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Civilization coming to Facebook in 2010

Sid Meier announces that his time-consuming strategy sim will soon conquer the time-consuming social network with a new multiplayer app.

The Civilization series was so time-consuming, its creators set up a parody addiction support group, Civilization Anonymous. Another particularly effective computer-based time killer is the social network Facebook, whose myriad applications and games have consumed countless numbers of potential work hours.

Sid Meier is thinking up new ways to destroy your free time.

Sid Meier is thinking up new ways to destroy your free time.

Now, it appears the aforementioned two black holes of free time may soon join forces. In a Facebook post, Civilization creator and Firiaxis director of creative development Sid Meier announced that his studio and 2K Games are bringing a free-to-play version of the series to the social network.

"I wanted to let you know we'll soon be looking for beta testers to help us develop a unique new way to play Civilization," said Meier. "Ever since we finished Civilization Revolution last year, I've been looking at ways of expanding the Civ gameplay experience to include solo, competitive, and cooperative play to take advantage of the uniqueness of social networks. We're calling this project Civilization Network and the full game will be available next year on Facebook."

According to Meier, Civilization Network will heavily feature multiplayer participation, with Facebook friends sharing technology and coordinating strategy in battles. Players' friends will be able to participate in elections and help decide resource management, as well as assist in espionage or the construction of Wonders of the World.

80 Comments

  • burn6

    Posted Jul 9, 2010 9:50 am GMT

    Is it out yet?!

  • akhauskinz

    Posted Jul 8, 2010 10:07 pm GMT

    I am pretty sure this apps existence is to try and promote sales for civ V. so no, I doubt it will hurt the quality of anything, except maybe the app itself.

  • timeck

    Posted May 22, 2010 1:31 pm GMT

    Well, Realm of Empires had given me hope on what FB apps can be. Let's see what the professionals can do. I am hopeful.

  • big-boss-91

    Posted Feb 19, 2010 4:11 am GMT

    bad idea, all facebook games have rubbish graphics and pointless, farmville for example, waste of time

  • Quinzark

    Posted Feb 18, 2010 2:23 pm GMT

    wonder if it'll be playable on 360's facebook connection XD

  • razorback187

    Posted Feb 18, 2010 1:11 pm GMT

    This is a big step forward for gaming, and a huge step backward for human productivity.

  • DELTSTEEZE posted Feb 4, 2010 8:15 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    DELTSTEEZE

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 8:15 pm GMT (hide)

    Sid, I love u but this is a baaaaad idea...

  • KamikazeCanuck

    Posted Jan 28, 2010 3:02 pm GMT

    omg

  • iron_zealot7531

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 4:27 am GMT

    boo @ this decision

    just as long as it doesn't detract from making Civ V, I don't really care

  • Habast

    Posted Nov 1, 2009 9:07 pm GMT

    As long as it's designed like a civ game and not like most facebook apps, I'm all for it.

    I laughed when I saw the "Sid Meier is thinking up new ways to destroy your free time." caption. lol

  • mertcx

    Posted Nov 1, 2009 1:56 pm GMT

    we love sid meier...

  • Troika101

    Posted Nov 1, 2009 2:23 am GMT

    rofl the picture quote: "Sid Meier is thinking up new ways to destroy your free time." Sooo true...

  • QSplice

    Posted Oct 30, 2009 9:55 pm GMT

    hm, They could make the battles like bomberman. That'd be one.
    Old concepts is always a revolution these days.

  • xXZak-ataKXx

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 5:44 pm GMT

    @dortega120 if you dont like mafia wars,check out MOB WARS,its better in my opinion

  • dortega120

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 5:27 pm GMT

    Finally a descent app on Facebook, way better than Mafia Wars.

  • Zazabar11

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 2:22 pm GMT

    Cool, just 1 more thing to block on facebook.

    I'd much rather just play civ 4.

  • Mr_Versipellis

    Posted Oct 25, 2009 5:20 am GMT

    Wow, can't wait!

  • Wikipedian

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 9:55 pm GMT

    Facebook and Civ are the two most addicting things ever. This can't be good for me...

  • InsertWittyID

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 7:46 pm GMT

    I hate the endless spam that comes from Facebook apps, and yet I love Civilization. I'm not sure what to think.

  • itsTolkien_time

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 4:21 pm GMT

    I may actually start going on FB again just to try this out. I'm probably the only 14 year old who thinks social networking is ridiculous.
    So much worthless info from so many friends...

  • Mystic-Forest

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 2:03 pm GMT

    Oh dear. If its anything like Civ 3 and if it works then oh dear indeed. They will definitely need a FACEBOOK CIVILIZATION ANONYMOUS

  • darfvader

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 9:59 am GMT

    now just gimme a warhammer tabletop app and i can die happy

  • punkpunker

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 6:52 am GMT

    well there goes the social life in a social network!

  • Dynamo11

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 6:01 am GMT

    Oh... my... god :O
    I spent close to 5 years of my life on Civilization, and it begins again!

  • HerbalVideogame

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 10:10 pm GMT

    @SDBusDriver1979 I think your posts rule as much as your avatar. So does Civilization, in the gaming world and the real world, tho lately...

  • SDBusDriver1979

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 10:05 pm GMT

    Right when I got over my addiction to Civ Rev, they do this so that Gandhi and Lincoln can continue their war against me while Cleopatra sits in the back building up tech and culture. It never ends.

  • Neo_Gamer81

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 10:08 pm GMT

    oh no... well there goes my free time.

  • Sumbelina

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 5:45 pm GMT

    Oh dear lord! Because Civ 3 didn't do enough to eat up my time in college! LOL. Rock on Sid.

  • The_Game_Jr

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 3:02 pm GMT

    Let's just hope it works.

  • Col-Neil

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 1:18 pm GMT

    If this works wow good bye free time lol

  • koHd

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 11:57 am GMT

    I reactivated my Facebook account as soon as I read this. Having a long running multiplayer online game of Civilization with people you know = awesome.

    I just hope it's as good as the full game.

  • fourthgeartappe

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 11:39 am GMT

    They should do more simplified crossovers to Facebook apps. I can think of no less than a dozen games that might be fun converted to a simple app format. That way, even when I'm not with my consoles, I can still be an addict! It's already going to be bad enough having Facebook on my 360 come November...

  • thedemon44

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 11:13 am GMT

    O.M.G.

    lols. I mean... LOLS!!! hahaha. I dont have anything productive to add to this one.

  • JimmyCos

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 10:08 am GMT

    I must agree on everything of this article, Civ and Facebook are too addictive, they can destroy your life ahahaha

    but there's something i don't like about the civilization multiplayer: most people focus on war, you can't try to be a cultural or economic power, the only way to win is by war

  • lukas1051

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 9:55 am GMT

    Hahaha, really! Cool. I must say, Facebook games are damn addictive, I'm level 28 on FarmTown!

  • TripSe7en

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:42 am GMT

    Better than Farmville!? lol

  • blakeney

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 7:53 am GMT

    @ bigd2232

    wow your really got your finger on the pulse of modern society! every thought of going into marketing? all this time ad companies and app makers have been under some illusion that most fb users spend most their time on fb using an app/game of some kind, and alot only logg on fb to play/use the app/game.

  • baystatethrashr

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 7:52 am GMT

    as much as i love facebook i try to stay away from the facebook games but i will definitely play this one.

  • SkidRow18

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 7:44 am GMT

    i have been playing mafia wars now, civilization will be the most played game on facebook like farmville

  • skemaal

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 7:23 am GMT

    Hmmm...gonna keep an eye on the dev. of this. My wife is going psycho on Farmville and CafeWorld and is trying to get me to play. Nope!!! But CIV if its properly done considering the restraints of FB apps? Perhaps

  • bowlingotter

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 6:09 am GMT

    Oh no. I wasted enough time on Scrabulous before they outlawed it. Civilization on Facebook? There goes my productivity at work.

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 4:10 am GMT

    @malverick

    Well that's too bad.

    But in the event you can one day get one of the two, I'd recommend a PC

  • malverick

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 3:29 am GMT

    @parrot_of_adun - You are correct that entry level PCs would easily play a game of Civilization. However, I have already spent money on purchasing a "gaming device" (Wii) - which Firaxis don't seem to be interested in developing for.

    Therefore I either choose to buy an Xbox / PC to play the game - or I miss out. I've had to choose to miss out.

  • deakinj

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 3:23 am GMT

    ...and there goes "IRL" civilization..

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 3:08 am GMT

    @malverick

    Well with Civilization, you really don't need to spend alot to get a pc that can play it. It would definitely be worth it.
    But I suppose the Wii may the next best thing since the controls could work better for Civ than a traditional controller.

  • malverick

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 2:09 am GMT

    The very first game I played on the PC was Civilization - and I've been a fan since. However, I no longer have a PC to play the game on - I do, however, own a Wii ( please - no Wii bashing today... ) and would love to see the franchise on the Wii - not bloody Facebook.

  • CoolKidX

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 2:06 am GMT

    Haha cant wait.

  • skunkpants

    Posted Oct 22, 2009 12:18 am GMT

    Ohhhh sht!

  • Spectre-123

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 11:19 pm GMT

    This will crush the likes of Farmville ... Civilization has always been so addictive...

  • mayankahuja posted Oct 21, 2009 10:24 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mayankahuja

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 10:24 pm GMT (hide)

    boring

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