2K Games announces that Civilization IV: Colonization is now invading North American store shelves, with the standalone expansion that re-imagines the original Colonization to be available in the rest of the world as of Friday, the 26th. Here's a description of the game: "Colonization is a standalone game experience that adds an entirely new scenario to the ever-evolving world of Civilization. In Colonization, players lead one of four European nations on a quest to colonize and thrive in the New World. Players will be challenged to guide their people from the oppressive motherland, discover the New World, and negotiate, trade and fight as they acquire power and battle for their freedom and independence." Pre-orders are underway at GamersGate, though it's not clear when the game will be available download, perhaps this will coincide with Friday's international release. Update: The game is also now available via Steam.