SIMphoni

We just caught up with this, as reported by GameSpot:

Maxis hiring for PC online simulation game

The Electronic Arts-owned Maxis studio will announce an action role-playing game set in the Spore universe at Comic-Con 2010 next week, but the developer is also seeking to employ an individual to work on a new online simulation game for the PC.

Might Maxis attempt to resurrect The Sims Online?

A job listing spotted by Superannuation asks for a development director for an unannounced “next-generation online simulation game” at the Maxis studio in Emeryville, California.

The rest of the article can be seen at http://www.gamespot.com/news/6269152.html?…mp;subj=6269152
The EA job listing can be seen at https://jobs.ea.com/search/view.do?id=a0z50000000IafoAAC

Gregory of Monte Cristo Games announced in a post at Simtropolis on Tuesday that Monte Cristo will be closing its doors within the week.  The license for the sale of Cities XL has been purchased by a third-party publisher, who will be identified soon.   The news was also reported Thursday at Big Download.

Empire builders at Simphoni rejoice as our member usman today found out at Gamespot that Civ5 is on its way. Firaxis released an official statement confirming the story:

Civilization V takes this definitive strategy game series in new directions with the introduction of hexagon tiles allowing for deeper strategy, more realistic gameplay and stunning organic landscapes for players to explore as they expand their empire. The brand new engine orchestrates a spectacular visual experience that brings players closer to the Civ experience than ever, featuring fully animated leaders interacting with players from a screen-filling diplomatic scene and speaking in their native language for the first time. Wars between empires feel massive as armies dominate the landscape, and combat is more exciting and intense than ever before. The addition of ranged bombardment allows players to fire weapons from behind the front lines, challenging players to develop clever new strategies to guarantee victory on the battlefield. In addition to the new gameplay features debuting in Civilization V, an extensive suite of community, modding and multiplayer elements will also make an appearance.

Definitely sounds worthy of looking forward to! The official site is in the air as well at http://www.civilization5.com/ 

Release is scheduled for this fall.

In addition to Civ5 another game was announced as well:

In addition to Civilization V, Firaxis Games is also currently developing Sid Meier’s Civilization® Network™, a Civ game for Facebook. With Sid Meier leading design, Civilization Network will offer yet another option for world domination to both the casual gamer and the biggest fan of the series. It’s another way to access the famously addictive world of Civilization.

There’s plenty of drivel to go around, so strap yourself in and (try to) enjoy the ride! This will likely be the final episode of the podcast unless there are any major developments or announcements concerning the city building genre. Rex and I discuss this in more detail during the show. This week we talk about the current status and future of the podcast, reception and development of Cities XL, the future of the city simulation game, holiday plans, personal happenings and movies.

Click here to listen to episode 30 (50.0 MB, 54:38, mp3).

If anyone has questions or comments, please feel free to post them here or send us an email to podcast@simphoni.net. This episode was produced, recorded and edited by me. It features Trixin as host and Rexer as co-host. We wish you all the very best over this holiday season and in the coming new year! Thank you all very much for tuning in and supporting the podcast over the past two years!

Our friend Dirk over at Simtropolis has reviewed CitiesXL on his blog. It’s a great and very informative read, so I encourage you to head on over and check it out. One spoiler: Dirk’s final verdict is 7.5 out of 10

Our friend Dirk from Simtropolis virtually sat down with the folks from Monte Cristo for an interview on CXL. Some very interesting information there, so head on over to check it out!

We have jus been informed by Mathew_MC, Community Manager for Monte Cristo Games for the English forums, that a Cities XL Demo is now available. So all of you who have been waiting for the game for so long the time has finally come to feast your eyes!

Features of the demo include:

• Create a city of up to 22 000 citizens on a persistent planet (the full version of the game lets you create megalopolises of millions of citizens)
• Build your city on one of the 3 available maps (the full version of the game will include 25 maps for solo mode and 50 for the Planet Offer)
• Visit Capital City, a small and nice town that offers an example of what can be created with Cities XL
• Discuss and trade resources with other players
• Write your own City Journal
• Start a new city as often as you wish for the duration of the demo trial!

Go on over, download, install, and let us know what you think!

Our friends over at Sporedum have posted an editorial on the Spore Galactic Adventures expansion pack. Although Ball Lightning refrains from answering the question whether Spore Galactic Adventures succeeded or failed in fixing some of the flaws that came with the original Spore game, he brings up some interesting points. So head on over, and check it out!

This is the last regular episode for awhile, thus giving Rex and Dave an excuse to trash the show by insulting entire nations and doing poor impersonations of Arnold Schwarzenegger. This week we talk about feedback regarding the previous episode of the show, North American release of Cities XL, Spore updates, previews of The Sims 3 World Adventures, economics and movies.

Click here to listen to episode 29 (42.1 MB, 45:58, mp3).

New to the SIMphoni Podcast? Click here to listen to the promo and some clips from previous episodes of the podcast (4.1 MB, 4:26, mp3).

If anyone has questions or comments, please feel free to post them here or send us an email to podcast@simphoni.net. This episode was produced, recorded and edited by me. It features Trixin as host, Rexer as co-host and Dave the Hokie as our guest. Enjoy and stay tuned for future shows with Philippe DaSilva, airing in September!

Two weeks after the former, a new Cities XL video has been released. The official CXL site states:

This week, our new video focuses on some of the architectural wonders that you can add to your city to make it more attractive for new citizens, as well as the different resources needed to achieve this goal

The new video can be found at Gametrailers.com