Based on how we test, how I play at home, and what I see through tech support, I'm sure I've got a skewed perspective on how people play Civ. So I'm curious: What map size, game speed, and how long in real time does it take for you guys to play a game of Civ? I'm usually on Standard speed, Small/Standard map, and about 4-5 hours per game.
Marathon / Small / 12 civs / 12 city-states (sometimes they can't all fit and there's fewer of htem though) / 4-10 hours per game (takes a couple of evenings). This is on a 2010 Macbook Air, plays comfortably especially in strategy view after the ancient era, when the map gets busy. I play a few of those then stay away from the game for a few weeks/months otherwise I go crazy or effectively become a hermit lol. Narmox.
I usually do standard speed, standard map, and get he same as you with 4-5 hours, maybe a bit more. I play about an hour or a bit more a night and it takes around 4 days to complete a game. Sometimes I do a duel map on standard speed, usually takes half an hour as I do a military rush.
usually standard and standard. I get the feeling I take longer to finish a game then many here though. It depends on the win condition im going for, but its not unusual for me to take a week or so, averaging 2-3 hours a day.
Quick, Small or Standard, and maybe about 3-4 hours depending if I wanna zoom for a win or savor the experience
Standard speed, Large map, 6-8 hours, generally over a 2 week period. Time & Science Victory disabled.
Huge map (with 21 civs and extra city states), standard speed. Not really sure about game time, it usually spans a week or two playing when I feel like it.
The only constants in my formula is that I always play on epic with the same standard rules (ancient era start, any victory, etc). Everything else, such as map size, map type, and civ, I change around. I try to get as many achievements as I can, sure, but more than that I want to play the game from the many different perspectives that there are. Which is precisely why I love CiV, every game is unique.
On an early 2008 iMac, I play huge maps with 16 CSs, standard speed, it usually take 6-8 hours, although that's hardly a scientific measurement.
Usually Standard Speed (occasionally Quick); Not including scenarios, I play Huge maps with the Perfect World Map mod; ancient era game start; disable diplomacy and time victories; gameplay takes one to two weeks (not sure how many hours as it is often mixed with family duties but probably about an hour per night, a bit more on weekends).
Generally i use Standard Size Maps, sometimes i try Huge but it's too slow to draw the map... I play also generally, Standard Speed but sometimes i try Marathon... I prefer playing with 20-22 Civs without any city-states... And full barbarians...
I play huge maps, 22 civs, 28 city-states. It'll usually take me about a week to finish, playing on and off. If the map slows down, or the graphics get twonky, I'll just play in strategic view for the night.
Huge, 22 Civs and 28 CS. Emperor (though that will change with the next patch). Regular speed (I played marathon on Civ 4, but on 5, things just feel too slow that way). I rarely play a game to its conclusion, so my play times per game vary widely. I usually play until I'm satisfied with the nation I've created or until I get annoyed by constant AI warmongering.
Standard size/speed, usually takes me about 8-9 hours over a week to sort it. Sometimes less if I have a good start, and sometimes more if I screw something up (which I do a lot )
I can only answer for the way I've been playing Civ4, because I haven't played Civ 5 too much yet, but the game experience I've had from Civ4 is what I'm hoping for in Civ 5 as well, so the question may remain pretty much the same. I usually play either hot seat with my girlfriend or internet multiplayer with my girlfriend and sister (yes, me and my gf prefer hotseat over LAN!). We always play on Huge map size, marathon speed and each game lasts about 16 hours ± a couple of hours. It takes approximately three gaming sessions which, depending on how busy we are, takes everything from one weekend to several months. The few games I've started in Civ 5 have been marathon speed, but medium sized maps, because they are my first playthrough. First impressions are that marathon is a little too slow and medium is a little too small, but that may change as I learn the game better.
Epic Large Map : around 10 civs / 16 to 20 city states = 10/12 hours Better to restart the game around 1900 BC ... ( iMac quad, 1024 ATI graphic card )
