bit-tech Shopping: Take 2 Interactive Civilization IV

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Rating: 2

Time with product: 9 Months

Strengths: Great game play great graphics

Weaknesses: Crash...Crash...Crash

Summary: I'm running XP Pro, Intel P4 3.0 chip, Asus P4P800E Deluxe motherboard, 1 gig of memory and an ATI all in Wonder with 256 of memory on board and this game crashes. Civ IV crashes a lot, the patches will not fix it and driver updates will not fit it. This is a common problem and I have found no solutions.

Rating: 2

Time with product: 60 Days

Strengths: if you have a top of the line computer it might work

Weaknesses: will not work fully

Summary: i would say i have medium requirements compared to what they claim they should be (between the lowest requirments and the recomended) The game plays fine and is enjoyable till all of a sudden the graphics go haywire. It gets so bad you cant even see the menue to get out of the game. or even where to click to see the menue.I am an avid civilization buff and really wished this would have worked .....but no CEEEGAR!They do try and respond to help you but i have tried every setting redid my graphics card drivers first updated them(on their suggestion) and then rolled them back(on their suggestion) tried ever setting the game would offer ......it simply doesnt work . My computer is only a year old.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Faster Game, better graphics, more variety.

Weaknesses: Graphics problems with ATI video cards. Many bugs, patches slow to be released.

Summary: This latest installation in the Civilization line of games is in my opinion the best. The AI works much better in this game (it doesn't cheat for instance with resources & maps). The graphics blow the previous games out of the water, as well as the sounds and music. Keep in mind you will need a fairly up to date video card in order to play. A great deal of the tedious aspect of maintaining your empire have been removed, which makes for a much more enjoyable (as well as faster) game.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Everything important is visible from the main interface. Classic formula largely unchanged. Good graphics. Stable play, including multiplayer. Addictive. Endlessly replayable. Minimal micromanagement.

Weaknesses: Resource hog. Requires a relatively new, mid-range graphics card.

Summary: Doesn't fiddle too much with the classic elements that make the series great. This game is a massive rebuild of earlier Civs, dramatically improving stability and opening up the interface to the latest technological gimmickry. The developers have split out all the tedious micromanagement and everything is visible from the main interface. Many functions can be automated and you can generally expect the computer to do a decent job. This consequently dramatically reduces game time and a game should finish in half the time of earlier incarnations, depending on your propensity for micromanagement. The new religion model adds hugely to the vibe and feel of the game, but doesn't dramatically impact on gameplay so it's far from over done. Some tweaks to the tech tree significantly increase your tactical options in the early game--what you need to research will vary from game to game. CIv4 adds plenty of setup options to keep it from getting stale, such as "one city challenge", "always peace", "no tech trading" and dozens of different randomly generated map types. Also includes plenty of cute touches like a built in user-set alarm (to avoid the accidental all-nighter--something very possible with this game!) and the ability from within the game to select your own MP3 directory for in-game music. As with everything in the Civ franchise the combat model is basic at best, but some RPG additions make it more interesting with combat experience and training (such as barracks) leading to a variety of possible unit bonuses such as mountain specialist, +1 movement, etc. Plenty of improvements make this a must-buy both for original fans of the series and newbies alike.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 5 Months

Strengths: game play, music, strategy, and most important FUN!!

Weaknesses: there are a several online bugs, but there are working on it.

Summary: this is the best game of 2005 and, in my opinion, one of the best game ever, the strategy and game play are superb and the graphics and music draw you in to this addicting game. the online is vary fun and the mod community could not be stronger. If there is one game that you get this year it has to be Civ 4!