View source for Catan (2007 video game)

{{distinguish|Catan (2008 video game)|Catan (2009 video game)}}
{{Infobox video game
|title= Catan
|image= Catanlogo.jpg
|caption= The [[Xbox Live Arcade]] cover
|developer= [[Big Huge Games]]
|publisher= Big Huge Games
|designer=
|series=
|released= May 2, 2007
|genre= [[Turn-based strategy]]
|modes= [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer]]
|platforms= [[Xbox 360]]
}}
'''''Catan''''' was the [[Xbox Live Arcade]] version of [[Klaus Teuber|Klaus Teuber's]] ''[[The Settlers of Catan]]'', developed by [[Big Huge Games]] in collaboration with Teuber. It was released on May 2, 2007. It is the first [[German-style board game]] to be released on Xbox Live Arcade, which was followed by ''[[Carcassonne (video game)|Carcassonne]]''.
The game has since been removed from Xbox Live Arcade and is no longer available to purchase.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kleist | first=Jeff | date=July 5, 2014 | url=http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/129451/catan-delisted-xbla-multiplayer-nigh-mobile/ | title=Catan Delisted From XBLA, Multiplayer Nigh on Mobile | website=Technology Tell | publisher=GadgeTell LLC | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150224/http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/129451/catan-delisted-xbla-multiplayer-nigh-mobile/ | archivedate=April 2, 2015 | url-status=dead | accessdate=April 25, 2024}}</ref>
== Development ==
During an interview with Big Huge Games founder [[Brian Reynolds (game designer)|Brian Reynolds]], it was revealed that [[Microsoft]] approached Big Huge Games with the idea for the project.<ref name=joystiq>{{cite web | last=Siegel | first=Scott Jon | date=February 22, 2007 | url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-02-22-off-the-grid-interviews-brian-reynolds-of-big-huge-games.html | title=Off the Grid interviews Brian Reynolds of Big Huge Games | website=[[Engadget]] ([[Joystiq]]) | publisher=[[Yahoo! Inc. (2017–present)|Yahoo! Inc.]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228183356/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/22/off-the-grid-interviews-brian-reynolds-of-big-huge-games/ | archivedate=February 28, 2007 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref> As part of the same interview, Klaus Teuber's collaboration on the project was explained, noting that he was instrumental in helping Reynolds create the AI, using notes and statistics he had generated years ago but had never previously been able to apply.
Reynolds later stated, regarding the board game, "The design is so elegant you can teach someone to play in minutes and then spend years trying to master it. With our expertise in interface design and artificial intelligence, it seemed like a natural fit for the project!"<ref name=catanlive>{{cite web | url=http://catanlive.com/ | title=Catan | website=[[Big Huge Games]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516032255/http://catanlive.com/ | archivedate=May 16, 2007 | url-status=dead | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
Teuber has fully endorsed the Big Huge Games version, claiming that the game has exceeded his expectations and noting that he himself has lost several games in a row to the AI.<ref name="catanlive" /> The rules of the computerized version are faithful to the original, with one exception suggested by Teuber himself; the number of resource cards held by players is not limited to the number of resource cards which came with the board game. This was the original design intent, but one which couldn't be implemented due to the necessity to include only a finite number of physical cards in game boxes.<ref>{{cite web | last=Brudvig | first=Erik | date=May 1, 2007 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/01/big-huge-games-talks-catan | title=Big Huge Games Talks Catan | website=[[IGN]] | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725225114/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/01/big-huge-games-talks-catan | archivedate=July 25, 2024 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
== Features ==
[[Image:Catan360.jpg|right|thumb|Typical gameplay screenshot.]]
As with the traditional [[board game]], ''Catan'' uses a game board composed of 19 randomly arranged hexagonal tiles, each representing a different type of terrain or resource.  Through strategy, luck, and skillful negotiation, 3 or 4 players vie to be the first to earn 10 victory points.  This is done through building and enlarging settlements, by establishing the largest army, by building the longest road, or through the use of certain ''development cards''.
''Catan'' claims to have the best ''Settlers of Catan'' [[artificial intelligence]] to date, featuring thirteen unique AI personalities for single player play and multiplayer games with fewer than four humans.<ref name="catanlive" /> Each AI personality, portrayed by a likeness of a famous leader or general (e.g. [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Alexander the Great]], [[Cleopatra]], etc.), has attributes such as their preferred strategy for winning, how quickly they like to expand, and their favorite resource.<ref name="joystiq" /> Three difficulty levels (easy, medium, and hard) control the level of expertise displayed by these opponents.
The game features two different "skins" for the game board. The first is a traditional flat view of the board, while the second is a "living world", showing the board as a 3D environment. The board can be rotated during gameplay to provide the desired view, and users can also tweak other visual options such as player colors (for those who are [[Color blindness|color blind]]).
As is typical of Xbox Live Arcade games, the game features online play and leaderboards. Separate leaderboards are used to display single player and multiplayer rankings. Unlike many games which keep the [[Xbox Live#TrueSkill|TrueSkill]] level of the players hidden, ''Catan'' displays the calculated current values on one of the leaderboards.
Gameplay is turn-based, but turn timers are used to prevent individual players from halting the progression of the game. While not accessible in ranked matches, custom matches can make use of user-defined "House Rules". Items which can be tweaked include the turn timer, how resource production works, rules for the thief/robber, and several others.
In all types of matches, players can use graphical "ticklers" (or "emotes") to communicate thoughts or feelings, including love or hatred of the dice and/or other players. Similar devices, referred to as "Fooms", were previously available in the Hardwood series of Xbox Live Arcade games. These can be used as an alternative to voice chat (which is supported but not required) in order to, for example, encourage opponents to "sweeten a deal" or warn that they are too close to winning. The ticklers are used by AI players to indicate their "mood" in response to a player's actions; pleasing AIs will influence them to treat the player as an ally (though not to the point of jeopardizing their position), while angering them will serve to focus their negative attention. AI players will react to player-directed emotes towards them as well.
== Downloadable content ==
Less than a week after the title's release, a separate theme pack ("Themes Pack 1") and picture pack ("Generals Picture Pack 1") were made available for download.
On May 31, 2007 a "Mayfair" skin pack (to change the visual representation of the game to the United States version of the board game) was available, as well another gamertag picture pack ("Generals Picture Pack 2").<ref>{{cite web | last=Hryb | first=Larry "Major Nelson | date=May 30, 2007 | url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2007/05/30/catan-pictures-and-skin-pack/ | title=Catan: Pictures and Skin Pack | website=Xbox Wire | publisher=[[Microsoft]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165158/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2007/05/30/catan-pictures-and-skin-pack/ | archive-date=June 8, 2023 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
On June 13, 2007, a "Generals" AI expansion pack was released which added additional computer-controlled opponents, including [[Joan of Arc]], [[Hannibal]], and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu|Tokugawa]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Hryb | first=Larry "Major Nelson | date=June 13, 2007 | url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2007/06/13/catan-generals-expansion-pack-1/ | title=Catan - Generals Expansion Pack 1 | website=Xbox Wire | publisher=Microsoft | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601143952/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2007/06/13/catan-generals-expansion-pack-1/ | archivedate=June 1, 2023 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 81/100<ref name="Metacritic - Catan">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/catan-2003/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 | title=Catan (2003) [sic] critic reviews (X360) | website=[[Metacritic]] | publisher=[[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006134508/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/catan | archivedate=October 6, 2022 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
| 4P = 85%<ref>{{cite web | last=Bischoff | first=Jens | date=May 8, 2007 | url=https://www.4p.de/test/catan_xbox_360/5465 | title=Test: Catan (X360) | language=de | website=[[4Players]] | publisher=4Players GmbH | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103174130/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/360/Test/9082/5465/0/Catan.html | archivedate=November 3, 2021 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref>
| AVC = B+<ref>{{cite web | last=Mastrapa | first=Gus | date=May 14, 2007 | url=https://www.avclub.com/catan-1798211375 | title=Catan | website=[[The A.V. Club]] | publisher=[[G/O Media]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629071601/http://www.avclub.com/articles/catan,7842/ | archivedate=June 29, 2010 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
| EuroG = 7/10<ref>{{cite web | last=Kumar | first=Mathew | date=May 4, 2007 | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/catan-review | title=Catan | website=[[Eurogamer]] | publisher=[[Gamer Network]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208172241/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/catan-review | archivedate=February 8, 2014 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.9/10<ref>{{cite web | last=Navarro | first=Alex | date=May 2, 2007 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/catan-review/1900-6170049/ | title=Catan Review (X360) | website=[[GameSpot]] | publisher=Fandom | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915041128/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/catan-review/1900-6170049/ | archivedate=September 15, 2015 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
| HCG = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Cunningham | first=James | url=https://archive.org/details/hardcore-gamer-magazine-v3i1/page/n33/mode/2up | title=Catan (X360) | magazine=Hardcore Gamer | publisher=[[Prima Games]] | volume=3 | issue=1 | date=July 2007 | page=68 | accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.7/10<ref>{{cite web | last=Brudvig | first=Erik | date=May 4, 2007 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/04/catan-review-2 | title=Catan Review (X360) | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114044551/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/04/catan-review-2 | archivedate=November 14, 2023 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref>
| JXV = 15/20<ref>{{cite web | author=dharn | date=January 23, 2008 | url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00008582-catan-test.htm | title=Catan (360) | language=fr | website=[[Jeuxvideo.com]] | publisher=[[Webedia]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122120757/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00008582-catan-test.htm | archivedate=January 22, 2022 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref>
| OXM = 8/10<ref name="OXM">{{cite magazine | title=Catan | magazine=[[Official Xbox Magazine]] | publisher=[[Future US]] | date=March 2007 | page=81}}</ref>
| PALGN = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite web | last=Mitchell | first=Luke | date=November 2, 2007 | url=http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=9375 | title=XBLA Catan Review | website=PALGN | publisher=PAL Gaming Network | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216020248/http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=9375 | archivedate=December 16, 2008 | url-status=dead | accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref>
| TX = 8.6/10<ref>{{cite web | last=Eddy | first=Andy | date=May 1, 2007 | url=http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1319/Catan/p1/ | title=Catan Review (Xbox 360) | website=[[TeamXbox]] | publisher=IGN Entertainment | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405010933/http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1319/Catan/p1/ | archivedate=April 5, 2013 | url-status=dead | accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''411Mania''
| rev1Score = 8.1/10<ref>{{cite web | last=Sarcuni | first=Damian | date=May 4, 2007 | url=http://411mania.com/games/reviews/53885/Catan-%28Xbox-Live-Arcade%29-Review.htm | title=Catan (Xbox Live Arcade) Review | website=411Mania | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015133946/http://411mania.com/games/reviews/53885/Catan-(Xbox-Live-Arcade)-Review.htm | archivedate=October 15, 2007 | url-status=dead | accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref>
}}
The game received "favorable" reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="Metacritic - Catan"/> ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]'' gave it a favorable review while it was still in development.<ref name="OXM"/>
Reviews of the game have generally found it to be a solid adaptation of the classic board game, but noting that it inherently limited the game's audience. While those who enjoy slower-paced strategy games will likely find the title a good value, the pace won't appeal to players who demand more action. The user interface has been well received, with the trading interface receiving wide praise, although reviews note several negatives as well, including the title's lack of support for the [[Xbox Live Vision]] camera and the absence of a local multiplayer option. Additionally, the game uses a relatively small text font which may be hard to read on smaller televisions, although the developers have stated that the game uses separate fonts for high-definition and standard-definition displays.
Contrary to published critical reviews, however, customer reaction had been strongly positive,<ref name="Metacritic - Catan"/><ref>{{cite web | date=April 30, 2007 | url=https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/164026/catan-for-xbox-360-out-wednesday-may-2-2007 | title=Catan for Xbox 360 out Wednesday | website=Boardgamegeek Forums | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205080001/https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/164026/catan-for-xbox-360-out-wednesday-may-2-2007 | archivedate=February 5, 2012 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 25, 2024}}</ref> with the game debuting third in sales in its first week of availability.<ref>{{cite web | last=Hryb | first=Larry | date=May 5, 2007 | url=http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/05/05/xbox-live-activity-for-week-of-4-30.aspx | title=Xbox Live Activity for week of 4/30 | website=Xbox Live's Major Nelson | publisher=Microsoft | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508043043/http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/05/05/xbox-live-activity-for-week-of-4-30.aspx | archivedate=May 8, 2007 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==See also==
*''[[Carcassonne (video game)]]''
*''[[Lost Cities (video game)]]''
*''[[Ticket to Ride (video game)]]''
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160310155517/http://www.catan.com/game/settlers-catan-xbox-360 Official ''Catan'' Site]
*{{moby game|id=/33463/catan/}}
{{Catan navbox}}
[[Category:2007 video games]]
[[Category:Big Huge Games games]]
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[[Category:Video games based on board games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
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