14 DAY TRIAL // Carcassonne is a very well known European board game, named after the medieval fortified town of Carcassonne in southern France, famed for its city walls. Some have probably already challenged all of their friends within this game, but not Xbox 360 owners. Thus, Sierra Online is launching the Arcade version of Carcassonne over Xbox Live, this Wednesday, June 27.
The XBLA version of Carcassonne starts with an empty landscape and a single square tile. Using strategic tactics and a little luck, one to four players take turns selecting from 72 tiles displaying various features of a city including roads, the walls of a castle or fields. The medieval countryside thrives as players and their opponents place tiles and complete towns, roads, and farms while competing to accumulate more points.
Players will benefit from simple rules and fast gameplay, with no elimination whatsoever. Now, as the official report reads, although the game is rather simple, Carcassonne players will find layers of strategy that will keep them coming back for more, combining a fresh visual experience and the opportunity to always have a playing partner, making it the perfect board game.
Sierra Online's Carcassonne is the XBLA edition of the hit multiplayer tile-based German board game of the same name, designed by Klaus-Jurgen, awarded Spiel des Jahres in 2001 shortly after its release in Germany, in 2000. The respective award is the European equivalent of a Game of the Year Award.
Here are some of the game's basic features:
- special AI settings to challenge any skill level - challenge your friends - Up to five players can play over Xbox LIVE or up to four players can play on the same Xbox 360 - interact with new and old friends alike over Xbox LIVE while you play "Carcassonne" with the Xbox LIVE Vision camera - helpful step-by-step tutorial to teach you the game in minutes - skill-based matchmaking for ranked games - the complete "Carcassonne" includes 72 tiles and all rule sets - includes the "Rivers II" expansion set - 12 additional tiles - earn up to 200 Gamerscore and 12 Achievements
Remember: you'll be able to download Carcassonne starting Wednesday 27 June (that's tomorrow), wherever you live, via XBLA. Sierra Online's title will set you back some 800 Microsoft Points for the download.