In this next-generation take on the city building genre, realism will be pushed to the limit with cities that are bigger, more realistic and sophisticated than ever before. Cities XL, previously called Cities Unlimited, will expand upon all that make city builders fun and interesting, while letting players take their game online, as they interact with others in a massive online environment.Gamers interested in testing the game and offering input into the development of Monte Cristo’s next-generation city builder/MMO should sign up. The game’s closed beta will begin at 11 TBC a.m. UTC/GMT on 16 April 2009.
Cities XL allows gamers to develop cities on realistic 3D maps using an incredible collection of unique structures and monuments based on American, Asian and European-influenced architectural styles. The maps feature a variety of environments: mountains, hills, canyons, beaches and islands, all set in different climates from tropical to desert, Mediterranean to temperate. Players must create the right combinations of social services, leisure activities, special events and other job opportunities within their cities in order to feed, clothe, employ and entertain their citizens. Be it planning and building a new zoo, public park, residential neighborhood or transit system - there's always a fresh and exciting challenge for would-be city managers and mayors in Cities XL.
“We’re excited to be at the point where we feel we’ve laid very solid foundations for this unique game,” said Jerome Gastaldi, CEO of Monte Cristo, “Now we need to test the architecture to see how players respond to it, and to improve the integration of the online-gameplay and social networking features. In the next weeks, we’ll let more residents into our closed betas and keep stress-testing the edifice correctly.”
The game’s online features and services will allow players to create interconnected cities on virtual and persistent planets. Mayors can share and trade with one another, specialize their economy and team up with befriended cities to create sprawling metropolises. Life on the planet will be punctuated by events and competitions - a concert held in one town may, for example, be attended by visitors from other areas who can also enjoy a walk around the city to admire the urban creations of multiple players. By combining a fantastic single-player game with the social and multiplayer aspects of an MMO, Cities XL will shape the future of the genre by offering more variety, bigger cities and multiple gameplay layers.
Cities XL is currently scheduled to ship in 2009.
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