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Terraforming Mars Coming Soon to Early Access, Then Mobile
It's been at least three hours since we've heard news from Asmodee Digital, so we're overdue. Earlier this week they sent us an update about a little game you might have heard of, Terraforming Mars. Turns out our board game overlords have been working on this title from Stronghold Games and are, finally, ready to spill some much overdue beans.
First of all, the game should be arriving on Steam Early Access for PC next month. That's May for those of you without a calendar. It will be prodded and tweaked over the next month or so with full release for PC, iOS, and Android expected in Q2 of this year. That means it should be out in full release by the end of June.
Sounds like they have all the bases covered. If you want to see Terraforming Mars in action, check out this Twitch stream where they demo the game (and it looks fabulous).
We'll keep an eye out for the Early Access release and let you know as soon as it goes live (or as soon as I wake up after it goes live).
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Fire & Ice Expansion Arrives for Terra Mystica
You might think that Digidiced UG is spending all their resources in the effort to get their port of Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King out the door, but you'd be WRONG! I know this because, this week, Digidiced released the fairly large Terra Mystica: Fire & Ice expansion for Terra Mystica and, somehow, the game just became more complicated.
Terra Mystica is one of those games that I've played on the tabletop a few times and enjoyed it. I understand the rules, but have no idea what to focus on strategically i]we can say this about Dave in about 98% of games listed on BGG -ed.[/i or any way to actually win the game. The digital port doesn't help, as there's so much to take in it can be overwhelming. It starts it's climb up Brain Burn Mountain at the beginning while picking your faction. The original game has 14 to choose from, each with small differences that made big differences when they hit the board. The Fire & Ice expansion adds 6 new ones, just in case you thought you may have started to wrap your head around the initial crew.
That's not all, though. There's also two new terrain tiles to contend with, not to mention two new maps. WITH HEXES! i]We know all the maps have hexes. Dave is just easily confused by hexes. -ed.[/i
The folks at Digidiced have hinted at the long-awaited Hard AI would be coming in an upcoming update as well, but that doesn't seem to be the case with this update, as we still only have the few Easy and one Medium AI to lose repeatedly to. I really, really hope they release that Hard AI soon so I know I don't have a chance of winning a game before it even begins!
The expansion is $5 via IAP on iOS and Android, but comes included for free in the Steam version. Well, kind of. You're already paying $5 more for the game on PC/Mac/Linux, so we're really all equal.
If you're not interested in buying the expansion, you can still update your app and enjoy the lovely(?) new icon.
- Terra Mystica for iOS Universal, $10
- Terra Mystica for Android, $10
- Terra Mystica for PC/Mac/Linux via Steam, $15
Civilization VI for iPad Adds Australian Civ and Scenario Pack
Civilization VI on my iPad is the greatest since the birth of my children. Actually, Civ VI is cheaper and talks back less than my kids, so it's a real toss-up.
One of the downsides of the incredible iPad port was that it lagged behind its big-screen kin by several huge content updates. Considering that the latest major update to Civ brought a full expansion, Civilization VI: Rise and Fall, to the Steam version and the iPad version was still crowing about Vikings felt a bit weak. Would Aspyr Media, Inc. stick with mobile Civ and keep adding content? Will we ever catch up to Civ VI Prime? Will I stop asking questions that only people at Aspyr can answer? I think it's safe to say no one knows the answers to any of those questions. i]except the people at Aspyr that you just mentioned? I'm afraid Dave might have fallen and hit his head over the past week and not told me about it. -ed.[/i
It's starting to appear that Aspyr is fully on-board with supporting the mobile version as, yesterday, a new civ and scenario pack was released in a major update and can be purchased for real money via IAP. That civ is Australia, complete with Sissi, schnitzel, and the statue lined streets of Vienna. i]Hold on, I need to take Dave to get a CAT scan. We'll be back in an hour. Why don't you read this wonderful blurb until we get back. -ed.[/i
[q="Firaxis Games, Inc."]John Curtin leads Australia in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI! Australia grows and thrives in territory, where other civs would have difficulty, by getting full Housing from coastal starts. Their districts get improved yields when built in attractive terrain. John Curtin provides bonus production to Australia when they have been the target of a declaration of war, or have liberated a city. This pack also includes the new “Outback Tycoon” scenario: can you accumulate your fortune by striking gold, creating massive herds of livestock, or by preserving this land's natural beauty for future generations?
Includes the Australian civilization with John Curtin, the Digger unique unit, Outback Station unique improvement and a new Natural Wonder:
Civ Unique Ability: Australian coastal cities always receive extra Housing. Pastures also trigger the Culture Bomb effect, grabbing adjacent tiles from other civs and City-States. Yields from Campuses, Commercial Hubs, Holy Sites and Theater Squares are enhanced in attractive terrain.
Leader Unique Ability: John Curtin’s unique ability is called “Citadel of Civilization.” Australia gets bonus production at the start of a Defensive War, and when it liberates a city.
Unique Unit: Australia’s unique unit is the Digger, which gets bonuses to combat on land tiles adjacent to water and when fighting outside their territory.
Unique Infrastructure: The Outback Station is a tile improvement that unlocks with the Guilds civic, and can be upgraded with Steam Power and Rapid Deployment. It provides food and production, with bonus food for adjacent Pastures.
New “Outback Tycoon” Scenario:
This uniquely economic-focused Scenario has you take control of one of four Colony Governments as you compete to explore and develop the natural beauty and wealth of Australia.
Includes unique units and gameplay effects, with no combat between players.
60 turn limit.
New Uluru Natural Wonder:
This desert wonder provides bonus Faith and Culture to adjacent tiles.
The new expansion will run you $5 via IAP, but if you've been holding out because of the steep entry requirements (it normally costs $60 to unlock the full game), you should know that it's currently 50% off, so you can get the base game for only $30, which is a pretty good deal for such a great port.
- Civilization VI for iPad, free (unlocks via $30 IAP)
- Civilization VI for PC/Mac/Linux via Steam, $60
Youtube Video
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Original Board Game, Sumer, Coming to Nintendo Switch
You might think a game called Sumer would be about laying in the grass under the canopy of a shady oak or, maybe, taking a dip into the local creek, cooling off as the sun climbs high overhead. I'd even take a game about drinking lemonade on the porch or swatting mosquitoes, but the creators of the upcoming digital board game Sumer have instead created a game about building ziggurats. Weird.
Maybe you can only build them in the Summer? Oh, wait, I see what I did. Should I rewrite it? Too lazy, but you knew that already. Okay, lets talk about some ancient homo sapiens namely, the Sumerians.
The board game Sumer is from developer Studio Wumpus and pits you as Sumerian nobles building ziggurats and placing workers in ancient Mesopotamia. Yep, it's a worker placement game, but it also involves...oh, why are we bothering. Here's the blurb:
Oh, no. It involves outsmarting your way to victory. Another game in which I have very little chance of winning.
Sumer is incoming for the Nintendo Switch, which is a platform whose library has yet to feature a bevy of tabletop-style games. So, let's hope it does well and more tabletop ports make their way to the House That Mario Built.
More blurbage!
You can play Sumer right now on PC and Mac via Steam Early Access and is available on Switch as of yesterday. Try it and let us know what you think in the comments. This will help us continue our slothful ways by not having to pen a review. Thanks!
- Sumer for PC/Mac via Steam Early Access, $15
- Sumer for Switch, $15
Youtube Video
[hr]
Terraforming Mars Coming Soon to Early Access, Then Mobile
It's been at least three hours since we've heard news from Asmodee Digital, so we're overdue. Earlier this week they sent us an update about a little game you might have heard of, Terraforming Mars. Turns out our board game overlords have been working on this title from Stronghold Games and are, finally, ready to spill some much overdue beans.
First of all, the game should be arriving on Steam Early Access for PC next month. That's May for those of you without a calendar. It will be prodded and tweaked over the next month or so with full release for PC, iOS, and Android expected in Q2 of this year. That means it should be out in full release by the end of June.
Asmodee wrote:
Players can compete across several game modes including two unique single-player modes where the player can play solo (just like the board game) or against AI controlled opponents, pass-and-play local multiplayer, and +online multiplayer in intense turn-based strategic gameplay.
Sounds like they have all the bases covered. If you want to see Terraforming Mars in action, check out this Twitch stream where they demo the game (and it looks fabulous).
We'll keep an eye out for the Early Access release and let you know as soon as it goes live (or as soon as I wake up after it goes live).
Fire & Ice Expansion Arrives for Terra Mystica
You might think that Digidiced UG is spending all their resources in the effort to get their port of Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King out the door, but you'd be WRONG! I know this because, this week, Digidiced released the fairly large Terra Mystica: Fire & Ice expansion for Terra Mystica and, somehow, the game just became more complicated.
Terra Mystica is one of those games that I've played on the tabletop a few times and enjoyed it. I understand the rules, but have no idea what to focus on strategically i]we can say this about Dave in about 98% of games listed on BGG -ed.[/i or any way to actually win the game. The digital port doesn't help, as there's so much to take in it can be overwhelming. It starts it's climb up Brain Burn Mountain at the beginning while picking your faction. The original game has 14 to choose from, each with small differences that made big differences when they hit the board. The Fire & Ice expansion adds 6 new ones, just in case you thought you may have started to wrap your head around the initial crew.
That's not all, though. There's also two new terrain tiles to contend with, not to mention two new maps. WITH HEXES! i]We know all the maps have hexes. Dave is just easily confused by hexes. -ed.[/i
The folks at Digidiced have hinted at the long-awaited Hard AI would be coming in an upcoming update as well, but that doesn't seem to be the case with this update, as we still only have the few Easy and one Medium AI to lose repeatedly to. I really, really hope they release that Hard AI soon so I know I don't have a chance of winning a game before it even begins!
The expansion is $5 via IAP on iOS and Android, but comes included for free in the Steam version. Well, kind of. You're already paying $5 more for the game on PC/Mac/Linux, so we're really all equal.
If you're not interested in buying the expansion, you can still update your app and enjoy the lovely(?) new icon.
- Terra Mystica for iOS Universal, $10
- Terra Mystica for Android, $10
- Terra Mystica for PC/Mac/Linux via Steam, $15
Civilization VI for iPad Adds Australian Civ and Scenario Pack
Civilization VI on my iPad is the greatest since the birth of my children. Actually, Civ VI is cheaper and talks back less than my kids, so it's a real toss-up.
One of the downsides of the incredible iPad port was that it lagged behind its big-screen kin by several huge content updates. Considering that the latest major update to Civ brought a full expansion, Civilization VI: Rise and Fall, to the Steam version and the iPad version was still crowing about Vikings felt a bit weak. Would Aspyr Media, Inc. stick with mobile Civ and keep adding content? Will we ever catch up to Civ VI Prime? Will I stop asking questions that only people at Aspyr can answer? I think it's safe to say no one knows the answers to any of those questions. i]except the people at Aspyr that you just mentioned? I'm afraid Dave might have fallen and hit his head over the past week and not told me about it. -ed.[/i
It's starting to appear that Aspyr is fully on-board with supporting the mobile version as, yesterday, a new civ and scenario pack was released in a major update and can be purchased for real money via IAP. That civ is Australia, complete with Sissi, schnitzel, and the statue lined streets of Vienna. i]Hold on, I need to take Dave to get a CAT scan. We'll be back in an hour. Why don't you read this wonderful blurb until we get back. -ed.[/i
[q="Firaxis Games, Inc."]John Curtin leads Australia in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI! Australia grows and thrives in territory, where other civs would have difficulty, by getting full Housing from coastal starts. Their districts get improved yields when built in attractive terrain. John Curtin provides bonus production to Australia when they have been the target of a declaration of war, or have liberated a city. This pack also includes the new “Outback Tycoon” scenario: can you accumulate your fortune by striking gold, creating massive herds of livestock, or by preserving this land's natural beauty for future generations?
Includes the Australian civilization with John Curtin, the Digger unique unit, Outback Station unique improvement and a new Natural Wonder:
Civ Unique Ability: Australian coastal cities always receive extra Housing. Pastures also trigger the Culture Bomb effect, grabbing adjacent tiles from other civs and City-States. Yields from Campuses, Commercial Hubs, Holy Sites and Theater Squares are enhanced in attractive terrain.
Leader Unique Ability: John Curtin’s unique ability is called “Citadel of Civilization.” Australia gets bonus production at the start of a Defensive War, and when it liberates a city.
Unique Unit: Australia’s unique unit is the Digger, which gets bonuses to combat on land tiles adjacent to water and when fighting outside their territory.
Unique Infrastructure: The Outback Station is a tile improvement that unlocks with the Guilds civic, and can be upgraded with Steam Power and Rapid Deployment. It provides food and production, with bonus food for adjacent Pastures.
New “Outback Tycoon” Scenario:
This uniquely economic-focused Scenario has you take control of one of four Colony Governments as you compete to explore and develop the natural beauty and wealth of Australia.
Includes unique units and gameplay effects, with no combat between players.
60 turn limit.
New Uluru Natural Wonder:
This desert wonder provides bonus Faith and Culture to adjacent tiles.
The new expansion will run you $5 via IAP, but if you've been holding out because of the steep entry requirements (it normally costs $60 to unlock the full game), you should know that it's currently 50% off, so you can get the base game for only $30, which is a pretty good deal for such a great port.
- Civilization VI for iPad, free (unlocks via $30 IAP)
- Civilization VI for PC/Mac/Linux via Steam, $60
Youtube Video
Original Board Game, Sumer, Coming to Nintendo Switch
You might think a game called Sumer would be about laying in the grass under the canopy of a shady oak or, maybe, taking a dip into the local creek, cooling off as the sun climbs high overhead. I'd even take a game about drinking lemonade on the porch or swatting mosquitoes, but the creators of the upcoming digital board game Sumer have instead created a game about building ziggurats. Weird.
Maybe you can only build them in the Summer? Oh, wait, I see what I did. Should I rewrite it? Too lazy, but you knew that already. Okay, lets talk about some ancient homo sapiens namely, the Sumerians.
The board game Sumer is from developer Studio Wumpus and pits you as Sumerian nobles building ziggurats and placing workers in ancient Mesopotamia. Yep, it's a worker placement game, but it also involves...oh, why are we bothering. Here's the blurb:
Studio Wumpus wrote:
Play as Sumerian nobles vying for the affection of the great goddess Inanna. Harvest barley, bid goats at auction, and perform ritual offerings to earn her favor and the right to rule by her side!
In Sumer, you’ll build up a mighty ziggurat and explore a mysterious culture at the dawn of civilization. Beautiful art and atmospheric music bring an ancient Mesopotamian mural to life in this worker placement board game / action game hybrid for up to four players.
A digital board game inspired by M.U.L.E. and the Epic of Gilgamesh. Race across the ziggurat to harvest barley, herd goats, and sacrifice to the great goddess Inanna.
Sumer introduces the elegance of modern European board game design to the world of digital games. Its unique mix of turn-based and real-time gameplay creates a tense, cyclical rhythm where players must plan, execute, and adapt in order to achieve victory.
The game is divided into two phases: the Harvest phase and the Auction phase. During the Harvest phase assign your workers to prepare offerings for the gods. Jump up and down the face of a ziggurat to gather resources, then bring them to the altars and sacrifice them for the gods’ Favor. Collect goats, then offer them in the auction to bid on valuable blessings like extra workers, new buildings, or influence-spreading statues. Outbid, outproduce, and outsmart your way to victory!
In Sumer, you’ll build up a mighty ziggurat and explore a mysterious culture at the dawn of civilization. Beautiful art and atmospheric music bring an ancient Mesopotamian mural to life in this worker placement board game / action game hybrid for up to four players.
A digital board game inspired by M.U.L.E. and the Epic of Gilgamesh. Race across the ziggurat to harvest barley, herd goats, and sacrifice to the great goddess Inanna.
Sumer introduces the elegance of modern European board game design to the world of digital games. Its unique mix of turn-based and real-time gameplay creates a tense, cyclical rhythm where players must plan, execute, and adapt in order to achieve victory.
The game is divided into two phases: the Harvest phase and the Auction phase. During the Harvest phase assign your workers to prepare offerings for the gods. Jump up and down the face of a ziggurat to gather resources, then bring them to the altars and sacrifice them for the gods’ Favor. Collect goats, then offer them in the auction to bid on valuable blessings like extra workers, new buildings, or influence-spreading statues. Outbid, outproduce, and outsmart your way to victory!
Oh, no. It involves outsmarting your way to victory. Another game in which I have very little chance of winning.
Sumer is incoming for the Nintendo Switch, which is a platform whose library has yet to feature a bevy of tabletop-style games. So, let's hope it does well and more tabletop ports make their way to the House That Mario Built.
More blurbage!
Studio Wumpus wrote:
-3 game modes - Intro for learning, Short for a quick fix, and Full for the deepest experience!
-1-4 players - Play local with up to 4 players. Master playing solo or try to beat three of your friends.
-Devious AI - A variety of personalities and skill levels raning from newbie-friendly to utterly devious.
-Infinitely replayable - A randomized board set up and a huge variety of different auction items make each playthrough a unique strategic experience.
-A new type of game - Sumer’s mix of board game strategy and video game action has never been seen before.
-Nuanced strategies - There is no single key to winning. Being quick on your feet and making smart long-term investments are both crucial to victory.
-Sumerian culture - We’ve worked with professional historians to bring you the ancient civilization that invented writing, beer, and board games.
-Ancient sounds - Enhance your trip to ancient Mesopotamia with voice acting in the long-lost Sumerian language and the evocative soundtrack by Neil Quillen.
-Customize your gameplay - Play the way you want by turning on variants like Big Head mode and Hidden Auction Items.
-Support for mouse, keyboard, and controllers - Mouse and keyboard players are separate, so 2 players can play even if you don’t own a controller!
-1-4 players - Play local with up to 4 players. Master playing solo or try to beat three of your friends.
-Devious AI - A variety of personalities and skill levels raning from newbie-friendly to utterly devious.
-Infinitely replayable - A randomized board set up and a huge variety of different auction items make each playthrough a unique strategic experience.
-A new type of game - Sumer’s mix of board game strategy and video game action has never been seen before.
-Nuanced strategies - There is no single key to winning. Being quick on your feet and making smart long-term investments are both crucial to victory.
-Sumerian culture - We’ve worked with professional historians to bring you the ancient civilization that invented writing, beer, and board games.
-Ancient sounds - Enhance your trip to ancient Mesopotamia with voice acting in the long-lost Sumerian language and the evocative soundtrack by Neil Quillen.
-Customize your gameplay - Play the way you want by turning on variants like Big Head mode and Hidden Auction Items.
-Support for mouse, keyboard, and controllers - Mouse and keyboard players are separate, so 2 players can play even if you don’t own a controller!
You can play Sumer right now on PC and Mac via Steam Early Access and is available on Switch as of yesterday. Try it and let us know what you think in the comments. This will help us continue our slothful ways by not having to pen a review. Thanks!
- Sumer for PC/Mac via Steam Early Access, $15
- Sumer for Switch, $15
Youtube Video