Pre-ordering Firaxis' turn-based sci-fi strategy Civilization: Beyond Earth will net you six new maps to explore, all of which are "inspired by real-world exoplanets."
The game's already available for pre-order through various retail outlets, and ordering from any one of them will net you the Exoplanets Map Pack.
Beyond Earth lets players command a human colony on a distant world, and gives them a choice of ways to upgrade their faction and advance their technology. As always in Civ, different world types will dramatically change the feel of your game. Here's what you'll get in the pre-oder content:
- Kepler 186f: This lush forest planet is one of the oldest known Earth-like planets.
- Rigil Khantoris Bb: Orbiting the closest star to the solar system, the historical records of this arid continental planet's settlement are well-preserved.
- Tau Ceti d: This planet of seas and archipelagos features a booming biodiversity and a wealth of resources.
- Mu Arae f: Tidally locked in orbit around a weak star, the southern hemisphere of this planet is a blistering desert where the sun never sets, while the northern hemisphere is perpetually in frozen darkness.
- 82 Eridani e: An alien world of scarce water and wracked by tectonic forces.
- Eta Vulpeculae b: A mysterious new discovery with unknown terrain.
If you don't fancy a bunch of extra worlds to loot, abuse and ultimately destroy (unless you're boring and play nice, I suppose), you can instead opt for the Civilization: Beyond Earth Classics Bundle. It will set you back $70 and contains Civilization III Complete, Civilization IV, and Civilization V. If you've not played any of those before, you're in for a treat.
Civilization: Beyond Earth is set for release on October 24 for Linux, Mac and Windows PC.
