[Col] Colonization Gold Multimedia !?!?

[Lantizia]

Hey,

So I've been enjoying Colonization a lot recently, I like to play the Windows 3.1 version as I get to see more of the map and the audio is better. I play it through Wine on Linux and it's an absolute joy as I've got some handy scripts/launcher UI which take care of the CD audio without actually needing to put the disc in etc...

For a while now I've just had this jewel cased CD version which states it is for Windows 3.1 & 95 together...



But then I noticed on eBay the other day that there was a big boxed version by a different publisher, which doesn't mention Windows 95 at all - so must be an earlier release. It also comes with charts and a proper manual etc... This is the one I just bought... https://www.ebay.com/itm/143457854770


I should also point out that I'd never even heard of Colonization being for Windows at all until *much* later on in life, always played the DOS version. But then I don't think either of the two Windows releases above ever actually came out in the UK -- which might be why. Unless someone out there knows of a Windows UK release of Colonization?

One thing that isn't shown in that eBay image though, is this little bit of paper which was inside...



ANOTHER VERSION!?

Sure enough it seems in magazines at the time... this was being advertised, see this link to see page 156 of "Computer Gaming World" issue 131... https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_131/page/n156

Someone even seems to have taken that advert and hosted it on Tumblr as well (I only found this image via Google Images/Pinterest)... not sure why they uploaded it to Tumblr?...



Does anyone know anything about this version, does it actually exist?

There seems to be very little information about it.

Lantizia

 

[AyCe]

This: https://worthplaying.com/article/2006/9/29/interviews/36609/ ?

"BR: At the time Microprose had created a “multimedia department” featuring Michael Ely, Tim Train, and Jason Coleman, with the idea being to find ways to get better movies and visuals into the games. These guys had already done some really cool film stuff for a “Colonization Gold” edition which sadly never saw the light of day, and we decided that multimedia was a good cost-effective way to get some pizzazz into the game. I don’t actually remember where we came up with the actors for those things, but I thought they had a great Civ flavor."

Found it by googling sid meiers "colonization gold" multimedia

 

[dalgo]

I also have that boxed DOS version complete with full printed manual etc which I think I bought around 1995. However when I play now I use the GOG version.

It is interesting to read those initial game specs - 1 MB Ram and 5 MB hard disc space. Yes that is MB, not GB, a little different to today's games!