Civilization V Announced

You know, I'm not much of a gamer. I have a few game reviews under my belt already here, but it doesn't quite reflect how I actually use most of my free time. Before I got my DS at Christmas I had never owned any gaming platform other than my trusty PC. Game releases drift by while I take little or no concern, like oncoming traffic. And when I hear my friends talk about gaming most of it's as incomprehensible to me as human emotion.

And then this happened:

We are not worthy! We are not worthy!

Civilization V was announced earlier in the month. The most terrible part about this is how difficult it's now become to hold onto my fanboyishness. Its predecessor, Civilization IV may just be one of the best PC games ever released, and its expansions improved that winning format by enormous amounts. I'd go as far as to say that Beyond the Sword is the most extensive expansion pack I've seen for a mainstream PC game. Add to that one of the largest modding communities in the world and you have a winner.

But now five years have passed, and now that I have a PC that can actually run Civ4 all the way through without struggling, it's time to entirely shit over my technological investment. There are only a handful of in-game images so far, but even at this early stage they look so utterly beautiful that I fear my computer may involuntarily shut down out of sheer awe. And possibly insufficient memory too.

I'm going to need some fresh pants.

Of course, the great thing about a series this well established is getting to guess what's going to change. As you can see, Civ5 offers a hex grid, which affords more natural landscapes and more accurate measurement of distances, instead of the conventional square grid. Early reports also speak of a completely new combat system and a diplomatic model that might make talking to other leaders a remotely appealing prospect.

You still can't convince him to save the British children.

Of course, the community's also generally hoping that they'll leave in the extensive modding capabilities that's kept people coming back to Civ4 again and again. I'll go one step further: I hope that they'll take time to look at what the modding community most focuses on, and ensure that most of the biggest headaches involved are greatly streamlined.

And what else? Well of course, every Civilization fan has different priorities and interests. There are many who believe Civ4 was actually a low point in the series and would just like to see most of it undone. However, I have simple wants. I'm just hoping for unique art for every civ, better civic options, unique units and buildings throughout the entire game, and truly round worlds. We'll see what we'll actually get.