Has this already been suggested?...

[caglenn]

What about completely unique and different graphics for each nation...I mean completely different...cities, units, etc...

Is this even possible?

[Seeker]

The game Warlords 2 by SSG had this for 8 different sides.

[Slingshot]

The thing about rich diversity in graphics is the corresponding increase in CPU taxation, people say.

Apparently artists are very taxed as it is.

Certainly, I think there is a lot they could do to customize each civ. Many people have launched many-a-thread on that topic.

[tniem]

Totally different units would lead to some problems in both cpu time and time firaxis could better spend elsewhere. But some of the ideas such as flags, new incorporations of colors, and others certainly could give a flair to each empire that would make each of them distinct and different.

[WarVoid]

We need a different set of music scores for every civ. Different units and cities is just too much work.

[Seeker]

Uhh, warlords had this feature and it was just a little eighties game...

[Gord McLeod]

Did Warlords have as many units as Civilization has? Or SMAC? For all we know, Civ3 may be using the SMAC model of upgradable units utilizing component architecture. If that's the case, every civ would have to have different graphics for every component type, resulting in ~32,000 units for each civilization. Not each Civilization in play - each Civilization that exists, whether it's being used right now or not. There are people asking for 32 civilizations and the ability to make more. That's an awful lot of art.