I have every version of Civ and each one has it's virtues. I am aware that the purists prefer Civ 2. I will not even begin to encourage a debate about this. I am also aware that although despised by some; that Civ 3 is considered to be the genuine article. There again, Civ 4 although a major deparure from it's predecessors is to be considered a triumph in game design etc. I personally began playing on Civ 3 and have lost countless hours playing it. Had I spent these lucubrations on studying the "meaning of life" or something, I may have earned a Doctorote in an 'approved subject' and may have been able to pursue a worthwhile pastime that the general population would have considered to have been meaningful and NOT what some would say was a "waste of time"! However, if you want to have some FUN!! then waste your time playing a Strategy game that has the pace of 'Space Invaders' and yet still has the challenge of it's forebears and still leave you time to study for your Doctorate in 'Social Science' or something. Hey, I have wasted hours on this er...game...enterprise.... whatever.... and don't regret one minute of it!!! I have to say WELL DONE to the team for creating this really fun version of Civ.