Civilization World
A real-time strategy Civilization game on Facebook.
Civilization World was a massively multiplayer online game in the Civilization series, built in Flash and created by Sid Meier and Firaxis Games. It first appeared on Facebook as *Civilization Network* on July 6, 2011, before being renamed *Civilization World* on January 6, 2012. The game was shut down on May 29, 2013, following a discontinuation announcement on February 28, 2013.
The gameplay borrowed familiar elements from earlier *Civilization* titles, such as constructing houses, farming, researching technologies, gathering gold, and expanding communities across different eras. The main objective was to finish a match with the most fame points, earned through completing achievements, discovering technologies, meeting era victory conditions, or building a wonder. Unlike the series' usual turn-based approach, this game used real-time strategy. Combat against other nations let players deploy ranged, melee, mobile, and naval units, with limited slots on the battlefield to encourage strategic placement. Mini-games were also included for added variety.
Online compatibility was central, with a strong focus on multiplayer. Players could choose single-player or multiplayer matches, where several players could cooperate or compete against others. Multiplayer introduced the ability to form independent nations and battle rival nations—a feature new to the series. Nations had a hierarchy, with a king at the top and ranks like princes, dukes, and other nobles below. To become king and lead a nation, a player had to complete objectives and earn medals. Ranking was relative to all other players in that nation, so members competed among themselves for the throne.
Development began with an October 2009 announcement from Sid Meier, who said the game would offer everything fans enjoyed in *Civilization* within a fully persistent, free-to-play environment that could be played anytime. From May to September 2010, the 2K Games team gave no updates, leading many to think the project was abandoned or never existed. In August, community manager "2K Greg" confirmed it was still active. In November 2010, Strauss Zelnick, then Take-Two's executive chairman and soon-to-be CEO, reaffirmed that the game was in production, with a planned 2011 release.
The game entered open beta on July 6, 2011. On February 28, 2013, it was announced that the final day of play would be May 29, 2013.
- Developer
- Sid Meier and Firaxis Games
- Original Name
- Civilization Network
- Launch Date
- July 6, 2011
- Renamed
- January 6, 2012
- Shutdown Date
- May 29, 2013
- Genre
- Massively multiplayer online real-time strategy
- Platform
- Facebook (Flash)
Quick Facts
- Title
- Civilization World
- Developer
- Firaxis Games
- Designer
- Sid Meier
- Publisher
- 2K
- Series
- Civilization
- Released
- July 6, 2011 (open beta)
- Genre
- Strategy
- Platforms
- Facebook Platform
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Civilization World was announced in October 2009 by Sid Meier, who stated it would offer everything enjoyed in Civilization in a fully persistent, free-to-play environment. From May to September 2010, the 2K Games team offered no updates, leading many to believe the project had been scrapped. In August 2010, 2K Games' Community Manager '2K Greg' announced the game was still alive, and in November 2010, Take-Two's soon-to-be CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed it was in production with a planned 2011 release.
Reader's Guide
Civilization World represented an attempt to bring the Civilization franchise into the massively multiplayer online space, shifting from turn-based to real-time strategy. It emphasized player interaction, allowing players to form nations with a hierarchy from king down to nobles, and to compete against other nations. The game featured familiar elements like building, farming, research, and wonder construction, but added mini-games and real-time combat with unit slots. Despite its launch on Facebook in 2011, the game was short-lived, with its shutdown announced in February 2013 and servers closing on May 29, 2013. Its significance lies in being an early experiment in adapting a major strategy franchise to social and persistent online play, though it ultimately failed to sustain a player base.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally named Civilization Network when it launched on July 6, 2011.
- The title was changed to Civilization World on January 6, 2012.
- The game servers crashed about 6 minutes after the announced shutdown time on May 29, 2013.
- Players could become king of a nation by completing objectives and achieving medals, competing against other players within the same nation.
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