NOTE: This is The Column, a regular feature on Apolyton where anyone can write about anything to do with Civilization or the gaming industry as a whole. If you feel like writing, please visit the article submission page.

PREVIOUS ARTICLES

#134 A MODEL FOR A CHEAT-FREE GAME Kent Wang re-investigates the model used for multi-player gamers, and offers an alternative. #133 WELCOME TO APOLYTON OFF-TOPIC If you let him, connorkimbro will take you on his tour of Apolyton's Off-Topic forum. #132 APOLYTON: CIV SITE SUPERPOWER Somgu shows the funny(?) side of Apolyton's position in the Civ community. #131 BACK TO THE FUTURE: IS APOLYTON CRUMBLING? Carolus Rex is being pessimistic... #130 INTO THE MYSTIC Raingoon takes us on a guided journey that draws him into Civilization. COLUMN ARCHIVE

Why am I still playing Civilization II four years after it came out? Four reasons: low system requirements, learning curve, balance, and Apolyton.

First, I'll address the low system requirements. One of the computers I use for gaming is an old 486. It can play Civ II; I'm sure it couldn't manage most (or any) of the newer games. I'm not going to go out and buy a new computer just so I can play that hot new game (especially when I have a good game I can play on my current computer).

Second, learning curve. Civ and its brother games are very intricate games, and you need to spend a good deal of time studying and playing the game to master it. I used to think I was a pretty good player before I came to Apolyton, but I've learned an enormous amount about the game by hanging around this site. Starting over with a new game would provide the thrill of discovery, but would also require starting over again at the bottom of a very long ladder. I have the same problem with playing scenarios: there are some great scenarios out there which are essentially new games. I respect the work that went into creating these scenarios, but the new units, terrain, and wonders mean I have to learn a new game. I feel as though I haven't yet exhausted the potential of the units and wonders of the original game.

This leads me to my third reason, balance. The game does an extraordinarily good job of presenting the player with a number of viable choices. The units, city improvements, and wonders all provide a payback that is in scale to their cost. There have been threads on the strategy forum discussing wonders, and they constitute a ringing endorsement of the game designers. For each wonder, you can find someone who will argue passionately for its indispensability. You’ll find similar differences of opinion about units, city improvements, and overall strategies.

And Apolyton itself has been a key factor in keeping Civ fresh for me. When I first played Civ I many years ago, I was fascinated and amazed. I played long sessions and loved the game. But after a while, I learned to beat the AI, and moved on to another game. Sometimes I would pick up the game and play for a while, but then put it away again. When I discovered the Civ FAQ, it restored my interest for a while. I tried out some of the strategies and cheats from that remarkable document, but once again I lost interest after a while. I was going through the same cycle with Civ II; I posted on the Usenet newsgroups about the game, but they didn't sustain my interest in the game. Once I got involved in Apolyton, I found that the ongoing discussions from the best players out there gave me new ideas I'd never thought of. Being able to compare strategies and results with others kept me interested, and made me keep improving my game. The key is the dynamic nature of the forums!

If I tire of (or am not interested in) the current challenge, there's always another coming along. And it's only because of Apolyton that I bought the multiplayer edition, which, despite all its scheduling difficulties, remains the ultimate Civ experience. I feel like part of a real community at Apolyton; it's let me make friends who share my passion for this game - friends that I never would have met otherwise.

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About the author: "Long-time Civ addict".

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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.