 and PS3 versions, except with a mostly 2D presentation. You'll still have 16 civilizations to choose from and a robust online multiplayer experience with two-player head-to-head, four-player free-for-all, and team battle modes. End your turn and head past the break for a couple more screenshots.
No Civilization Revolution for the Wii
While we reported on DS Fanboy that the franchise was coming, we were a bit skeptical as to its validity on the Wii. Turns out, our apprehension to report the game was coming on the Wii was like some kind of awesome spider sense, because it definitely isn't coming to the system. Why? Who knows, but we can't even begin to fathom a reason as to why it shouldn't.Control scheme? Just about perfect for the game. Graphics? The Civilization series was never all that graphically demanding. Online multiplayer? OK, maybe that's a valid point of concern in bringing the franchise to the Wii, but hardly one that would cause the console to be excluded.[Via Game Stooge]
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution coming to PSP
Not to be left out of the Civ lovin', the PSP is getting a Civ fix in the form of the brand new rendition, Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution. The official press release is a bit loose on exactly which handhelds will be getting this title, saying only that Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution will be coming to "next gen consoles and handhelds." We think we can safely assume a Nintendo DS version will be dropping in tune with the Sony PSP's release but hey, why get the Nintendo version? (wink, wink). The game is said to have "extensive multiplayer capabilities" with "integrated video and voice chat." Voice chat on the PSP? Maybe not, but at least having "extensive multiplayer capabilities" and "downloadable content" should prove a worthwhile venture on the PSP, especially for Civ gamers on the go. 16 civilizations are making the grade here, with Sid Meier himself in the hotseat as lead designer. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is set for a Spring 2008 release, so we imagine it won't be much longer before we can share some screen shots. Stay tuned.[Via Joystiq]
