New version of ‘Civilization’ ready for Facebook debut

Long before “FarmVille” there was “Civilization,” the iconic computer game in which players build a civilized world over thousands of years. Now, the game’s designer, Sid Meier, is bringing his creation to Facebook.

Available Wednesday, “Civ World” is a lighter, social version of the classic PC strategy game, which launched in 1991 and migrated to video game consoles in 2008. In the Facebook adaptation, players cooperate to build cities and engage in diplomacy, scientific discovery and economics as they advance civilization throughout the ages.

“It’s built along similar lines, with a beginning, middle and end,” Meier said. “But you create a story together with a lot of other people. It’s more of a group experience.”

Like “FarmVille” and other Facebook games, “Civ World” is free to play. It makes money by selling virtual items, such as armies and weapons that can help players advance. But to make the game enjoyable for players who don’t spend anything, “Civ World” limits how much can be spent each day.

“It’s not fun if … someone else is winning because they are spending money,” Meier said.

Comic book series to debut via print, mobile and Web

Taking another step toward offering comics in stores and digitally on the same day, publisher BOOM! Studios says its new series, “Elric: The Balance Lost” will do just that.

The series, written by Chris Roberson and drawn by Francesco Biagini, is based on author Michael Moorcock’s fan-favorite fantasy hero Elric of Melnibon?

The book will be on sale in comic book shops Wednesday, but will also be available for download through BOOM! Studios own comics app and comiXology’s app, too. Unlike other publishers, however, the issue’s 10-page prelude will also be accessible on its own website at no cost.

“With ‘Elric’ we’re not only focusing on print and mobile devices exclusively but getting out onto Internet browsers that billions of people use every day,” BOOM!’ marketing and sales director Chip Mosher said of the comic, which will retail for $3.99 in print and digital form.

New feature on Facebook lets users make video calls

Quick on the heels of Google’s launch of its latest social-networking venture, Facebook says its 750 million users will now be able to make video calls on the site.

The feature will be powered by the Internet phone service Skype. Facebook also redesigned its chat feature so that the people who a user messages the most often show up first.

To make video calls, Facebook users with webcam-equipped computers have to select the friends they want to chat with. In the chat window that pops up, clicking on a small blue video icon brings up the video chat feature. Currently there is no option to video chat more than one person.

Facebook is also adding a group chat option. This works much the same way as the group chat on Google Plus. Once you are chatting with one friend, you can click an icon to add more people to the conversation.

— From news service reports