Civilization Revolution

Meier, Sid. Civilization Revolution. Video Game. Praxis, 2008. Available on PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and XBox360.



Plot Summary
Civilization Revolution is a turn based game similar to Risk in which players move characters round a map and build units. Players may chose their civilization or the computer can randomly assign one. Different civilizations have different strengths. Start by founding a city, then set to building units. Use warriors to defend, explore or attack neighboring civilizations. At home, build a granary, a library or if you have the technology, a bank. Meanwhile, your scientists are working on new technology. You can chose what they focus on and their discoveries determine what you can build.

There are four different ways to win: domination, where you capture all enemy capitals; culture where you meet 20 different cultural milestones and build the UN; economic, where you aquire 20,000 pieces of gold and build the world bank; or technological, which is a space race. Different technologies are geared towards achieving different types of victory. But beware, even if you're not focusing on a domination victory, you'll still need military technology to defend your cities.


Critical evaluation
Civilization is a challenging strategy game that requires advance planning and multi-tasking. It's a game that can be played again and again, winning different ways and a different levels of difficulty. Unlike previous versions of Civilization, Civilization Revolution is simpler. There are less types of military units and less options for upgrading units. The game is also much shorter, which is a big improvement. Now, the game can be won in a matter of hours, rather than days. New gamers will have an easy time learning how the game works, especially if they start on the easiest level, which also serves as a tutorial. Unfortunately, this version of Civilization doesn't allow you to play against other people in your home, although it does allow multi-player gaming over the system network.

Readers Annotations
If you were the leader of a civilization, what kind of civilization would you be? Would you build up armies and crush your opponents, or would you build a culture so great that they would voluntarily join you? Maybe you would focus on technology and race into space. It's your civilization: it's your choice.

Information About the Creator

Sidney Meier is a programmer and videogame developer. He is also one of the founders of Praxis games, for which he serves as creative director. Besides Civilization, he has designed the games Pirates! and Railroad Tycoons. He currently lives in Maryland with his wife and son.

Genre
Turn based strategy

Curriculum Ties
Each civilization has a special attribute based on their culture. For example, the Spanish can build Conquistador units, which no other civilization can build. Information about these units and other elements of the game can be found in the "civilopedia".

Booktalking Ideas
How would you choose to rule the world?

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 5+ (Rated E for Everyone, but the game is a little complicated for younger kids)
Strongly recommended for teens and adults too!

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas
If you play for a domination victory, the game is focused on military domination.

However, the military domination teaches strategy, thinking ahead, and resource allocation. The three other forms of victory focus on other aspects of civilization.

Why Game Included
One of my favorite games.