Welcome to Strategy Week, Mac gamers! All week we’re going to be discussing various strategy games and the aspects that make them great. Since it’s Monday, you know of course that means it’s time to focus on the music. We’ve previously discussed the incredible music of Civilization IV on Music Monday, and while there’s no Yo-Yo Ma or award-winning songs like “Baba Yetu,” the soundtrack to Civilization V is as equally rich, complex, and satisfying as that of its predecessor. Listen to the entire soundtrack here, presented as an embedded YouTube playlist, 35 tracks longs.
So you’ve taken the plunge into the immersive world of Civilization V via the Mac App Store. You’re enjoying the game immensely, but you’ve read about some really cool add-on content like the Gods and Kings expansion that incorporates religion and espionage into the core gameplay. But just how do you get this content into your game? Instead of purchasing a separate app or piece of content like on Steam, additional content in the Mac App Store is known as “In-App Purchases.” This means you buy the additional content within the game itself. How to do this isn’t always apparent, so we’ve provided a basic, visual tutorial on how to obtain that sweet content.
More Civilization V incoming! Today Firaxis and 2K announced a new, upcoming expansion for Civilization V titled “Brave New World,” due out later this summer. To follow up, Aspyr Media has confirmed that the expansion will also be coming to the Mac this summer, though a specific release date hasn’t yet been announced for the Mac version.
Here’s a brief description:
Sid Meier’s Civilization® V: Brave New World is the second expansion pack for Civilization V – the critically acclaimed 2010 PC Game of the Year. This new expansion provides enhanced depth and replayability through the introduction of international trade and a focus on culture and diplomacy. Your influence around the world will be impacted by creating Great Works, choosing an ideology for your people and proposing global resolutions in the World Congress. As you move through the ages of history you will make critical decisions that will impact your relationship with other civilizations.
You can learn more about the expansion over at the Aspyr.com product page. Additionally, you can sign up for the Aspyr newsletter to stay updated on the latest Civilization Mac news.
We’ll be posting additional information on the game here on the GameAgent blog, too, including an official FAQ, as the game’s launch gets closer.
What do you think? Who’s excited for more Civilization?
You may have said to yourself, “Gee GameAgent, I wish there was an awesome collection that brought together the extensive amount of Civ V content all in one neat bundle.” Your wishes become realtiy strategy fans. There’s a new Civilization V collection in town, and its name is Gold.
Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gold Edition is now be available for both PC and Mac users, and it provides the most comprehensive Civilization V experience yet. We know you probably have some questions, so we’ve put together another one of our informative FAQs.
Look below for the info you seek, and leave a question in the comments for anything that’s not covered! (more…)
Happy new year, indeed!
Aspyr Media has launched a new promo in which all of the games they released (and re-released) in 2012 are 25% off. The promo is set to last through January 23 and is active at the GameAgent Store, Mac App Store, and other participating online retailers. Here’s the full list of titles on sale:
EA has released a video of the intro for the highly anticipated SimCity game.
Blizzard released a video teaser for their ‘Thunder King’ content for World of WarCraft. (more…)
Today Aspyr released the latest patch for Sid Meier’s Civilization V. The patch brings Civilization V up to version 1.0.2.21 and back in sync with the PC version.
What does that mean, exactly? It means Mac players can stomp all over their PC counterparts in cross-platform multiplayer again! There are also a TON of changes and updates that come with the patch. The full patch notes can be found below after the jump.
These changes will be reflected on the multiplayer status list from the Special Report: The Multiplayer Battle Between Steam and the Mac App Store post. (Check it out for a detailed look at the challenges of bringing multiplayer to Mac games!)
Update: Please note that this update is for the Steam version of Civilization V only. Civilization V: Campaign Edition on the Mac App Store will be receiving the same update later this year.
Ever wonder why AAA Mac App games often come with more limited multiplayer functionality? Or why it takes so long to release updates for your favorite Mac game? Wonder no more. Aspyr Media’s Vice President of Publishing Elizabeth Howard has recently published an incredibly informative and entertaining report, exclusive to the GameAgent Blog, on the complexities and challenges of offering multiplayer on the Mac. Below is the opening excerpt to whet your appetite. You can check out the rest of the piece by clicking the link that follows.
“Can I play this game with my friends?” It’s a seemingly simple question that is asked by the majority of Mac gamers; unfortunately, getting to a simple “yes” or “no” (or “maybe”) answer is more often than not a much more complex process. In fact, multiplayer gaming can be a confusing landscape on the Mac, with each product often offering a slightly different take. We wanted to take the opportunity to explain the development challenges when supporting multiplayer gaming on the Mac in hopes this helps our audience better understand the decisions and processes that go into providing a Mac multiplayer experience; this will hopefully in turn help you make an educated decision when purchasing games on the Mac. There are lots of nuances for each platform, game and the parties involved, but the below gives a basic overview of the realities in multiplayer Mac gaming.
Tuesday has arrived, which always means a Tuesday’s 20% deal! If you’ve been holding out to grab Gods and Kings, the amazing expansion to Civilization V that came out this summer, now’s your chance! Usually retailing for $29.99, for one day only you can get this incredible expansion for $23.99!
