Topic: Anno 1701 Headed for Europe

[WindyMan]

A DS port of the PC strategy game known domestically as 1701 A.D. is also being released in Australia and New Zealand.

Buena Vista Games Enters Agreement with  SUNFLOWERS to Publish the First Nintendo DS Game Based on the Successful “ANNO" Series    

ANNO 1701 to Hit Retail Shelves Next Year    

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG), the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), today announced it has entered into a publishing agreement with German-based SUNFLOWERS, to publish ANNO 1701 for the Nintendo DSâ„¢ across EMEA and Australia and New Zealand in Q2 2007.    

“We are looking forward to building a strong relationship with the team at SUNFLOWERS to expand and develop the gaming experience that ANNO 1701 offers," said Thierry Braille, vice president and general manager, Buena Vista Games EMEA. “With BVG’s expertise in publishing a broad portfolio of video games for the entire family and titles for the Nintendo DS, ANNO 1701 is an optimal addition to our portfolio because it appeals to both males and females alike, and also attracts younger as well as older gamers."    

“ANNO 1701 stands for great quality and extraordinary gameplay," said Wilhelm Hamrozi, CEO SUNFLOWERS. “When expanding the property onto other platforms, we don’t simply port the game design, but we develop new concepts that satisfy the familiar high standards in terms of quality and gameplay appropriate to the platform", he continued. “We are delighted about this collaboration and view Buena Vista Games as the ideal partner to begin a sensible expansion of our ANNO brand onto other platforms", Hamrozi concluded.    

About ANNO 1701 for the Nintendo DSâ„¢    

The ANNO 1701 universe is based on the successful PC games by SUNFLOWERS. The developers Keen Games will bring the ANNO 1701 universe onto the Nintendo DS for the very first time where players can enter a unique empire-building experience set between the 17th and 18th century. The game is based on creating, building and developing civilisation in this important historical period with a cast of likeable characters telling a compelling story about their adventures in the new world.    

Additionally, ANNO 1701 for the Nintendo DS features a fully configurable endless game mode with AI players and a multiplayer mode for up to 4 players with Nintendo DS, as well as a series of features unique to the Nintendo DS.    

The ANNO series earned widespread acclaim and has sold 4.4 million copies. It is one of the most successful games of all time in German-speaking countries.

[Kairon]

WHAT? No US release? ... import?

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[KDR_11k]

Makes sense, Settlers went DS so Anno goes as well.

Problem is this:

When expanding the property onto other platforms, we don’t simply port the game design, but we develop new concepts that satisfy the familiar high standards in terms of quality and gameplay appropriate to the platform

Sounds like they're dumbing it down. The other descriptions sound like it's at least an empire-building sim but it's not even guaranteed to be realtime (AoE was made turn based so who knows what'll happen here).

[Nephilim]

dumbing it down? sounds like stylus support to me

lol

[KDR_11k]

The original had mouse support, that's not much different.

[bubicus]

I thought the PC version of the game was fun for a short while, but I became bored of the micromanagement pretty quickly. I *hope* they dumb it down by improving the UI and automating some gameplay details. I played it for about a week before going back to playing Civilization IV. Now if Civ IV was on the DS... I don't think I'd ever be able to sleep ever again.

If 1701AD went turn-based, I think that would help a lot. Turn-based play certainly helped make Age of Empires (another game I can't stand to play on the PC because of excessive micromanagement) into a decent DS game.
 

[Kairon]

AoE was the only game I was ever HAPPY to have break down on me and have a permanent bug. That game took over my life and would eat hours away like that *snaps fingers*.

... It's hold on me was so powerful that even after my first copy broke, I bought a second copy at full price and got right back into feeding my addiction.

... The day that second copy broke was the first day I'd seen sun in weeks. Thank you, THANK YOU gods of bad manufacturing!

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[KDR_11k]

Without "micromanagement" there wouldn't be much left to do in Anno.