FIRAXIS CIV4 COL MOD COMPETITION
(9 October 2008, 23:13 | Col)

Firaxis have announced a Civilization IV: Colonization mod competition! There are four categories that you can submit mods for: New Assets, New Civs, Map Scripts & Concept Changes.

The contest will run from October 8th 2008 till December 17th 2008 and is only open to US residents. First prize is a new desktop computer with four runner-up prizes of signed copies of the game.

The creator of the over-all winning Grand Prize entry will receive a desktop computer to show off to friends. In addition, the four runner-up submissions will receive a copy of Sid Meier`s Civilization IV: Colonization signed by the development team.

Here are some things to remember. The Grand Prize prize is awarded to an individual only, so if your mod is a team effort, the prize will only be awarded to the designated team leader. Please do not submit mods that are not yours or include third party materials. This not only makes our job harder, but also makes children cry.

For more details please visit Firaxis`s website here.

- Dale

REVIEW/SCORE ROUNDUP
(7 October 2008, 15:42 | Col) Sid Meier`s Civilization IV: Colonization has been out for two weeks now and there are plenty of reviews on offer for the game. Over at Metacritic C4C is maintaining an average of 84 out of 100, which is a very postive score.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the review comments:

1UP - What really makes Colonization a classic turn-based game is the amount of distinct character. This isn`t just a Civ 4 mod; it`s its own beast, with its own rules and its own sense of charm and history, carved out of a New World brimming with native settlements, tobacco, and furs, waiting for your people -- people, mind you! -- to conquer it, plunder it, and/or cultivate it.

Game Informer - The random map generator, several unique factions and difficulty levels, and many approaches to the ultimate goal of independence give Colonization as much replay value as any title you care to name.

IGN - Like Pirates! before it, Colonization is brilliant, not just for the way that it successfully captures the fun and feel of one of a classic PC game, but also for the way that it brings that design into a new era.

GameSpy - Building a thriving economy from scratch is immensely satisfying, and it`ll take several games to really master the nuances of the elegant ruleset. Colonization might not appeal to everyone, but it`ll definitely hit a sweet spot for many strategy fans.

GameSpot - Colonization is a more focused and linear Civilization experience that nevertheless offers the depth and rewards of the classic strategy series.
- Dale

FIRAXIS ON CIV 4: COL AND CIV IN GENERAL
(2 October 2008, 16:10 | Col) Tom`s Games have published an interview with Firaxis producer Jesse Smith containing a series of questions about about the making of the new title, the challenges of tackling history, and the future of the Civilization franchise.

Here are two snippets from the interview:

TG: We understand that random events are not a part of the Colonization sequel. At any point were random events in the game[?]

SMITH: We did try them out and reviewed the possibility of having them in the game, but ultimately we decided they would detract too much from gameplay. [...] We wanted the player`s decisions to have an impact on the core game. [...] I make my choices and the game responds.

[...]

TG: As we understand it, Electronic Arts owns the rights to the Alpha Centauri IP - have efforts been made to purchase the rights with the hope of revisiting Alpha Centauri once again? If there is not a foreseeable sequel due to lack of ownership, is there any chance that Sid Meier will branch off to a new space Civilization themed game in the near future, such as Beta Centauri?

SMITH: You are correct that EA owns the rights to Alpha Centauri and we really don`t know what they intend to do with it. Sid has endless ideas for games and has some time now to think about his next project. We`ll update you as we have news to share on that front. - Illuminatus

CIV4 COL RELEASE DAY
(23 September 2008, 16:22 | Col) Sid Meier`s Civilization IV: Colonization has hit the shelves today! In an official announcement from 2K Games Sid Meier salutes the Colonization fan community.

“The decade-long groundswell of fan enthusiasm around Colonization was the driving force behind our decision to make a new version for today’s gamers,” said Sid Meier, director of creative development at Firaxis Games. “The terrific community support for the game, coupled with the opportunity to design a new edition using our Civilization IV engine, made it the right time to create this title for loyal fans and everyone else who loves great strategy games.”

The entire 2K release can be found here.

In related news the Apolyton Civ4 Colonization forums have been prepared for the games release and cleaned up. And the first two Mods have already been posted, CivFanatic`s ColdFever`s BlueMarble Mod for Civ4 Col and Dale`s Age of Discovery II (Complete with Portugal). - Dale

GAMESPOT GAMEPLAY VIDEOS
(14 September 2008, 21:27 | Col) GameSpot have released 3 gameplay videos. The first video shows trading with Europe, the second video a little about colony development. The third video shows part of a war between France and England.

You can find all three videos here.
- Dale

IGN: SPANISH NATION PROFILE
(11 September 2008, 21:17 | Col) In their fourth instalment on the C4C factions, IGN have posted a full profile on the Spanish faction!

The Spanish monarchy of the 15th century rose from almost six hundred years of intermarrying between four families--the Houses of Castile, Leon, Aragon, and Navarre. The kings of Spain, however, were of little consequence among the crowned heads of Europe until the 13th century. Before that time, they lived in uncomfortably cramped quarters in the north of Spain, shut off from the south by the occupation of the Moors. But with the victory of the Castilian King Alfonso VIII at the Battle of the Navas de Tolosa in 1212 AD, the Spanish monarchs began a slow push to reclaim the peninsula that would continue for the next three hundred years.

IGN have posted the details of all the factions and they can also be found in full on the C4C official website. The full IGN article can be found here. - Dale

-- Colonization News Archive