I downloaded the demo and I have played it several times with no problem. I get a message when I start telling me that I am below recommended specs and that adjustments have been made, but I don't have any of the problems that I have been reading about. Based on this, does it seem safe to actually buy the game? I have been putting it off as I have an older system with a Geforce4 MX 420, but am now feeling cautiously optimsitic. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks. :)

Unfortunately the demo doesn't go deep enough into the game to show the late game slowdown. If you don't mind a little slowdown (it's nowhere near as bad as the old civ3 15 minutes between turns) go ahead and buy it. Make sure to apply the 1.52 patch before playing as this fixes much of the memory problems that made the modern ages unplayable.

I can live with slowdown. (I played Sims on a 433 mhz for a while, talk about sssslllloooowwww). I was worried about the rest of the horror stories that I have been reading about...black screens, ctds, not loading at all. I am going to take the plunge. Keep your fingers crossed. :D
Thanks!

I downloaded the demo and I have played it several times with no problem. I get a message when I start telling me that I am below recommended specs and that adjustments have been made, but I don't have any of the problems that I have been reading about. Based on this, does it seem safe to actually buy the game? I have been putting it off as I have an older system with a Geforce4 MX 420, but am now feeling cautiously optimsitic. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks. :)

You have a nice graphics card! (never thought you'd hear that, did you? ;))

I have a GeForce2 MX 400 and it works ok, 'cept for a few minor graphics bugs (maybe they'll be fixed in a patch)...but it is a very playable game. So, yeah, if the demo ran for you, Civ4'll run. They ran pretty much the same for me. Have fun. :)

Heck, no! I didn't expect to hear that at all. :cool:
I am going to play tonight!

Just thought I'd update for anyone who might be curious...

I did buy the game and it ran great until the first wonder movie, and it froze and crashed. So, thanks to the wonderful people here, I found a post with directions on how to disable the wonder movies....and then proceeded to stay up all night playing and was late to work today. :blush: