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Lost Cities (video game)
Encyclopedia
Lost Cities is the Xbox Live Arcade
version of the popular card game of the same name
by game designer Reiner Knizia
, published by Sierra Online. The game was released on April 23, 2008 for 800 Microsoft Points
(US$
10); it is currently unavailable for purchase.
The gameplay is identical to the card game: each player is dealt eight cards, which consist of 5 "suits" that represent individual expeditions, with each "suit" consisting of 3 Investment cards which multiply the value of an expedition, and 9 Expedition Cards numbered 2 through 10. The players are dealt 8 cards and build their expeditions by stacking the numbers in increasing order, and may draw from the deck or the 5 discard piles. The round ends when all of the cards have been played or discarded.
The round is scored by subtracting 20 from the value of each expedition, and multiplying each with the Investment cards. Failure to achieve 20 points in each expedition results in a negative score for that attempt, or no points if a total of 20 is exactly made. Investments in a failed expedition exacerbates the negative score.
A game consists of three rounds. The player with the most points accumulated after the rounds wins the game.
, including support for the Xbox Live Vision camera. When playing offline, players can play against one of three different computerized (AI) opponents, each corresponding to a different difficulty level.
Lastly, in addition to allowing standard two player games, Lost Cities includes alternate rules to support four player (two vs. two) matches.
's TeamXbox writer David Chapman
. While Chapman praised the "Simple gameplay", another IGN reviewer, Ryan Geddes suggested the title's gameplay lacked depth.
As of May 2009, the game has an aggregate score of 66/100 on Metacritic
.
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
version of the popular card game of the same name
Lost Cities
Lost Cities is a 60-card card game, designed in 1999 by game designer Reiner Knizia and published by several publishers. The objective of the game is to mount profitable expeditions to one or more of the five lost cities...
by game designer Reiner Knizia
Reiner Knizia
Reiner Knizia is a prolific German-style board game designer. Born in Germany, he developed his first game at the age of eight. He has a PhD in mathematics, and has been a full-time game designer since 1997, when he quit his job from the board of a large international bank...
, published by Sierra Online. The game was released on April 23, 2008 for 800 Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
(US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
10); it is currently unavailable for purchase.
Gameplay
The round is scored by subtracting 20 from the value of each expedition, and multiplying each with the Investment cards. Failure to achieve 20 points in each expedition results in a negative score for that attempt, or no points if a total of 20 is exactly made. Investments in a failed expedition exacerbates the negative score.
A game consists of three rounds. The player with the most points accumulated after the rounds wins the game.
Features
Lost Cities features leaderboards and online multiplayer through Xbox LiveXbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
, including support for the Xbox Live Vision camera. When playing offline, players can play against one of three different computerized (AI) opponents, each corresponding to a different difficulty level.
Lastly, in addition to allowing standard two player games, Lost Cities includes alternate rules to support four player (two vs. two) matches.
Reception
Lost Cities has been praised for "finely tuned balance of luck and skill...that made Lost Cities a hit with card- and board-game fans, and this version just makes all of that even better." in a review by IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's TeamXbox writer David Chapman
David Chapman (journalist)
David Chapman is an entertainment writer/producer covering various pop culture interests, particularly the video game and comic book industries. David's freelance work has appeared in a variety of outlets, including GameSpy and the US version of Play Magazine...
. While Chapman praised the "Simple gameplay", another IGN reviewer, Ryan Geddes suggested the title's gameplay lacked depth.
As of May 2009, the game has an aggregate score of 66/100 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.