The year is 1849, and gold has just been discovered in Northern California! Grab a pickaxe and claim your fortune in SomaSim’s new game 1849, a bustling Gold Rush sim reminiscent of city management classics like SimCity and Caesar III. Following an early access beta release and acceptance by Steam Greenlight, the final version of 1849 is now available worldwide for download on PC, Mac, iPad, and Android tablets (see below for links).
Set during an unparalleled period of American history, 1849 features 20 levels set in existing California cities brought to life with graphics inspired by period photographs and surviving architecture. In each level, players must establish and grow the local economy while balancing citizens’ needs against the backdrop of real Gold Rush scenarios and challenges. Should Sacramento be a mining town, a farming community, or a hub for trade? Will the pioneers flocking into Monterey become productive prospectors or devolve into unruly drunks at the local saloon? That’s your call!
Two versions of 1849 have been released:
•Mobile version (iPad & Android tablets) includes a story mode and the ability to replay scenarios to try different strategies in each city.
•Desktop version (PC & Mac) includes story mode, the ability to replay scenarios, and an open-ended sandbox mode. This version sells for $14.99.
In both versions, the gameplay has been tuned to accommodate brief play sessions or longer marathons, with no in-app purchases or incremental charges to mar the experience.
“Over the last few years casual city management games have gained popularity, but they’re nothing like the in-depth simulation games that defined the genre back in the day. Those were games I could lose myself in for hours, building a massive empire out of nothing. We’ve tried to bring back this gameplay and experience in 1849,” says developer Robert Zubek. “It’s a game tuned for today’s technology and players – the scenarios are designed so you can play for a few minutes on the bus if that’s all the time you have, or spend hours building a huge bustling city. At its heart 1849 is a classic city management game with all the bells and whistles that make this genre so much fun.”
Learn more about 1849 and its inspirations at the official website: http://somasim.com/1849