<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
:	I-Application
Paths	I-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
(	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
city-building	B-Application
game	I-Application
with	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
elements	O
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
macOS	B-Application
in	O
March	O
2010	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
seventh	O
game	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blue	O
Byte	O
released	O
three	O
DLC	B-Protocol
packs	O
in	O
2010	O
;	O
Uncharted	O
Land	O
(	O
)	O
,	O
Conquest	O
-	O
The	O
Empire	O
(	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Rise	O
of	O
the	O
Rebellion	O
(	O
)	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
July	O
,	O
September	O
,	O
and	O
December	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2011	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
:	I-Application
Paths	I-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
-	O
Deluxe	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
containing	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
three	O
packs	O
,	O
an	O
unlock	O
code	O
for	O
an	O
upcoming	O
fourth	O
pack	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2018	O
,	O
the	O
Deluxe	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
was	O
re-released	O
as	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
:	I-Application
Paths	I-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
-	O
History	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Chronicles	O
of	O
Tandria	O
,	O
a	O
campaign	O
included	O
with	O
the	O
Rise	O
of	O
the	O
Rebellion	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
tells	O
a	O
prequel	O
story	O
depicting	O
how	O
and	O
why	O
Dracorian	O
and	O
his	O
sister	O
Rovyn	O
first	O
took	O
up	O
arms	O
against	O
Balderus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
designing	O
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
explicitly	O
set	O
out	O
to	O
correct	O
the	O
perceived	O
problems	O
of	O
the	O
two	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
;	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
(	O
which	O
had	O
been	O
criticised	O
for	O
focusing	O
too	O
heavily	O
on	O
combat	O
)	O
and	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
(	O
which	O
had	O
been	O
criticised	O
for	O
its	O
overly	O
simplistic	O
economic	O
models	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Roughly	O
basing	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
the	O
most	O
acclaimed	O
title	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
the	O
designers	O
foregrounded	O
such	O
popular	O
features	O
as	O
road	O
networks	O
and	O
complex	O
daisy-chain	O
economic	O
processes	O
,	O
whilst	O
emphasising	O
economic	O
micromanagement	O
,	O
technology	O
trees	O
,	O
and	O
trade	O
requirements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
received	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
critics	O
citing	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
Settlers	B-Application
game	O
since	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2010	O
Deutscher	O
Entwicklerpreis	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
won	O
two	O
awards	O
;	O
"	O
Best	O
German	O
Game	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Strategy	B-Application
Game	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
:	I-Application
Paths	I-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
is	O
a	O
city-building	B-Application
game	I-Application
with	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
elements	O
,	O
controlled	O
via	O
a	O
point	O
and	O
click	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
loosely	O
built	O
around	O
the	O
same	O
supply	O
and	O
demand-based	O
gameplay	O
as	O
seen	O
in	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
mechanics	O
are	O
quite	O
different	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Featuring	O
a	O
more	O
complex	O
economic	O
model	O
than	O
the	O
last	O
two	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
and	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
,	O
there	O
is	O
less	O
focus	O
on	O
combat	O
and	O
more	O
on	O
such	O
elements	O
as	O
micromanagement	O
,	O
daisy-chain	O
economic	O
processes	O
,	O
technology	O
trees	O
,	O
trade	O
requirements	O
,	O
and	O
increasing	O
the	O
settlement	O
's	O
prestige	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
content	O
added	O
two	O
stand-alone	O
missions	O
each	O
with	O
their	O
own	O
self-contained	O
storyline	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
campaign	O
of	O
five	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Skirmish	O
and	O
Multiplayer	O
modes	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
played	O
via	O
a	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
or	O
online	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
picks	O
a	O
map	O
on	O
which	O
to	O
play	O
,	O
with	O
each	O
map	O
featuring	O
different	O
geographical	O
features	O
,	O
resource	O
distribution	O
,	O
and	O
victory	O
conditions	O
(	O
some	O
maps	O
feature	O
a	O
Mission	O
Board	O
,	O
others	O
feature	O
Victory	O
Points	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiplayer	O
mode	O
allows	O
for	O
up	O
to	O
four	O
players	O
,	O
or	O
any	O
combination	O
of	O
human	O
players	O
and	O
computer	B-Application
controlled	I-Application
opponents	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
basic	O
gameplay	O
revolves	O
around	O
serfs	O
(	O
the	O
titular	O
"	O
settlers	B-Application
"	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
transport	O
materials	O
,	O
tools	O
and	O
produce	O
,	O
and	O
who	O
populate	O
and	O
perform	O
the	O
requisite	O
task	O
of	O
each	O
building	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
player	O
constructs	O
buildings	O
and	O
thus	O
requires	O
settlers	B-Application
to	O
occupy	O
them	O
,	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
automatically	O
emerge	O
from	O
the	O
castle	O
as	O
needed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
settlement	O
continues	O
to	O
grow	O
in	O
size	O
,	O
its	O
quota	O
of	O
settlers	B-Application
will	O
eventually	O
be	O
reached	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
will	O
need	O
to	O
build	O
additional	O
residences	O
to	O
create	O
more	O
living	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
in	O
all	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
except	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
unable	O
to	O
directly	O
control	O
any	O
individual	O
settler	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
,	O
when	O
the	O
player	O
elects	O
to	O
construct	O
a	O
building	O
,	O
a	O
settler	O
automatically	O
emerges	O
from	O
a	O
constructor	O
,	O
collects	O
the	O
necessary	O
construction	B-Application
material	O
from	O
the	O
nearest	O
storehouse	O
,	O
travels	O
to	O
the	O
site	O
,	O
and	O
begins	O
construction	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
upgrading	O
the	O
base	O
building	O
has	O
no	O
effect	O
on	O
the	O
productivity	O
of	O
the	O
work	O
yard	O
,	O
instead	O
it	O
simply	O
provides	O
more	O
living	O
space	O
,	O
thus	O
increasing	O
the	O
upper	O
limit	O
of	O
settlers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
an	O
important	O
game	O
mechanic	O
is	O
the	O
construction	B-Application
of	O
a	O
road	O
network	O
so	O
as	O
to	O
allow	O
for	O
an	O
efficient	O
transportation	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
only	O
build	O
basic	O
roads	O
,	O
but	O
when	O
the	O
settlement	O
reaches	O
a	O
certain	O
level	O
of	O
prestige	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
build	O
paved	O
roads	O
,	O
on	O
which	O
settlers	B-Application
move	O
faster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Items	O
remain	O
in	O
that	O
storehouse	O
until	O
they	O
are	O
needed	O
for	O
construction	B-Application
or	O
demanded	O
by	O
another	O
work	O
yard	O
,	O
at	O
which	O
point	O
they	O
are	O
carried	O
to	O
the	O
nearest	O
storehouse	O
to	O
the	O
construction	B-Application
site	O
or	O
work	O
yard	O
,	O
and	O
then	O
brought	O
to	O
their	O
final	O
destination	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
in	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
territory	O
can	O
be	O
expanded	O
in	O
three	O
different	O
ways	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Clerics	O
are	O
the	O
only	O
settlers	B-Application
who	O
can	O
move	O
through	O
neutral	O
and	O
enemy	O
sectors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
important	O
aspect	O
of	O
research	O
is	O
that	O
monasteries	O
are	O
not	O
player	O
exclusive	O
-	O
any	O
player	O
,	O
human	O
or	O
computer	B-Application
,	O
can	O
use	O
any	O
monastery	O
to	O
research	O
a	O
new	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
an	O
early-Renaissance	O
milieu	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
kingdom	O
of	O
Tandria	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
most	O
valued	O
possession	O
is	O
the	O
"	O
People	O
's	O
Crown	O
"	O
,	O
given	O
only	O
to	O
those	O
monarchs	O
who	O
rule	O
benevolently	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Asking	O
for	O
PC	B-Device
players	O
expert	O
in	O
strategy	B-Application
,	O
construction	B-Application
,	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
gaming	O
,	O
selected	O
candidates	O
would	O
be	O
"	O
fully	O
integrated	O
into	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
work	O
specifically	O
on	O
game	O
mechanics	O
and	O
difficulty	O
balancing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
22	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
officially	O
announced	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
Adam	O
Novickas	O
,	O
director	O
of	O
marketing	O
,	O
stating	O
,	O
"	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
:	I-Application
Paths	I-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
brings	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
franchise	O
to	O
the	O
next	O
level	O
of	O
the	O
strategy-sim	O
genre	O
,	O
employing	O
the	O
core	O
mechanisms	O
that	O
made	O
the	O
series	O
a	O
success	O
while	O
continuing	O
to	O
innovate	O
in	O
new	O
areas	O
that	O
will	O
give	O
gamers	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
craft	O
their	O
own	O
unique	O
,	O
thrilling	O
experience	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
revealed	O
that	O
Bruce	O
Shelley	O
,	O
co-designer	O
of	O
Railroad	B-Application
Tycoon	I-Application
and	O
Civilization	B-Application
,	O
and	O
lead	O
designer	O
on	O
the	O
first	O
three	O
Age	B-Application
of	I-Application
Empires	I-Application
games	O
,	O
had	O
been	O
hired	O
as	O
a	O
design	O
consultant	O
,	O
specifically	O
with	O
an	O
eye	O
to	O
making	O
the	O
game	O
more	O
appealing	O
to	O
a	O
North	O
American	O
market	O
and	O
correcting	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
perceived	O
problems	O
with	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
and	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
advised	O
the	O
designers	O
to	O
make	O
sure	O
the	O
player	O
always	O
had	O
something	O
to	O
do	O
,	O
explaining	O
that	O
"	O
in	O
Settlers	B-Application
6	I-Application
,	O
I	O
found	O
that	O
the	O
computer	B-Application
seemed	O
to	O
be	O
having	O
more	O
fun	O
than	O
I	O
was	O
,	O
as	O
I	O
often	O
had	O
to	O
wait	O
around	O
,	O
becoming	O
bored	O
because	O
I	O
did	O
n't	O
know	O
what	O
to	O
do	O
next	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
suggested	O
a	O
simpler	O
HUD	O
than	O
in	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
arguing	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
should	O
be	O
"	O
transparent	O
,	O
self-explanatory	O
,	O
and	O
challenging	O
"	O
,	O
citing	O
StarCraft	B-Application
as	O
an	O
example	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Shelley	O
's	O
advice	O
in	O
mind	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
early	O
stages	O
of	O
development	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
looked	O
at	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
and	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
to	O
see	O
what	O
did	O
n't	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
the	O
series	O
had	O
gone	O
in	O
the	O
direction	O
of	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
,	O
with	O
far	O
more	O
emphasis	O
on	O
combat	O
than	O
micromanagement	O
or	O
city-building	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
n't	O
well	O
received	O
by	O
fans	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
addressed	O
their	O
criticisms	O
in	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
by	O
reducing	O
combat	O
and	O
focusing	O
on	O
city-building	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Rise	O
also	O
featured	O
a	O
significantly	O
simpler	O
economic	O
model	O
than	O
any	O
previous	O
title	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
with	O
little	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
supply	O
and	O
demand-based	O
daisy-chain	O
economic	O
processes	O
upon	O
which	O
the	O
first	O
four	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
were	O
built	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
was	O
criticised	O
by	O
fans	O
,	O
with	O
series	O
producer	O
Benedikt	O
Grindel	O
admitting	O
,	O
"	O
with	O
Settlers	B-Application
5	I-Application
and	O
6	O
,	O
we	O
lost	O
many	O
loyal	O
fans	O
,	O
despite	O
having	O
a	O
larger	O
base	O
target	O
group	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
fans	O
lost	O
out.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
this	O
in	O
mind	O
,	O
in	O
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
,	O
the	O
designers	O
looked	O
both	O
forward	O
and	O
backwards	O
-	O
introducing	O
new	O
game	O
mechanics	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Mission	O
Board	O
and	O
Victory	O
Points	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
going	O
back	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
in	O
terms	O
of	O
the	O
complexity	O
of	O
the	O
production	O
chains	O
and	O
the	O
centrality	O
of	O
building	O
a	O
good	O
road	O
network	O
(	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
also	O
featured	O
roads	O
,	O
but	O
they	O
were	O
optional	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
a	O
press	O
event	O
in	O
February	O
,	O
Grindel	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
designers	O
wanted	O
to	O
"	O
return	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
to	O
the	O
classic	O
economy	O
that	O
fans	O
knew	O
well	O
and	O
make	O
 [ it ] 	O
much	O
deeper	O
,	O
while	O
keeping	O
the	O
gameplay	O
more	O
accessible	O
for	O
newer	O
players	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Karakter	O
provided	O
concept	O
art	O
during	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
pre-production	O
,	O
adhering	O
to	O
lead	O
artist	O
Armin	O
Barkawitz	O
's	O
mandate	O
for	O
"	O
a	O
dreamy	O
fairy	O
tale	O
look	O
"	O
(	O
GameSpots	O
Andrew	O
Park	O
characterised	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
characters	O
from	O
Team	B-Application
Fortress	I-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
a	O
Shrek	B-Application
milieu	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2010	O
,	O
shortly	O
before	O
release	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
published	O
a	O
video	O
showcasing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
graphical	O
components	O
;	O
"	O
far	B-General_Concept
view	I-General_Concept
distance	I-General_Concept
"	O
,	O
"	O
cascaded	O
shadowmaps	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
speedtree	B-General_Concept
technology	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
seasonal	O
leaf	O
colour	O
tint	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
screen	O
space	O
ambient	O
occlusion	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
3D	O
pathfinding	B-Algorithm
"	O
,	O
"	O
adaptive	O
decal	O
lod	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
water	O
lightscattering	O
with	O
caustics	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
freely	O
paintable	O
waterflow	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
volumetric	B-Algorithm
clouds	O
with	O
backlighting	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
squash	O
and	O
stretch	O
animation	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
view	O
dependent	O
animation	O
lod	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
dynamic	O
weather	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
glossy	O
surface	O
shading	B-General_Concept
"	O
,	O
"	O
glow	O
renderpass	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
depth	O
of	O
field	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
procedural	O
lightning	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
wind-driven	O
,	O
terrain-adapted	O
vegetation	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
atmospheric	O
lightscattering	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
sunray	O
rendering	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
freely	O
adjustable	O
snow	O
level	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
soft	O
sprite	O
rendering	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
ambient	O
cube	O
lighting	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
freely	O
paintable	O
lavaflow	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2010	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
announced	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
releasing	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
two	O
editions	O
in	O
Germany	O
;	O
a	O
standard	O
edition	O
and	O
a	O
Limited	O
Edition	O
(	O
containing	O
an	O
in-game	O
map	O
and	O
six	O
Castle	O
Forge	O
pieces	O
not	O
found	O
in	O
the	O
standard	O
edition	O
,	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
CD	O
,	O
a	O
Settlers	B-Application
figurine	O
,	O
corn	O
,	O
wheat	O
,	O
and	O
barley	O
seeds	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
A2	O
size	O
poster	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
macOS	B-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
Settlers	B-Application
title	O
on	O
a	O
Macintosh	B-Device
since	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
released	O
a	O
demo	O
,	O
revealing	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
in	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	O
to	O
feature	O
in-game	O
achievements	O
,	O
available	O
through	O
Uplay	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
,	O
a	O
few	O
months	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
been	O
released	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
published	O
a	O
Facebook	B-Application
tie-in	O
browser	B-Protocol
game	I-Protocol
called	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	O
My	O
City	O
(	O
)	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
players	O
must	O
run	O
a	O
small	O
city	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
,	O
another	O
tie-in	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
simplified	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
of	O
Tandria	O
(	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
game	I-Application
offering	O
a	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
,	O
single-player	O
skirmish	O
mode	O
,	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
(	O
allowing	O
two	O
different	O
players	O
to	O
play	O
on	O
the	O
same	O
device	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Requiring	O
players	O
to	O
open	O
an	O
account	O
with	O
Ubisoft	O
,	O
either	O
via	O
their	O
website	O
or	O
by	O
using	O
Uplay	B-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
OSP	O
called	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
authenticate	O
games	O
upon	O
first	O
launching	O
them	O
and	O
remain	O
online	O
while	O
playing	O
;	O
if	O
the	O
network	O
connection	O
is	O
lost	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
will	O
automatically	O
pause	O
until	O
the	O
connection	O
is	O
re-established	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
announcement	O
,	O
Tim	O
Edwards	O
of	O
PC	B-Device
Gamer	O
wrote	O
:	O
"	O
Online	O
connectivity	O
is	O
never	O
guaranteed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pegging	O
your	O
ability	O
to	O
play	O
a	O
game	O
on	O
connection	O
to	O
a	O
server	B-Application
somewhere	O
else	O
is	O
a	O
recipe	O
for	O
disaster	O
 [ ... ] 	O
And	O
there	O
's	O
no	O
guarantee	O
that	O
Ubi	O
's	O
servers	O
are	O
going	O
to	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	B-Device
gaming	O
is	O
littered	O
with	O
the	O
corpses	O
of	O
launches	O
and	O
services	O
that	O
simply	O
failed	O
to	O
deliver	O
what	O
they	O
promised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
official	O
statement	O
issued	O
the	O
same	O
day	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
responded	O
:	O
"	O
We	O
know	O
this	O
choice	O
is	O
controversial	O
but	O
we	O
feel	O
it	O
's	O
justified	O
by	O
the	O
gameplay	O
advantages	O
offered	O
by	O
the	O
system	O
and	O
because	O
most	O
PCs	B-Device
are	O
already	O
connected	O
to	O
the	O
internet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
platform	O
also	O
offers	O
protection	O
against	O
piracy	O
,	O
an	O
important	O
business	O
element	O
for	O
Ubisoft	O
and	O
for	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
market	O
in	O
general	O
,	O
as	O
piracy	O
has	O
an	O
important	O
impact	O
on	O
this	O
market	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
games	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
system	O
would	O
be	O
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
,	O
Silent	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
5	I-Application
:	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Atlantic	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
version	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
all	O
of	O
which	O
were	O
scheduled	O
for	O
a	O
March	O
2010	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
PC	B-Device
Games	O
the	O
following	O
day	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
this	O
is	O
not	O
a	O
pure	O
anti-piracy	O
software	O
,	O
but	O
a	O
new	O
online	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
early	O
February	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
told	O
Gameswelt	O
that	O
the	O
system	O
would	O
"	O
provide	O
added	O
value	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
enrich	O
the	O
gaming	O
experience	O
"	O
,	O
pointing	O
out	O
benefits	O
such	O
as	O
players	O
not	O
needing	O
the	O
DVD	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
after	O
the	O
initial	O
installation	O
and	O
,	O
because	O
all	O
save	O
files	O
would	O
be	O
stored	O
on	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
game	B-Application
servers	I-Application
,	O
gamers	O
would	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
resume	O
a	O
game	O
session	O
from	O
any	O
computer	B-Application
on	O
which	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
installed	O
,	O
assuming	O
that	O
computer	B-Application
is	O
online	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
17	O
,	O
PC	B-Device
Gamer	O
ran	O
an	O
article	O
by	O
Tom	O
Francis	O
,	O
saying	O
he	O
had	O
tested	O
the	O
OSP	O
on	O
both	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
your	O
progress	O
since	O
the	O
last	O
checkpoint	O
or	O
savegame	O
is	O
lost	O
,	O
and	O
your	O
only	O
options	O
are	O
to	O
quit	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
or	O
wait	O
until	O
you	O
're	O
reconnected	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
day	O
,	O
PC	B-Device
Gamer	O
ran	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
a	O
Ubisoft	O
spokesman	O
,	O
who	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
real	O
idea	O
is	O
that	O
if	O
you	O
offer	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
is	O
better	O
when	O
you	O
buy	O
it	O
,	O
then	O
people	O
will	O
actually	O
buy	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
Q&A	O
with	O
Gameswelt	O
,	O
a	O
couple	O
of	O
weeks	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
and	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Silent	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
5	I-Application
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
Ubisoft	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
we	O
have	O
worked	O
hard	O
to	O
make	O
sure	O
that	O
the	O
requirement	O
of	O
an	O
internet	O
connection	O
does	O
not	O
hinder	O
the	O
gaming	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beginning	O
March	O
31	O
,	O
six	O
days	O
after	O
release	O
,	O
as	O
with	O
both	O
Silent	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
5	I-Application
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
players	O
began	O
experiencing	O
problems	O
with	O
the	O
OSP	O
;	O
specifically	O
,	O
connection	O
to	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
servers	O
became	O
erratic	O
,	O
rendering	O
the	O
game	O
unplayable	O
for	O
those	O
unable	O
to	O
connect	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Even	O
users	O
who	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
play	O
reported	O
network-related	O
crashes	B-General_Concept
and	O
hanging	B-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
PC	B-Device
Games	O
reported	O
that	O
the	O
DRM	O
had	O
already	O
been	O
successfully	O
hacked	B-Application
by	O
players	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
following	O
day	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
thread	O
on	O
the	O
official	O
forum	O
having	O
grown	O
to	O
114	O
pages	O
,	O
with	O
over	O
1,700	O
posts	O
and	O
over	O
22,400	O
views	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
told	O
Eurogamer	O
:	O
"	O
Settlers	B-Application
7	I-Application
players	O
have	O
encountered	O
difficulties	O
playing	O
the	O
game	O
over	O
the	O
holiday	O
weekend	O
due	O
to	O
issues	O
with	O
servers	O
that	O
do	O
matchmaking	O
in	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
and	O
that	O
keep	O
track	O
of	O
profiles	O
,	O
campaign	O
progression	O
and	O
stats	O
in	O
both	O
solo	O
and	O
multi	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
OSP	O
was	O
to	O
be	O
included	O
with	O
R.U.S.E.	B-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
September	O
2010	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
DRM	O
free	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
,	O
players	O
began	O
to	O
notice	O
that	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
Tom	B-Application
Clancy	I-Application
's	I-Application
Splinter	I-Application
Cell	I-Application
:	I-Application
Conviction	I-Application
(	O
released	O
in	O
April	O
)	O
could	O
be	O
played	O
even	O
whilst	O
players	O
were	O
offline	O
(	O
although	O
online	O
registration	O
was	O
still	O
required	O
upon	O
first	O
launch	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
,	O
however	O
,	O
still	O
required	O
a	O
permanent	O
network	O
connection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Furthermore	O
,	O
in	O
October	O
2015	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
announced	O
they	O
were	O
terminating	O
macOS	B-Application
support	O
,	O
meaning	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
no	O
longer	O
playable	O
on	O
this	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DRM	O
for	O
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
was	O
ultimately	O
removed	O
in	O
2018	O
when	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
re-released	O
specifically	O
optimised	O
for	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favourable	O
"	O
reviews	O
,	O
and	O
holds	O
an	O
aggregate	O
score	O
of	O
79	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
on	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
thirty-three	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	B-Device
Games	O
Christian	O
Schlütter	O
scored	O
it	O
84%	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
AI	O
and	O
calling	O
the	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
single-player	O
storyline	O
"	O
credible	O
and	O
conflicted	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concluded	O
by	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
Settlers	B-Application
game	O
in	O
a	O
long	O
time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nevertheless	O
,	O
he	O
found	O
it	O
"	O
a	O
worthy	O
continuation	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
he	O
found	O
it	O
less	O
challenging	O
and	O
complex	O
than	O
Anno	B-Application
1404	I-Application
,	O
he	O
generally	O
praised	O
the	O
economic	O
processes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ultimately	O
,	O
he	O
concluded	O
that	O
"	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
offers	O
something	O
for	O
everyone	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
awarded	O
a	O
Comenius	O
EduMedia	O
seal	O
and	O
medal	O
,	O
an	O
award	O
given	O
to	O
ICT-based	O
educational	O
media	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
Deutscher	O
Entwicklerpreis	O
in	O
December	O
it	O
won	O
two	O
awards	O
;	O
"	O
Best	O
German	O
Game	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Strategy	B-Application
Game	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	O
My	O
City	O
also	O
won	O
"	O
Best	O
Social	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
won	O
"	O
Best	O
Studio	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Ubisoft	O
won	O
"	O
Best	O
Publisher	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paths	B-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
received	O
four	O
DLC	B-Protocol
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Deluxe	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2011	O
,	O
featuring	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
all	O
three	O
currently	O
available	O
DLC	B-Protocol
Packs	O
,	O
an	O
unlock	O
code	O
for	O
the	O
upcoming	O
fourth	O
pack	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
complete	O
Settlers	B-Application
III	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2018	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
re-released	O
the	O
Deluxe	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
as	O
both	O
a	O
standalone	O
History	O
Edition	O
and	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	O
History	O
Collection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Optimised	O
for	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
re-release	O
contains	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
and	O
all	O
DLC	B-Protocol
content	O
,	O
and	O
features	O
adjustable	O
resolutions	O
and	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Available	O
only	O
via	O
Uplay	B-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
History	O
Collection	O
also	O
includes	O
re-releases	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
.	O
</s>
