monte-cristo posts

Earlier this year publisher Focus Home Interactive announced that it had bought the Cities XL game franchise from the now defunct developer Monte Cristo Games. The next game in the city building simulation series, Cities XL 2011, is due to be released via download on October 14.

However if you already own a copy of the original Cities XL game you will be able to get the new Cities XL 2011 for a whopping 50 percent discount off its normal price of $39.99 from the game's official web site. You have to get your pre-order in before October 14 to get the discount and you have to have your Cities XL CD key. Both the original and limited edition versions of Cities XL are eligible for the discount.

The development team behind the city simulation-MMO title Cities XL has announced that it will close its doors this week. In a message board post on the Simtropolis fan site, a representative from France-based Monte Cristo Games announced the shut down of the developer. However the message stated that Cities XL will continue to be sold by another unnamed publisher and that the online login required to play the game will still be in place.

Established in 1995 Monte Cristo Games developed and released quite a few PC titles in its existence. In October 2009 it released Cities XL, an ambitious mix of an urban city simulation and an MMO game. However the game failed to reach a large enough audience. In January 2010 the MMO portion of the game was closed. The developer also announced plans for an updated single player game, Cities Xl 2011, but with Monte Cristo's shut down it looks like those plans are on indefinite hold.

Monte Cristo Games' launch of their city simulator Cities XL last fall had both a single player aspect as well as a MMO feature that allowed for potientially thousands of players to build their cities on a virtual planet. However it appears that there was little interest in an city sim MMO. The game's web site has now announced that due to a lack of subscriptions, the MMO aspect of Cities XL will be shut down on March 8. No new subscribers will be taken after February 1.

A anew FAQ page gives more details on the MMO shut down and how it will affect players of the game. It also reveals that Monte Cristo plans to launch an all new single player online game called Cities XL 2011. Until that game is released the original Cities XL won't be getting any new content updates.

[Via Voodoo Extreme]

Monte Cristo Games' recently release city simulation game Cities XL contains both a offline single player mode and a persistent online mode where you build and trade with other players and their cities. Now Monte Cristo Games has announced they are offering three different versions of the game, each with their own emphasis.

The Discovery Pack version will allow gamers to play the full online portion of Cities XL and five slots to create your urban locations. The $9.99 fee covers the first 30 days. After that you can continue to play the online version with either a monthly or three month subscription fee. You can also switch to the offline only (Cities XL Solo) version of the game which costs $39.99 or buy the Premium Pack which gives access to both online and offline versions, plus a three month subscription, for $57.99.

It's been a long time since SimCity has seen a new numbered release. The latest in the franchise, SimCity Societies, almost completely forgoes the city aspect to forge into new territory for the series. Monte Cristo has taken up the mantle of the city simulation, and began work on the Cities series, which as seen two releases. The first is City Life, which was hammered for lack of content and general poor quality. The second is the recently released Cities XL, which attempts to revolutionize the city simulation genre by including an MMO-styled component. While ambitious and interesting, Cities XL still falls short of the depth and ease of Maxis' defining series, which is a shame, because it has a lot of potential that was simply overlooked or neglected.

"Cities XL is the next-generation in city-building games, allowing gamers to develop cities on realistic 3D maps using an incredible collection of unique structures. Would-be Mayors are challenged to create the right combination of social services, leisure activities, special events and job opportunities within their cities in order to feed, employ and entertain their citizens.Realism will be pushed to the limit with cities that are bigger, more realistic and more sophisticated than ever before."

Download HD Cities XL Launch Trailer (54 MB)
Check out all Cities XL downloads

Monte Cristo Games' recently released city simulation game Cities Xl promises to not only have players build their dream city but also link with thousands of other players in a massively multiplayer "planet" full of of urban areas. Now Big Download is giving our readers the chance to win one of five Steam codes that will give them access to the full game.

As with most of our contests, entering the giveaway is simple:

• To enter, post a comment on this contest page.
• The comment must be left before 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 18
  
• You may enter only once.
• Five winners will be selected in a random drawing.
• The winners will be sent a Steam code that can be use to download a full copy of Cities Xl (valued at $39.99 each)
  
• Click Here for complete Official Rules. You must be a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) who is 18 years or older to enter this contest.

Our thanks to Monte Cristo Games for the donation of the prizes. Good luck.

While the previous Cities XL gameplay video dealt primarily with covering the basics and a largely single-player experience, this one deals with the dynamics of building your dream city online with other players. Players will influence the development of neighboring cities in the online game by making an impact on the global economy. Additionally, players are free to socialize with each other and visit each other's cities. If that weren't enough, players can pool their resources and collaborate to build a mega structure, like the Statue of Liberty, and receive all the fame and benefits it brings, making Cities XL much more than just a city management game. However, features that don't appear to be included in the game are interplanetary trade (you can pick one, but you'll have to stay there) and raising a military to take territory or resources by force. Maybe that'll all come with the expansion.

Download HD Cities XL Multiplayer Gameplay Video (142 MB)
Download HD Cities XL Single Player Gameplay Video (126 MB)
Check out all Cities XL downloads

Cities XL lets you build a city from the ground up and allow it to develop in whatever direction you want. This narrated video runs down some of the features players can expect from the game when it releases this month. Those who don't want to wait can get an early look at the game by trying out the demo, which can be downloaded here.

Download HD Cities XL Gameplay Video #1 (126 MB)
Download Cities XL US Demo (998 MB)
Download Cities XL EU Demo (1 GB)
Check out all Cities XL downloads

Gallery: Cities XL

In Cities XL, players will be able to interact online with a community of fellow city designers. Part of that interaction involves the possibility of setting up trade to help boost the economy. Alternatively, players can try building a self-sufficient economy instead, thereby dodging virtual trade negotiations. You can give the game a spin and reach out to neighboring cities by downloading the Cities XL demo here.

Download HD Cities XL Trailer #4 (59 MB)
Download Cities XL US Demo (998 MB)
Download Cities XL EU Demo (1 GB)
Check out all Cities XL downloads