The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom is a real time strategy and city-building
video game developed by Blue Byte Software
and published by Ubisoft
. It was released on March 23, 2010 for Microsoft Windows
and Mac OS X
. It is the seventh game in The Settlers series
.
series. The player may choose between playing a Campaign game, a Skirmish Game, a ranked game and a multiplayer game. The game gives the player an opportunity to choose between three unique paths of development for victory: Military, Science, and Trade. In the traditional Military development path, the player builds the kingdom's army in order to conquer and destroy enemies. Player can also conquer enemy territories without making an army, with the use of priests. In the Science development path, the player must focus on researching technological upgrades. Finally in the Trade development path, the player builds their economy and attempts to occupy the best trade routes on the map. Each path of development contains unique units and possibilities. In all development paths, the player wins by collecting Victory points throughout the course of the game.
The AI enemies have been greatly improved over those included in previous games, with more than twelve different AI profiles with unique behaviours. The game also includes an extensive new online multiplayer mode which allows players to both compete and co-operate with one another as well as gain tutelage in the form of a mentor request. Players can also generate and share content.
Campaign Mode: The player begins with a simple village and expands it sector by sector to create a kingdom. During this process, the player must fine-tune their production chains and transport systems. The Campaign mode is also the tutorial. It starts with very basic instruction and upon the completion of each section, it unlocks additional functionality of available tools and methods.
. The remainder of the music was produced by German company Dynamedion
in style with the main theme.
for Ubisoft
games known as the Online Services Platform. The service requires players to authenticate the game at launch and remain online while playing; if the network connection is lost, then the game will automatically pause. Shortly after release, reports of players experiencing issues connecting to Ubisoft's servers arose, particularly in Australia, which rendered the game unplayable.
Reports of the problem seemed to spread worldwide, with a vast number of international players still unable to connect two weeks later.
The protection was quickly defeated by the cracking scene, meaning the DRM restrictions and the need to connect to the Internet only affects legitimate purchasers of the game. Cracked copies have no such requirement. The crackers were able to replicate the logic of Ubisoft servers and mirror it on the player's computer. However, more recent patches released have been able to negate the crack, meaning that the DRM problem persist.
Settlers 7 remains to be the only Ubisoft
PC game to still have the DRM system in place, with all other DRM -implemented titles such as Assassin's Creed 2, From Dust
and Splinter Cell: Conviction all have had their DRM protection officially removed via recent patches.
described an "Everest-like learning curve", rating it 6.0. Gamespot
gave the game a rating of 7.5, praising its graphics and complex gameplay, and Eurogamer
gave it 8.0, describing the gameplay as "fun and hugely tense".
User reviews have been somewhat more critical with 78% of reviewers on Amazon.com giving it 1 star the lowest mark possible; most users indicate the DRM
as the reason for the low score.
City-building game
City-building games are a genre of strategy computer game where players act as the overall planner and leader of a city, looking down on it from above, and being responsible for its growth and management...
video game developed by Blue Byte Software
Blue Byte Software
Ubisoft Blue Byte is a video game developer based in Düsseldorf, Germany, founded in 1988. The company has produced popular titles like Battle Isle and The Settlers. In 2001, the company was purchased by Ubisoft.-History:...
and published by Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
. It was released on March 23, 2010 for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. It is the seventh game in The Settlers series
The Settlers
The Settlers is a slow-paced simulation computer game by German developer Blue Byte Software, first released in 1993 for Commodore Amiga and in 1994 for the PC...
.
Gameplay
Paths to a Kingdom features gameplay similar to that of past 3D games of The SettlersThe Settlers
The Settlers is a slow-paced simulation computer game by German developer Blue Byte Software, first released in 1993 for Commodore Amiga and in 1994 for the PC...
series. The player may choose between playing a Campaign game, a Skirmish Game, a ranked game and a multiplayer game. The game gives the player an opportunity to choose between three unique paths of development for victory: Military, Science, and Trade. In the traditional Military development path, the player builds the kingdom's army in order to conquer and destroy enemies. Player can also conquer enemy territories without making an army, with the use of priests. In the Science development path, the player must focus on researching technological upgrades. Finally in the Trade development path, the player builds their economy and attempts to occupy the best trade routes on the map. Each path of development contains unique units and possibilities. In all development paths, the player wins by collecting Victory points throughout the course of the game.
The AI enemies have been greatly improved over those included in previous games, with more than twelve different AI profiles with unique behaviours. The game also includes an extensive new online multiplayer mode which allows players to both compete and co-operate with one another as well as gain tutelage in the form of a mentor request. Players can also generate and share content.
Campaign Mode: The player begins with a simple village and expands it sector by sector to create a kingdom. During this process, the player must fine-tune their production chains and transport systems. The Campaign mode is also the tutorial. It starts with very basic instruction and upon the completion of each section, it unlocks additional functionality of available tools and methods.
Soundtrack
The title themes 'Hero Within' and 'Ever After' were produced, composed and performed by British/Latvian singer/songwriter Kariina Gretere, who is also known for her acclaimed music for the PC game ZanZarah: The Hidden PortalZanZarah: The Hidden Portal
ZanZarah: The Hidden Portal is an action-adventure computer game by German Funatics Development, released in 2002 by publisher THQ. An add-on, ZanZarah: The Lost Village , was in development in 2002, but was later cancelled.- Plot :The game follows the story of Amy, a young girl from London who on...
. The remainder of the music was produced by German company Dynamedion
Dynamedion
Dynamedion is a company and team of composers based in Germany. The group has won several industry awards including Best German Soundtrack 2004, 2005 and 2007 and Best Main Theme 2007...
in style with the main theme.
DRM Restrictions
The game is one of the first to introduce a new form of Digital Rights ManagementDigital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
for Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
games known as the Online Services Platform. The service requires players to authenticate the game at launch and remain online while playing; if the network connection is lost, then the game will automatically pause. Shortly after release, reports of players experiencing issues connecting to Ubisoft's servers arose, particularly in Australia, which rendered the game unplayable.
Reports of the problem seemed to spread worldwide, with a vast number of international players still unable to connect two weeks later.
The protection was quickly defeated by the cracking scene, meaning the DRM restrictions and the need to connect to the Internet only affects legitimate purchasers of the game. Cracked copies have no such requirement. The crackers were able to replicate the logic of Ubisoft servers and mirror it on the player's computer. However, more recent patches released have been able to negate the crack, meaning that the DRM problem persist.
Settlers 7 remains to be the only Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
PC game to still have the DRM system in place, with all other DRM -implemented titles such as Assassin's Creed 2, From Dust
From Dust
From Dust is a video game, designed by Eric Chahi and developed by Ubisoft Montpellier. Ubisoft described it as a 'spiritual heir' to Populous, a British game developed by Peter Molyneux and Bullfrog Productions in 1989. Announced on 14 June 2010 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo , Ubisoft...
and Splinter Cell: Conviction all have had their DRM protection officially removed via recent patches.
Reception
Reception has been generally positive, with some reservations, particularly revolving around the difficulty of the game. 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...
described an "Everest-like learning curve", rating it 6.0. Gamespot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave the game a rating of 7.5, praising its graphics and complex gameplay, and Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
gave it 8.0, describing the gameplay as "fun and hugely tense".
User reviews have been somewhat more critical with 78% of reviewers on Amazon.com giving it 1 star the lowest mark possible; most users indicate the DRM
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
as the reason for the low score.