As the new chapter in this renowned series approaches, we’ve discovered what the chief historian for Civilization VII intends to make the game as addictive as educational textbooks – if they were drugs. The Civilization series has consistently dabbled with the idea of historical accuracy and has been constructed upon reinterpreting it; however, this doesn’t imply that actual world history doesn’t influence the creation of each game. In a recent interview, the historian for Civ VII delved into this subject matter.

Civilization 7 Historian Hopes It Can Make Players Read

Prior to the upcoming launch of Civilization 7, an interview with Firaxis senior historian Dr. Andrew Johnson has offered insights into their strategy for maintaining historical authenticity during game development. Notably, the Civilization franchise is known for its long-standing joke involving Gandhi’s frequent use of nuclear weapons against opponents, a testament to the series’ penchant for transforming history into something increasingly tumultuous.

In a recent interview, Dr. Johnson expressed some aspirations for how the game might motivate players. Interestingly, he is an associate professor at Stockholm University’s Department of Social Anthropology, but his students’ evaluations aren’t particularly favorable. As it turns out, when he isn’t teaching undergraduates, Dr. Johnson lamented, “My students don’t read!

Despite his occasional frustrations, Dr. Johnson remains optimistic that Civilization 7 will ignite curiosity in some players, leading them to delve deeper into the historical context that underpins this edition. For instance, playing as Machiavelli could pique a player’s interest, but so might learning about lesser-known figures like Amina, Queen of Zazzau, or understanding the nuances between the Ming and Han Dynasties. If this game serves as a catalyst for historical inquiry, that is its true purpose. This game isn’t a textbook; it’s more like an introductory pill to the textbook. Textbooks, metaphorically speaking, are the hardcore drugs!

In a sense, Civilization 7 seems poised to be both the most and least historically authentic title in the series so far. The most significant change for this edition is the decision to separate civilizations from their leaders, yet simultaneously, this shift has enabled them to incorporate the new ages system, thereby encompassing a broader range of cultures during their specific historical eras.

In Civilization 7, players will now have an enhanced grasp of how civilizations evolve and develop progressively. Unlike previous games where cities and settlements remained largely unchanged over time, this new version allows players to rebuild upon existing structures while fortifying their cities in the new age. It’s important to note that many, if not most, players may not prioritize historical accuracy as they play, but the immersive experience could potentially ignite an interest in learning more about history, if we were to compare textbooks to drugs metaphorically.

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2025-01-07 23:43