Day 19: Picture of a Game Setting You Wish You Lived In

I know how to do screenshots now! (EDIT: And just figured out how to change the size of the pictures on my blog!)

So yeah, no brainer here. This is a picture from one of my completed games of Civilization 2. Why do I want to live here? Let me number the ways:

1) There is no war, and never will be, because I conquered everyone else.
2) A spaceship has just landed a colony of people on Alpha Centauri, because I did both victory conditions
3) There is no pollution or global warming because of my excellent environmental program. Everything is run on hydroelectric power.
4) There is no discontent in my cities because everyone loves me and the things I give them.
5) The cure for cancer has been discovered.
6) Most of the military has been disbanded because this is a world where they are genuinely no longer required, allowing money to be spent elsewhere.
7) Transportation links between all cities is done quickly and efficiently by train, and there are a number of airports.
8) All of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World are still standing in my cities, including the Great Library of Alexandria.
9) Women's Suffrage was granted in about 16-1700 AD.
10) Oh, and I'm the lord and master of the known world with a decked out throne room and a palace and I OWN THE WORLD WHICH I BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP!

I could go on, but this seems sufficient. Keep your beauitful scenery in later games with better graphics. I know there are nice places to live here, because I built them, and my people love me for it. The Hanging Gardens, for instance.

Incidentally, this particular game was played as King Howard Williams of the Welsh :P

Day 13: Game I've Played More Than 5 Times

This was probably the easiest day so far. Civilization 2. It's come up several times before, and with good reason. I've played this game through so many times I can't begin to imagine the number (30? 40?)

Starting with a single Settler, you take a civilization from its birth in 4000BC through all of history to 2050 AD, or somewhere thereabouts. City management is key, along with expansion, exploration, research, development, irrigation, roads, railroads, constructing Libraries, Colosseums, Cathedrals, Great Wonders of the World like the Pyramids and Adam Smith's Trading Company, dealing with other civilizations either through diplomacy, bribery, espionage, or force...

It is an incredible game. Yes, they have made sequels, and yes, its possible Civ 4 is better. I didn't much enjoy Civ 3 and I have yet to try Civ 5. However my laptop can't play Civ 4, and so I've been relegated back to the game of my childhood, the second game, which in my opinion is perhaps the most streamlined. Diplomacy is a little too difficult to do successfully (everyone ALWAYS hates me when I do nothing wrong...) but aside from that it's fantastic. The music is simple, but aesthetic. The gameplay is smooth. The storyline... well, it's whatever you make of it. There's no plot. Just you trying to compete and survive in a world of other powers. I've played through this over and over again since I started playing when I was... I dunno, 8? Maybe 9? My parents enjoyed this one too, and they'd spend hours on it, and still do, although I think they play Civ 4.... grrrr...

But yes, by far the most played game in my history has let me construct countless empires stretching across all the known world. I've conquered scores of nations, from the small and weak to the truly mighty. I've built the Great Library of Alexandria so many times I don't understand how its not still here with us today. In short, I have brought civilization in many forms to the height of greatness, and loved it every time.

Day 6: Most Annoying Character

In Civilization II, you take a civilization from its founding moment to its ultimate glory in 6000 years of turn-based struggles. It's an incredible game, and some of the sequels (Civ 4 in particular) are equally fantastic. I will always love the simplicity of Civ 2 though.

One of its best features, and something which sadly was not continued in the later games was the High Council, a group of advisors who would, throughout the ages, tell you how you were doing in particular areas such as Military and Science, and generally demand that you put more effort into THEIR field rather than the others. This was a brilliant addition, and they had some great lines. Youtube the High Council for some fun times.  In fact, here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHfk5VhAvWU&NR=1

Unfortunately, there was an Entertainment/Luxury Advisor, who came in the form of Elvis. Funny in and of itself, after 6000 years you really don't want to hear from him ever again. He's corny and annoying, and brings the entire tone of the council down. The Foreign Advisor takes the form of a Russian spy, which is cool. Elvis, I'm sorry to say, is not cool. I ususally didn't ask him for advice.


Close Second: Sonic the Hedgehog from most of the recent games, just because he's exponentially more difficult to control.