Haemimont Games "wiping the whole game clean" with new entry in city simulation series; developer promises "clean design," all-new graphics, and larger scope.
A new Tropico game is in development at Haemimont Games, and it's gearing up to implement a range of new changes, studio CEO Gabriel Dobrov told Joystiq recently.
"We've already started on Tropico," Dobrov said. "This time we're wiping the whole game clean and building it from the ground up. We're starting with a clean design this time and all the graphics will be new."
Dobrov did not say what era the game might take place in, or where it may be set, but noted the project will be "larger in scope."
The most recent entry in the island adventure series was 2011's Tropico 4, which arrived in August for the PC and in October for the Xbox 360. An expansion--Modern Times--arrived in early 2012 and featured a new campaign set after the main game.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
The current studio simply turned the game into true 3D after they bought the rights from Kalypso/Take 2. Whether they can produce a new game from the series from scratch is absolutely untested. They need to bring in some serious creative heavyweights to make this work because this is a studio that is focused on the technicals, not the creative side.
it looks cool, but tropico always feels like its missing something. Just building up x amount of resources, or getting a certain building constructed always felt like it should be a precursor to the real game.
tropico 2 had ships you could send off etc, and that was cool, but even that started to feel like something was missing. They need to add something like a world map and/or neighboring countries etc.
I skipped Tropico 3, so I loved Tropico 4. I understand it was basically a lightweight expansion to 3. Hopefully they do a real update for #5 and don't BS us again.
1 Like I call bullshit. They'll open the Tropico 4 files, grab three-quarters of them, move to the "Tropico 5" folder, add in some new buildings, remove a quarter of those new buildings for DLC and kick it out the door as a "new" game, same as they do every time.
I remember the pre-release Tropico 4 hype, Kalypso made my s-list for that DLC type upgrade of a game.
Then they released DLC for it. Double whammy. A game just like the one before it with say 15 buildings added to it, most with little function, and you want me to pay for the things you left out to sell me later? No thanks.
I liked Tropico 3, didn't get 4 as it looked pretty much the same. Hope they really do make it different, don't want more of the same again.
I feel they need to make the game more challenging. At least, when I played Tropico 3 and 4, it seems real easy to go from start to finish. It made me bored fairly quick. I need more game play than the challenge of making a city aesthetically pleasing. I really like the atmosphere of a comical dictatorship cuba theme, but if they can throw more complexity into it, I'll be good.
Hope they add more music to the soundtrack. I had to turn the music off after a little while of playing. The sounds of the repetitive latin music still haunts my inner thoughts. D:
Other than that train game on Steam, this franchise is tied with Sniper Elite for most irritating to see on Steam. Both of them seem to always be on sale.
I really hope they get this right and improve the Tropico formula. I love the game, I always find it very relaxing.
1 Like I am actually kinda excited hearing this, I was hoping it will be more serious or darker simulations this time. Like how dictators supposed to be
1 Like Aw hell no! That would be lame. Humor is an essential part of the Tropico experience.
@imsn00py Because all dictatorships are evil regimes which force the people living under them into lives of squalor & suffering.
I enjoyed playing the entire series, but felt that 4 was a rehash of 3. The expansion was a great addition with some modernization options to build upon. My only gripe is how slow builders walk to get to a construction site in relation to the time that passes.
RIght now, tropico is one of those games that's 'o.k.' and that's it (to me at least). Hopefully a fresh start improves the game, but that's not always the case. I'll be following and hoping.
Tropico 4: Modern Times takes the series into the contemporary world, but not without a number of problems.
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