34 years ago, the game series "Civilization", or "Civ" as it is commonly known, was born. A game where a whole new world lies at the player's feet. What opportunities are available, and who is an enemy or friend, looks different every time.
It's simply a magical formula that has been with us since the beginning, and it has always been something that attracts people back and makes them play again and again, says Ed Beach, creative director for the upcoming "Civ VII".
"Felt full"
The predecessor was released in 2016 and was updated with new material until 2023.
It was the same with both "Civ V" and "Civ VI", we reached a point where both titles felt very full, he says and continues.
We didn't want to add another layer of complexity that could scare people off.
"Just one more round" is a phenomenon that affects everyone who gets hooked on the turn-based world-building series. But the fact is that not even half of the players ever complete a "campaign" – that is, play through a full round.
Many get tired because they either become too powerful or never catch up with their opponents. Others start over because they think the beginning is the most fun.
But that's not the whole truth.
A round towards the end of the game takes too long. We had to fix that, says Beach.
Three ages
One goal was to remove time-consuming and meaningless micromanaging and focus on strategy and important decisions.
The solution was to divide the game into three clear ages, which can be seen as acts with a clear beginning, middle, and end. There should be something new and exciting in each.
We wanted to give players a new opportunity in each age. If it went badly in one, then you get a new chance in the next. That mindset affected many design discussions, says Dennis Shirk, producer.
Game journalists and testers seem positive about the changes, according to him.
It's not just about making it feel meaningful to click "next round", but it's also entirely new toys to play with. But we'll see, we're really eager to see how it turns out, says Shirk.
"Civilization" ("Civ") is one of the most long-lived series in the gaming world. The original version was released in 1991, followed by "Civ II" in 1996 and numbered sequels in 2001, 2005, 2010, and 2016.
"Civilization" is a strategy game of the 4X type, which stands for explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. It's about building a powerful modern empire from a single ancient city, in competition with other civilizations.
The game series has previously been criticized for its lighthearted view of historical events, exploitation, and colonization. In recent years, Firaxis has worked consciously, including partnerships to make more accurate representations of different cultures.
In "Civ VII" – which will be released on PC, Mac, Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox One/Series on February 11 – the nation that is culturally, economically, militarily, or scientifically superior to its competitors wins.
