360, PS3, portables getting Civ-ilized

[UPDATE] The latest chapter in Sid Meier's Civilization series will arrive on handhelds and next-gen systems next spring.

Civilization games, from veteran programmer and games designer Sid Meier, have for some time focused on the PC market. However, the series is to make a return to the console market early next year.

Next-gen Civ!

Apparently the revolution will be televised...

Civilization Revolution is scheduled for release on unspecified "next generation consoles" and handhelds--but publisher Take-Two refused to be name a specific platforms. [UPDATE] However, a trailer for the game displayed the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 logos at its bottom.

Meier said of Civilization Revolution, "[This] is the game I've always wanted to make!" The latest incarnation will retain the original style epic single-player campaigns, along with new features, including real-time interaction with leaders and advisors, "extensive" multiplayer capabilities, and integrated voice and video chat.

There will be 16 civilizations to "master and lead to victory," a variety of famous historical leaders to play as or against, and a streamlined time scale for a more action-based feel. The online multiplayer mode will feature team battles, head-to-head battles, and free-for-all matches. Additionally, auto-matching, ranked games, leaderboards, achievements, and downloadable extra content will all be available.

The first Civilization game was released by MicroProse back in 1991 on the PC, Mac, Amiga, Atari ST, and Super NES, and was subtitled "Build an Empire To Stand The Test of Time." The single-player turn-based strategy title had players expanding an empire through the ages and was one of the first in the "God Game" genre. It was followed by a host of sequels and other similar titles, including Age of Empires, and Sim City also drew inspiration from it.

Civilization: Revolution is being developed by Firaxis Games and will be published on Take-Two's 2K label. The game will be released on as-yet unnamed "next generation consoles and handhelds" in Spring 2008.

181 Comments

  • rachkovsky

    Posted Jan 3, 2009 7:08 am PT

    The game is cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • sufferthorn666

    Posted Jul 9, 2007 4:48 am PT

    Civilization for consoles is a smart move, and the expansion of multi-player could be a fantastic addition, however I don't think it would be enough on it's own to justify me replacing my PC version - which, by the end of this month, will also have two expansion packs, and therefore a lot more content than next year's console release (multiplayer excepted). I don't understand why a game which still has around 12 months development time left will remove one set of features (eg it'll have less playable Civs than the PC version with it's expansion packs) but add others (ie multiplayer). Can't we just have all of those things in one package? I'll reserve judgment yet though until more details are released

  • snorlaxmaster

    Posted Jul 1, 2007 4:26 pm PT

    Whats that i smell.......? The doom of PC gaming as we know it!

  • Elkoman

    Posted Jul 1, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    i hope this will be different from civ 4 and the expansions. i dont want to buy two of the same game.

  • mangepenge

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 8:21 pm PT

    Really newer played one of these games?. Then be carefull about picking it up. It's not for everyone however that doens't prevent it from beeing the greatest franchise of it's genre.

  • AFWorm

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 10:54 pm PT

    I have loved every version so far!!! Please make it for PC!

  • therealapowers

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 9:14 pm PT

    omg i love civ iv for my pc, i would sell my soul for a portable version.

  • CaRD0N

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 4:28 pm PT

    I love(d) Civ III. My PC is not beefy enought to play the fourth chapter of Civilization. I am very excited about this coming to the the 360. It makes the choice of having to by a $2000 PC/Mac much easier. Besides, C&C worked well enough. I hope you have a lot of free time because this game will be amazing and hard to put down!!!

  • RageSet

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 4:01 pm PT

    Tip for the future "im-a-roustabout", if you decide to flame someone, especially regarding their intellect, please use the spell checker. This way, you won't come out as the idiot.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 2:12 pm PT

    stradegy games are really coming through on consoles. is this the new wave

  • Brandmon

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 1:56 pm PT

    Hmm, a bold move to get Turn Based Games to the Consoles.
    If this succeeds it will get many console guys infront of their HDTVs from noon till Midnight because Turn Based games can't get better then Sid Meier's.

  • madogmgd

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 1:50 pm PT

    never heard of these games

  • call1

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 1:42 pm PT

    Looks interesting, but would have been better with a better narrorator.

  • Wilmc

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 1:33 pm PT

    I wonder if this game will have any improvement on graphics when compared to the PC version. Its interesting to see how this will work out, I can't think how the control scheme will work well.

  • s3lFc0nTr0l

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:58 pm PT

    never played one of these so i will be renting haahaha

  • im-a-roustabout

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:24 pm PT

    demondragon55 I'm be tracking this. Sounds like a good move. In theory

    haha, dumbest thing I have ever read. Love it when people try to sound smart, but acheive the opposite.

  • Strag3n

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:19 pm PT

    civ on 360, awesome

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:10 pm PT

    Awesome, can't wait to play this on 360.

  • carddude

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 11:10 am PT

    Thats fine.

  • Trindris

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 10:23 am PT

    To whoever said that putting it on the ps3 isn't a good idea because it isn't good business right now, that is just retarded. Now I hate Sony, least favorite of the big 3 for me, but my prejudice aside; the only way the ps3 will succeed is if it gets some good games like this one. Holding games back will do nothing but make the console fail quicker.

  • abw1977

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 10:19 am PT

    EA's ported two RTS to next gen systems and both portables are, in theory, more than powerful enough to at least run some of the older version of the CIV games so I don’t see why they shouldn’t be catered too but I'm just a tad worried about how straight PC ports would play...

    I guess time will tell.

  • demondragon55

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 10:02 am PT

    I'm be tracking this. Sounds like a good move. In theory.

  • EddyG0RD0

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 9:32 am PT

    "ScotMTrager0183 Xatman911,

    Ummm -- are you on drugs? Seriously? The controller for the PS3 is not suited for this type of game, nor are there enough consoles out there for any company to justify porting to it. If they released a PS3 version I would be in shock - PS3 just isnt good buisness right now -- that may change down the line, but if Firaxis is smart they will go 360 or Wii or both for now, and leave a PS3 port "if/when the console has some success"



    CRY me a river !!!

  • JamesSharp

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 8:53 am PT

    Please be on DS, and please don't suck.

  • cheesemonkey199

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 8:05 am PT

    civ on the DS. sweet!(hopefully)

  • uberjannie

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 7:53 am PT

    TO_Zeus : you know that civ isnt rts but tbs right?
    There is a big difference.. Im a civ fanatic and I was offended that anyone called civ an rts..

  • drifter_basic

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 7:53 am PT

    I would be much more excited if I actually knew what the gameplay was goin to look like. Rendered trailers are great, but where's the meat?

  • uberjannie

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 7:51 am PT

    RyanJThompson : No, actually civ arrived in 88 while simcity arrived in 89.

    there is a civ v planned for PC.
    http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/civilizationv/index.html?tag=result;title;5
    And they havent cancelled it. so I dont sweat just yet.

  • RyanJThompson

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 7:45 am PT

    "It was followed by a host of sequels and other similar titles, including Age of Empires, and Sim City also drew inspiration from it."

    If memory serves, Sim City actually pre-dates Civilization by a significant margin.

  • SamiEloranta

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 7:34 am PT

    Wii is a perfect fit for Civ. If Civ came to Wii, I would very likely buy it, but not so on Xbox 360/PS3, which I don't even own yet.

  • uberjannie

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 6:34 am PT

    madrunner : do you mean CiWiilization? hehehe.

  • uberjannie

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 6:26 am PT

    What about PC? I have to kill sid meier now! KILL!

  • kevy619

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 5:52 am PT

    another awesome sounding upcoming release

  • jjman500

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 5:51 am PT

    Who let Kefka in here?

  • madrunner

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 4:52 am PT

    In a few months it will be called Sid Meier's Civilization Wii Bwhahahahhah...u get it?? revolution - wii nwhahahahahh NWHAHAH (i am so funny) bwhahhahahahaha

  • someone068

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 1:21 am PT

    Civ for DS has the potential to be so awesome

  • Scarletred

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 1:11 am PT

    You know when I read the headline i thought MS put out a portable system to compete with DS and PSP lol.

  • TO_Zeus

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:34 am PT

    RTS seem to be making a big splash on consoles which is good to see and they work really well with the controls as i have "Command and Conquer 3" for Xbox 360 and have also played "The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II" also on the Xbox 360! This sounds promising as i have played "Civ 2" before but im gonna watch this one hesitantly because "Civ" games are a little bit more complicated than your standard RTS game and im not sure how the control scheme will work? Just have to wait and see..............

  • onlineps2player

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:27 am PT

    YEAHHHHH !!!!!!!
    I always loved Civs but my old PC couldn't handle it !!!!!!!!

  • Anabub

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:26 am PT

    Awesome news I cannot wait!

  • Khoo1992

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:21 am PT

    cool

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 11:49 pm PT

    Wow. There aren't that many franchises that last 20 years. Go Sid!

  • DonutTrooper

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 10:57 pm PT

    I even still play Civ 2. Yeah, i know it's old, but there was a CHEAT mode. Please Cid! Bring it back!

  • cqdemal

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 10:46 pm PT

    I see this as a Civ IV console port with a little less depth and more quick fun. Something to strike a foothold in the console territory.

    It's no Civ V, but the DS version makes me drool.

  • Dark_Nexus3367

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 9:47 pm PT

    I think think this game will be good, a little more action focused compared to other Civ games, but with SId on it, and claiming it to be the game he always wanted to make, he will surely give it 100%. PC version will most likely come out too, though i suspect it will do good on consoles, the PC version will probably look and control better. Of course I'll most likely get it for 360 since i would love to play it with some of my friends on xbox live.

  • bossjimbob

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 9:38 pm PT

    Sid Meier is a pimp.

  • chrth

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 9:26 pm PT

    I think people are losing cohesion here.

    This is not going to be Civ V. This is going to be a less strategic, more action-oriented Civ IV. The PC game will still be better* than the Console version. They're just branching out the brand name.

    *Presuming you're a classic Civ player

  • azizrulez

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 9:22 pm PT

    this is not fair for PC gamers, i mean they it was PC that made CIV so famous and successful,
    they cant just abandon it,
    i hope a PC version is announced soon,
    although i bet this game is gonna be awesome since Sid Meier is at the helm

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 9:17 pm PT

    psp yes way to go.

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