GDC 2010: Civilization V probably Mac-bound (eventually)

I've been working like crazy for TUAW here at GDC 2010 (and there's a lot more coverage yet to come), but I did take a little time for myself this afternoon and go see the demo that Firaxis is showing off here of this fall's Civilization V. The latest and greatest Civ is quite different from the past iterations. As you can see in the above photo, the squares have become hexes for the first time ever, units will no longer stack (I know!), and culture will grow only as you pay gold to grow it, one hex at a time. Even though I really only went to see this game because I'm such a huge fan, I did get to ask one question for you: when is this game coming out on the Mac?

The rep was noncommittal, as you might expect, but he did say that every single previous version of Civilization has eventually come to the Mac, and that Civ V would probably not be an exception. He didn't have a timeline, but given the recent arrivals in the world of Mac gaming, I'd guess that it'll be sooner rather than later. The game's not due out until fall on PC, but I'll keep an eye out for it. Here's hoping that Valve's big announcement will encourage other great game companies to hit our platform as early as they can.

View Tags

Source: http://www.civilization5.com/

Categories

Gaming Software

I've been working like crazy for TUAW here at GDC 2010 (and there's a lot more coverage yet to come), but I did take a little time for...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

16 Comments

Filter by:

jonathanla

I stopped playing Civ games on my Mac years ago since they were a a complete cluster!@#$ and constantly crashing. Since then I've just booted up Boot Camp and I've been very happy with the Windows version.

March 15 2010 at 11:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

enostrum

I wish Firaxix ported Sid Meier's Railroads! to MAC.
It is one of my favorite games and Railroad Tycoon 3 was out for Mac but not this one.
Also the new Settlers will be a good choice.

March 14 2010 at 2:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

deslock

Wake me up if this comes out on the iPad.

March 14 2010 at 10:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jouster

fontendet24: what?

March 13 2010 at 7:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

AlanH

Please can you ask them to make sure that a complete port is done this time?

We can't play most mods created for Civ4 - the most moddable Civ ever - and we are still waiting for the Civ4 SDKs from Aspyr to allow fans to do mod ports.

March 13 2010 at 1:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bernard Ramsey

Mike, thanks for the update! Civ has been my favorite game of all time...starting with version 1. @Maxwell Ash, I can't even imagine how many hours I've spent on the Civ series :) @fontendet24 I'm currently enjoying Civ Colonization and have been thinking about the iPhone version

March 13 2010 at 1:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Alex

Also abot Valve - i think we all will be surprised...
Did you noticed a strange coincidence with Valve announcement of Source in April and official start sales of Apple iPad?
....guess what will be presented on what....

March 13 2010 at 1:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

3 replies to Alex's comment

Alex

I think that such hexagonal game will be more suitable not for Mac - but for the iPhone/iPod Touch.
I have also asked Ubisoft on their forum to bring for iPhone good old game "Panzer General" - there is also only hexagonal field - but it's vertical 2D... but they're not answer - i would play such WWII game on iPhone more often than others.
THere isn't great strategy games in App Store now...

March 13 2010 at 12:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Alex's comment

Grant Buell

Check out UniWar on the App Store, it's not great but it's not bad either, and it's a hex turn-based strategy game.

March 13 2010 at 1:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

vic.healey

I agree the iPad would be an ideal platform to have some variation of Civ 5 on.

I play Civ revolution on the iPhone 3GS but it is so easy to beat on the deity setting that it gets boring very fast. I usually quit a game part way through as it is clear I will have won no matter what. I take out the other players as fast as I can and no one anticipates that.

March 13 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ramkanda

I really hope Civilization comes to the Mac (and iPad, even more) soon. Mac users are traditionally not "gamers", but I do think that casual, strategy, and adventure games are exceptions. I don't care about 1st person shooters, but these quick pick-up-and-play (that I can play during commercial breaks or when I have time on the bus) or non-time dependant games (that I can play while watching TV) are awesome.

I'm far more likely to play this on an iPad than a Mac, by the way.

March 13 2010 at 12:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to ramkanda's comment

Max

Civilisation is not a game that can be played within commercial breaks, or when on the bus. You may think that to begin with, you might even try, maybe starting a game on your way to work.

But, before you even realise it, you will have missed your stop.

Hours disappear when playing civilisation.

It's that addictive.

Just.

One.

More.

Turn.