JeuxvideoPC Beyond Earth article

Beyond Earth: The New Civilization Firaxis unfolds
SUMMARY
1 "To infinity and beyond!"
2 Various alien planets
3 An outpost, then a city
4 There is life ...
5 Back on Earth?

Firaxis gives a sort of spiritual sequel to Alpha Centauri with the new Civilization called Beyond Earth.
While Brave New World is available for a little less than a year, Firaxis decided to put a little aside Civilization 5 and change (slightly) registry. With Beyond Earth, the studio still continues the adventure started by Sid Meier, but to project beyond our solar system. A concept that is reminiscent of Alpha Centauri. Appreciated by many players, the venerable ancestor is actually one of the inspirations of Firaxis which do not seek to make a simple remake. First spotlight with David McDonough and Will Miller.

"To infinity and beyond!" Back to overview
Sid Meier s Civilization : Beyond Earth
If the success of Civilization unabated over the years - Civilization 5 has signed the best-selling franchise - it was surprising to see Firaxis does not implement the space adventures of Alpha Centauri. Fifteen years after this episode "alien", it should be done this fall, thanks to Beyond Earth. To clarify input, it is worth noting that we have not yet had the opportunity to play or even see gameplay session, and that the first contact was through to an interview with two of the main developers.

Developers who readily acknowledge the inspiration of Alpha Centauri, but wish to keep the old timers as we explained David McDonough: "Obviously, we draw Alpha Centauri, a game that David and I played when we were younger. It has influenced us a lot, but it is not a sequel or a prelude to Alpha Centauri: it is our own representation of what look like Civilization in space. " If there is no question of making a direct sequel to Alpha Centauri, we understand that the concept is in substantially closer.

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Various extra-terrestrial planets Back to overview
Not surprisingly, David McDonough immediately adds that "there are similarities between the skeletons of Alpha Centauri, Earth and Beyond Civilization games." In fact, the player will start by customizing its part and civilization: the characteristics of the latter depend on many aspects of the game and in particular the departure of our people In Beyond Earth, it does not start on Earth but. on an alien world that one parameter at the same time that our people. Will Miller explained that three specific types of planets will complement options.

Will Miller
"There are three types of unique planets, called" biomes ". Their entire surface is colored and they bring you a different experience depending on which one you choose. We have the "lush" planet (lush), a planet with a dense vegetation, like a jungle. The "airy" planet (air), with dunes, a cracked soil and a warm, dry climate. Finally, "fungal" the planet (fungal) is pretty wild. " Types of planets that do not prejudice other attributes such as terrain or the presence and size of the oceans, for example.

An outpost, then a city Back to overview
In its course, part of Beyond Earth should not disrupt the amateur Civilization. "The DNA of Civilization 5 is preserved," says Will Miller. "You always build cities, you always improve tiles, fields, but we extended this formula. For example, earth factions fail at the same time and you could be the first on the planet: the vessels of the other can happen in stages, after 50 laps maybe. Another difference is that cities begin to outposts stage. Must be protected - they are very fragile - so they can grow. "

Sid Meier s Civilization : Beyond Earth
The idea of the outpost is something very important as it costs resources and produces virtually nothing, unlike a city, it actually operates the tile on which it is located, and its growth is far from instantaneous, it takes many turns before it became a city. "You have to plan things carefully, be strategic and be on guard," says Will Miller, adding that "the mechanical expansion is substantially different from that of Civilization 5."

There is life ... Back to Contents
Who says alien planet also said alien life and Firaxis could not miss such opportunity to introduce some of world's most exotic creatures Civilization. David McDonough explains that there are aliens in the game, but they have no conscience, they do not have a human attitude. You can not communicate with them and you can not embody an alien. The aliens play a role nonetheless by their presence: it is possible to go against them - destroy - or to live in harmony and thus enjoy some bonus.

Sid Meier s Civilization : Beyond Earth
Beyond this life alone "animal", players will find in the part of the relics, evidence of a particularly advanced civilization, but now extinct. Find evidence of their existence, determine who they were and attempt to contact this mysterious people is one of the objectives of Beyond Earth, a victory conditions. "This is the culmination of all your efforts on the planet" for David McDonough. Another victory condition is to achieve reconnect with the cradle of humanity, the Earth.

Back on Earth? back to overview
Will Miller states that "when we leave Earth, we leave in a precarious state, there are political pressures, environmental and we are not sure what will happen on Earth after our departure." Later, probably around the middle of the game, contact with Earth is restored through the deployment of a satellite. Will Miller explains that the other conditions of victory "is to return to Earth and help them thrive again or to bring refugees from Earth to your new world and to install."

David McDonough
We will not know more for the moment on the other victory conditions, but it logically involve scientific advances to reconnect and be able to travel much more safely through space. Science is no surprise in the heart of a part of Beyond Earth. Early in the game, there are some more advanced Civilization than in a conventional technologies, and it is for example possible to communicate with the other factions since their arrival on the planet: diplomacy outset begins.

However, the developers wanted to keep exploration dimension early in the game so the card retains the idea of the fog of war. Thereafter, scientific research help, it becomes possible to develop new weapons in Civilization, but also to provide a second layer to the map with the management of features in orbit satellites can be sent units to improve ground, but it is by no question against engaging in a real "Star Wars." Beyond Earth still has much to reveal to us, but this first contact with the game Firaxis portends the best and a renewal of the franchise: we are eager to learn more!

Sid Meier s Civilization : Beyond Earth