For years we have kept Kotaku tower a closely guarded secret. However, today we revealed our rendition of it. Wouldn't it be nice to build a Kotaku colony? We could have little Crecentes and Faheys running around. This of course brings us to this new Sid Meir's Civilization IV Colonization Trailer. In the video we get a look at the time periods that the new game will focus on. I was too young to appreciate Sid Meier's Colonization back in '94, but this time it seems he's bringing the concept to a new generation. Expect it in stores later this year.

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The August '08 Blogs of the Round Table is up, with the subject being what positive lessons writers have learned from video games. It's a diverse crop as usual, and Chris Bateman at Only a Game looks at what he learned by not playing a game: Civilization in this case, or any Sid Meier game, for that matter. And what did Bateman learn from not playing? Well, a few lessons on the audience for games in general:

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I've been keeping my eye on the "Stephen M. Cabrinety Collection" blog, which is a blog corollary to part of Stanford University's archive of gaming-related materials — while there are only a handful of posts, there are some interesting looks back at some more obscure bits of gaming history. The latest is the first part of a look back at the origins of Sierra — back when it was 'On-Line Systems.' While Eric Kaltman notes that he didn't have any of the original titles physically on hand, he did have "the first issue of the "On-Line Letter", a newsletter celebrating the first anniversary of On-Line Systems". Included are plenty of high-res pictures, though not all the interesting stuff is included:

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Do we have too many strategists (or at least, strategy fans) in the game design kitchen? Chris Bateman seems to think so — and that may account for the idea that 'a game is a series of interesting decisions' (well, that and a misquote from Sid Meier). 'Game' doesn't (and shouldn't) just mean 'strategy game,' but that's often how it gets used:

I believe the videogames industry has an ongoing problem, in that a large proportion of the people who influence the game design process prefer Strategic play to other kinds of play. But as the audience for games has exploded into the mass market, strategy games (and other forms of Strategic play, such as adventure games) have become niche titles, with even the most popular titles selling no more than a few million units at most, while games with a wider appeal can rack up more than ten million units (as Dr Kawashima's Brain Training, GTA: San Andreas, Guitar Hero and The Sims all demonstrate in wildly different ways).

A good strategy game may well be a series of interesting decisions - but a good game is something that meets the play needs of its audience. If you want to make games for the new videogames market, you'd better start striving to understand just what those diverse play needs might involve.

Certainly, plenty of games are a series of interesting decisions, but as Bateman points out, it doesn't mean all games are, and many super-successful games don't fit the paradigm.

A Game Isn't a Series of Interesting Decisions [Only a Game]

Sid Meier, how can you still be making games about colonisation?

Variety reporter Ben Fritz knows that Sid Meier made a Colonization game back in the day. And he knows that the new one, the upcoming Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization, won't quite force you to sail to a new land so you can kill all the natives and screw them with the exchange rate.

But he's troubled. He's spent a good amount of time on his blog to show that he's thought this through. Colonization was and is racist and appalling, he states. He doesn't call for a ban. He's a First Amendment guy. But he does call for a reaction.

Goddamit, am I the only one who think it's morally disturbing to make a game that celebrates COLONIZATION?

Bonus reader challenge: Reply to this post, pro or con, without using the old conversation-stopper: "It's just a game".

Civilisation IV: Colonization... Wow that looks offensive [Variety's The Cut Scene Blog]

Sid Meier's not giving up on the Wii. In a recent interview with GameDaily, he said he and Firaxis think the Wii is "a fantastic platform, and have no intentions of turning our backs on it!"

He wouldn't confirm, of course, any plans for a Wii version of Civilisation Revolution but his positive response should be encouraging, at least, to Civ fans.

He was also asked about the possibility of a Civ MMO:

I'm exploring lots of exciting ideas right now. A Civ MMO is a really intriguing idea and we're spending time thinking about how we could make it the fun addictive experience Civ players expect. Beyond that I have some new ideas that are quite different from games I've made in the past - and that's all I'm able to tell you right now. Stand by for more information in the near future!

10 Questions: Firaxis' Sid Meier [GameDaily]

Firaxis is currently at work on Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization, a standalone for Windows PC, Take-Two announced today.

It'll be available in Fall 08, and the announcement says the 1994 title is being rebuilt from the ground up to take advantage of the Civ IV engine, adding new graphics, interface and features.

You still lead one of four European countries in conquering the New World, dealing with natives and the other nations and all that wonderfully bloody business. Here's hoping for smallpox blankets? Full release and screens after the jump!

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Does an entry in the Guinness World Records count as an award? If so, chalk up another one for Sid Meier, who has just entered the 2008 Gamer's Edition of that prestigious publication as the game industry's most award-winning creator. Among his many achievements are numerous awards for the Civilization series, induction into the Computer Museum of America's and Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' Halls of Fame, and a commemorative star on the Walk of Game. How does it feel?

"I'm fortunate to be able to do what I love and am grateful for all of the wonderful recognition I've received over the years," said Sid Meier. "It is every kid's dream to make it into the Guinness World Records and I'm thrilled to be a part of the prestigious book. I'm thankful to the many game critics who have enjoyed our games and hope they are as excited about our upcoming Civilization Revolution title as I am."

And there, my friends, is why great men are great. They are never too proud to slip in a little marketing. Go read some more marketing in the official press release, while I apply some watercolour Photoshop filter love to this great, great man.

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The New York Comic Con might as well be called the New York Video Game Con - Now With Comics for all of the gaming goodness that's going on over the weekend. Various publishers and developers will be on hand to show off their wares, most notably the living legend himself, Mr. Sid Meier. Sid will be at the 2K Games Booth (#1157) on Saturday, April 19, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, to meet fans, sign autographs, and just generally be Sidly. 2K will be showing off Civilization Revolutions throughout the entire weekend, though you might want to stop by early to get your hands on one of the limited edition prints created in collaboration with Studio Number-One and Shepard Fairey they'll have available. Seriously, I would seriously maim someone if it meant I could be there this weekend, so those of you with the means owe it to me to go in my stead. Off with you!

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Sid Meier's world building game Civilization is returning soon with a new title, Civilization: Revolution. CR is the first of the Civ franchise to be presented on now-gen consoles and it sports some fancy new graphics, closer cameras, new character models and more detailed maps and battles. After my time with the multiplayer mode a few weeks back, I'm really looking forward to checking it our when it hits on June 3.

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