Modern Times is an expansion being sold on Steam as a Downloadable Content Package.  This is somewhat unfortunate as you can no longer player with just the original buildings of Tropico 4.  I have some mixed feelings towards Modern Times because Tropico has always been a game about a communist country stuck in the past.  Now you can modernize your island nation with all sorts of skyscrapers and modern amenities.

The new game includes several new buildings and allows many buildings to be upgraded throughout the game.  By far the best new feature is the metro station.  This is a very small building and while you are not actually building any real subway system, the building is extremely useful.  Basically it acts a teleportation station.  Any citizen can walk in one metro station and end up at any other metro station that you have placed.  So you need to build two for people to start using it.  The more you have the better.  Once you start building these, people stop using Garages nearly as much and traffic flow will hardly be a problem any longer.  This is an extremely expensive building to build though.

Other buildings include towers that can be setup as mortgage centers and banks.  There is a new massive hotel that towers over the previous Hotel Tower.  There is an aerodome which supports more tourist traffic.  By far the most silly aspect of the game is the inclusion of a space launch center.  While you might have to build some really weird series of buildings to get it, it totally removes the realism of the game for this small communist country to build a space shuttle.  One event allows you to travel to the moon.  Tropico has always had some silliness, but this takes it a bit too far in my opinion.

Good new buildings include, solar power stations, vehicle and electronic manufacturing and upgraded apartments and condominiums.  New much larger farms provide much needed food.  Overall it is a great expansion, but for me it kills the theme of the original games by quite a large margin.  It is certainly worth looking into.  Like it or not, Tropico has been modernized.

Memoir '44 is by far one the best and most simple tactical World War II board games.  It is now available to play online and is available as a free download either through there website or even Steam.  If you are a Steam user, I recommend getting the game through Steam as you can use your Steam account for there login system. 

You can play solo against the AI or against other players online.  The AI is surprisingly good.  The interface for the game is fantastic.  If you have ever played the Settler's of Catan game online, you know how bad interfaces can ruin a game.

The game is not 100% free.  They start you out 50 coins or "Gold Ingots" for free.  It costs 3 coins to play a single game of Memoir Online, so you can sufficiently try out the game without paying for at least 16 games.  Also it's only the person that starts the game that loses the coins.  If you pay for the higher level membership you can also create your own scenarios!  This makes the game a lot more interesting as other players are playing there custom scenarios online as well.

Every expansion is also available to play online.  Weather you are a seasoned Memoir '44 fan, want to learn how to play the game or even want to try out the expansions before buying them, Memoir '44 Online is a fantastic experience.  It is by the best implementation of an board game online I have seen yet.

Memoir '44 Online
Memoir '44 Online on Steam

One word, geekgasm. Wil Wheaton of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame will be hosting a new YouTube show focused on board gaming dubbed "Tabletop". Starting on April 2 on the geekandsundry YouTube Channel, the show will feature celebrities and nerd girls in what can only be described as pure unadulterated nerd porn.

The show will feature a new board game every 2 weeks in which the participants will banter, play, and review the selected board game. The preview shows games such as Settlers of Catan, Munckin and Smallworld being played. As a fan of both board games and Star Trek and Star Trek board games, I will be patiently waiting for every episode. 

UPDATE (April 2):

Here it is, the full first episode of "Table Top" reviewing Small World.

Crusader Kings II was released by Paradox Interactive today.  It is a Europa style game with a heavy religious undertone to it.  It could prove to quite an improvement over the previous Crusader Kings.  The game is not yet available on Steam and there is no word on when it will be.  Generally for Paradox games it can take a month or two for that to happen.  The game is however available from several other sources.

Buy the game here
Facebook
Web page
Forum
Twitter

This could be interesting.  This game looks like it might be some playable version of Dwarf Fortress, but will it get anywhere near the level of detail?  It was announced at ParadoxCon 2012 and a trailer has been released.  It's slated for a release date around September 2012.  Paradox sometimes has the habit of releasing game too early though.  Paradox Interactive CEO addressed this at ParadoxCon 2012 and said that Paradox has learned from it's errors.  I really enjoy Paradox games but it is very disappointing to see games like Sword of the Stars II and Mount & Blade get released to early.  Anyways what little we see in the trailer looks somewhat promising.

Official Facebook Page

Netropolis III is officially out of beta and is running live.  You will notice Netropolis feels a bit more modern with a chat windows and a scrollable map.  You can start your company now and begin performing dirty tricks immediately.  I will be working on the strategy guide for Netropolis III in the next few days, so look for updates!

Sites:

Netropolis III
Official Facebook Page

Every once in awhile you come along a preview of a game that screams "Shut Up and Take My Money!". I already want to try this little game even though it is in very early stages of development. It mixes some strategic castle building, minimalistic but beautiful 3D art and brilliant physics engine that can make for some surprisingly impressive destructive events.

This game being put together by a small group of people at Sauropod Studio. For how simple it is at the moment, it shows much promise.

Bring back the Arcade. We have the technology. New technology can and will eventually breathe new life into the dusty arcade. My local arcade is still filled with the old school style joystick and race car games. We need innovation, design, the entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to re-invest in the arcade.  With the proper funding and marketing, a whole new generation of mall rats are just waiting to trade in there solitary game lifestyles for the community driven atmosphere of the arcade.  Of course people don't realize they need something until they see what is actually possible.  So without further adieu, here are some impressive feats of modern gaming technology.

Of course we all wish we had the following game in our living rooms, but this game is larger than most people's living rooms.

The Microsoft Surface is still very much a research project, but it can be bought usually in the range of about $10,000 to $20,000.  Eventually this price will drop, but our best guess is that this technology will continue to evade consumer markets because Microsoft is notoriously slow and tedious about bringing new technology to the mainstream.  The following video shows the best selling board game, Settlers of Catan, on the Microsoft Surface table.

Perhaps the future isn't the arcade, but your local board game and RPG store.  Imagine a Microsoft Surface table with Catan right there in your game store or a giant touch screen wall next to your Warhammer figurines.  These are all certainly inevitable, but until the technology is perfected and properly marketed to store owners and eventually the public at large, we will all have to patiently wait for the future to arrive.  All we know for sure is that it is coming.

Paradox Interactive has announced that the Magna Mundi beta testing is on the horizon. Signup as soon as possible!

Official Magna Mundi Beta Signup Page

Paradox has released a game trailer and developer interview for the upcoming Magna Mundi. I know many Europa Universalis fans who cannot wait for this title. Here is a trailer with some gameplay video.

Here is an interview with one of the Magna Mundi developers about the battle engine.

If you want to know much more detailed information about this title, you should take a look through the developer diaries. They provide tons of information. Still no word on an official release date.

Netropolis is back!  On November 11, 2011, 2:00 PM EST Netropolis III will be alive and well at www.netroworld.com.  If you aren't familiar with the famed browser based game, I'll go into some details.  Netropolis was an early browser based game which most likely helped spawn some of later browser based games to come after it.  It's essentially a business simulator where you begin in a city with a certain amount of buildings types and money.  You work your way up through that city creating buildings in prime locations and getting higher level HQ's for more buildings.  You build store fronts near streets, campsites near forests, etc. 

The most interesting part of the game by far is the player interaction.  You can deface your rivals properties with spray paint, spread fire throughout the city with firebombs or just plain blow your opponents to oblivion.  Making enemies is a sure fire way to get your own properties burnt to the ground, so often the strategy is to slowly pick up properties without creating too much of a ruckus.  Being the new guy in the neighborhood is often difficult, but once you secure a block of property, you simply defend your territory.  Often the game feels very political in nature, simply defending your property and not attacking the wrong person. 

See our full interview with Damon Grainger to see what to expect in the latest version of Netropolis.

Update 7:42 PM

Netropolis is currently down throughout the weekend because of some unforseen problems.  It should hopefully be back up by Monday.

Update Nov 21 2011

Netropolis will be live about 3:00 PM EST November 22nd!  Remember the game is still in beta testing, so hiccups are bound to occur.

Update Nov 22 2011

Netropolis is back down again, no word on the next uptime.

Update Nov 29 2011

Netropolis will be re-released with limited features Dec 1st at 2 PM EST.

Update Dec 1 2011

The release date has come and passed and still no Netropolis, when the site goes live I will send word out.

Paradox Interactive announced a new game a few months back called War of the Roses.  FatShark, the makers of Lead and Gold appear to be giving the makers of Mount & Blade a run for there money.  While Mount & Blade: Warbands was a wild success with some small problems here and there, Fire & Sword was an utter failure.  While boasting much potential, Fire & Sword is simply an unfinished game that should have never been published.  While War of the Roses most likely won't be the type of command and control Mount & Blade was, it certainly will be a much better looking first/third person medieval fighting game.

Just like Mount & Blade it appears the main focus will be multiplayer combat.  War of the Roses will be more of an RPG than a strategy game most likely, but the details are small.  All I know is that in the realm of first person shooters, all of the games made about World War II, the medieval landscape is finally going to get it's just due.  Modern Warfare is great and all, but medieval games are small in number.  It's about time knights get the first person shooter treatment.  I can see it now, Call of Duty: Not So Modern Warfare.  The trailer doesn't reveal much at all but is worth a look.

War of the Roses Site

If you have played Europa Universalis chances are you have at least heard of Magna Mundi.  It has been a mod for Europa Universalis III for quite some time now.  Now Magna Mundi is going to be fully loaded.  Magna Mundi, meaning "Great things of the World" in Latin, has a full development team and should be released as it's own game sometime in mid January 2012.

Even though the game is originally a mod of Europa Universalis III, it will be nothing like Europa Universalis III, just as the mod was nothing like it.  Unrealistic things happen in Europa Universalis III.  Things that would never happen even in alternate universes.  Magna Mundi will be the opposite and will be shooting for historical realism and depth.  This will be a political game where you have to deal with the realities of the times.  The game will last from 1453 to 1815.

In Europa Universalis you will occasionally get a random stability hit with only a couple of sentences explaining why you got the stability hit.  There is no real explanation of why it happened, it's really just a random dice roll in the background based on a few factors of your government.  In Magna Mundi you are going understand why your country is destabilizing because you will be much more involved with the personable decision making process of a ruler.  Events will chain off of eachother to create the story of your nation.  These events will be directly influenced by your decisions.  It is the decisions that you make that will shape your country.  Like so many things in life, you will not have direct control over ever facet of your country.

The game will be global in nature.  Diplomacy is rather weak in Europa Universalis III while in Magna Mundi your diplomatic options will be less vague, more direct and more plentiful.  You will face the actual hardships of controlling colonies across the seas.  You will face the reality of what it means to be a ruler.  You will need to keep your allies close and your enemies closer. 

Over 50 trade goods will be represented in the game and trade will be much more in depth.  No longer will you be able to simply convert a province to a single religion, because most provinces will have multiple religions.  All of these things will come together to make a more plausible sandbox to play in.  While you can change the world in Magna Mundi, you will not be able to conquer it.  You will be one ruler, and one person can only do so much.  If you like politics, diplomacy, history and realism then Magna Mundi will be a game you will want to look into.  If you only really care about military conquest, then you probably be disappointed in Magna Mundi.

Power projection is as important of a term today as it was in history.  Magna Mundi will focus on how you make others look at your country and when you are tested weather you are willing to back up your decisions with force or retreat back to safety.  How your people look at your rule is going to matter.  How other people see your country is going to matter.

Unfortunately the latest mod version of Magna Mundi does not work for Divine Wind, but if you have Heir to the Throne I highly recommend checking it out. 

Mods

For more information about the full game check out the official site.

Magna Mundi

Here is our initial review of Tropico 4.  Tell us what you think about the new game from Haemimont Games.  Our guide to Tropico 4 strategy will be available in about a week.

Updates will begin to be added for the 50 achievements included with Divine Wind. Walkthroughs, tips and general strategies will be written to help attain the different achievements. One of the harder ones, No Trail for Tears, has been recently added. Feel free to ask for specific achievements or any questions.

Click below to see our guide to Europa Universalis III Achievements.

Europa Universalis III: Achievements

R.U.S.E. is a beautiful game.  However graphics are never the key to a good strategy game, gameplay is far more important.  But what gives R.U.S.E. it's slick look is it's easy interface.  The zooming in and out.  The quick access to every single building and ruse is what makes the game.  The whole process of playing the game is fluid and makes the rush of it all actually fun to play.  The user interface makes taking on your enemy feasible and not a headache. Unlike some RTS games where clicking and micromanaging is a pain, this game makes it much easier to just simply play the game.

Zoomed out R.U.S.E. looks like a board game, as if you are playing Risk, but this is real time.  You will see your battalion of tanks stacked on poker chips.  Zoom all the way in and you see each individual tank moving across the field.

This game is not about building up a huge force.  It is often more about the rush and quick use of tactics and deception.  The absolute most time any game lasts is 45 minutes, it's usually more around a half an hour or less.  This game is truly all about the multiplayer.  Fighting the computer doesn't get a lot of replay value but can still be challenging.

R.U.S.E. is set in World War II.  The UK, US, Germany, Italy, France and the Soviet Union are all playable countries.  Each country has it's strengths and weaknesses.  The Soviet Union has infantry bonues, Italy has long range artillery, etc.  There is also a nuclear mode where nuke cannons can be built, but this kind of kills most of the fun.  R.U.S.E. is fun to play especially if you have a teammate.  The games don't last long so when playing multiplayer you can quickly get a feel for what tactics work and what doesn't.

You usually build your base within the first 5 minutes, this game does not have a big buildup.  Often you want to get your infantry to that strategic city or some anti air in a strategic forest as quickly as possible.  You'll need to decide which tactic if best for your country.  I've found many players like to play UK or Italy.  UK players will try to build a quick airforce with bombers.  Italian players will build massive artillery arsenals.  Some players simply go for a mix of everything.  Protecting your supply routes is key, and the amount of strategic options to play is surprising.  Simplicity makes R.U.S.E. fun and the variety of countries gives a different set of skills for everyone to take advantage of. 

If you like quick on your toes strategy, I highly recommend R.U.S.E.  I generally don't like games that force you to rush, but R.U.S.E. pulls it off well as a real time tactics games.  The units are unique and all have there advantages and disadvantages, the learning curve is quick to master and for once it's actually fun to just jump into this RTS online.  This game isn't for everybody, but as a real time strategy/tactics game set in World War II, no other game compares.  I haven't played this game on a touch screen monitor but it looks impressive, see the video below.

Total: 4.60/5.00

Graphics/Sound: 4.5
Gameplay: 4.5
Interface: 5.0
Replay: 4.0
Strategy: 5.0

We've always been a fan of the Tropico series.  The newest release, set to come out September 1st, has brought about some controversy with fans of the series. Some say the new release feels more like an expansion than a full new game.  The graphics engine is exactly the same and most of the game will feel exactly like Tropico 3.  However it's the economy and foreign policy which is what will really shine.  The new release will include a Stock Exchange and several other buildings to bring some variety to Tropico.   A total of 20 new missions and 10 new maps, 20 new buildings, many more disasters including volcanoes, droughts, tornadoes and tsunamis, select your own cabinet from your populace and objectives from the different factions. 

Probably the largest addition will be the trading system.  No longer will your populated island starve just because you have no more room to build farms.  Finally a fire station will be added to Tropico.  Apparently fire has never been a problem for Tropicans until now.  Oh did I mention Facebook and Twitter integration, just what all us strategy gamers always wanted.  We will have a full review of the game September 2nd.  Until then you can either download the demo from Steam, or enjoy this trailer.  We will reserve judgement for the full release.  For more information, visit the official website.

I have gotten most of the website updated.  If you have any problems with the site, please leave a comment.  I am currently updating the Guide to include information about the newest Divine Wind expansion.  If you have any requests for information to be put into the guide or any questions about Europa Universalis III in general, I am always willing to look into it.

Look at our updated guide here.

The new Strategy Nerd is now online.  Within the next few days we will be adding new content and the old content back online.  I thank you for your patience.