GamerDad Game of the Year 2005 - Ages 14+ Winner! by GamerDad Staff January 24, 2006

Civilization IV Platform Reviewed: PC Strategy Quick Summary: A tremendous strategy game that revitalizes the series after the previous game. Eliminates much of the busy work and micromanagement and allows players to focus on the game. From the Kid Factor: There's nothing offensive in the game. The combat animations are tasteful and inoffensive and there's nothing sexual or questionable about the game. It's possible that some of the more devout or close-minded players might find the prospect of leading an Empire who founded Islam or Hinduism is offensive by itself ñ so those players should watch out. But for everyone else the only consideration in regards to children is ... how smart are they? Civilization IV is a really smart game. It requires a good eye for relationships, data, and mastery of countless variables. It teaches a bit about history (all the Wonders, for example, are based on real-world Wonders) and it tickles the imagination. It's the kind of game that could make your kids very curious about world cultures, history, and all the nuanced and deep relationships that make up the many cultures of the world. The compulsive (just-one-more-turn) nature of the game means that kids will get a lot of this one, provided they have enough time to actually play something this deep and rich. Hey, sounds like edutainment to me! (In a good way.) More... 4 1/2 stars out of 5 What the GamerDad Staff says: Andrew Bub, GamerDad: "Civilization 4 is the smartest game released in '05. It's bright, difficult, daunting, intimidating, engaging, charming, yet it's also extremely accessible. I actually think it qualifies as edutainment in that it doesn't teach history - so much as it shows, dramatically, the relationships between culture, religion, science, and warfare. A terrific game for a teenager or adult. It's also a great game to play with your kids, in multiplayer over the net or LAN, or on the same PC with one person using the mouse and the other helping with the long range plans. With 1000's interesting and meaningful decisions per game." Dave Long: "Civilization is as close as the game industry gets to an "evergreen" title. A game that sells consistently month after month and year after year. It doesn't hurt that it keeps evolving with time. Civilization IV completely supplants III as King on the world conquering throne. When it comes to the 4 X's: eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate--this is your game. It sneakily teaches your kids some history along the way, too. " Simon Windmill: "A game that can consistently keep grown adults on the computer until 5am on a work night has to be good, right? " Dr. Matt Carlson: "Civilization is fun and addictive in almost all its incarnations. The feeling of running a country with mildly historical settings and situations gives strategy gamers no end of enjoyment. Even the rules governing research and technology teach players about historical human development. While past versions of the game have been known to sometimes dissapoint hardcore fans, even the diehards are saying this version is one of the best. The 14+ category wasn't as strong this year, but Civ 4 would have held its own against even stronger opponents. " Michael Anderson: "... just one more turn ... Civilization IV is loads of fun and truly has an amazing amount to offer gamers. A single campaign takes longer than many current games, but that just scratches the surface - the replayability is as open as history itself, and that is even before getting to multiplayer!" Amazon Links: Buy Civilization IV for PC

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Be sure to check out the rest of GamerDad's Game of the Year Awards!

Game of the Year Award for Kids Under 5 years old

Game of the Year Award for Kids 6 and older!

Game of the Year Award for Kids 10 and older!

Game of the Year Award for Adults!

Unplugged Game of the Year Award!

GamerDad Family Game of the Year Award!

GamerDad Family Console of the Year Award!

GamerDad Family Movie of the Year Award!


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This article edited by Michael Anderson

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