StudyingPixels podcast: Games as Historical Problem Spaces (with Jeremiah McCall)

By | October 24, 2022

The podcast StudyingPixels has released a new episode: Games as Historical Problem Spaces (with Jeremiah McCall). In this episode Stefan Heinrich Simond, a games scholar from Marbug (Germany), discusses with video game historian Jeremia McCall from the Ohio State University, also know from the blog GamingThePast, about games as historical problem spaces. This means they both address the problems games address, which they also do not address, and historical accuracy within them.
In this episode the talk about historical accuracy in a range of games, fro Assasins Creed to Valiant Hearts, but also talk shortly about Civ6 and the Colonization remake.
The whole episode is 47 minutes and can be found here, and you can discuss it with us in our forum here.

PolyCast 408: Why Do Anything When You Can Pillage?

By | October 22, 2022
PolyCast Logo

The four-hundred-and-eighth episode of PolyCast, “Why Do Anything When You Can Pillage?“ is now available for streaming on ThePolyCast.net. This episode features regular co-hosts CanusAlbinus, Stephanie “Makahlua”, and Jason “MegaBearsFan” with first-time guest co-host CivMD. Topics for this episode include:

Intro
00h01m00s | Game Spinoff Ideas

News
00h05m58s | Humankind Announces “Together We Rule” Expansion

Senate
00h10m09s | CivMD’s Domination Strategy Guide (Thread) (Google Document)

NOTE: This Episode was recorded on September 10, 2022.
Discuss: PolyCast 408: Discussion Thread

PolyCast is a bi-weekly audio production recording live every other Saturday at 12 Noon US Eastern Time throughout the year, in an ongoing effort to give the Civilization community an interactive voice.

Episodes have been delayed again by not one but 2 different variants of COVID infection occurring in early September lasting until around the fifteenth and four days ago in October. I’m currently doubled over at my desk working on this, but since i had it edited, i figured i should release it. Others will follow when health improves.

Doom meets Civilization: Solium Infernum

By | October 21, 2022

A couple of weeks ago a new interesting game was announced, which just today popped on my radar: Solium Infernum. PCGamesN has as a headline “Doom meets Civilization as Hellish strategy game gets triple-A remake“. Apparently the remake of a not well known 2009 strategy game, it is set in a Hell scenario (therefore the “Doom”), but it’s a 4X game. It’s a real time grand strategy game (like the Paradox games), and played on a hex map. It seems to also feature diplomacy and management options.

Overall the picture is not yet clear, but it seems we should keep an eye on it. You can discuss with us here if you are also interested.

Humankind – Together We Rule expansion: The Swiss and the Bulgarians

By | October 21, 2022

Amplitude has released more information about the upcoming “Together We Rule” expansion, and has given us details about the new cultures of the Swiss and the Bulgarians.

Please check this thread to discuss the new cultures.

Thanks to our member Saxo Grammaticus for this notification.

Old World update #99

By | October 20, 2022

Mohawk Games, the developers of Old World, have released the latest update for their game. This update includes a range of bug fixes, reduced memory usage, reworks on the French translation and more. For more details, please check our thread here.

Old World is currently available in the Epic Store, on GOG and Steam.

Humankind scenario challenge #4: Space Race

By | October 19, 2022

Amplitude, the developers of Humankind, present you the next scenario challenge: The scenario “Space Race”. In this scenario you inhabit a small planet with only little land mass. Your goal is to escape to Mars, while having the most fame. You have until November 9 to finish this challenge.

For all info please read this thread here, and you can also discuss with us in our forum here.

Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire sim released!

By | October 11, 2022

Another game which could be of high interested for the Civ community has been released: Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim.
As the title hints, this game is a civ-like game, set in the bronze age (so more similar to Old World). So this is a turn-based 4X game in a historical setting. You can build cities, build wonders (although more in an achievement-type manner), and use your armies to conquer your enemies.
The game has a lot simpler graphics than any of its contenders like Humankind or Old World, but all hardware requirements are minimal, allowing it to be played also on older computers.
Right now there is a 20% discount, and the game only costs 11.99€ instead of 14.99€.
A free demo is available too, in case you want to test before you buy.

Discuss Ozymandias with us here.

Play the new Civ4 “Game Of The Month” #242

By | October 10, 2022

New month, new game! In this issue of the Civ4 GOTM you play as Hatshepsut of Egypt on a standard size inland sea map on Prince level. You start with a lonely war chariot, disconnected from your empire. Should you go for sailing to get it back home? You have until November 1 to repratriate your people.

For all details please see this thread.