bvd
Gasbag
My very first game of Sid Meiers Civilization (I):
It all began with a random map, seven civilizations and a chieftain named Stalin, hence the title screen:
Stalin, you have risen to become leader of the Russians. May your reign be long and prosperous. The Russians have knowledge of Irrigation, Mining, Ceremonial Burial, and Roads.
After listening to The Volga Boatman loop for about ten times, I pressed a key and the game started. There were tiles: ocean tiles, green tiles, tiles with palm trees, tiles with dots and, in their midst, a flashing wagon. What do I possibly do with that thing?, I thought. Should I move it? Attack with it? Since a wagon usually retains cargo, can I unload it?
Ah, I must be able to give it orders!
It was then that I grasped the whole concept of units. I noticed that it was a settler and it occurred to me: they must be able to build cities, which in turn build and house units for wars and more settlers! And these cities can stockpile food, money and lumber for growth, happiness and production, respectively.
Bit by bit, I was grasping the games facets. Empirically, I learned more. I reached for my mouse, the same one I use today, and guided the torch cursor to the menu bar, toggled orders and had my settler unit found Moscow. After a brief animation, I saw the city window for the first time.
Damn, this game is complicated!
The was a mini-map, a food storage box, a production box and a tiny citizen all flanked by assorted buttons. I clicked on the change button.
I want peace, I thought, so I should build a temple - then some basic defenses. Ignoring my military advisor, I boldly selected Temple and returned to the main map. End of turn press ENTER.
Turns passed. In the meantime, I was constantly checking up on the temples progress. By then, I knew what a shield was and that my city was producing only one/turn. When two rows of shields were in the production box, something strange happened.
A unit approached. The graphics were in such a low resolution that I could hardly make out what it was. I looked at it and determined that it was a horseman, or cavalry, with a light green backdrop. I thought: I havent an army, yet a half-complete temple the unit must be from a friendly, neighboring civilization and in need of a friend
Victorious soldiers were marching; Zulus capture Moscow. 53 gold pieces plundered.
It was over a year before I sat down and played the game again.
My first Civilization II game, however, was less dramatic; the specifications were Chieftain, Random Map, Raging Hordes and I played as the Spaniards and completed the game in the 16th century, having destroyed every opponent and discovered industrialization.
It all began with a random map, seven civilizations and a chieftain named Stalin, hence the title screen:
Stalin, you have risen to become leader of the Russians. May your reign be long and prosperous. The Russians have knowledge of Irrigation, Mining, Ceremonial Burial, and Roads.
After listening to The Volga Boatman loop for about ten times, I pressed a key and the game started. There were tiles: ocean tiles, green tiles, tiles with palm trees, tiles with dots and, in their midst, a flashing wagon. What do I possibly do with that thing?, I thought. Should I move it? Attack with it? Since a wagon usually retains cargo, can I unload it?
Ah, I must be able to give it orders!
It was then that I grasped the whole concept of units. I noticed that it was a settler and it occurred to me: they must be able to build cities, which in turn build and house units for wars and more settlers! And these cities can stockpile food, money and lumber for growth, happiness and production, respectively.
Bit by bit, I was grasping the games facets. Empirically, I learned more. I reached for my mouse, the same one I use today, and guided the torch cursor to the menu bar, toggled orders and had my settler unit found Moscow. After a brief animation, I saw the city window for the first time.
Damn, this game is complicated!
The was a mini-map, a food storage box, a production box and a tiny citizen all flanked by assorted buttons. I clicked on the change button.
I want peace, I thought, so I should build a temple - then some basic defenses. Ignoring my military advisor, I boldly selected Temple and returned to the main map. End of turn press ENTER.
Turns passed. In the meantime, I was constantly checking up on the temples progress. By then, I knew what a shield was and that my city was producing only one/turn. When two rows of shields were in the production box, something strange happened.
A unit approached. The graphics were in such a low resolution that I could hardly make out what it was. I looked at it and determined that it was a horseman, or cavalry, with a light green backdrop. I thought: I havent an army, yet a half-complete temple the unit must be from a friendly, neighboring civilization and in need of a friend
Victorious soldiers were marching; Zulus capture Moscow. 53 gold pieces plundered.
It was over a year before I sat down and played the game again.
My first Civilization II game, however, was less dramatic; the specifications were Chieftain, Random Map, Raging Hordes and I played as the Spaniards and completed the game in the 16th century, having destroyed every opponent and discovered industrialization.
Those were indeed the days. Memories, so sweet memories. 
I played at a friends place at a party;next morning told to clear out as I hadn't been seen for hours .That was civ 1 and I was cleaned up pretty quick a number of times, but loved the concept. What a brilliant game
