Civilization is the juggernaut of the turn based strategy world, and has been for quite some time now. The formula remained mostly the same since the first Civ game was released in 1991. However, the Civilization series is about to take a departure from the familiar by custom seeding many different aspects for each new game, with a possible 15,000 outcomes, not including advanced world settings. 

Unlike previous Civilization games - which give a list of nations, each with a unique unit or two as well as a unique bonus set - Beyond Earth gives players five sets of choices to customize. The first set is called sponsors, of which there are eight. This is intentionally the very first step, as the developers thought it to be the most important thanks to having the most far reaching and long lasting effects. After that, players are given five choices for colonists to further diversify each play through, each one specializing in one of the classic aspects of the game. Will you further buff your strongest skill, or play it safe and spread out the bonuses? Next, players are given five options for their starting spacecraft perks. This is a crucial step, as - unlike in previous Civ games with mobile settlers - your first turn is an immediate settling of your first city. The penultimate option in regards to your civilization in particular: the cargo within that colonizing spaceship. Again, you're given five options to choose from, each one with a small bonus for your initial colony. Will you take another citizen, worker unit, soldier, tech, or clinic? Lastly, your choices end with the planet you will land on. You are given three types of worlds: Terran, Protean, and Atlantean. Terran is the most familiar and Earth-like, and Protean and Atlantean are extremes with more or less land, respectively. There will be quite a few options in regards to map customization as well, which is reminiscent of previous Civilization games. 

Also announced were the details of Firaxicon, Firaxis' new convention. Billed as an official fan event for all games put out by Firaxis, it is scheduled for September 27th and 28th at an Embassy Suites in Baltimore, Maryland. The event will include tournaments, multiple presentations - including one by Sid Meier - Firaxis "swag," and a "Firaxis Feast." Tickets are $40, but are strictly limited. 

Beyond Earth is scheduled to release on October 24th.