Just... one... more... turn

Here it is, the game that was responsible for so much lost sleep. Sid Meier's original Civilization from 1991, in all its 3 and a half-inch floppy, MD-DOS glory ('mouse recommended').

"Build an empire to stand the test of time" went the blurb, and I did... over and over again. Civ took computer strategy gaming to a whole new level, and has influenced much that has come since, including clones, such as the Call to Power series.

It wasn't perfect (having your expensive tanks beaten by ancient spearmen was a well-known frustration), but rarely has a game so drawn you in that you actually cared for your little people and their country, in which you invested so many hours of precious gaming (and sleeping) time. You always just had to do a few more turns to gain that new technology or to conquer that next city, or whatever was your next goal.

Another frustration I recall was the lengthy endgame, where there was no longer any doubt that you would win the game, but you still had to mop up the rest of the map. In the end, however, these gripes did not matter - Civ had given us something new and wonderful, and computer gaming would never be the same again.

Now, if only the upcoming Civ V is half as good as Civ I...