And we are now at the 11th dev diary for Ara: History Untold.
In this episode the devs talk about the game engine used in Ara, thatthis game studio actually started in a basement, that they saw the need for their own engine to better use the existing hardware (like multiple CPUs) so that more complex games could be made, and that Ara actually needs this optimizations due to the many things going on in this game.
Check it out, and discuss it with us here.
LT81 – Next FreeCiv Longturn game set to start in a few days
The 81st installment of the FreeCiv Longturn game series set to start in a few days. Longturn is a 20 year old FreeCiv sub-community running one-turn-per-day games, where unlike a regular multiplayer game, their server is always running and players only need to log in once per day at their leisure. Usually the number of players is 10-30+ and the games last up to 4 months or so. In order to play, you must sign in AND CONFIRM on their site before the game starts! Signing up late puts you in a reserve row to take over possible idle players.
The player sign up page for LT81 can be found on their website here: https://longturn.net/game/LT81/
If you’re more interested in spectating you can also follow their impressive blog which covers each game in story form with commentary, artwork and screenshots here: https://longturn21.blogspot.com/
More links & info can be found here: https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/686897/
Old World update #116
Mohawk Games, the developers of Old World, have released the latest update for their game. This update makes the lower difficulty levels easier, including a new beginners difficulty level, balance changes, combat improvements, and Kush is now available on the middle eastern map too.
Discuss this update with us here (and read the full list of changes too).
Old World is currently available in the Epic Store, on GOG and Steam.
Mystical Conquests – a fantasy retro 4X
Retro fans will be interested to read about this game: Mythical Conquests is a turn-based 4X in a fantasy setting, which according to its own description draws inspiration from Civ and Age of Wonders. The setting is in a fantasy world, but you do the usual 4X things of expanding your cities, researching new technologies, and fighting battles. The graphics and sound give a nice retro feeling, and the system requirements are accordingly low. If you feel curious about testing, there is a playable demo available on Steam. Come and join us here for a discussion about Mythical Conquests.
Play the new Civ4 “Game Of The Month” #262
And also for Civ4 we get a mid-month GOTM! In this case you play as Saladin of the Arabs on a rocky medium sea level fractal map on Prince level. The starting position is challenging, and you will not find any good huts within 8 tiles around it. You have until December 15 to master this challenge.
For more information please click here.
Millennia – Community Q&A results
The developers of Millennia have run a Q&A on their official discord, and they are now reporting back the results. Some of the questions relate back to Civ, e.g.
Question: Will the terrain change with ages? Like finding new ores in civ. And are they influenced by the kind of age? Like the age of plague making fresh water more important
Answer: There are Goods that are revealed as the game progresses or when certain Ages are entered into (or certain National Spirits are selected).
Some relate back in general to 4X games, not that specific to Civ, e.g.
Question: Are there “wonders” like in other 4x games i.e. big projects or buildings requiring large investments of resources for a large return, typically embodying some historical wonder like the Colossus of Rhodes or the Library of Alexandria?
Answer: Wonders exists, but in a different way than in other 4X games. A wonder potentially comes from the empire Innovation system, that grants them (the Colossus of Rhodes is one of these). We also have “megaprojects” which are more involved multi-stage constructions – the Space Race is a megaproject, for example.
whereas others go completely into fiction, e.g.
Question: Is there an Alien Civilization/Nation?
Answer: Not a playable one (now).
For the whole Q&A please check here.
Play the new Civ6 “Game Of The Month” #171
For the mid-month Civ6 GOTM, we go with a true American spirit: You play as Abraham Lincoln of America on a standard size continents and islands map on Deity level. You must win via a domination or religious victory, on a hot and wet planet with abundant resources, but also with disasters and Barbarian clans. You have until December 15 to complete this challenge. For more information please check this thread.
RockPaperShotgun: Strategy games are no longer limited by the “stigma” of being “Smart Man’s Games”, says Ara developer
RockPaperShotgun has released a new article called “Strategy games are no longer limited by the “stigma” of being “Smart Man’s Games”, says Ara developer.” In this news article the author talked to the devs of Ara: History Untold about the history of 4X. They comment that in the earlier 2000s the strategy genre was more of a niche and nerd genre, with not many big titles being released. Afterwards they talk about how the situation is currently very different, with many new strategy games with many different flavours being released, and that the pandemic together with board games might have had an impact on this (among other things).
For the full article please check here, and discuss it with us here.