Unoriginal Soundtracks #72: Civilization 5 Brave New World

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

We're staying with strategy games this week, returning to Civilization 5 with its Brave New World expansion. This downloadable content introduces some new leaders and rules that inspire this playlist of metal, jazz, and folk.

Unoriginal Soundtracks #42: Civilization 5 Gods and Kings

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Religion adds a surprising new incentive for war in Civilization 5. Newly founded religions grant the civilization of its origin perks worth defending from gentiles, heretics, and infidels. And espionage adds nuance to diplomacy with other leaders, with big risks and rewards for spying on them. All of that allows for a playlist of sneering post-punk, pious funk, and more great music.

Sophist Radio Episode 33: Analogies Are Like Sharks...

The gang tries out a new format in this episode... having no format. But the newly uncaged bird that is the Sophist Radio crew has a game-filled discussion for us, with plenty to say about Civilization 5, DJ Hero, Left 4 Dead 2, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, Spider Man: Shattered Dimensions, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Hydrophobia, Enslaved, Bioshock: Infinite and more. Also, several ridiculous tangents like the differences between black, white, and Hispanic boy bands, and the Adventures of the Gummi Bears. Hit the jump to give it a listen, now in a handy, manageable size.