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 [[Image:Civ2.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Civilization II]]
 
The scope of the game is huge&mdash;larger than most other computer games. When the game begins, the player controls one or two Settler units, which can found new cities and also alter terrain and build improvements such as mines and roads and, later, railroads. The time at the beginning is [[4000 BC]], and, if you manage to last so long, the game forces you to retire in the year AD 2050. 
 
 As time advances, new technologies are developed; these technologies are the primary way the game changes and grows. Players choose from, at the beginning, advances such as [[Pottery]], the [[Wheel]], and the [[Alphabet]] to, at the close of the game, [[Nuclear fission]] and [[Space flight]]. Players gain a large advantage if their civilization is the first to learn a particular technology, the secrets of flight, for example. Each advance gives access to new units, city improvements or derivative technologies: for example, the [[Chariot]] unit becomes available after the Wheel development, and the Granary building becomes available for building after the Pottery development. The whole system of advancements from beginning to end is called the [[Technology tree]], or simply the Tech tree, a concept adopted in many other strategy games.
 
Players can also build Wonders of the world in all the epochs in the game. From [[Pyramids]], [[Great Wall of China]] in Ancient age, to the [[Statue of Liberty]] in Industrial Age, up to [[Apollo Program]], the [[United Nations]] and [[Manhattan Project]] in modern era. Each of these wonders can only be built by one civilization and takes up a lot of resources to build (far larger than other city upgrades or units). However, each of these wonders provides unique benefits that can be gained by no other methods. Wonders can also be made obselete by technological advance.
 
 The game can be won either by destroying all other civilizations or by being the first civilization to succeed at [[space colonization]], in this case reaching the star system of [[Alpha Centauri]]. In the latest version, ''Civ3'', other ways to win have been added.
 
 <eod> <sod> 
 [[Image:Civ2.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Civilization II]]
 
The scope of the game is huge&mdash;larger than most other computer games. When the game begins, the player controls one or two Settler units, which can found new cities and also alter terrain and build improvements such as mines and roads and, later, railroads. The time at the beginning is [[4000 BC]], and, if you manage to last so long, the game forces you to retire in [[21st century]]. 
 
 As time advances, new technologies are developed; these technologies are the primary way the game changes and grows. Players choose from, at the beginning, advances such as [[Pottery]], the [[Wheel]], and the [[Alphabet]] to, at the close of the game, [[Nuclear fission]] and [[Space flight]]. Players gain a large advantage if their civilization is the first to learn a particular technology, the secrets of flight, for example. Each advance gives access to new units, city improvements or derivative technologies: for example, the [[Chariot]] unit becomes available after the Wheel development, and the Granary building becomes available for building after the Pottery development. The whole system of advancements from beginning to end is called the [[Technology tree]], or simply the Tech tree, a concept adopted in many other strategy games.
 
Players can also build Wonders of the world in all the epochs in the game. These wonders are often impoerant human achievements of society, science and culture in human history. From [[Pyramids]], [[Great Wall of China|Great Wall]] in Ancient age, to the [[Statue of Liberty]] in Industrial Age, up to [[Apollo Program]], the [[United Nations]] and [[Manhattan Project]] in modern era. Each of these wonders can only be built by one civilization and takes up a lot of resources to build (far larger than other city upgrades or units). However, each of these wonders provides unique benefits that can be gained by no other methods. Wonders can also be made obselete by technological advance.
 
 The game can be won either by destroying all other civilizations or by being the first civilization to succeed at [[space colonization]], in this case reaching the star system of [[Alpha Centauri]]. In the latest version, ''Civ3'', other ways to win have been added.
 
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