The need to rethink the controller interface and create an entirely new set of art assets has forced developer Firaxis to put the Wii version of Civilization Revolution on hold for the time being, according to MTV Multiplayer.
A Wii version of CivRev wasn't part of the developer's original gameplan, but got tacked on after the console became such a runaway success. Unfortunately, since CivRev was in the process of being created for the 360, PS3, and DS, there weren't any graphics to use for the Wii.
"All of our assets were originally created with the 360/PS3 in mind. In order to bring them to the Wii, a great deal of work would have to go into making those assets look appropriate on Nintendo's system," explained Firaxis' Scott Lewis.
The look of the game wasn't the only stumbling block, however. The Wii controls simply don't have as many buttons as the 360 or PS3, forcing the design team to completely rethink the interface.
"I think the Wii would be perfect for a game like Civ, but we'd have to throw out all of our interface work (and some of our game design decisions) to make it feel like it truly fits on the platform," said Lewis.
Lewis feels confident that had the Wii version of CivRev been part of the plan from the start, there would have been no need to put it on hold, but with "too many projects going on and not enough people," there just aren't enough resources to give it the kind of time and attention it really needs.
If the 360, PS3, and DS versions do well, it seems likely that Firaxis will be able to see the Wii version through to completion.
Why 2k Games Pulled the Plug on the Wii's Civilization Revolution [MTV Multiplayer]
