Difficulty level changed in cheat mode

[Sir_Lancelot]

Two times I have witnessed that my difficulty level changed. Both times it happened after my retirement date, and at least on this latest occasion the cheat mode was enabled.

The first game where I noticed this
I played on Prince level, and I noticed that the production cost for the AI changed. I could see that the amount of shields needed for each line in the AI production box was reduced, indicating I played on a higher level than Prince (probably King). Later it changed back and forth a few times.

The second time I noticed this (my current game)
I started the game on King level. But now the AI suddenly needs less shields for each line in the production box. Now it has the same production cost as I have, indicating that the level has dropped to Prince.

QUESTION: Why is the difficulty level changing? Is it something I do that triggers this? The cheat mode does not let me set the difficulty level, it just happens by accident.

 

[Magic_gorter]

Which version do you play (classic, gold?).
I've never noticed before when I played. The only way to change the level I know is save the game as scenario and load it as scenario...
Strange

 

[Sir_Lancelot]

I have the classic version, 2.42 patch. (I think and hope that the "Civ2" prefix means classic.)

After I posted I have suspected that perhaps the cheat mode sets the level to Prince (everything equal for AI/human). I'll test this later and see if it goes back to King if I turn cheat mode off.