Typically, this annual letter written by either Markos Giannopoulos (MarkG) or myself is published at a time that is relatively slow news-wise and action-wise on Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) and in the greater Civilization community as a whole. This is not the case this year. Between post-ApolyCon '06 coverage and the release of the first Civilization IV expansion pack Warlords, our feature release schedule is tight and visitor attention and energies are divided and overstimulated. At first, this concerned me but ultimately this is a welcome sign of a healthy and vibrant epicenter of online activity. Yes, I (still) like the world "ultimate" for some reason.

Rather than my usual paragraph-supported pontifications of the past twelve months, below is an abbreviated summary of Apolyton and Civ community highlights during this time; for the full list, you'll want to read through the similarly annual "Year in Headlines" feature compiled once again by ACS staff member Locutus after its release.

• ACS was the 'forum' for the first Civilization series and related titles convention, ApolyCon '06, held in Timonium, Maryland on July 7-8th, 2006. Sid Meier of Firaxis Games and Brian Reynolds of Big Huge Games joined Markos and myself as the Honoured Guests and in attedance. The other Firaxians present were Soren Johnson, Alex "alexman" Mantzaris, Jon "Trip" Schafer, Dennis Shirk, Dorian Newcomb and Barry Caudill. The other BHGers were Paul Stephanouk, Dwight Smith and Joe Phisgar. Tom "CapTVK" van Kooten gave a presentation on Freeciv, and Alex "OzzyKP" Koroknay-Palicz one on diplogaming. A special presence mention also goes out to Sid's son and CivIV tester Ryan.
• ACS offered extensive preview and review, print interview (Bob "Sirian" Thomas) and audio interview (Johnson) coverage of Civilization IV by staff and community members alike. Speaking of community members, one even ate (part of) the game's cardboard box and had it filmed! Apolytoners are thanked in the game's credits for their contributions as were their Civilization Fanatics Center fansite counterparts. CivIV was first released for the PC and on the Mac platform afterwards. As of this writing, a number of (PC) Civers are getting their first taste of expansion pack Warlords... which ACS previewed in a three-part video exclusive.
• Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords was released by developer/publisher Stardock Corporation, and its first expansion Dark Avatar is to come this fall. ACS published a three-part exclusive feature written by Project Lead and Stardock President Brad "Draginol" Wardell, who was also audio interviewed by myself. ACS was treated to several exclusive in-game screenshots, and begins the first Rise of Nations real-time strategy series machinima in Age of Nations. To date eight episodes have been produced, seven released, and two more scripted along with a couple of special productions published as well. Besides striving to complete its projected three-season run, increasing audience size, participation and spreading awareness and interest Call to Power III", The Ages of Man, steadily progressed towards its pre-determined end in the form of AoMIII. Project Lead Stan "stankarp" Karpinski is audio interviewed by yours truly.
• The CtPII Source Code Project moved along in stride.
• The freeware and community collaborative project known as Freeciv went further ahead in its development across multiple computing platforms.
• ACS' optional subscription service, PLUS, turned two years old this past March. New and old subscribers alike make up more than 100 individuals who have and continue to help keep this website financially viable.
• The number of and interest in assorted Diplogames organized through ACS' forums continued to astound and impress participants and onlookers alike.
• ACS announced and began coverage for Sid Meier-titled Colonization.
• ACS is credited as being a good place to go by National Research Council Canada (NRCC) Research Officer Stephen Downes.

Markos and I have so many groups of people to thank. First, our dedicated site staff who know very well why we're (still!) everyone's favourite dictators. Second, the staff of Firaxis Games, Stardock Corporation, Big Huge Games and other members of the gaming industry who continue to support our endeavour so wholeheartedly. Third, our network of advertisers most notably BURSTMedia who alongside our PLUS subscribers keep Apolyton's financial health sustainable. Fourth, close family members of ACS staff members and administrators... who put up with much more than their fair share of obsessive behaviour I'm sure. Last but not least you, the visitor, for whom without all of us here at Apolyton would be talking to ourselves and not getting very good answers either .

In closing, there are two other what I believe to be milestone anniversaries that will be observed by the time ACS turns nine. This anniversary will fall on this August 7th for me and on or about October 15th for Markos: ten years as a webmaster in the Civilization community. While I am hardly an expert on other gaming communities on the Internet, Markos and I must be among the longest serving webmasters in the gaming community; this ought to be particularly true of individuals continuously involved in the same community that we started out in. The Civ community is not the same as it was a decade ago (no Apolyton, for example!), but it goes without saying that neither are we. You're welcome.

Nearing 3,000 days of existence, Apolyton Civilization Site is still here and still growing strong. Let's blow out those eight birthday candles on [insert favourite cake type here] already and Keep on Civin!

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