02 October, 2011

Civilization

Release Date: 1991

Platform: PC
Developer: Microprose Software
Genre: Strategy

Want to make a PC gamer of certain age cry? Whisper "Civilization" in his or her ear. There are any number of reasons why the tears might flow, but it's likely because more sleep, weekends, job, and relationships have probably been lost to Civilization than any other game.

This seminal strategy experience is vast. Beginning with just a settler wandering a hostile world 4,000 years before Christ, you found first a city and, through your choices, a civilization capable of defeating all its rivals or of sending a spaceship to distant Alpha Centauri. Blocking your path is the land unknown, barbarians, and rival civilizations, and the tools at your disposal to run the gamut from trade and diplomacy to all out hostilities.

You decide what civilization you'll play, choosing from the Mongols, the Romans, and other past and present contenders for the title of global superpower. Your choice affects trivial matters such as the names of your cities  or the colours of your army: Civilization's genius is that this decision does not determine the paths your people follow.

The technology tree does that; a brilliantly conceived flowchart of human progress that has been copied by most strategy games in the wake of Civilization. By researching, for instance, the wheel, you can unlock further related technologies, such ass transport or vehicular combat units. Few areas of human endeavour are ignored, but since you can only research on thing at a time, your civilization is shaped by the order of the choices you make.

With day-to-day tasks ranging from war to farming to transport planning to developing the Wonders of the World, the demands on the player are immense. What's incredible then, is how the game manages to make time disappear as you play. If you've got a night to kill, the set it aside to play Civilization.


4 memories:

Civilization, a milestone in gaming and also - one of the few series with a long life span and actually - almost every next part being a great step forward. I played Civilization 5 recently and I must say - the gaming sessions here have to be really long (8 hours or so) to give player the ability to use tactics, researching and also give time to develop his/her own empire. Thankfully, the interface is good and it's not as demanding as i.e. Hearts of Iron.

Civilization is an amazing game!
A friend of mine had modified a version of it where settlers moved, attacked and defended 15 and were always produced in 1 turn. It was quite weird seeing cities everywhere. The AI didn't realize that settlers were powerful, so it wouldn't use the settlers to attack or defend, but I had armies of settlers attacking all the cities. It was quite weird, but cool.

Amazing game.

Oh, the nostalgia... Great blog mate.

i loved all of these except Civ.V it wasn't that great to me.

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