Civilization IV: Colonization
{{Short description|2008 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Civilization IV: Colonization
| image = Civ4colon.jpg
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = Firaxis Games
| publisher = 2K Games{{refn|group="nb"|Mac OS X port developed and published by Aspyr.}}
| designer = H. Edward Piper
| engine = Gamebryo
| series = Civilization
| released = Windows{{vgrelease|NA|September 23, 2008{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=September 23, 2008|title=2K Games Announces Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization Now Available |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/23/2k-games-announces-sid-meiers-civilization-iv-colonization-now-available |access-date=November 6, 2023|website=IGN |language=en}}|AU|September 25, 2008{{Cite web |last=Kozanecki |first=James |date=September 22, 2008 |title=AU Shippin' Out September 22-26: Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-september-22-26-brothers-in-arms-hells-highway/1100-6198001/ |access-date=July 17, 2024 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}|EU|September 26, 2008}}Mac OS X{{vgrelease|NA|December 22, 2009{{Cite web |date=December 22, 2009|title=Aspyr Ships Sid Meier's Civilization® IV: Colonization|url=http://www.aspyr.com/software/news/119/307 |access-date=2023-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124074126/http://www.aspyr.com/software/news/119/307 |archive-date=January 24, 2010 }}|EU|May 12, 2010}}
| genre = Turn-based strategy
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Windows, Mac OS X
}}
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is a remake of the 1994 turn-based strategy game Sid Meier's Colonization.{{cite web | title = Firaxis Games Coming Soon | publisher = Firaxis Games, Inc. | url = http://www.firaxis.com/games/game_detail.php?gameid=21 | accessdate = 2008-06-17 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080828023645/http://www.firaxis.com/games/game_detail.php?gameid=21 | archivedate = 2008-08-28 }} Players control settlers from one of four European nations – Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands – that are trying to conquer/colonize the New World in the period 1492–1792. The victorious player is the first to build up his colonies and army, declare independence from the mother country, and defeat the military force that the king inevitably sends to crush the rebellion.{{cite press release| title = 2K Games Announces Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization for Games for Windows| publisher = 2K Games| date = 2008-06-09| url = http://ir.take2games.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=315205| accessdate = 2008-06-09| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080610140222/http://ir.take2games.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=315205| archive-date = 2008-06-10| url-status = dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/2k-games-revives-sid-meieratildecentacirc|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115044207/http://www.next-gen.biz/news/2k-games-revives-sid-meieratildecentacirc|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-15|title=2K Games Revives Sid Meier's Colonization|first=Joe|last=Keiser|date=2008-06-09}}{{cite web| last = Miller| first = Jon| title = Civilization IV: Colonization First Look| date = 2008-06-26| url = http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/news.html?sid=6193071| accessdate = 2008-07-02| archive-date = 2008-12-07| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081207020440/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/news.html?sid=6193071| url-status = dead}}{{cite web |date=August 19, 2008 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/news.html?sid=6196184&mode=previews |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110222557/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/news.html?sid=6196184&mode=previews |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2013 |title=Civilization Colonization Updated Hands-On |publisher=GameSpot |accessdate=2012-06-28 }}
The Windows version was released on September 23, 2008. A Mac OS X version was released in December 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=65518 |title=Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization |work=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |last=Brown |first=Christopher |accessdate=2018-04-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114163440/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=65518 |archivedate=2014-11-14 |url-status=dead }} Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization does not require the original Sid Meier's Civilization IV in order to play.{{cite web |url=http://www.firaxis.com/games/game_detail.php?gameid=21 |title=Firaxis Games: Games: Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization |publisher=Firaxis.com |date=2009-07-23 |accessdate=2012-06-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828023645/http://www.firaxis.com/games/game_detail.php?gameid=21 |archivedate=2008-08-28 }}
Gameplay
To build their cities, players must balance negotiations with several groups: the natives of the Americas, colonists from the player's home country and other colonists from the old world. Players may also recruit founding fathers to join their cause, each with a specific bonus that helps throughout the game. The player influences the direction of his colony through choices in diplomacy, recruitment and city management. Additional colonists from Europe or converted natives can result in population increases after food surpluses exceed a preset level.
Economics and trade come into play when the player makes finished goods and sells them in Europe or trades with the natives for other goods or gold. By harvesting natural resources, skilled craftsmen can convert them into finished goods for sale or trade. Additionally, silver can be mined for direct trade and ore can be mined to turn into tools and then in turn guns. Skilled craftsmen produce twice as much as regular workers and specialist buildings can be built to increase overall production as well.
The player's selection of nationality, made at the start of the game, affects the colony's standing in the world: the English receive an immigration bonus, the Dutch enjoy trade bonuses, the French diplomacy edge encourages more favorable relations with native tribes, while the Spanish Conquistador bonus favors conquest against the natives.
| class="wikitable"
|+List of civilizations{{r|group=nb|ref1}} !Civilization !Leader(s) |
| rowspan="2" |New England |
| George Washington |
| rowspan="2" |New France |
| Samuel de Champlain |
| rowspan="2" |New Netherlands |
| Peter Stuyvesant |
| rowspan="2" |New Spain |
| José de San Martín |
| England |
| France |
| Netherlands |
| Spain |
| Apache |
| Arawak |
| Aztecs |
| Cherokee |
| Incas |
| Iroquois |
| Sioux |
| Tupi |
In addition to single-player campaigns, the new game has a multiplayer component.
Civilization IV: Colonization has many new gameplay mechanics. When starting the game, in addition to choosing a starting European nation, a player chooses between two governors, each with different advantages.{{cite web | title = Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization Dutch Faction Profile | publisher = IGN | date = 2008-08-21 | url = http://pc.ign.com/articles/901/901864p1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080825040340/http://pc.ign.com/articles/901/901864p1.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 25, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-08-23}} In addition, national borders is a gameplay concept taken from Civilization IV. This means that rivals cannot pass into each other's land unless they have an open borders agreement — or they have declared war.
Unlike the original Colonization game, nations cannot recruit the same founding fathers. Each founding father is recruited by one and only one nation/player. Moreover, founding fathers will only join nations with certain criteria, namely a certain level of "points" obtained in various categories (political, military, exploration, religion, and trade).{{cite web| last = Kosak| first = Dave 'Fargo'| title = Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization (PC)| publisher = GameSpy| date = 2008-07-18| url = http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/civilization-game-untitled/891987p1.html| accessdate = 2008-08-23| archive-date = August 21, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080821131630/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/civilization-game-untitled/891987p1.html| url-status = live}}
After the player declares independence, players draft a constitution determining the government style of their independent nation. For example, if a nation chooses a monarchical system, then it can still trade with Europe during the war for independence.{{cite web | last = Park | first = Andrew | title = E3 2008: Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization Updated Impressions — New Information and Details | publisher = GameSpot | date = 2008-07-15 | url = http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/news.html?sid=6194086&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130110215327/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/news.html?sid=6194086&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2 | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 10, 2013 | accessdate = 2008-08-23 }}
Development
The game runs on an upgraded version of the Civilization IV engine with changes including enhanced graphics, streamlined code, and redesigned interfaces. With these enhancements, Colonization requires video cards that support Pixel Shader 1.1 (Direct X 8.0).{{cite web| last = Thorsen| first = Tor| title = Q&A: Meier on revolutionizing Colonization| date = 2008-06-13| url = http://www.gamespot.com/news/6192569.html| accessdate = 2008-06-15| archive-date = August 13, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090813214659/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6192569.html| url-status = live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|state=collapsed
| 1UP = A{{cite web| last = Chick| first = Tom| title = Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization (PC)| publisher = 1UP.com| date = September 25, 2008| url = http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=967615&popup=1| accessdate = 2008-09-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081221110732/http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=967615&popup=1| archive-date = December 21, 2008| url-status = dead}}
| G4 = 4/5{{cite web | last = Hunt | first = Jonathan | title = Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization (PC) | publisher = GameSpy | date = 2008-09-23 | url = http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1838/Sid_Meiers_Civilization_IV_Colonization.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130110225511/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1838/Sid_Meiers_Civilization_IV_Colonization.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 10, 2013 | accessdate = 2011-04-03 }}
| GSpy = 4/5{{cite web| last = Kosak| first = Dave 'Fargo'| title = Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization (PC)| publisher = GameSpy| date = 2008-10-02| url = http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/civilization-game-untitled/915896p1.html| accessdate = 2011-04-03| archive-date = December 24, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081224004823/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/civilization-game-untitled/915896p1.html| url-status = live}}
| GSpot = 80{{cite web| last =Watters| first =Chris| title =Civ IV: Colonization Review| publisher =GameSpot| date =2008-10-03| url =http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/review.html| accessdate =2008-10-04| archive-date =2008-12-01| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081201093912/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeierscivilizationivcolonization/review.html| url-status =dead}}
}}
The single victory condition – declaring and winning a war for independence – has been both criticized and accepted{{cite web|quote=[this winning condition] should appeal to strategy gamers who are unhappy with the less structured victory paths in Civilization IV|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/26/sid-meiers-civilization-iv-colonization-review|title=Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization Review|first=Steve|last=Butts|date=26 September 2008|publisher=IGN|access-date=September 26, 2013|archive-date=July 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723042131/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/26/sid-meiers-civilization-iv-colonization-review|url-status=live}} by reviewers. Another criticism of the game is that it only has four playable colonial powers. The exclusion of Europe's other prominent colonial powers has been called a "limiting" factor in the game.
Variety video games reporter and reviews editor Ben Fritz criticized the concept of the game in his blog because of issues such as the depopulation of Indigenous Americans and the Atlantic slave trade that occurred during European and American colonization.{{cite news| title =Civilization IV: Colonization... Wow that looks offensive| date =2008-06-25| url =http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/06/civilization-iv.html| accessdate =2008-09-10| work =Variety| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080627220501/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/06/civilization-iv.html| archive-date =2008-06-27| url-status =dead}}{{cite web | title = Civilization IV: Colonization Called 'Morally Disturbing' | publisher = The Escapist | date = 2008-06-27 | url = http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/84721-Civilization-IV-Colonization-Called-Morally-Disturbing | accessdate = 2008-08-18 | archive-date = July 13, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080713135405/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/84721-Civilization-IV-Colonization-Called-Morally-Disturbing | url-status = dead }}{{cite web| title = Variety Troubled By Sid Meier's Next Game| date = June 26, 2008| url = http://kotaku.com/5019849/variety-troubled-by-sid-meiers-next-game| accessdate = 2008-08-18| archive-date = October 20, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081020093321/http://kotaku.com/5019849/variety-troubled-by-sid-meiers-next-game| url-status = live}} Firaxis has responded to Fritz's blog post with the statement, "the game does not endorse any particular position or strategy – players can and should make their own moral judgments."{{cite news| title = Firaxis responds to my Colonization post | date =2008-06-27| url =http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/06/firaxis-respond.html| accessdate =2008-09-17 | work=Variety | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100930155207/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/06/firaxis-respond.html | archivedate = 2010-09-30}} Trevor Owens contributed to the conversation in an article that considers the game's usage of different, arguably problematic elements, asking "wouldn't, and shouldn't, any game about that period in the Americas be racist and offensive, if it were even remotely faithful to that time period?"{{Cite web|url=http://www.playthepast.org/?p=278|title=Sid Meier's Colonization: Is it offensive enough?|website=Play The Past|date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=2016-10-14|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207054159/http://www.playthepast.org/?p=278|url-status=live}}
{{Clear}}
See also
- FreeCol, an open source Colonization clone
Notes
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Further reading
- {{cite book | last1 = Owens | first1 = Trevor | last2 = Mir | first2 = Rebecca | editor1-first = Matthew Wilhelm | editor1-last = Kapell | editor2-first = Andrew B. R. | editor2-last = Elliott | title = Playing with the Past: Digital Games and the Simulation of History | chapter = Modeling Indigenous Peoples: Unpacking Ideology in Sid Meier's Colonization | url = http://www.trevorowens.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mir-owens-colonization-proof-2013.pdf | date = 2013 | publisher = Bloomsbury Academic | isbn = 978-1-6235-6728-6 | pages = 91–106 | doi = 10.5040/9781628928259.ch-006 | access-date = December 10, 2016 | archive-date = February 9, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170209122637/http://www.trevorowens.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mir-owens-colonization-proof-2013.pdf | url-status = dead }}
External links
- [https://2k.com/en-US/game/civilization-4-colonization/ Official website (2K Games)]
- [http://www.firaxis.com Developer's site]
{{civilization}}
{{Firaxis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Civilization 04: Colonization}}
Category:Age of Discovery video games
Category:Colonialism in popular culture
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Multiplayer hotseat games
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Category:Race-related controversies in video games
Category:Take-Two Interactive games
Category:Turn-based strategy video games
Category:Video games about the American Revolution
Category:Video games designed by Sid Meier
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Works about the Spanish American wars of independence
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