2K Games have taken the curious and welcome step of explaining what data Civilization VI collects about you, your computer, and your play – and why. It’s fairly common for games from big publishers to report back, but rare for publishers to say what it’s doing and why. The license we have to agree to ostensibly gives them permission, after all. Most evidently don’t think it’s in their best interests to be open, which is unfortunate because it is in ours. Whether you’re okay with how much data they collect, ah, that’s up to you; at least now we can make a more-informed decision.
Oh hello! John is away in San Francisco gobbling up gum left on the underside of chairs at the Game Developers Conference, so I’m filling in for our regular rundown of last week’s top-selling games on Steam. As is customary for weeks where I need to take over, the charts are full of the surprises he grumbles they never have. What can I say, John – video games must make more of an effort for me. And for goodness’ sake, leave that gum. I don’t care if Sid Meier himself stuck it there.
Do you like strategy games? Then you might like the new Humble Strategy Bundle for 2019, which gets things rolling with Niche: A Genetics Survival Games, Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation (a standalone expansion, so you don't need the original to play) and Throne of Lies: The Online Game of Deceit, for $1. That's good stuff all around—but there's more.
Beat the average price to add Dungeons 3, Offworld Trading Company, and the OTC: Jupiter's Forge expansion pack to the bundle, or pay $9 and get Stellaris and Plague Inc. Evolved. Things get really interesting at the top tier: For $15, they'll throw in Civilization 6, which normally goes for $60 all on its own.
That's cheaper than Civilization 6 has ever been previously, according to Steam Database, and that's without taking the other games into account. If you haven't picked it up yet because you're waiting on a deal that's just too good to ignore, you might want to give this one a look. The Humble Strategy Bundle 2019 is available until March 26.
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Hahaha, I can’t believe you think the game you like is good! The game you like ISN’T good! Your liking the game you like makes you look just SO silly. Find out which games everyone else likes, and then start liking those games instead, with our handy Steam Charts guide.
I’m nothing if not a hypocrite. Week after week I lament you utterly awful people buying the exact same five games again and again and again and again and again and again> and again. This week I shall lament people buying games that barely even exist. Hold my hand, let me walk you through this most peculiar of weeks, and into oncoming traffic.
Of course the original editions of the Steam Charts focused on those maps used by the early pioneers of steam-based exploration, so this week we take a historical look back at the origins of your favourite game series. For just one week, put aside your modern electricity-based computing, and come on a journey through time.
Look, Civilization 6 is a cool videogame and all, but it's no Footloose. It may span the breadth of human history, but it's not epic on the scale of a battle between a religious dad and a city boy who just wants to dance to rock 'n' roll. Civilization is tragically lacking in Kevin Bacon. But at least this new mod, "To Hell With The Devil: Religious units fight Rock Bands," is putting us on the right track.
Recent Civ 6 expansion Gathering Storm introduced rock bands as a type of unit. Rock bands pump up the local tourism, can go on tour, and even have a "religious rock" promotion that "Performs a concert that converts the majority religion of that city to the religion founded by the player." But because rock 'n' roll is obviously the devil's work, it seems only fair that religious units could fight back against music's corrupting influence. That's where the mod comes in.
Here's what it does:
"Allows Religious units (Apostles and Inquisitors) to fight against Rock Bands, by giving Rock Bands a religious strength level. Rock Bands have a religious strength of 125 -- stronger than an Apostle with no bonuses, but able to be overcome by fervent prayer, fasting, and proper use of wonders and policies. Rock Bands cannot initiate combat. The point of this mod is to give players an optional line of defence against rock bands."
That's right: fervent praying can now save your soul from the sinful sounds of rock. The mod's few commenters seem eager to see whether Civ's AI leaders will now use their missionaries to slaughter rock bands. Or, in the words of Steam user nut9931: "finally kill fucking rock star. very nice." This guy's seen Footloose.
Kidding, kidding. I love that the mod's creator felt it important to clarify that he's totally cool with rock. "Before you flood the comments below, I didn't choose the name because I think rock & roll is 'of the Devil' or something." The mod is named after a song by—wait for it—a Christian heavy metal band.
The game you like isn’t as good as the game I like. When you like the game you like, you are made to look a fool!
Find out why in this week’s Steam Charts.

Ghengis Khan keeps sending me charity donations. The Aztecs are increasingly angrily demanding that I give them an Edgar Allen Poe novel. A volcano just erupted over Dutch Disneyland. The World Congress is trying to stop climate change by running a gameshow.
I used to fret that Civilization VI wasn’t memorable. With the Gathering Storm expansion, for better or worse, it’s unforgettable.