8 Years Celebration
THE YEAR IN HEADLINES - PART 1
July 2005
July 27 `FC` 2.0.4 COMPLETED AND RELEASED
"The newest version of the multiplayer strategy game Freeciv is another bugfix release according to its development team. The group released version 2.0.4 this past Tuesday. Specifically, these fixes are for those found in the most previous iteration of the title published earlier this month several major and minor bugs from 2.0.3 published in late April."
July 29 MOVING UP ON REVISED `TOP 100` INDEX
"Gaming site IGN has re-compiled their "Top 100 Games" list they originally published more than two years ago. Civilization II has moved from 15th on the first to 4th position on the new chart. The description as to why CivII made the list has changed as well. You can`t make a list of the best games ever without including at least half a dozen of the old [publisher] MicroPROSE [(MPS)] titles. [This is o]ur favorite by far... Building on the addictive historical strategy concept pioneered in the original game, [CivII] is one of the deepest and most complex games ever made."
July 30 FOR OUR CHILDRENS` FUTURE
"Another article documenting Kurt Squires` efforts to educate children in science, history and mathematics has been published in the Winston-Salem Journal. Author Gil Klien talks about the education professor at the University of Wisconsin`s focus on Firaxis Games developed Pirates and Civilization III as his titles of choice. On CivIII, Squires notes how in ongoing summer sessions with fourth and fifth graders that [a]bout 75 percent of them are attentive and that by the third week, many... are begging me to come in on my day off."
July 31 NEW ABOUT SECTION IN BETA
"Our About section is now Essence-powered. The differences between the previous and the new version include a new layout and logo, following the civ4 section style, as well as a re-organization of the content."
August 2005
August 5 NEW CTP2 PLAYTEST RELASED
"Once again a new playtest of CTP2 is ready for testing. Visit us in the the the Apolyton Source Code Forum for playtesting and helping us to find all the bugs."
August 5 `CIV2` RE-BORN ON HAND-HELD PLATFORM
"Civilization II is being reborn on the N-Gage (NG) console platform. Gryphondale Studios (GS) is developing a Civ title for the hand-held product to be published by Nokia. The game is being modelled on CivII`s interface and gameplay, but will be titled simply Civilization."
August 5 TAKING NOTICE OF `MODDABILITY`
"GameDeveloper (GD) magazine has taken notice of the level of "moddability" in the under-development Civilization IV by Firaxis Games. "Moddability", in other words, refers to the breadth and depth a game can be modified from the form its designers shipped it in. So much notice has been taken, in fact, that GD gave the write-up a four-page spread in its latest edition."
August 13 HOW GREAT ARE THE PEOPLE
"Civilization IV`s "Great People" are the focus of an open letter to the computer gaming community by the title`s Senior Producer, Barry Caudill. Throughout history, men and women have emerged to perform great deeds, thus having profound and lasting effects on the world around them, developer Firaxis Games representative begins. They are people whose genius, vision, and perseverance set them apart from the rest. [We] wanted to recognize the integral role these visionaries have played throughout history..."
August 13 WHERE IT`S AT AND HEADED
"The September 2005 issue of Computer Games Magazine (CGM) has what Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords Project Lead Brad "Draginol" Wardell is calling a pretty good preview of the game and the direction [we at developer Stardock Systems are] going."
August 13 OLD AND NEW MIX IN SERIES `LEAP`
"The open "Behind the Scenes" letter from Firaxis Games` Founder/President/Chief Executive Officer and Director of Creative Development has been updated for the summer season. Civilization IV gets most of the attention from Jeff Briggs and Sid Meier in this edition, with them commenting that [o]ur team is working around the clock to put the final polish on [it], scheduled for release this November."
August 15 `AOM` VERSION 1.1 NOW AVAILABLE
"A new version of The Ages of Man (AoM) is now available for download. Completed earlier this month and now for sale and shipping from its official website, Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) is the first and exclusive authorized online distributor of AoM`s update. Version 1.1 or the "Diplomacy Update" addresses two primary areas: (a) omissions to the Great Library file and, more significantly, (b) diplomacy and how the game`s Artifical Intelligence (AI) reacts to human aggression."
August 15 DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION FROM PUBLISHER
"For the first time, gamers with broadband Internet connections can now download full versions of Microsoft Game Studios (MGS) published games for the PC including notable titles Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon and Rise of Nations, the latter most developed by Big Huge Games. Exent Technologies today announced that it has secured worldwide rights to digitally distribute [MGS] products over its network of Games-on-Demand [(GoD)] services, GameSpot`s (GS) Brendan Sinclair reports."
August 16 IT`S A GOOD PLACE TO GO
"It`s a good place to go. This is the overly simplistic but direct advice that one senior researcher at National Research Council Canada (NRCC) offers to educators about Apolyton Civilization Site. An essay originally published on his website that makes this learned recommendation is now an article appearing in the latest issue of Innovate journal, a bi-monthly digital publication of The Fischler School of Education and Human Services at Nova Southeastern University."
August 17 RELEASED UNDER NEW PUBLISHING LABEL
"Civilization III: Complete, the composite title that combines CivIII with expansion packs Play the World and Conquests, has been re-released by developer Firaxis Games and publisher Take-Two Interactive under the latter`s subsidiary label, 2K Games."
August 18 `THE HISTORY OF...` BEGINS PUBLISHING
"The first volume in a multi-part serial, ["]The History of Apolyton Civilization Site["] (["]THOACS["]), has been completed. Written by Quick, the nearly 9,000 words in "An Ultimate Journey" go over in greater detail than ever before publicly disclosed the trials, tribulations and triumphs of UCIVII from its founding to its morphing."
August 20 THE QUIBBLES OF `CIVILIZATION`
"GameSpot`s ongoing coverage of Civilization IV continued yesterday with their latest preview of the game. It takes the form of a Question and Answer (Q&A) session with the game`s Senior Producer, Barry Caudill at developer Firaxis Games. He is in the hotseat as this Q&A is a "Nitpicker" special."
August 24 `GAMEBRYO` DEVELOPER MERGES
"Nearly six months ago, developer of 3D graphics technology for the computer and video game industry NDL announced earlier this month that they are merging their company with Emergent Game Technologies (EGT), a venture capital funded developer which provides software, tools and infrastructure for the video game and military simulation industries. NDL is the corporation behind the Gamebryo 3D graphics engine that is being used by game developer Firaxis Games in their up-and-coming Civilization IV and already released Pirates! titles."
August 24 STILL SHELVED FOR THE TIME BEING
"In the latest edition of his "Ask Sid" feature published earlier this month on Firaxis Games` website, the gaming developer`s Director of Creative Development addressed a fan regarding a return to development on Dinosaurs which has been on hold now for more than four years."
August 25 PUBLISHER PARTNERS TO STREAM ON DEMAND
"The publishers of the Stardock Systems developed Galactic Civilizations and its Altarian Prophecy expansion have partnered up with Stream Theory Inc. (STI) to provide a "Games on Demand" (GoD) service for their titles. Broadband Internet users will now be able to play Strategy First (SF) published titles including GalCiv for a monthly subscription fee."
August 27 EXCLUSIVE `RON: ROL` SCREEN
"Exclusive `Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends` Screenshot Game developer Big Huge Games (BHG) is continuing work on their second title, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends [see original story]. Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) was selected by BHG as one of four Rise of Nations fansites to receive an exclusive RoN: RoL screenshot."
August 30 A.C.S. LAUNCHES `GALCIV2` SECTION
"Apolyton Civilization Site ( http://apolyton.net ) [ACS], one the premiere online fansites for the Civilization computer strategy gaming series and its extended family, is today launching their section dedicated to Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords developed by Stardock Systems. Five months ago we committed to covering GalCivII in full [see press release], and we always follow through on our committments, says ACS Co-Owner/Administrator Daniel “DanQ” Quick."
August 31 A REFRESHING GRAPHICAL CHANGE
"One of most common complaints about Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri is that it has poor graphics. Many claim that color scheme is too exausting for their eyes. But thanks to a member of modding community, wgabrie, there is finally a mod which changes the default terrain look to a much more pleasurable setting."
August 31 THIRD BETA READY FOR EXTERNAL TESTING
"The pre-ordering public beta testing team for Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords can now use the game`s third beta. The official announcement of this fact was made earlier today by Brad "Draginol" Wardell, the game`s Project Lead and Founder/President of developer Stardock Systems."
August 31 `BOARDGAME` GETS REVISED RULES
"The developer of Civilization: The Boardgame has announced the release of revised Advanced Fastplay rules. Glenn Drover, President of Eagle Games, made this revised offering known in the game`s official forum late last week. The shortlist of changes is described as affecting minor civilizations, Wonders of the World, plagues and Victory Points."
August 31 PRODUCER TALKS UNIT PROMOTIONS
"Unit promotions are the focus of the latest communique from Civilization IV Producer Barry Caudill at developer Firaxis Games. The numbers and types of available bonuses differ per unit type and only land and sea military units can acquire them (air units are different), he explains. Successful combat is the primary means [of earning promotions] and the units must be victorious in a unit-to-unit combat."
September 2005
September 4 `FC` 2.0.5 COMPLETED AND RELEASED
"The newest version of the multiplayer strategy game Freeciv is yet another bugfix release according to its development team. The group released version 2.0.5 four days ago. Specifically, these fixes are for those found in the most previous iteration of the title published earlier this month."
September 5 BLENDING PREDECESSOR AND `MOO2`
"A look at the third Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords beta is in store for GameSpot (GS) readers as of last Friday. [It] is finally beginning to look more like a game and less like a technological placeholder, reads the byline in this, the company`s first hands-on look at the upcoming title from developer Stardock Systems."
September 6 APOLYTON DONATES TO HURRICANE RELIEF
"Earlier today, Apolyton Civilization Site made a cash donation to the American Red Cross (ARC) towards their "Hurricane Katrina" disaster relief fund through their website. In addition, Apolyton will be donating any and all subscription or re-subscription monies made up to and including 3 years to the site`s PLUS service between September 6th and September 20th to those who type "Katrina" in the comments field when preparing their payment."
September 7 MOVIN` ON UP... RELEASE, THAT IS
"In the midst of releasing its disappointing third quarter loses for the current calendar year [see story], Take-Two Interactive (TTI) announced that it is moving up the release date of Civilization IV a few weeks and would be commercially available before the end of next month."
September 8 CIV4 PRE-ORDER EDITION ANNOUNCED, AVAILABLE
"2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), and FIRAXIS Games, world renowned video game developer, today announced the Sid Meier`s Civilization IV pre-order program. Customers who pre-order Sid Meier`s Civilization IV at participating retailers in North America will receive the Pre-Order Edition of the game at no additional cost."
September 8 LIFE AFTER THE SEQUEL
"[We are going to] treat [GalCiv] and [sequel] Galactic Civilizations II[: Dread Lords] as very seperate things. The idea has been to ensure that gameplay, strategy, and other elements are different enough between games that people who like strategy games, particularly turn-based ones, will find reason to play GalCivI or GalCivII depending on their mood at the time."
September 10 CIVICS INFO, SCREENSHOTS RELEASED
"Firaxis released to the public an article of Barry Caudill, Civilization IV Senior Producer on the Civics model and 8 new screenshots showing among other things a differentation in the scaling of graphics."
September 13 PRE-ORDER SALES HIT!
"The special edition pre-order offer announced last week seems to have had an effect! Civilization IV is now in the top 3 pre-ordered games of EB Games. Civ4 is also #6 in total PC sales chart and #13 in all platform sales for the online store."
September 13 NEWS ON THE FLY
"The news archive on Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) is now available in RDF Site Summary (RSS) format. Feeds for all the news combined is available, as are specific sections (e.g. Civ4, GalCiv2)."
September 14 IGN: MULTIPLAYER HANDS-ON PREVIEW
"IGN has a multiplayer hands-on preview of Civilization IV as journalists from various gaming sources had the chance to visit Firaxis and give the MP side of Civ4 a test. Civilization is definitely high on the list of games we`re looking forward to this year. Everything we`ve seen so far, especially the multiplayer in my case, points to an awesomely addicting strategy game."
September 15 MULTIPLAYER IS `LOOKING UP`
"The focus of GameSpot`s newest preview of Civilization IV is mostly multiplayer. GS` Associate PC Editor Jason Ocampo recently playtested the component himself at the headquarters of developer Firaxis Games in Maryland. In the span of only a few hours, we played two multiplayer games of Civ... [a]nd, yes, both games were exciting and nail-biting affairs that came down to the finish to determine which side would win, he begins."
September 17 POST-RELEASE TO INCLUDE EXPANSIONS
"Following Civilization IV`s anticipated commercial release next month across the world, developer Firaxis Games already has plans in the works to expand the game`s life... [and] interest. In-house created modifications, scenarios and expansions are to follow in the coming year, according to Firaxis Director of Creative Development Sid Meier. Based on Meier`s wording, more than one CivIV add-on may come to fruition but this has yet to be clarified by a Firaxis representative for certain."
September 21 GAMESPOT HANDS-ON PREVIEW
"Our sense of Civ IV is that, overall, it`s a big improvement for the franchise. Yes, change can be a scary thing, and undoubtedly some changes will upset some people. However, change can also be a good thing, and in many ways, Civ IV feels like both a whole new game and good old Civilization as we know it."
September 22 SMAC-LIKE UN COUNCIL CONFIRMED
"Sid Meier, Jeff Briggs and Soren Johnson appeared on GameSHOUT Radio last night to talk on (what else) Civ4. Sid confirmed that creating the United Nations wonder will spawn an diplomacy feature similar to SMAC`s planetary council when civs will be voting on various issues, like global enforcement of certain civics choices. It`s not certain if the bribing diplomacy options will be there as well (e.g. asking/demading/paying a civ to vote a certain way)."
September 23 OFFICIAL MODDING INFO AND SCREENS
"Firaxis released the latest installment of the Civ4 development diaries, where Barry Caudill, Civilization IV Senior Producer, writes about Modding. Along with 4 screenshots, Barry presents the World Builder, the in-game map editor, as well as information on the XML and Python scripting abilities."
September 23 MIDDLE-TO-LATE AGES EXPLORED
"A preview of Civilization IV`s middle-to-late-ages was published yesterday on GameSpot (GS). You made it to the Middle Ages, reads the caption underneath one of the sixteen new screenshots GS added to their gallery for the game. There`s still a lot more history ahead."
September 26 CIVILIZATION DOSSIERS GO PUBLIC
"The GameSpot (GS) previews of Civilization IV keep on coming. This time around, GS staff give their readers the lowdown on the 18 civilizations and the 26 leaders that will appear in the game."
September 26 `FC` 2.0.6 COMPLETED AND RELEASED
"The newest release of the multiplayer strategy game Freeciv is yet another bugfix release according to its development team. The group released version 2.0.6 four days ago."
September 30 WARDELL ON STARDOCK PUBLISHING GAMES
"In the first of a three-part Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords feature exclusively for Apolyton Civilization Site, computer software developer and publisher Stardock Systems Founder and Chief Executive Officer Brad Wardell talks about his company becoming a gaming publisher from 2003 to the present day."
October 2005
October 4 MOBILE `CIV` STARTS IN THE U.K.
"In an exclusive agreement with Civilization developer and publisher on the mobile platform, Com2Us, United-Kingdom based Hutchison 3G UK Limited or simply 3 today announced that it will bring its customers the gameplay of the Civ originally released for the PC in 1991 this month."
October 5 A.C.S. ANNOUNCES `COLONIZATION` COVERAGE
"Apolyton Civilization Site [ACS], one of the oldest and premiere online fansites for the Civilization computer strategy gaming series and its extended family, is today launching their section dedicated to Colonization released in 1994 by now defunct developer and publisher MicroPROSE. We have provided supplementary coverage for Colonization for some time now, says ACS Co-Owner/Administrator Daniel “DanQ” Quick. Full coverage is something that has been asked for time and again, and we are happy that we are finally able to answer that call."
October 7 A MIX OF OLD, CHANGED AND NEW
"Steve Butts addresses PC|IGN`s audience in his preview of Civilization IV published today. [T]he game goes much more quickly this time around. [..] You can still get the epic feel of previous games but playing on larger maps with more enemies, but the standard seven-seat game shouldn`t take more than 5-8 hours depending on how much you want to micromanage things."
October 10 `CIV4` HANDS-ON PREVIEW: FIRST LOOK
"If you thought all of Civilization IV`s preview coverage had been published, you would be wrong. Apolyton Civilization Site [ACS], one of the oldest and premiere online fansites for the Civilization computer strategy gaming series and its extended family, is today beginning its hands-on preview of the game with a three-part `first look` by ACS Co-Owner/Administrator Markos "MarkG" Giannopoulos."
October 12 VICTORY CONDITIONS INFO & SCREENS
"Firaxis has released the media an article on Civ4`s victory conditions along with 5 screens (fastest to post was Gamespot)."
October 13 OFFICIAL SITE LAUNCHED
"The official webpage for Civilization IV, www.civ4.com, has been launched. It contains detailed information on the 18 civilizations in the game, with ingame movies on some units attacking. There is also a media section with screenshots and downloadable soundtracks."
October 13 2ND CIV4 HANDS-ON PREVIEW ONLINE
"Continuing its pre-release coverage of Civilization IV, the Apolyton Civilization Site is beginning its second hands-on preview of the game. This preview is written by ACS Civ4 section co-manager Solver, and spans a total of three parts, the first one being available now."
October 13 APPLE FOR THE STUDENTS
"History can be exciting, says Pittsburgh Tribune-Review`s (PTR) J.C. Schisler, when it is observed and engaged with in Big Huge Games developed Rise of Nations. In an article published in the paper today, the author sees RoN as a wonderful tool for teachers -- and even parents -- to use when they need to break up the monotony of boring history and civics lectures, which we all know can cause idle minds to wander."
October 13 CONVENTION LEAD, PRELIMINARY DATES
"A preliminary date set for the planned "Apolyton Convention of 2006" in North America has been chosen, and a Lead Organizer has been named. John "JohnT" Thornton was offered and has accepted the position of Lead Organizer for this would-be event. The preliminary date set for the get-together is July 14-16, 2006."
October 14 FANSITE BEGINS PREVIEW FEATURE
"Yesterday, fellow Civilization fansite Civilization Fanatics Center (CFC) began their preview coverage of Civilization IV. CFC CivIV Forum Moderator and news poster `Civrules` is one of those select individuals who has been apart of developer Firaxis Games` beta testing team for some months now, and is the one who has written at least this portion of the site`s first look."
October 14 GAMES TAKING GREATER PROMINENCE
"They`re into serious money, says Crain`s Detroit Business (CDB) magazine`s Andrew Dietderich about software developer Stardock Systems (SS) in an article dated September 19th, 2005. SS` profits rose 66% in 2004 over 2003 to $5,000,000US. In 1999 at $300,000US, that profit margin was a small fraction."
October 15 CONVENTION HAS NAME, FORUM
"The planned Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) convention in North America for next year, being lead by John "JohnT" Thornton [see earlier story], now has (at least a working) name and a forum. "ApolyCon" was suggested by ACS forum user `Zopperoni` and has been accepted -- specifically then, its name is "ApolyCon 2006". Its forum is a sub-forum of the "Apolyton/Community" (A/C) forum, and is specifically moderated by JohnT. "
October 18 MULTIPLAYER PREVIEW BY FANSITE
"The third part in fansite Civilization Fanatics Center`s (CFC) ongoing Civilization IV preview coverage is devoted to the game`s multiplayer options. CFC CivIII/CivIV Forum Moderator and Chat Room Operator `Chieftess` wrote this installment with nine screenshots highlighting her words. The game`s gone through a lot of changes [over the past 18 months, and a lot of fond memories over the many months, she prefaces."
October 19 CIV4 GOES GOLD, SHIPS OCT 25TH!
"2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO - News), and FIRAXIS Games, the world renowned video game developer, today announced that Sid Meier`s Civilization IV for PC has gone gold and is off to manufacturing. Sid Meier`s Civilization IV will ship to North American retail stores on October 25th."
October 21 CIV4 IN EUROPE NOVEMBER 3-4
"The European stores of Amazon have updated their release dates information for Civilization IV showing the most possible dates of 3-4 of November. Amazon DE has November 4 while Amazon FR has November 3. Amazon UK after some... hesitance is now saying November 4 as well."
October 21 SID MEIER ON SLASHDOT
"Slashdot features an interview with Sid Meier. The father of Civ answered to /. readers` questions on all subjects, from open source to consoles vs pc."
October 23 `SCHOOL SHOULD LOOK LIKE` A.U.
"An Associate Professor of English at George Mason University in the United States is the latest individual in the academic world to recognize the efforts of Apolyton Civilization Site`s "Apolyton University" (AU) in published form. In an article for Converge Online earlier this month entitled "Videogames and Good Teachers", Joel Foreman talks about the many similarities between the two named subjects and the possibilities their combination can bring about."
October 23 `DIRECTORY` GETS UPDATED LOOK
"The "Directory" service of Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS), which has been in operation for more than three years [see related story], received an updated look earlier today courtesy of the site`s administration."
October 25 CIV4 SHIPS, TIME TO PARTY!
"2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and FIRAXIS Games, the world renowned video game developer, today announced that Sid Meier`s Civilization IV for the PC has shipped to retail stores in North America. Sid Meier`s Civilization IV will be in retail stores in Europe on November 4."
October 25 PRE-RELEASE TESTER STARTS WALKTHROUGH
"An introduction to Civilization IV has been posted on the personal website of one of developer Firaxis Games` pre-release testers. `Sulla` prefaces the first part of his walkthrough to the game with in part background of his involvement in the series` development leading up to this point."
October 26 CIV4 MULTIPLAYER REVIEW
"Openingour Articles & Guides Civ4 sub-section, Jesse Fletcher a.k.a. Friedrich Psitalon explains how The World As You Know It Is Changed: With the arrival of CIV, much of what has been true in the world of C3C is gone forever."
October 26 9.0, 9.0, 9.0, 9.4
"It is an awsome review day for Civ4: Gamespot: 9.4/10 Eurogamer: 9/10 1UP: 9/10 Yahoo Games 4.5/5"
October 27 COMING TO THE MAC IN 2006
"From developer Firaxis Games and publisher Take-Two Interactive under their 2K Games label, Civilization IV is being ported to the Macintosh platform by Aspyr Media, the company that brought "Civin-space"`s Alpha Centauri and expansion Alien Crossfire to the platform in 2000."
October 27 ATI PROBLEMS SOLVED
"If you`ve been following our forums over the past few days, you`ve probably noticed a lot of people with ATI graphics cards were having problems running Civilization IV and were getting "Failed to Initialize Renderer" errors -- maybe you're one of them yourself. A fix for this problem was developed by Firaxis and posted by ACS Staff member Solver on our forums a few moments ago."
October 27 TEN QUESTIONS ON ASSORTED TOPICS
"Ten questions selected from the hundreds that computing technology-oriented website Slashdot received for the Civilization IV development team were selected, submitted to the game`s developer Firaxis Games and replied to by the game`s Lead Designer, Soren Johnson. They were posted on /.`s website today."
October 28 OFFICIAL FANSITE KIT RELEASED
"A Fansite Kit (FK) for Civilization IV has been compiled and now released by publisher 2K Games, making it the official FK for the game. As 2KG describes it, it contains numerous assets for creating your own CivIV website. The assets 2KG speaks of include screenshots, wallpaper, leaderhead art, and audio."
October 28 MISLABELLED DISKS
"To play Civilization IV, use Disk 2 in fact. Due to an apparent factory printing error, the two CDs that CivIV comes on in its North American release were mislabelled: Disk 1 should have been printed as Disk 2 and vice verse."
October 31 F.T.T.C. INTERVIEW: BOB `SIRIAN` THOMAS (PART 1/5)
"Apolyton Civilization Site [ACS], one of the oldest and premiere online fansites for the Civilization computer strategy gaming series and its extended family, is today announcing the existence and start of their "Four Times The Charm" (FTTC) interview series. In co-operation with Civilization IV developer Firaxis Games, ACS will bring you over the next several months exclusive conversations with members of the online Civilization community who have gone onto become Firaxians and work on CivIV."
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