Civilization was the beginning of turn based strategy. All that went before is now scattered into oblivion such was the impact of Sid Meirs game Civilization. The basic idea was copied from the boardgame, however the PC Game did what the board game did not - become a raging success.
Much of the credit of this success goes to the fact Sid was willing to go out and create a whole new field (something he has done time and time again - I mean who really what think a game building a train simulator would take off).
Much of the success of the game was that it was SO addictive. I started playing it in the early 90's and it was SO addictive that I spent my first of many nights staying up the entire night. You would start playing and then notice the sun is coming up! Check the clock and say what 5am already?
Why this was so is difficult to explain, but I put it down to the fact that the game give you tasks throughout the whole span of time. The continual improvement of military units, individual cities and the time to conquer other empires. Starting with the spearman units follow the course of history, being able to later produce archers, horses, elephants, tanks,
airplanes, etc. Likewise cities improvements - granary, walls, barracks and more. The fight over resources is what made the game interesting - build improvements will later pay off, or build more units for protection or conquest. The problem being if you didn't build enough improvements you would be technologically defeated by other powers. Improvement such as the pyramids, great wall, apollo program, seti and others made another interesting decision - did you massively invest resources only to have someone else beat you to it!
It was this power over decisions which made the game not only addictive but also replayable. The ability to choose different civilization with different advantages made one have to try winning with them all - China, Russia, England, India and more. The ability to play diplomat was interesting if basic in the first incarnation.
Whilst by todays standards the graphics and sound are basic, the basic gameplay was so good that it has meant their have been 4 direct sequels as well as numerous copy cat programs.
My rating MEGA-CLASSIC
