Civilization Software

• Epic journey from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology and outer space exploration
• Grow, evolve, interact with and battle other cultures, and conquer the planet
• Single-player game provides unlimited worlds to explore and play

• 10 new civilizations
• 78 new units and 64 new buildings
• 5 new technologies

• Match wits against world leaders in a quest to build the ultimate empire
• Flexible tech tree provides more strategic choices for developing civilizations
• Single player or multiplayer gameplay options

• The ultimate strategy game, offering players the chance to lead their chosen nation from the dawn of man through the space age
• Civilization comes to life in a beautifully detailed, living 3D world--with all-new easy-to-use mod capabilities and intense multiplayer modes and options
• Gold Edition bonus items include fantasy-style poster, behind-the-scenes DVD, tech-tree poster, and Civilization IV manual

• Rule throughout time in this exciting strategy game
• Become the most powerful leader the world has ever known
• Multiplayer gameplay supported

• CIV IV
• CIV II and Expansion
• Chronicles of Civ book

• Ultimate 3-in-1 box set that includes Civilization III plus the Play the World Multiplayer and Conquest expansion packs
• Contains a new active world generator for more realistic maps and organic terrain features
• Improvements to the AI, Combat System, Interface, Rally Points, Governors, Leaders, Unit-Stacks, and Game Balance

• Bring new leaders into pre-existing Civilizations to help them advance
• Play as legends like Alexander The Great and Genghis Khan
• 6 unique and interesting scenarios; 10 new leaders; 2 new leader traits

Dominate the world through diplomatic finesse, cultural domination, and military prowess. New technologies, wonders of the world, and great people expand the scope of the game. Improved combat options provide finer levels of control for enhanced war-making capabilities. More interactions, alliances, and realistic AI responses put players in the middle of negotiations, trade systems, and diplomatic actions.

There's an advanced trade system to manage resources, trade routes, and spread of technology. New elements of culture, nationality, and the arts help players plan and focus empire-building efforts. An active world generator creates more realistic maps and organic terrain features. Complete game editor screens allow for advanced customization.

• Rewrite History with the Greatest Game of All Time! Product Information The Civilization Legacy:  SidMeier created the original Civilization computer game in 1990. Civilizationinstantly set the standard and defined a new genre of empire-building strategygames and is still recognized as one of the greatest games of all time. The gameis an addictive blend of building, exploration, discove

Civilization III offers 16 playable civilizations, and each has its own strengths and bonuses. The game begins in the year 4000 B.C., when your civilization is nothing more than a primitive tribe, and each turn progresses the game forward in time. You manage growth, military production, city development, diplomacy, and scientific research as your civilization grows from a single village to several towns to a continent-spanning metropolitan sprawl. The fun is in deciding whether to research writing or the wheel, whether to build a musketeer to take out an encroaching enemy pikeman or direct your city to work on the culturally significant Sistine Chapel. There are five ways to win the game, ranging from wiping out the other civilizations with military power to defeating them through cultural dominance, which is one of several new victory conditions.

Fans of Meier's other turn-based games will find the same addictive gameplay present in Civilization III. Building off the gameplay are several new additions, specifically the new cultural rating and the new resource management options. Every turn, each civilization earns culture points based upon how many wonders and other culturally significant structures are built within its cities. The higher the culture rating, the faster your civilization's borders grow. If your border extends to an enemy city, it's possible to capture that city without shedding any blood; the city's citizens will be attracted by your culture and willingly rebel.

The other big change is that you must collect raw materials in order to build certain units. For example, oil and rubber are required to build modern units, and if those resources aren't within your territory, you'll need to negotiate with other civilizations for them. And because the game's negotiation process is very deep and involved, you may find yourself cut off from key raw materials if you're at odds with other civilizations, which, in turn, will weaken you militarily.

The AI powering rival civilizations is quite good, and is capable of negotiating complex arrangements with both your civilization and other civilizations. These negotiations run from simple trade agreements to complex mutual protection pacts, and it's not uncommon to find an enemy civilization taking steps to isolate you from the rest of the world.

There are a few minor issues with the game, most notably with unit imbalances and the tedious endgame, which can drag on forever. These are minor problems, however, and don't detract from the overall experience. Fans of Sid Meier's other games, or anyone looking for a fun and challenging gaming experience, owe it to themselves to pick up Civilization III. --P. Meyer

Pros:

• Enemy AI is very impressive
• New additions really add to the experience
• Very addictive gameplay

• Some unit imbalances
• Endgame is a little long-winded