WHAT WAS NEW ON THE SITE

29.May Column #43; By MarkG 26.May 9 Existing files in DB. New Viking Scribes, new Strategy in "Hints&Tips". 25.May 35 Existing and new files in DB. Updated MGE page. 22.May Column #42; By GP

(ALMOST) NEW MGE PATCH
(May 25, 1999) Developing a strange habit, Microprose released an updated version of the v1.3 mge patch. The 1.3 patch was first released on April 12, and re-released on April 22nd. The changes are unknown as the readme has stayed the same. Anyway, get the patch for the MGE/UCC version(2.8MB) or the one for non-english MP versions(1.9MB). Our thanks to Patrice LaFlamme for the note.

NEW FILES
(May 25, 1999) Sven Muencheberg, our civ2 database manager for those who dont know, added 35 more files in the database. Among them, after a bit long time, there are 12 new files: Colonize, EnhancedMod, GSB, The Fall of Rome, Surefire, WW2 in China, AGM 3, Oldworld, Omatic, Real Europe, Vikes and World I. More new files are coming really soon.

HAPPY CASHIERS
(May 16, 1999) Last month must have made some some happy cashiers at Microprose and MacSoft. The reason: sales of each company's "CivII Gold" (for the PC and Mac respectively) were high in April, according to the PC Data list for the US. The PC version of CivII: Multiplayer Gold Edition was offered at bargain box price of $22 and grabbed the 14th spot in the PC Games list. Meanwhile, the Mac version (with a $48 pricetag) in its first month in the stores reached captured 5th place on the Mac list.

CIVILIZATION III!!!
(May 15, 1999) It's finally true! Hasbro announced yesterday an agreement with Firaxis to work on Sid Meier's Civilization III! CivIII will be designed by Firaxis and published by Hasbro. The development will begin in the next few months.
Hasbro Interactive's president, Tom Dusenberry made the announcement today, grandly calling the upcoming Sid Meier's Civilization III "the most significant game of all time". Dusenberry then introduced fellow HI employee Tony Parks, a man little known to most gamers but who worked with the "Firaxis Three" when they were all back at MicroProse. He's the man given the credit for making Civ III a reality, and was nothing short of beaming as he introduced the first of the Firaxis Three, Jeff Briggs. He states that EA was willing to let Firaxis work with Hasbro on Civ III. Briggs, in turn, gives the floor to Brian Reynolds, who was the talent behind Civilization II and Alpha Centauri. He addresses the question, why Civ III? His answers basically boil down to one, the fans want it and two, there are things in the first two games that they feel they can flesh out. Then Sid Meier takes the podium and this is where you learn that the wheels have just started to roll!

It soon became apparent that Civ III isn't the only announcement of the day, for Meier discusses their idea for something they are calling the Sweep of Time Trilogy. This set of three games will include SMAC, Civ III, and a third as-yet unannounced title, all covering the entirety of human history (and future). What's more, while each is a stand alone title (and of course SMAC is already out), when combined into the trilogy you'll be able to carry over from one game to another!!
While they won't talk about it, a source within EA hints that they will be publishing whatever this title is, and says that Meier will be designing this new title while Reynolds will be in charge of Civ III. So, when can we expand this grand trio? Reynolds only committed to saying "sometime early in the third millennium." Hopefully they will narrow it down a bit in the coming weeks.

For more information, you can check our source articles at Gamespot and Computer Games Online. We told you E3 was going to be exciting for all of us Civ fans, didn't we?
As we wait for more news, stop by our now more important than ever "Suggestions for Civ3" Forum. Many thanks to Jimgo & Kevin Yang for the note.

FRONT AND CENTER @ E3
(May 14, 1999) If you're an avid Civer, you're probably feeling the bite of the lack of profile for Civilization titles at this year's E3 Entertainment Expo being held in Los Angeles, CA. In fact, you may be wondering if there is even any reason for to pay any never mind to this year's Expo. Well, fret no longer! Hasbro Interactive's new lineup of MicroProse strategy titles for 1999 were unveiled yesterday at E3. Leading the pack is, surprise surprise, Civilization II: Test of Time! Here's what Computer Games Online had to say about it.
"Civilization II: Test of Time, which is expected to debut this summer, is a return to familiar ground for MicroProse. Test of Time features new graphics and brand new worlds to explore and conquer. Three worlds are featured in Test of Time. The original Civilization II, the magical world of Midgard, and the solar system of Lalande 21185. Players interact in multiple dimensions through linked, layered worlds, and battle it out in the tradition of the game series. The game features different modes of play including Fantasy, Science Fiction and the refined Civilization II. As in previous games, players can build societies based on the principles of democracy or rule with an iron fist. Players compete against the game's AI or up to seven other players".
More to come as more develops!

ANOTHER LOOK AT ToT
(May 12, 1999) Dave Fisher of Gone Gold had the recent opportunity to test drive Civilization: Test Of Time, by publisher Hasbro Interactive. Apprently up until a few weeks ago, this product was a sleeping lion in the gaming industry, announced almost one year ago at last year's E3. It has awakened.
"... we received this build labeled "0.12.0," and dated March 30. This appears to be close to the final release and, except for the absence of a manual and main readme, was quite playable and enjoyable".
The design team is being spearheaded by Mick Uhl, whom you may recall was also in charge of Conflicts In Civilization, the first add-on for CivII produced by MicroProse, then apart of Spectrum-Holobyte, which was released in December of '96.
Multiplayer options are, as of this build, as follows: Hot Seat; Network (TCP/IP or IPX/SPX); Internet (TCP/IP), and Two Player DUN (Dial-Up Networking). For those of you looking for PBEM, you're out of luck. As for Single Play, these items are available: Original Civilization 2 (v. 1.11); Science Fiction Game Fantasy Game; Alpha Centauri Extended Game; Begin the Midguard Scenario, and Begin a Scenario.

Now, in brief, a quick run down on some the game's main elements, as reported by previwer Fisher. Since we have not included all of them in this writeup (would be too long), we invite you to read the full preview by clicking the link above.

INTERFACE. "From game set-up to pull-down menus, the Interface look and efficiency reflects a noticeable improvement over Civ II. Controls, hot keys, orders and movement are essentially the same.
However, graphics and animation show a considerable leap from Civ II, and remind me of Call to Power, or even SMAC. Sixteen-bit color brings a clarity and depth to the worlds, along with individual unit animation. This includes troops marching, trees blowing, fish jumping, sheat lizards grazing, fiery lava pits, chariots, and dozens of others helping to bring vitality to the maps. The graphical precision does suffer though, at least at this point, in extreme close-up".
GAMEPLAY. "Of note here in 25 hours of actual play, is that there were no crashes, glitches or bugs in evidence. Further, I found the A.I. to be increasingly aggressive and effective on higher difficulty settings, more so than I remembered with Civ II".
THE FANTASY GAME. "Yes, there are levels of sea floor and clouds, as well as earth, with movement between via portals, and responsibilities for all with each turn. The complexity is increased, but also the impressiveness factor is enhanced with this variation".
SCIENCE-FICTION GAME. "There is a quite different twist here, in addition to SMAC-type units and the multi-layered maps, and that is the game goal. You win this game by developing "Earthgate Technology." To do so, you need to engage in pure research, only fully available by way of trade with other human and/or alien tribes".

Finally, the burning question on all our minds: should be buy this in August (or, if delayed, whenever it comes out)? Fisher comments:
"YES, if it ships with a good manual, chart, the 10 to 15% game proper completed, *and* is reasonably priced ($29.99, or under). This appears to be much more than a simple add-on pack, although some will see it that way. Earlier I spoke of "tried and true." Activision's Call to Power disappointed in part because it strayed too far from the Meier's/Reynolds formula for gameplay balance and ultimate impressiveness. Microprose appears to have maintained all of that, while adding graphical enhancements, animation, and two fabulous "new" world games - Fantasy and Science-Fiction. I, for one, am looking forward to the final version".

Our thanks to SYLBON@aol.com for contacting us with this news item.

BETTER DAYS FOR OUR DB
(May 12, 1999) Today, after a long time, 10 not new files were in our files database. In the following days, over 50 files, both new and existing ones, will be added. This means that we will very soon have more than 200 files in our database! All this is the result of the work of our Civ2 Database Manager, Sven Muencheberg, and our helpers (Cam Hills and Dustin Dunn in the case of the pre-mentioned files). More new files are coming after all these, as Sven has a bit long list of files waiting to be processed, as we say in the apolyton db language...
If you have sent us a file and haven't recieved a response, it doesn't mean that the file hasn't been posted, or that it wont be posted. Also, it is most probable that we wont send you a notice when we post your file, to save time for posting other files. All requests concerning the civ2 database, new or updated files, should be send to Sven Muencheberg, at svenm@apolyton.net.
Finally, if you would like to help us in gathering visitor ratings for files in our database, please contact Dan or Mark.

FIRAXIS & HASBRO TEAM UP!
(May 6, 1999) Seems like dreams come true. According to CGO, Firaxis and Hasbro(owner of Microprose) are joining forces for a new title! Nothing else is yet known, but suddenly the name "Civilization III", came to our mind for an unexplained reason. From the article the agreement seems definite but nothing is being said officially yet. Our big thanks to Jimbo for the news tip.

TT&C DATABASE
(May 3, 1999) We don't know if it is actually going to be called that way, but Sven Milo has started a project to "develop a database containing all possible tips, tricks & cheats", as he wrote to us. Also, another part of the database will constitute of game utilities (by example a utility to calculate required NR of caravans to build in a city 10 squares away in order to build one of the wonders, including estimated building time etc...). If you want to help out in the development of this very helpfull, when finished, database, contact Sven.

SEE ALSO:
APRIL '99 NEWS ARCHIVE
MARCH '99 NEWS ARCHIVE
FEBRUARY '99 NEWS ARCHIVE
JANUARY '99 NEWS ARCHIVE
DECEMBER '98 NEWS ARCHIVE
NOVEMBER '98 NEWS ARCHIVE
OCTOBER '98 NEWS ARCHIVE
SEPTEMBER '98 NEWS ARCHIVE
AUGUST '98 NEWS ARCHIVE
JULY '98 NEWS ARCHIVE