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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]
Dictatorship simulator cuts too close to the bone for Thailand's dictator
In Tropico 5 you play El Presidente, the dictator of a small island, given free reign to build the world according to your whim while violently suppressing your opponents. Unfortunately, tongue-in-cheek games about that sort of subject don't go down so well with an actual military dictatorship, like the one running Thailand right now. The junta, which has already censored the internet and banned Facebook and Bitcoin, has now outlawed sales of the game. The only reason given is that Tropico 5's content might have somehow affected peace and order in the country -- possibly by showing the wider population how dictatorships work. Stefan Marcinek from the game's developer says that the move sounds like it "could have come from one of El Presidente's own edicts." Between this and Manuel Noreiga's decision to sue Activision, it's time the military dictators of the world learned the meaning of that phrase about glass houses and throwing stones.
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 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]
Rise of Venice begins trading September 27
Get out the sump pumps, because Rise of Venice will row its way to digital distribution platforms on September 27. The game is the latest from the developers of Port Royale 3, so expect some unapologetically hardcore trade simulations going down. The economic strategy game puts players in the role of an up-and-coming family in Renaissance Italy, building a trade empire across the Mediterranean. That's all good, but we'll be happy if every time a ship enters port the captain simply exclaims, "Ciao!"
Tropico 5's revolución begins April 2014
Banana republic (not the retail store, but the political science term) simulator Tropico 5 will be available in April 2014. Speaking with developer Today at Gamescom, Haemimont Games' CEO Gabriel Dobrev talked us through some of the changes in the game's latest installment. Much like Tropico 4 was an evolution of Tropico 3, the latest installment is taking a similar visual route and streamlining the management of the island nation. Building support is now handled by one slider to designate investment and factories can have managers help out and dole out bonuses (like extra production or siphoning more to El Presidente's Swiss bank account). Tropico 5 will also span the colonial era to the modern times, with El Presidente's heirs taking up the cigar once he's buried in the ground and feeding the tobacco crops. Players will be able to create a constitution for the island, choosing various bonuses depending on their style of rule. For example, players can keep foreigners out through a visa program or open the island to those yearning to be ruled for free. Tropico 5 will also feature greater transparency in its trading mechanic, which has also received an overhaul. Although there will be standard cargo ships as always, picking up import and export goods from the island, players can also purchase vessels and create trade routes for bonus cash with specific nations for political capital.
Anna finds new victims on Mac this November
Polarizing horror adventure Anna makes its way to Mac on November 9. Previously released on PC, our snapshot of the game found it "refreshing," but opinions about the game are scattered like arterial spray.Anna is billed as a point-and-click adventure about a "sort of haunted" sawmill. If you're looking to learn more about the fright fest, check out our Indie Pitch on the game.%Gallery-167122%
Dark is a stealth game with vampires, sneaking to Xbox, PC
When you think of stealthy individuals, a few things come to mind: Snake, Sam, Garrett and, of course, vampires. Kalypso and developer RealmForge are really banking on that last one with their upcoming stealth title, Dark. The game "puts players in the role of a vampire out to discover the secrets of the mysterious global GeoForge Corporation."Players will use their vampiric abilities – such as the power to turn into smoke and vanish – in order to take out enemies and generally be sneaky. Also aiding in the sneakiness: A hoodie. Dark is scheduled to arrive on PC and Xbox in early 2013 and, one way or another, it's going to suck.Because vampires, get it?%Gallery-155163%
Sega's Shogun 2 expansion leads the charge on Origin
Sega's PC games have been available on Steam and other internet portals for some time, and are now on the way to EA's Origin service.Starting today, folks can pre-order the upcoming Total War Shogun 2 expansion, "Fall of the Samurai," and more content will follow in the coming weeks. Beyond the Japanese publisher, Origin added Team 17, Rebellion, Kalypso, "and more" to Origin today, and their games will start showing up "in the coming months."
Tropico 4 welcomes El Presidente to play on PC August 30
Banana republic political simulation Tropico 4 is ready for el revolucion on PC this August 30 -- just making that previously announced launch window. The Xbox 360 version has been moved until "mid-September," but any public mentioning of this as a "delay" will involve a blindfold and firing squad. If you're looking to get a taste of life as a tropical dictator, take the Tropico 4 demo for a spin right here (system requirements). May your service to the people be long and your private Swiss bank account always be full. %Gallery-128782%
Tropico 4 delayed, won't export until August
People of Tropico, it is I, Juanito! A new teaser trailer for Tropico 4 reveals the latest video game simulation of our beloved island has been delayed until August 2011, for both the Xbox 360 and PC versions. El Presidente would like to inform the people that anything they may have heard about a release date between April and June, 2011 was merely "rumor and speculation." Our great leader would never do anything to mislead the people. Ever.
Review: DarkStar One
If you're a fan of space combat sims like Elite and Colony Wars, I need to talk with you about DarkStar One. But I need to whittle down the crowd a bit first, so hang tight. DarkStar One is a PC game from 2006 that's been ported as-is to the Xbox 360, with only an improved resolution to show for the jump. The dialog sounds like the worst community theater from every country was gathered to read a half-finished Babylon 5 script aloud, and everyone there was asked to switch accents with the person closest to them. The cinematics look like deleted scenes from a bootleg DVD of ReBoot. There are frequent graphical glitches, and it completely froze up on me no fewer than twice at wholly inconvenient moments. There are local furniture commercials with better special effects. ... Okay, are you still there? Because if you've hung on with me this long -- if you've read this far and haven't moved on to a different post -- I can pretty much guarantee you're going to love DarkStar One.
Tropico 3 is 75% off on Steam for the next week
Usually, if you want to be a dictator, you need to find some impoverished country and navigate the treacherous political ladder all the way to the top. But thanks to Steam's sale on Tropico 3, you can achieve that end relatively quickly and cheaply. And with far less blood on your hands. The Steam Special Edition version, which includes two additional maps for Sandbox mode and additional costumes and accessories for your avatar, will be available for 75% off over the next week -- a mere $7.50. And with the "Absolute Power" expansion now available for download, the offer becomes even more enticing. Viva El Presidente!
El Presidente, the Tropico 3 demo is now available
Comrade Nelson sends word that a demo for Tropico 3, the 2010-bound sim being published by Kalypso Media, is now available for download on Xbox Live. The game takes place during the Cold War on the fictitious island of Tropico, where players take up the role of new usurper El Presidente. The real question is: Will you be the valiant, selfless leader your up-and-coming nation needs, or will you be the greedy, power-hungry dictator your coffers cry out for? Add Tropico 3 demo to your download queue %Gallery-63402%
Tropico 3 for Xbox 360 will feature user-created content, no mission editor
Kalypso Media's press release yesterday implying user generated content and a "powerful new mission editor" existing in the delayed Xbox 360 version of Tropico 3 certainly required us to call El Presidente to verify the authenticty of the claim. Turns out some lines got crossed, which is bound to happen when dealing with a developing banana publisher, and a representative clarified the situation."Some of the top rated missions created with the challenge editor for the PC version will be made available to Xbox 360 players," a representative explained. "There is no mission editor for the 360 version." Now that makes more sense. There's still no word on cost or when the DLC will release -- but we kind of need an official release date for the Xbox 360 version before we start worrying about such things.
Tropico 3 publisher aiming for 10 games a year
Publisher Kalypso Media USA and its recently released debut title, Tropico 3, have something in common: both are trying to build an empire from the ground up. Speaking with the The Washington Post, Kalypso's El Presidente Deborah Tillett describes the current economic climate as a good time to start something up, because "you can't get worse than zero."Tillett explains that Kalypso had the opportunity to buy the Tropico rights from Take-Two because the previous games sold "hundreds of thousands of copies." That's great for Kalypso, but Take-Two wouldn't have been able to make enough profit if it had done another installment. She notes Tropico's figures are "a pittance compared with many millions of unit sales for every new GTA game."The Germany-based Kalypso plans to release about 10 games a year, most of which will be indie titles that couldn't make the trip across the Atlantic. Tropico 3, a sunny, stylish reboot of the series, was developed by a team in Bulgaria and is getting respectable marks from the critics.
El Presidente, the Tropico 3 demo is available now
Señores and Señoritas, the Tropico 3 demo is available now for download on PC. The El Presidente trial run will present two missions to test out ruling assisting the democratic process of a banana republic. The first mission, "Bananas," entails getting involved with an American food conglomerate to secure the financial future of the people -- and yourself. Meanwhile, the second mission, "Second Chance," is about starting fresh on a new island after a coup d'etat by the player's twin. Check out the demo and let us know what you think in the comments!Download Tropico 3 Demo (1.10 GB)%Gallery-63402%
