Civilization IV: Colonization Anticipation Thread

[Ksyrup]

We've been discussing this over in the Civ IV thread, but I figure this deserves its own spin-off. Below is a bunch of info about the game that I took from an Apolyton.net thread. If someone is able to host the screenshots and put them in this thread, that would be great.

Here's the thread URL:

hxxp://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=178099


SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION IV: COLONIZATION INFO CENTRE!

Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K Games
Format: Games for Windows
Release Date: Fall 2008 (Sep-Nov)
ESRB: Not yet rated

Overview:

In Colonization, players lead one of four European nations on a quest to conquer and rule the New World. Players will be challenged to guide their people from the oppressive motherland, discover the New World, and negotiate, trade and fight with both the natives and other nations as they acquire power and fight for freedom and independence.

As a complete reimagining of the 1994 classic, Colonization is a total conversion of Civilization IV that combines Civilization's addictive "just one more turn" gameplay with all-new graphics and features that add more depth to the franchise. New features, such as a brand-new interface, improved diplomacy options and the included modding tools ensure that Colonization will be the next great title from gaming's premier strategy game developer.

Contents:

• Abreviations
• Features
• Expansion or Stand-alone?
• Nations
• Leaders
• Constitution
• Colonists
• Buildings
• Goods
• Maps
• Screenshots
• Multiplayer
• Modding
• System Requirements
• Sources / Links

Abreviations:

Col1 = 1994 original Colonization
C4C = Civilization IV: Colonization

Features:

The current confirmed features for C4C as released by Take2 Games are:

• Complete re-imagining Col1
• Civilization IV conversion built from the ground up
• All-new graphics with higher resolution than Civ4
• Enhanced water, shadows, terrain and buildings
• Brand new interface
• Improved diplomacy
• Included modding tools
• Improved performance

Expansion or Stand-alone?:

C4C is officially a stand-alone product. Whilst it uses the Civ4 engine as its base there is no requirement to own Civ4 or any Civ4 expansion to run C4C.

quote: Colonization is in the Civ IV family of games because it's a total conversion of the Civ IV engine and we wanted Civ IV fans to know that this is a game they'd really enjoy. Civ expansions have always required the core game in order to be able to play them, and they have always included significant improvements and additions to the core game. The dev team felt that Beyond the Sword (the second expansion pack for Civ IV) delivered so many improvements and additions to the core game that we had arrived at the ultimate Civ IV experience. We decided to focus all of our efforts on creating a new Colonization experience that would build on the Civ IV engine and deliver the addictive "just-one-more-turn" gameplay our fans enjoy. We made it a stand-alone game because there are no core game additions to Civ IV included and it doesn't rely on any Civ IV game assets, so there was no reason to require the core game to play.

Nations:

Four European nations are confirmed to be in C4C. These nations and their traits are:

Europe:

• England - Immigration
• France - Native cooperation
• Holland - Trade
• Spain - Conquistadoring

Natives:

• Iroquios
• Aztec
• Sioux
• Cherokee
• Inca
• Tupi
• Apache

Leaders:

• England - George Washington & John Adams
• France - Samuel de Champlain & Buade de Frontenac
• Holland - Peter Stuyvesant & Adriaen van der Donck
• Spain - Simon Bolivar & Jose de San Martin

Constitution:

We have heard a few reports of a "constitution". It appears that when you declare independance some immediate decisions are made by the player to determine their constitution. These decisions have an impact on post-independance bonuses/penalties.

quote: Right after you hit the big bell-shaped button that causes your colony to revolt, you'll have some big decisions to make. A series of either/or questions pop up immediately after you declare independence, the collective results of which will comprise your nation's constitution. Will you support slavery? Enforce the separation of church and state? Model yourself after your monarchist rulers, or opt for a representative democracy? Each of these elements will bestow certain global properties on your colony. If your state is against slavery, for instance, you'll enjoy a bonus to the population of each of your settlements.

Colonists:

One of the foundations of Col1 were colonists. Colonists were the people who formed colonies, explored the land, fought your battles and improved the land. They were the backbone of every part of the game. There are five types of colonist in Col1: criminals, servants, converts, colonists and specialists.

Whilst colonists have not be confirmed for C4C, one can only assume this concept will be in some form due to the foundation nature of this concept.

Professions:

In Col1 each colonist can hold a profession. The professions are:

• Farmer - Confirmed
• Fisherman - Confirmed
• Fur trapper - Confirmed
• Silver miner
• Ore miner - Confirmed
• Lumberjack
• Sugar planter - Confirmed
• Cotton planter - Confirmed
• Tobacco planter - Confirmed
• Preacher
• Statesman
• Carpenter
• Distiller - Confirmed
• Weaver - Confirmed
• Tobacconist - Confirmed
• Fur trader - Confirmed
• Blacksmith - Confirmed
• Gunsmith - Confirmed
• Scout - Confirmed
• Pioneer/Settler - IGN Preview mentions "Settler"
• Soldier - Confirmed
• Dragoon - Confirmed
• Artillery - Confirmed
• Missionary - Confirmed
• Trade Wagon - Confirmed

Professions have not been confirmed for C4C but due to this concept being a foundation concept of Col1 we can assume this concept will be in some form.

Buildings:

Confirmed buildings in C4C:

• Provincial Capitol
• Tobacconist
• Cigar Factory (upgrade)
• Weaver's House
• Cloth Factory (upgrade)
• Distiller's House
• Distillery (upgrade)
• Furrier's House
• Furrier (upgrade)
• Warehouse

Goods:

• Tobacco - Cigars
• Cotton - Cloth
• Sugar - Rum
• Fur - Clothes
• Logs - Lumber
• Ore - Tools - Muskets
• Liberty Bells
• Silver

Maps:

There is no confirmation of maps for C4C. However, a game such as this calls for a map of the Americas (Col1 had this map).

Quote from IGN Preview:
The game will feature randomly created maps, just like Civilization, and it's up in the air whether historically accurate maps will be included.



Multiplayer:

quote: According to our host, every multiplayer mode from Civ 4 will make it into Colonization.

Modding:

The Take2 Games release confirms that modding tools are included.

System Requirements:

Complete specs not available yet. Best guess is similar requirements to Civ4: BtS.

Known Specs:
- Graphics card with Shader 1.1 support

Last update: 5 JULY 2008

[Ksyrup]

First thing I notice that is a bit troubling is that it's "up in the air" whether historically accurate maps will be included. That would be a disappointment, at least as an option.

[NoMyths]

I'll be interested to see if this game causes a fraction of the controversy of Grand Theft Auto.

[Ksyrup]

They haven't add a "sodomize slave" option that I'm aware of.

[Ksyrup]

Here's a preview:

hxxp://pc.gamespy.com/pc/civilization-game-untitled/884502p1.html

[Doug5984]

this one of the first computer games that i truly loved- i was 10 when it came out, played it a couple years...
Every year or so I google it just to bring back memories.

Very much looking forward to this.

[MrBug708]

Holland here I come!

[Ksyrup]

I spent most of Sunday and a little bit of tonight playing the old game. You can find the Windows version (which I think came out in 1995; I had the original DOS-based game from 1994) online for free. At least, that's where I got it a few years ago.

[Barkeep49]

Yeah when I heard about this I dug it out and played several games on the second to highest difficulty. I did alright and it was tons and tons of fun.

[cuervo72]

Wooooooo!!! I loved Colonization back in the day, I'll pick this up (even if I will promptly put it on the shelf to churn more xp in CoH instead).

[Eaglesfan27]

I missed Colonization back in the day, but have heard so many good things about it that I can't wait to get this game.

[Ksyrup]

There are a couple of interesting discussions on the Apolyton boards about whether the game should stay faithful to the original - limiting it to just the original 4 countries and having an historically accurate map - or veer into a general colonization game. Seems like they are trying for both - having just England, France, Holland, and Spain, yet possibly not having a map of the Americas - and I'm not sure how I feel about that. If the game is truly going to center on fictional, generated maps, then why limit the countries involved? Or, on the flipside, if those 4 are the only ones, why would you NOT at least provide the historically accurate map as a possible way to play? Or, open it up to a real map of the entire world, add in a few more countries, and make it a wide-open colonization game not specific to the Americas?

Lots of ways to go with this.

[Passacaglia]

I don't see the problem -- the old game had a historically accurate map, as well as generated maps. Why can't the new game have both?

[spleen1015]

They should provide both, have a 'classic' option that allows you to play with a real world map, with the original countries.

[Ksyrup]

I don't see a problem either, but officially, the real map is "up in the air" as to whether it will make the game.

[Passacaglia]

I also don't get how several professions can be confirmed, yet the concept of professions is not confirmed? Weird.

[Ksyrup]

Then again, I don't know too much about modding for Civ, but since the same modding capabilities will be available for this game, I guess any extra countries or maps that people wanted to add to the game could be done by the community?

[Passacaglia]

England - George Washington & John Adams
France - Samuel de Champlain & Buade de Frontenac
Holland - Peter Stuyvesant & Adriaen van der Donck
Spain - Simon Bolivar & Jose de San Martin

I'm not too thrilled about this. To me, those guys belong in the Continental Congress. But it has potential to be interesting.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I also don't get how several professions can be confirmed, yet the concept of professions is not confirmed? Weird.

I'm thinking the confirmation hasn't come from an official source, just the pics that have made it out - specific buildings, or noticing what a settlement was producing at the time. Speaking of which, they missed one at least - one of the pics shows an "expert silver miner" being created, so they should add that one to "confirmed" as well.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Then again, I don't know too much about modding for Civ, but since the same modding capabilities will be available for this game, I guess any extra countries or maps that people wanted to add to the game could be done by the community?

Probably. I mean, it's at least 15 years later, and it's a Civ4 engine -- to think that there would be no way to get a historically accurate map is absurd (not to say that that means it can't happen, I guess - just that it would be absurd).

[Ksyrup]

It would be strange if the game was so limited that it took the modders to turn it into a hugely expanded colonization game. Theoretically, the modders could provide a full world map and add 20 more countries.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

It would be strange if the game was so limited that it took the modders to turn it into a hugely expanded colonization game. Theoretically, the modders could provide a full world map and add 20 more countries.

ooh...I am getting so pumped for this

[cuervo72]

Hrm, this reminds me that I also need to dust off Imperialism II. I had no idea it was from 1999, and I still haven't played it as much as I should have.

[cuervo72]

Dola - so when is the remake of SMAC?

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

It would be strange if the game was so limited that it took the modders to turn it into a hugely expanded colonization game. Theoretically, the modders could provide a full world map and add 20 more countries.

That's why in the Civ4 thread I thought this should be just a huge scenario, much like some of the ones shipped with Civ4 (not to mention the several great Colonization-type scenarios made with Civ2). With the python scripting and SDK algorithms (plus the graphics packages), there is enough tools for a team to "rebuild" Civ4 into a Colonization scenario.

The danger, however, with modding it with more Civs and larger maps is the bane of most user mods: unbalance and unplayability.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Dola - so when is the remake of SMAC?

No kidding. The world needed this long before it needed a Colonization remake.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Really like the constitution idea. The idea that you'll be able to pick a policy that you can use to match the build of your colonies sounds great.

[Ksyrup]

I was playing the old game last night and was reminded of one of my biggest pet peeves about it - the fact that, even in peace, the other countries' military units would surround your cities. Still pisses me off to this day! Then, in a separate game, I discovered one of my biggest joys - playing with a custom world and stumbling on an Inca or Aztec civ with 15 or more cities. With the payoff you get from destroying each of those cities, that immediately turned me into a warmongerer.

Ah...good times.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Dola - so when is the remake of SMAC?

tbh I would give up the 2kSports games if it meant the potential EA-Take Two merger would give us a SMAC sequel

[sachmo71]

But I thought we were offended by this game?

[Ksyrup]

That's the second veiled reference to a controversy. What did I miss?

[gi]

Some people are taking issue with slavery and what happens to the native population in the game.

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

That's the second veiled reference to a controversy. What did I miss?

Here you go, K:
http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_s...ment-120239984

[sachmo71]

And some more, such as the columnists response and a Firaxis response as well, at the bottom of this page. I sort of wished this guy was joking...

http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/

[JeeberD]

Were people offended that Barbarian cities could be taken over in the regular Civ games?

[Ksyrup]

Unbelievable. I had no idea any of this was out there.

However, I'm now beginning to understand why no realistic maps might make the game. I think the two issues are connected.

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Were people offended that Barbarian cities could be taken over in the regular Civ games?

He seems to have a hard time realizing the abstract framework of strategy games. Or he just likes to be the center of attention. Either way, he's not very smart.

[Ksyrup]

Good thing he didn't find out about all of the animals I slaughtered while exploring territory in Civ. And the war elephants - God help us!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

Here you go, K:
http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_s...ment-120239984

Huh. This guy is really an idiot.

[Maple Leafs]

So if I read this right, his objection is that Civ will encourage players to engage in the brutalization, oppression and ultimate decimation of a weaker opponent?

How does he feel about the continued inclusion of the Detroit Lions in Madden?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

So if I read this right, his objection is that Civ will encourage players to engage in the brutalization, oppression and ultimate decimation of a weaker opponent?

How does he feel about the continued inclusion of the Detroit Lions in Madden?

Why are you so full of hate? Is it all the video games? I bet it's the video games.

[Greyroofoo]

So by winning a diplomatic victory by nuking every big city in the world so I have a majority of the vote, that makes me a bad person?

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

So by winning a diplomatic victory by nuking every big city in the world so I have a majority the vote, that makes me a bad person?

I never thought of that strategy! Awesome.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

Here you go, K:
http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_s...ment-120239984

That guy sure does have a lot of sand in his vagina.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Whenever I hear someone complain just a little too much about the horrors of Colonization or Imperialization (not to say that there weren't horrors and that people didn't do horrible other things to other people, but...), it always reminds me of this quote from an episode of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" when they're talking about an Indian spirit whose come back to seek revenge for the harm done to his people.

Spike: You won. All right? You came in and you killed them and you took their land. That's what conquering nations do. It's what Caesar did, and he's not goin' around saying, "I came, I conquered, I felt really bad about it." The history of the world is not people making friends. You had better weapons, and you massacred them. End of story.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

I never thought of that strategy! Awesome.

+1

Though I did nuke 1 city about 10 times the other day to stop their culture from reaching legendary status (which would have resulted in a cultural win for them). That'll learn 'em.

I destroyed a huge city because its culture was too rich. And it was fun.

This kind of thing comes up from time to time in CIV IV in terms of leader choices (no Hitler or Stalin). I guess there would be something weird about an animated Hitler saying silly things in a strategy computer game.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by molson

This kind of thing comes up from time to time in CIV IV in terms of leader choices (no Hitler or Stalin). I guess there would be something weird about an animated Hitler saying silly things in a strategy computer game.

See Civ IV for Stalin.

[path12]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Hrm, this reminds me that I also need to dust off Imperialism II. I had no idea it was from 1999, and I still haven't played it as much as I should have.

Imperialism II is so awesome. That is one of the few games that has been on my hard drive ever since it came out. I fire it up a couple times a year.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by path12

Imperialism II is so awesome. That is one of the few games that has been on my hard drive ever since it came out. I fire it up a couple times a year.

+1

[Greyroofoo]

I can confirm that Alpha Centauri is just as addicting as ever.