Complete History of Civilization Game Series

[Blake00]

Hi guys!

Hopefully this is the right place to post this as I couldn't a see a general Civilization forum for generic Civ series topics outside of a single title.

One of the reasons I decided to return to the Civilization series and replay all the earlier games (some of you have probably seen me posting new mods, strategies and barbarian guides in the Civ 1 & 2 forums over the last year, 20yrs too late haha) and start working on a Civilization Website website (currently in a VERY rough under construction state lol) was because a year ago PC Gamer (Issue 311 - Dec 2017) did an awesome 14 page spread on the history of the Civilization series covering all the main games with behind the scenes info and new interviews with Sid Meier, Bryan Reynolds and Jeff Briggs to name a few. It really got me thinking about the games again and how much I miss them. Because they had such an impact on me I figured I may as well share them with other fellow Civ fans that might enjoy them.

I've only scanned the first 2 pages of the PC Gamer one as fortunately I found an online copy here:
https://www.pcgamer.com/au/the-complete-history-of-civilization/




Then just by pure coincidence while cleaning out my spare room I found an old Australian PC Powerplay magazine (Issue 112 - May 2005) with a beautiful visual tribute to classic Civilization 1 and an interview with Bruce Shelley. This article became a big inspiration for how I'd do my website tribute (eg colourful map of the world background). Here's my scans of that if anyone is interested (I very much doubt this is on the net anywhere!):



Gamasutra also did a cool history of the series back in 2007 that people may wish to read as once again it's got some good interviews:
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/129947/the_history_of_civilization.php?print=1




And finally if all that isn't enough and you REALLY want to get into the nuts and bolts of the making of the series then check out this HUGE crowdfunded history write up by Jimmy Maher that goes into incredible detail about the games, how it all started and the troubles Sid went through just to get Civ 1 made. It's very long but very informative and well written!
https://www.filfre.net/2018/03/the-game-of-everything-part-1-making-civilization/



Hope people enjoy the read as much as I did!

 

[ori]

Moderator Action: moved to Other Civ related sites and left a one week redirect in OT

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I think people undervalue Civ. There has been some current iteration of Civ on the shelf at the game store (or the virtual shelf at the digital delivery game store) for as long as there have been computer games. Think about that. Every person who has played computer games, EVER, has looked at Civ and considered the possibility of playing it. Some do, some don't, but it has always been there to think about.

 

[Serutan]

I had always thought that Sid had played Empire and was inspired by it, nice to see it was true.

 

[Ferocitus]

Stansilaw Lem, The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age, 1st published 1965.

In particular this chapter is very relevant to inspirations for Civ and Sim City.
The 7th Sally or How Trurl's Own Perfection Led to No Good.
http://home.sandiego.edu/~baber/analytic/Lem1979.html

"You must be joking!" Trurl exclaimed. "Really, the whole kingdom fits into a box three feet by two by two and a half ... it's only a model...."
"A model of what?"
"What do you mean, of what? Of a civilization, obviously, except that it's a hundred million times smaller.”

...

"Now just a minute, you know yourself that all these processes take place only because I programmed them, and so they aren't genuine...."

"Aren't genuine? You mean to say the box is empty, and the parades, tortures, and beheadings are merely an illusion?"

"Not an illusion, no, since they have reality, though purely as certain microscopic phenomena, which I produced by manipulating atoms," said Trurl. "The point is, these births, loves, acts of heroism, and denunciations are nothing but the minuscule capering of electrons in space, precisely arranged by the skill of my nonlinear craft, which—"

...

The entire planet was covered with countless signs of intelligent life. Microscopic bridges, like tiny lines, spanned every rill and rivulet, while the puddles, reflecting the stars, were full of microscopic boats like floating chips.... The night side of the sphere was dotted with glimmering cities, and on the day side one could make out flourishing metropolises, though the inhabitants themselves were much too little to observe, even through the strongest lens.

Also see:

 

[Blake00]

I had always thought that Sid had played Empire and was inspired by it, nice to see it was true.

Yeah I used to wonder the same thing!

 

[Blake00]

Just found another great (& new) behind the scenes interview about the glorious early Civ years . This time with the man! Brian Reynolds:

https://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/brian-reynolds/