Here in britain the German strategy genre is not a popular import. If nothing else, it’ll keep the Germans off the streets. From what we’ve seen so far, it looks like the type of game you will either dismiss immediately or play until your eyes bleed. Various scenarios will be available, along with a story-driven campaign, an open-ended option and multiplayer shenanigans for up to six players.īy the time you read this, the Germans will have got their hands on the new Anno, while an English language version is a few months away. Research trees will enable you to upgrade military units, with combat taking place both on land and at sea. With some alcohol for example, they’ll be very happy and try to trade with you.' Over Land And Seaĭubious racial stereotyping aside, Anno 1503 looks like being a very detailed affair, with the action taking place over six different climates. The Oriental cultures are very good at introducing spices, and the native Americans, well if you come along The Mongolians are a more aggressive culture so they rely on war, but you can forge an alliance with them. As Wolfgang says: 'For example, the Eskimos are very good at fishing, therefore you can get food very cheaply from them.

The cool thing about it is you can decide how to play it you can play the peaceful way or you can play it in a military way.'Īs a European colonial explorer, you’ll come up against nine different cultures, each with individual merits. That’s why we’ve focused more on this in Anno 1503, but we’re still using all the elements of 1602 because they were successful and players all over the world really liked it. Manager Wolfgang Duhr, 'We had moderate success in the European and the US market with 1602, but what we found is that European and American players put more emphasis on the combat part.

A Great Big Melting PotĪccording to Sunflowers’ international marketing Perhaps seeking to broaden the game’s appealīeyond their native land, the developers have also introduced more globally acceptable activities to the game, namely barbaric acts of sickening violence against fellow man. That might be stretching the point somewhat, but it was nevertheless an enjoyable example of the time-honoured rural resource epic, with all the log chopping and empire building the genre entails.įour years on, and hordes of German gamers are once again salivating like hungry dogs, counting the hours until they recommence trading spices and building sheds. Worldwide it shifted more than two million copies, and according to EA’s press release, 'captured the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere'. The Biggest selling PC game in Germany may be a plaudit to rival the best-dressed man at a trainspotter’s convention, but 1999’s Anno 1602 is the proud holder of that dubious claim.

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