Wow! City-building sims based in ancient Rome are very popular this year! (?)

[diablodelmar]

I can think of at least 4 (!!?!?!?!) City-building games that are coming out this year!
Following are some links and a general breakdown of the four games in question:

1. CivCity: Rome. The most promising in my mind, simply because Firaxis have never let me down. Also, Firefly's expertise is in the area of city-building games.
Amazon.co.uk/CivCity: Rome
Official page for CivCity: Rome

2. Ceaser IV. Obviously, since this is the fourth game in the series there is someone behind this title who knows what he is doing. I can't say I'm impressed by the screenshots though.
http://www.caesariv.com/

3. Heart of Empire: Rome. I don't know what to expect from this one, though it has potential (like all the others I suppose).
Heart of Empire's homepage

4. Glory of the Roman Empire. In my opinion, the most dubious of the lot (bit of a cheesy title name, don't you think?) though I must say i know nothing about it at all.
Worthplaying preview



Somehow the expression "over the top" comes to mind when thinking of the Rome genre...

 

[Grohan]

Caesar IV looks most promising because it's made by veterans who made Caesar series, Pharaoh etc. CivCity is 2nd appealing because Firaxis hasn't ever released a bad game. Then comes because GotR because CDV publishes quality strategy games (Cossacks, Blitzkrieg). HoE doesn't interest me much because the previous game made by developers of HoE was average (New York tycoon or something like that).

 

[diablodelmar]

Caesar IV looks most promising because it's made by veterans who made Caesar series, Pharaoh etc. CivCity is 2nd appealing because Firaxis hasn't ever released a bad game. Then comes because GotR because CDV publishes quality strategy games (Cossacks, Blitzkrieg). HoE doesn't interest me much because the previous game made by developers of HoE was average (New York tycoon or something like that).

CDV can be a bit dodgy though...but I would agree with that mostly. I was very much put off by the screenshots of Caeser IV though, hence I rated CivCity first.

 

[Maniacal]

I think Rome is a little overused in games.

 

[conquer_dude]

I hear that Ceasar 4 is less fun, more work. That's not a good sign of a good game.

Good games are like Alien Hominid.

 

[diablodelmar]

I wonder which one Gamespot and IGN will rate the highest?

 

[Randall_Flagg]

Ceasar IV is made by the people who also made Children of the nile, lets be clear. they did not make Ceasar 1-3, they bought the rights to all the Pharoah and Ceasar titles.

Also Children of the nile, today still has massives bugs that are no longer getting support from the company making Ceasar IV. This alone makes me leary of Ceasar IV. How can a company that stoped supporting a game with alot of bugs expect people to believe they will do better on the next title?

I will give them Kudos, the game when not crashing to desktop, is a very fun game, one of the best city builders out there. I have no doubt they will make Ceasar IV fun, but i wonder if you will ever be able to finish a game of it.

My money is on Firaxis, they at least will put the effort into fixing any bugs the game has.

 

[diablodelmar]

Yay come on Firaxis!

 

[Grohan]

When Impressions was shut down, most people from there went to form Tilted Mill.

I'm not sure why CotN had poor support but I guess that the reason was poor sales.

 

[Dreadnought]

Caesar IV. I loved Caesar III

 

[diablodelmar]

Caesar IV. I loved Caesar III

Caeser IV isn't being made by the same guy(s) who made CIII. They are the guys working on CivCity: Rome.

 

[diablodelmar]

Check out these awesome new screenshots for CivCity: Rome!

I'm sold!

 

[vinstafresh]

The guy behind CivCity: Rome was involved when making Caesar I and II. Since I disliked Children of the Nile for being work, not fun (dreadfully slow, way too realistic at the cost of playability), I really hope my prejudice against Caesar IV is unjustified in the end. Firaxis puts fun and playability first without losing realism too much. My money is on Firaxis...

That said, I'll probably try all 4, since I really loved Caesar III and Pharaoh.

 

[p dandy]

The one thing that always hooks me in is city-building sims. I love them. I loved Caesar, Pharoah, and, even though it was a little offbeat, Zeus as well. With that said I think I'll definitely pick up CivCity:Rome because I believe they're going to be able to put together one of the best city builders ever. As for Caesar 4, I have to agree with vinstafresh. Children of the Nile was not that entertaining imo. I'm just going to wait for the reviews to come in for the other 3 although I think the Glory one holds a lot of promise.

 

[p dandy]

To the sole person who voted for Glory, the demo is out now.