note: This is The Column, a part of Apolyton where primarily Markos and Dan write whatever they want :). Well, not just the two of them. The Column is open to everyone. If you feel like writing, submit your article to civilization@apolyton.net

PREVIOUS ARTICLES

#52 PLOT OR NOT? David Emery searches for the plot in strategy games, which he alleges may be in vain. #53 THE CIV COMMUNITY AND FORUM UNCIVILITY Dracon doesn't want to listen to excuses -- he wants to see change. COLUMN ARCHIVE

I got my copy of Civilization II: Test of Time a couple of days ago, and installed it only yesterday. Today I started reading the manual about the changes between it and the original. In total, I have played it for about half an hour, and I'm already addicted all over again. Even worse than before, I think; one of the few things that could have pryed me away from my terminal was a computer lockup, and that's exactly what happened (praise programmers for autosave).

Only moments after re-reading the System Requirements for the umpteenth time, waiting for my computer to re-boot, did I come to a sudden realization: three years have passed since Sid Meier's Civilization II first hit the shelves of computer realtors. MicroProse has stated that this is the last add-on to the timeless classic, and their Civ team will now be working closely with Firaxis to get serious with the development of Sid Meier's Civilization III, which is presently set to be a year 2000 release.

Personally, I think that this is a perfect way to go.

Not many computer games of the past, present, and -- dare I say it -- future will receive as much praise, fanfare, and awards as CivII has managed to rack up under its belt. I mean, the "real" original, Sid Meier's Civilization was enough to keep you up until 4 in the morning. But CivII? As Belinda Carlisle was fond of saying, heaven is a place on Earth, and oooo baby I found it. Stick an IV with caffeine into my bloodstream so I can play just one more turn to thump on the Romans, and ... my capital! Captured!? The bastards. Hrm pardon me, as it seems the recounting of past battles is as engrossing as they were at the time.

Not a year had past when Civer's got their first taste at an expansion to the product, to the tune of the Civilization II: Conflicts In Civilization Scenarios pack. It was given a dismal welcome, and a swift kick-in-the-butt from disappointed reviewers and fans alike, saying that it was too little, too fast.
MicroProse turned heads with its CivII Fantastic Worlds shortly thereafter, it being the second in a string of add-ons for CivII. With it an advanced macro language system was introduced to allow creators to have greater control and diversity in their custom scenarios, maps and MODs. A welcome reception accompanied its release, and was praised as a step in the right direction. Finally, just last Christmas came Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition, whose primary focus was, as the name implies, to give CivII full multiplayer capabilities. And the peasants rejoiced. Now with Test of Time, being hailed as a fitting send-off for the series barely a week in gamers' arms, who could be unsatisfied with such a happy ending?

When I say retirement for CivII, I don't mean it's time to add a certain mini-frisbee to your impressive sports equipment collection. No, rather I mean that when we the urge to continue the series arise again that we move on from the Civilization II title, game model etc. etc.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, Civilization III is soon to be, if not already, underway.
So it looks as though we are heading in that direction, and that it's going to be one hell of a ride.

The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of Apolyton CS or GameStats. They are just the personal opinions of the writer.