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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]
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]
Tropico takes advantage of SimCity situation, on sale for 75% off
El Presidente knows how to capitalize on the mistakes of his enemies. The offline-capable Tropico franchise is taking advantage of the always-online SimCity debacle with a 75 percent discount on the entire series on Steam.The best deal in all the discounts is that the excellent Tropico 4 in its "Collector's Bundle," which includes every piece of DLC, along with the Modern Times expansion (which includes another full campaign), is only $10.The Tropico sale will last one week until March 15. That should be enough time for EA to figure out the SimCity servers. We really, really, really hope.%Gallery-128782%
Tropico exports enhanced by Steam sale this weekend
This weekend's Steam sale will feature all that Tropico has to offer between 33-66 percent off. Tropico: Reloaded, which includes Tropico 1 and 2, is $2.37, which is less than a bunch of bananas. Another (politically justified) steal is Tropico 3 and its Absolute Power expansion at $3.39 apiece. Both titles are a great way to dip your dictator desires into the pool of power and see if Tropico 4 is worth the coin. Finally, Tropico 4 is only 33 percent off, is $26.79. The game is an evolutionary step up from Tropico 3, with a robust campaign that takes players through the rules of ruling the island nation.%Gallery-138356%
Tropico 3 down 66% this weekend on Steam
Hola señoras y señores: Just in case the last Steam deal we told you about wasn't good enough, why not try 66% off the strategy/sim Tropico 3 this weekend? Steam users can nab a copy of Tropico 3 for $13.60 until the end of the weekend -- down from $39.99. The best part of the promotion? The Steam version of Tropico 3 includes two exclusive maps, two additional avatar costumes, and two accessories for the el presidente avatar editor. If you're on the fence about picking it up, you can download a demo of the title from our friends at BigDownload. Download Tropico 3 Demo (1.10 GB) %Gallery-63402%
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.
Tropico and sequels re-released on PC for $10
Judging by some of the responses to our coverage of Tropico 3, some citizens don't recall the first games in the series. Well, here's your chance to get acquainted with El Presidente, Pirates and the whole management sim, with Kalypso Media bunching up (banana joke!) Tropico, Tropico: Paradise Island and Tropico 2: Pirate Cove for one low price. Dubbed Tropico Reloaded, it'll cost you $10. The retail bundle has already "shipped," so it may very well have sailed into stores already. The boxed set is also available on Steam for $15. Wait ... retail is the better deal? That's not something we're used to.
Tropico 3 available in North America this September
Banana republic simulator -- nooo, not the clothing store -- Tropico is back for a third iteration this autumn. Publisher Kalypso Games announced today the game will release in North America sometime in September. The game allows players to take control of a Caribbean nation during the Cold War and do with it what they will.This latest game is being developed by Haemimont Games, which is allegedly taking a "fresh, creative approach" to the first two games developed by PopTop Software. %Gallery-63402%[Via Big Download]
Hollywood and Games Summit: crossing over from film to games
Click for larger version Jordan Mechner hosted a panel about talent (mostly writers and actors) crossing the "digital divide" between film and TV and video games. Sadly, they didn't drop any information about the Prince of Persia movie. For the most part, the panel covered familiar and expected territory. Yuri Lowenthal, voice of the Prince in several Prince of Persia games, said that the crossover is fairly easy for actors, although he would like for the actors to be more involved in the development process, if possible.Writer Flint Diller (The Transformers Game, Dead to Rights, and several more) said that as far as writers are concerned, you have to have a sense of humor going in with the underlying knowledge that,"This is gonna be a long, bumpy ride." He also said that you can't compare it to screenwriting, and if you try you'll find yourself very disappointed.
