<sod>  
 This game has been one of the most popular [[strategy game]]s of all time, and has a loyal following of fans. This high level of interest has even spawned a number of [[Free software|free]] versions, such as ''[[Freeciv]]'' and ''[[C-evo!]]''. There have been many rip-offs of the basic idea by other developers as well.
 
''[[Civilization II]]'' was released in [[1996]] and eventually spawned two expansion packs. A Multiplayer Gold Edition was released in [[1999]]. ''[[Civilization III]]'' was released in [[2001]], along with two expansion packs of its own which add multiplayer capability.
 
 Sid Meier admits to "borrowing" many of the technology tree ideas from a [[board game]] originally designed by Francis Tresham, published in Britain in 1980 by Hartland Trefoil (later by Gibson Games), and in the US in 1981 by [[Avalon Hill]] also called ''[[Civilization board game|Civilization]]''.  In an ironic twist, there is now a board game based on the computer game version of ''Civilization''.
 
The game ''[[Alpha Centauri computer game|Alpha Centauri]]'' is also by Sid Meier and is in the same genre, but with a futuristic/space theme.  Many of the interface and gameplay innovations in this game eventually made their way into ''Civilization III''. According to Firaxis ''Civilization IV'' is in the works [[as of 2004]].
 
 Between ''Civilization II'' and ''III'', [[Activision]] released a knock-off game ''[[Civilization: Call To Power]]''. They acquired the rights to the name for a time and took advantage of it by releasing the game using the property in its title.
 
 ==Civilization's introduction==
 
 <eod> <sod> 
 This game has been one of the most popular [[strategy game]]s of all time, and has a loyal following of fans. This high level of interest has even spawned a number of [[Free software|free]] versions, such as ''[[Freeciv]]'' and ''[[C-evo!]]''. There have been many rip-offs of the basic idea by other developers as well.
 
''[[Civilization II]]'' was released in [[1996]] and eventually spawned two expansion packs. A Multiplayer Gold Edition was released in [[1999]].

''[[Civilization III]]'' was released in [[2001]], along with two expansion packs of its own which add multiplayer capability.
 
 Sid Meier admits to "borrowing" many of the technology tree ideas from a [[board game]] originally designed by Francis Tresham, published in Britain in 1980 by Hartland Trefoil (later by Gibson Games), and in the US in 1981 by [[Avalon Hill]] also called ''[[Civilization board game|Civilization]]''.  In an ironic twist, there is now a board game based on the computer game version of ''Civilization''.
 
In [[1994]] Sid Meier produced a similar game called [[Colonization (game)|Colonization]].
 
 Between ''Civilization II'' and ''III'', [[Activision]] released a knock-off game ''[[Civilization: Call To Power]]''. They acquired the rights to the name for a time and took advantage of it by releasing the game using the property in its title.

The game ''[[Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri|Alpha Centauri]]'' is also by Sid Meier and is in the same genre, but with a futuristic/space theme.  Many of the interface and gameplay innovations in this game eventually made their way into ''Civilization III''. According to Firaxis ''Civilization IV'' is in the works [[as of 2004]].
 
 ==Civilization's introduction==
 
 <eod>