Civilization II game report

Name: Jie Chen

Student ID: 2995

Instructor : Dr Adrian Bennett

Class: Media Studies 3 A

Date: 10/1/ 2011

 Content

Introduction……………………………………………………………2

Platform……………………………………………………3

About creator……………………….………………………………….4

List of game………………………………………………..5

History of Civilization series…………………………………………5-8

Game features…………………………………………………………8-9

Discussion……………………………………………………………9-10

Reflection…………………………………………………….………...10

Reference………………………………………………….….………...10
Introduction

Civilization is a turn-based strategy game originally created by Sid Meier in 1991.

Players control a fledgling civilization such as the Aztecs, Romans, English, et al.
Beginning in 4000BC with just a single settler, the objective is to build an empire - by
means of exploration, colonization, scientific research and diplomacy - which will last
into the 21st century. Civilization II, revised by Brian Reynolds, was released in 1996.
Platform

Civilization was originally developed for MS-DOS running on a PC. It has undergone
numerous revisions for various platforms (including Windows, Macintosh, Amiga,
Atari ST, PlayStation, N-Gage and Super Nintendo) and now exists in several
versions. The N-Gage version was the last game released for the system in North
America.
About creator

Sid Mei founded MicroProse together with Bill

Stealey in 1982. At MicroProse, Meier developed
the game series for which he is most widely
recognized, Civilization, although he designed
only the first installment. Meier eventually left
MicroProse and in 1996 founded Firaxis Games
along with veteran designer and gaming
executive Jeff Briggs. Today Firaxis makes
strategy games, many of which are follow-ups to
Meier titles, such as Civilization V and Pirates!.
In 1996 he was awarded US Patent 5,496,962 for
a "System for Real-Time Music Composition and
Synthesis" used in a product called "CPU Bach".

In 1999, Meier became the second person to be

inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts
and Sciences' Hall of Fame. The first to receive
that honor was Shigeru Miyamoto from Nintendo.Currently Meier's role appears to be
that of a creative director, simultaneously contributing to multiple projects.

Meier worked with a team on a dinosaur themed game starting early 2000, but
announced in an online development diary on January 24, 2001 that the game had
been shelved. Despite trying various approaches, including turn-based and real-time
gameplay, he said he found no way to make the concept fun enough. In August 2005,
Meier said, "We've been nonstop busy making other games over the past several years,
so the dinosaur game remains on the shelf.
List of game designed by Sid Meier

Silent Service 1985

NATO Division Commander (1985)
Conflict in Vietnam (1985)
Crusade in Europe and Decision in the Desert (1985)
Sid Meier's Pirates! (1987)
Red Storm Rising (1987)
F-19 Stealth Fighter (1988)
Gunship (1989)
Sid Meier's Civilization (1991)
Covert Action (1991)
CPU Bach (1993)
Sid Meier's Colonization (1994)
Magic: The Gathering (1997)
Sid Meier's Gettysburg (1997)

History of Civilization series

1991 - Civilization

The first entry into the strategy series that defined the genre. With deep, yet accessible
(and addictive) turn-based gameplay, Civilization put players in control of one of
history's great civilizations, guiding it from infancy to global domination, and
instantly becoming a must-play title for an entire generation of PC gamers.
1996 - Civilization II

Civilization II built on the success of its predecessor by adding greatly improved

graphics, a new isometric viewpoint, better AI, and new features like the High
Council. It was followed by three expansion packs greatly increased the life of the
game. For many gamers, Civilization II was their first introduction to the seminal
strategy series, and remains one of the most popular and beloved games in the
franchise more than a decade after its release.

2001 - Civilization III

Enhanced rules, graphics and gameplay mechanics that included expanded

Diplomacy, the addition of domination by Culture, and the inclusion of Strategic
Resources, made Civilization III another innovative step for the franchise. However, it
was the first expansion, Civilization III: Play the World, which revolutionized the
series by introducing an all-new online multiplayer mode. The second expansion,
Civilization III: Conquests, introduced players to scenarios based around specific
periods in history, which were ideal for accelerated head-to-head multiplayer matches.

2005 - Civilization IV

With more than three-million copies sold, Civilization IV became the series' most
popular title and once again proved that the Civilization experience continues to
improve with each new installment. Civilization IV was the first game to introduce
fully 3D graphics to the series, adding a stunning new layer of detail to the game's
visual appeal. Other new additions include domination through Religion, new
technologies, influential "Great People", a flexible new civics model, a World Builder
in-game map creator, and streamlined game play mechanics. Two expansion packs
followed, including Civilization IV: Warlords, and Civilization IV: Beyond the
Sword, the latter of which set a milestone by showcasing the largest amount of
expansion content in the history of the Civilization franchise.

2010 - Civilization V

The game is based on an entirely new game engine with hexagonal tiles instead of the
square tiles of earlier games in the series. Many elements from Civilization IV and its
expansion packs have been removed or changed, such as religion and espionage. The
combat system has been overhauled, removing stacking of military units and enabling
cities to defend themselves by firing directly on nearby enemies. In addition, the maps
contain computer-controlled city-states as non-player characters that are available for
trade, diplomacy and conquest. A civilization's borders also expand one tile at a time,
favoring more productive tiles, and roads now have a maintenance cost, making them
much less common.
The game features community, modding and multiplayer elements.

Game play
Run the civilization 2 wo have many levels of option to choose, male or female/style
of city(bronze eastern classical or middle ages)/which culture(21 cultures in
total)/difficulty level(chieftain warlord prince king emperor or deity)/ select size of
world(small 40X50 quick, middle 50X80 take longer time, 75X120 take the longest
time.)/ Select Level of compellation(Villagers Only/Roving Bands/Restless Trbdes/
Raging Hordes)/select game rule(standard rule or customary rule)

At the beginning player have one or two settle to move until you decide a suitable
place then press “b” to set palace. This city will be your capital city. It is better to
bulid capital near the river grasses or special resource.

Zoom into manage screen of city youcan press “change” button to change your
product. You can build building and army. Now you can send warrior to explor the
map and send settle to bulid more cities. Of course you will meet other unit of culture.
you can choose to sign a peace treaty if you are weaker or declare war to them if you
are stonger. because In the world have 6 to 7 culture so it is better for you to swap 3 to
4 culture near you as soon as possible. Then fight with 2 to 3 large culture in the end.
After you become stronger you can break treaty to attack them.
I have to say that AI of civilization is so clever, when you fight with a culture if you
miss even one city of enemy, the enemy will be relive again in a short and send army
to attack forever. It become a big trouble, so clear them all!

Also we have two type of way to win. One is destroying all other civilizations,
reaching the end of the modern era with the highest score. Another one is winning the
space race by reaching the star system of Alpha Centauri. This may lead up to Sid
Meier's Alpha Centauri.

Game features

(civilization 5 win the best E3 game in 2010)

Turn base strategy: at that time it is a new game type. Player and AI take turns to
control own culture.

Technology tree: this is also a new idea of that time. Only you developed a technology
then you can develop a better technology and build stronger army.

Alphabet-> { Code of Law } -> Literacy

{ Writing }

Literacy } -> Republic

Code of Law }

Ceremony Bury -> Mysticism } ->Philosophy

Literacy }

Ceremony Bury } ->Polytheism } ->Monotheism

HorsebackRiding} Philosophy }

Warrior Code }
Monarchy }-> Fedulism }->Thelogy
Monotheism }

History and culture: it is selling point of this game. civilization place 5000’s culture
and history into this game. It combine history economic military and politic in a game,
so many elements make player try this game again and again. From ogygian to future
age in several hours you see the whole history. After you play you will have a special
feeling.

Discussion
Civilization 2 is more advanced than civilization. Civilization 2 inherit the game
system of civilization, at the same time it improve the game display and music. Sid
said if he publish civilization 2 first it will be too complex, but once we play the
civilization then play civilization 2 we can adapt everything. So the civilization 2 is
just on time. It give you more unit more technology and more things to do.
Some deadly flaws
-Too complex
-Do not have multiple player mod
-Battle scene is too simple
-Takes a long time to play

Civilization II is the most successful strategy simulates game. However it is difficult

for novice. I am a fan of strategy game and I especially love Age of Emperor II. Even
me play Civilization II for several days I cannot catch the system of the game. The
sytem of the Civilization II is pretty complex. You must care the economic population
technology and military at the same time. It’s a pity if player just play with AI,
imagine if 3 or 4 people play together it will be more fun. Civilization II cost to much
time to play, even player choose the smallest map it still not finished in half an hour. It
is too test player’s patient. The game display maybe excellent at that age, but now I
think it is terrible. The compatibility is another problem. It is not support 64-bit
system. When I play it, it always jumps to desktop and crash. Battle scene is too
simple, it just two army symbol touch once.

Reflection
Every times the finished I always ask myself:“is this the end? No, it can not to be
end.” What is the essence of development of human civilization? Civilization give us
two ways to win. Conquer or fly to space. If we real win After conquer all other
culture? I don’t think so. Develop for more development. I think this is the answer. of
development of human civilization is never stop. We still continue…

Reference

“Sid Meier's name has appeared everywhere from the”

http://planetcivilization.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Articles.Detail&id=42
“Civilization was originally developed for MS-DOS running on a PC”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_(video_game)
“He founded MicroProse together with Bill Stealey in 1982”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Meier
“Sid Meier's Civilization II is a turn-based strategy computer game”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_II