{"id":8874,"date":"2013-03-25T09:57:05","date_gmt":"2013-03-25T13:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spacesector.com\/blog\/?p=8874"},"modified":"2013-03-25T11:22:50","modified_gmt":"2013-03-25T15:22:50","slug":"pax-east-xcomenemy-unknown-and-civ5brave-new-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spacesector.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/pax-east-xcomenemy-unknown-and-civ5brave-new-world\/","title":{"rendered":"PAX East – XCOM:Enemy Unknown and Civ5:Brave New World"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PAX<\/a><\/p>\n

I watched 2K\u2019s PAX East<\/a>\u00a0(Penny Arcade Expo) live feed this weekend, because there was going to be “never-before-seen footage and big reveals and announcements for upcoming Firaxis Games projects”, namely about XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Civilization 5: Brave New World, the second expansion to Civ5.<\/p>\n

In a discussion panel set up for the occasion, named “Strategy Masterminds Mega Panel – Behind the Scenes at Firaxis Games”,\u00a0XCOM: Enemy Unknown was represented by Jake Solomon (lead designer) and Greg Foertsch (lead artist). Civilization 5: Brave New World was represented by\u00a0Ed Beach (Civ5:G&K lead designer) and\u00a0Dennis Shirk (Civ5 producer).<\/p>\n

You can watch the full panel video\u00a0here<\/a> (starts at 5h 20m). Civ5:BNW presentation (main part) starts at 6h 03m\u00a0and XCOM:EU at 6h 16m.<\/p>\n

So, what were these “big reveals and announcements” and “never-before-seen footage” about? And, was it worth it?<\/p>\n

Sid Meier’s Civilization 5: Brave New World<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would say that Civ5: BNW presentation was OK and moderately satisfying. But, to be honest I was expecting more Civs to be revealed.<\/p>\n

There was some Civ5:BNW footage showing off the new international trade routes system, which allows you to set up trade routes on land and over the sea. This was cool to watch and looks to be a promising new feature.<\/p>\n

\"PAX<\/a><\/p>\n

Civ5: Brave New World - International Trade Routes system<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

There was also a brief presentation on how the Tourism new concept works. You can now use great artists and great musicians, and other great people, to create Great Works, which can fill in a few new slots created on some culture generating buildings. These Great Works should generate extra culture and tourism.<\/p>\n

\"PAX<\/a><\/p>\n

Civ5: Brave New World - Great Work buildings and Tourism system<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

So, these Great Works should attract tourism, which is a new Civ5 resource, like Faith or Culture. We were shown two of these great works on the presentation: the Tower of Babel and the Hall of the Mountain King.<\/p>\n

\"PAX<\/a><\/p>\n

Civ5: Brave New World - Tower of Babel Great Work by Great Artist<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But, I suspect that what everybody was really hopping to see were new Civs reveals. One was already know, because it was presented when the expansion was first announced. That is Casimir of \u00a0Poland. Ok, but there were 8 more Civs to go.<\/p>\n

Ashurbanipal of Assyria was semi-revealed. I say “semi”, because there were already assumptions made that the Assyrians would be in because of some units spotted on the announcement’s screenshots. The only true new Civ to be\u00a0revealed in PAX East, in my view, was Pedro II of Brazil. And, that was it regarding new Civs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Civ5: Brave New World - Pedro II of Brazil (new Civilization)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Firaxis also presented some prototype footage, or previz, for Civ5. Yes, footage from Civ5 before it was first released. Features and art style which\u00a0were cut out from the game. It was still somewhat fun to watch this “never-before-seen footage”, and one has to say that some of those features, especially the way city attacks would work, or the extra work put on the leaders animations were really cool, but could probably become tiresome on the long run. You can see this Civ5 prototype content at\u00a05h 37m<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Juicy stuff summary for Civ5:BNW<\/strong><\/p>\n