DESCRIPTION

Following the greatly anticipated Halloween 2001 release of Sid Meier's Civilization III, a number of critics and publications honored the title with their Strategy Game of the Year awards. This "Game of the Year" edition contains the full version of the acclaimed turn-based strategy, three new game maps, "The Making of Civilization III" video, a Command Card, and an excerpt from Prima's Official Strategy Guide.

The Civilization series returns to familiar ground with new flair in Sid Meier's Civilization III. Since the release of the first Sid Meier's Civilization in 1991, each title in this popular series of turn-based strategy games has received praise and respect from the critics, the gaming industry, and (most importantly) the gamers themselves. Both the first game and its sequel, Sid Meier's Civilization II, were produced by Microprose. The sequel was created under the direction of master game designers Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, a sort of "science fiction Civilization" was also produced under the guidance of Meier and Reynolds and was the first major game released by their new development company, Firaxis.

Building on the encompassing success of these first three games, Firaxis returns to the Earthly confines of the two original releases to produce Sid Meier's Civilization III. As before, the players guide their tribe from humble, stone-age beginnings, through the ages to a future still beyond our 21st century horizons. As in the previous games, brave exploration, keen diplomacy, wise city placement, and responsible resource management will have great influence over the player's ultimate success. Though military operations are still only one facet of the complicated gameplay, combat has been significantly redesigned to provide even more realistic unit movement and conflict resolution in this version. Civ III boasts improved graphics and animations, an enhanced interface, powerful customization options, and all of the balance and sophistication that have made the previous games in this series so undeniably engaging. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide