2K Games today announced that Civilization IV, the game developed by Firaxis Games, has shipped to retail outlets across North America, at a suggested retail price of $49.99. The latest chapter of the series features an easy-to-use interface, powerful map editor with XML and Python support, flexible tech tree, multiplayer via LAN, Internet, PBEM (Play By E-Mail) and PTBS (Persistent Turn-Based Server), over 70 in-game movies, and more. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV will be in retail stores in Europe on November 4 (check full story for details).