Civilization VI Coming to Nintendo Switch November 16

[Trav'ling Canuck]

I don't think it has to take away from us hardcore fans that the franchise works to attract a more casual audience. Though as civ 6 goes on I tend to think for me it works better as a role-playing game than a strategic one.

…

It's also interesting to me that there hasn't been a major competitor to the series in this area yet (at least that I know of). I think overall though this is a great thing, it should add more revenue to the series and allow for either the next expansion or civ 7, I hope 6 will be the base for future growth (would also really enjoy another expansion to tie in the mechanics more).

You can't sell a PC game to people without a PC. So yes, Civ and every other major franchise is going to need to put their game out in a format people can buy it, if they want to max their addressable market.

Civ 5 was a major commercial success considering its genre, as was Civ 4 before it, etc., in part because it has always attracted a more casual audience, in the sense of people who don't buy a lot of other computer games. If you're talking trying to attract the Angry Birds crowd, that's a different story (and let's face it, Civ: Angry Birds edition would be an amazing cross-over as you try to knock over Shaka, Gandhi, etc. with your recently upgraded nuclear blue birds).

I'm not convinced Civ 6 is truly designed to go after that latter audience. Those games are characterized by simple rules, are easy to get into, and they're addictive because they offer a challenge that escalates with your skill level.

Civ 6 offers even more complex rules systems than past Civ games (that were already plenty complex), a UI that is not conducive for understanding what's going in the game, and an addiction factor based on role-playing (choose your way to win vs. try to figure out how to win in the current circumstances). None of those are thing likely to convince someone who enjoys Candy Crush to give Civ a spin.

 

[Browd]

IS it just me, or have they taken down the announcement ??? the link in OP doesn't work and I see no mention of this on the site ???

It's not just you. Since the announcement got yanked back so quickly, it was probably premature/inadvertent.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

2 1/2 months did seem like a longer lead time. Wasn't the ipad port announced at the time it was released?

 

[Duuk]

I have mixed feeling about Civ 6 being released on a console. One one hand, I really enjoyed (for a brief time) Civilization Revolution on my PS3. It was cool to sit in my living room and play a 'relaxed' version of Civilization on a big screen. Playing Civ 6 on a big screen may be fun too; even if the games last 10-15 hours each.

OTOH, The cynic in me can't help but think this means the end of development for Civilization 6 (no second expansion). I have nothing to back up this fear other than the fact that in 2018 everyone has a much shorter attention span (especially with so many other games vying for attention); and most developers seem to move on to their next project rather than spending as much time on already released titles as they may have in the past. I would love to be proven wrong, however.

This was my exact thought. Release on multiple platforms makes me wonder if development might not be complete.

 

[Zaarin]

Though as civ 6 goes on I tend to think for me it works better as a role-playing game than a strategic one.

If they'd double down on this, I'd be A-okay with that.

 

[Trav'ling Canuck]

If they'd double down on this, I'd be A-okay with that.

Even though its not my preferred game experience, I'd be okay with them doubling-down on that, too. If that's the reason Civ 6 is going to shine for some players, make it the best role-playing experience in the series. Go all in on customizing the experience for the players who love that.

Right now, for me, Civ 6 excels only in the quality of the in game artwork (I'm excluding the leader screen from this, and the UI, obviously). If it took the things its good at currently and made those things even better, I'd support that. I can wait for Civ 7 for an overall game experience more to my tastes.

 

[criZp]

playing civ in bed or elsewhere could be nice, but I don't think the game is particularly good without the mods. not gonna pay twice for that. but I guess the port is made for people who don't have a pc.

 

[pokiehl]

Nintendo was supposed to have an announcement video for fans called a Nintendo Direct. It was scheduled for the same day this news dropped (Thursday).

It got cancelled due to an earthquake in Japan.

I assume that the announcement for this was supposed to coincide with that video and was going to be discussed in that video. Then maybe Firaxis or 2k didn't realize the Direct was cancelled because it was last minute.

Now it's down and it'll probably be reupped when the Direct is rescheduled.

 

[RohirrimElf]

I'm curious to see how a switch handles the later turn times.

“One more turn” changes into “perhaps after one hour”.

 

[Leathaface]

I hope Civ VI being released on consoles doesn't affect Firaxis' chance of releasing the DLL source code so modders can modify the AI. Like Firaxis might try to keep all versions of Civ VI the same.

Though there are plenty of mods out for Civ VI on PC so that's good. Switch obviously won't get mods.

 

[Tw2Brick]

I will be getting this for my Switch and can hardly wait. Talk to me, Sean Bean even as I wait for a doctor's appointment, etc.

 

[clapyourhands]

The trailer just aired on the Nintendo Direct. It was a drastically different artstyle than the usual, but it was a pleasant surprise.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Firaxis just Tweeted the announcement.

 

[Leathaface]

Here it the announcement trailer:

 

[Leathaface]

I'm hearing people saying that they can now play Civ on the go. What about using a laptop? Plus you'd get to use a mouse rather than whatever controls the Switch could have.

TBH I think the Switch controls could be a very bad experience, from my time with Civ using a mouse is crucial to playing.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I'm hearing people saying that they can now play Civ on the go. What about using a laptop? Plus you'd get to use a mouse rather than whatever controls the Switch could have.

TBH I think the Switch controls could be a very bad experience, from my time with Civ using a mouse is crucial to playing.

Not to mention on the ipad.

 

[criZp]

I'm hearing people saying that they can now play Civ on the go. What about using a laptop? Plus you'd get to use a mouse rather than whatever controls the Switch could have.

TBH I think the Switch controls could be a very bad experience, from my time with Civ using a mouse is crucial to playing.

Because playing on a laptop require that you have a table to set it up on, and there will be more to carry around.

 

[DWilson]

Huh. I wonder if it uses the same engine, but different graphics, or if it'll be notably simplified ala Civ Rev (2).

 

[criZp]

in the nintendo direct they showed some gameplay and it looked like the pc version

 

[God of Kings]

I guess I'll be the curmudgeon that has to say it: this is an embarrassment for what was a formerly proud franchise. Score another point for those that said this game has been dumbed-down; now it's on the platform for toddlers. Any pretense of this as a strategy game is long gone. Thankfully there's always Civ IV to remember.

Yet, the ESRB rated both Super Mario Odyssey and Kirby Star Allies E10+.

Oh, and the Switch has M-rated games as well (and popular ones too), as much as I personally don't like them.

Smash Bros. Ultimate has at least two characters from M-rated games too, as much as I personally don't like them either.

I correctly predicted a Switch version of Civ VI last year: https://forums.civfanatics.com/posts/14860536/

Let me tell you something interesting, @Eagle Pursuit and @Karmah

A new Great Prophet is born!

I am the God of Kings!