Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 28, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Who says antiquity is boring: after just eight weeks, Gameforge has passed the one-million-user mark worldwide for its free online game Ikariam.
The building strategy game in the tradition of ‘The Settlers’ got off to a genuine dream start and is already being played in thirteen countries. Turning an undeveloped stretch of coast into a thriving metropolis is captivating numerous online players.
“The rapid growth in user numbers confirms that the game’s concept is right,” says Klaas Kersting, founder and board member of Gameforge. “Ikariam offers exactly the right mix of building strategy and economic simulation – and all of it free, as always.”
The combination of trade, warfare and diplomacy offers something for every taste. Players can decide for themselves whether to focus on the economy, research or the military. The users prove Ikariam’s success: their number already exceeds the population of Cologne.