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Entries from March 15th, 2008

Civilization Revolution Preview

March 15th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Firaxis, Preview

The previews for the upcoming console version of Civilization are trickling in, available at all the usual places. I’ll link you to Alec Meer’s over at Eurogamer because, first, it’s the usual high quality of writing you get at that place, and, second, it answers some important questions about what’s the same and what’s different […]

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Sims 3

March 14th, 2008 · 2 Comments · CGW, Electronic Arts, Maxis

The cover story in this month’s Games for Windows is the grand unveiling of Sims 3. Writers Sean Molloy and Jeff Green seem to be very pleased with what they’ve seen, and I’m already wondering how it will run on my numerous machines. Seamless neighborhoods, a community that evolves on its own without human intervention, […]

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Annals of Rome (1986)

March 14th, 2008 · 7 Comments · Ancients, Feature:Anc, Retro, Review

Annals of Rome is usually forgotten when people talk about classic strategy games of the period. It was one part of a PSS developed trilogy called the Wargamer Series (the other two were Fire Zone and Sorceror Lord), and PSS didn’t exactly have a reputation for creating brilliant titles. Its early titles were arcade ripoffs. […]

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Legionnaire (1982)

March 12th, 2008 · 6 Comments · Ancients, Feature:Anc, Retro, Review

Any accounting of the development of ancient themes would be incomplete without Legionnaire. Though the theme was almost arbitrary, this was the first major computer game to be set in the classical world. And it was developed by Chris Crawford, once one of the most important game designers on the planet. And, fortunately for us, […]

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Starcraft II Preview

March 11th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Blizzard, Preview

Gamespy has just published Allen Rausch’s preview of the Zerg in Starcraft II. One of the key elements in the re-design of the Zerg is the understanding that the Zerg do not use “technology” as humans understand the term. Zerg build nothing nor do they truly create anything. Instead the Zerg use a sort of […]

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A History of the Ancients Game

March 10th, 2008 · 19 Comments · Ancients, Feature:Anc, Retro, Review

It should be no secret to regular readers that I am an ancient history nerd. I watch sword and sandal movies, I read scholarly monographs for fun and collect games with ancient themes. I have suggested naming my first born son Germanicus. And it is even less of a secret that I enjoy what Paradox […]

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