Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Gold Edition | 
| From: Take 2
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $34.99
You Save: $5.00 (13%)
New (11) Used (10) from $29.42
Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 426
Platform: Windows Xp
Genre: Military and Historical Strategy Games
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Gold
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.5 x 1.4
MPN: 710425311833
UPC: 710425311833
EAN: 0710425311833
ASIN: B000RHFZTM
Release Date: July 17, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | The ultimate strategy game, offering players the chance to lead their chosen nation from the dawn of man through the space age | | • | Build the most powerful empire and become the greatest ruler the world has ever known | | • | Civilization comes to life in a beautifully detailed, living 3D world--with all-new easy-to-use mod capabilities and intense multiplayer modes and options | | • | Includes both Civilization IV and the combat-focused Warlords Expansion Pack | | • | Gold Edition bonus items include fantasy-style poster, behind-the-scenes DVD, tech-tree poster, and Civilization IV manual |
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Product Description
The classic strategy game combined with its incredible expansion pack, for the Civ IV strategy action you crave. / Rated T: Teen
From the Manufacturer
Sid Meier's Civilization IV is the ultimate strategy game offering players the chance to lead their chosen nation from the dawn of man through the space age on a quest to build the most powerful empire and become the greatest ruler the world has ever known. Now, Civ fans can experience more world domination than ever before with Civilization IV: Gold Edition, which includes both Civilization IV and the combat-focused Warlords Expansion Pack! Box Contents Include: - Sid Meier's Civilization IV - You won't want to miss one of the most critically-acclaimed PC games ever from legendary designer Sid Meier. Play as one of history's greatest leaders and battle, negotiate, strategize and explore your way to world conquest. All of human history is at your fingertips.
- Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Warlords - In this first expansion pack to Civilization IV, players have even more options to win by military might - including the devastating Warlords unit. Six new civilizations, ten new leaders and eight additional scenarios just scratch the surface of new content added to the already massive core game.
- Gold Edition Bonus Items:
- Fantasy-style poster set within the world of Sid Meier's Civilization from Greg Hildebrandt, the illustrator of the world famous 1977 Star Wars fantasy-themed movie poster, the Clash of the Titans movie poster, various Lord of the Rings calendars and posters and many others.
- Behind-the-Scenes DVD featuring developer interviews, insight into the Civ IV development process and featurette on Sid Meier's history in the gaming industry.
- Tech-tree poster featuring the paths to researching and discovering all of the technologies needed to advance in Civilization IV.
- Civilization IV Manual
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| Customer Reviews: Read 35 more reviews...
 Stick With Civ 3 Instead August 20, 2007
Kevin R. Haughn (San Diego, CA)
88 out of 157 found this review helpful
As much as I love the Civilization franchise and for as long as I have been playing it (since the beginning, I've played every format made available), I have to say that Civilization 4 is a dud. I say this from two distinct standpoints.
First, up until now, modifying the game was quite easy. Before, simple cut and paste functions could be performed and you could put special things into your game to customize it. Now, Civ 4 makes it so that you must know computer programming (XML, Python) just to alter things like governments, technologies, and simple game concepts. Good luck, unless you have the money and desire to get a professional degree.
Second, Civ 4 is just starting to be expanded. This means that we can expect a relatively long line of "expansion packs" that each cost about $30. After you play them (and I recommend that you don't), you will wonder, "Why didn't they just put that simple feature into the main game?" Your answer will be, "Oh, yeah... they want to make money off me." This is frustrating when you think in terms of shameless marketing.
In terms of this package, Civilization IV: Gold Edition, you get the core game plus the Warlords expansion pack included for what the original sold for about two years ago. Eventually, however, we can assume that all expansions will be rolled into one package, so I advise you to wait for a couple years until that happens. Buying this Gold Edition for $50 is ridiculous, especially with so many more expansions coming out. If you want to get started with Civ 4, again, wait for the price of everything to be $35 or less.
The good part about Civilzation 4, in general, is its classically addictive nature as are most of Sid Meier's games. Building up your own civilization as other civilizations are trying to do the same is quite intruiging and fun. It is a great concept, and the playability is certainly endless. But this leads me to explain the title I give this review.
If you buy Civilization 3 Complete right now, you will notice a couple things. (1) It is completely expanded - no more money-making attempts. (2) It costs less than half of any Civ 4 title. And (3) it is as super-addictive as any Civ title out there. So I advise everyone to purchase Civilization 3 Complete instead of wasting your money on Civ 4. You will appreciate this advice if you've had the time to compare these titles.
Closing thoughts: wait until Civ 5 comes out to see if Firaxis is willing to be fair with its fans; forego Civ 4 any way you can; and make sure you get Civ 3 Complete - it'll change your (video game) life for the better!
 Compared to III - a great improvement October 15, 2007
L. Peary (Oklahoma, USA)
45 out of 47 found this review helpful
I find that the improvements outweigh the negatives in Civ IV. I've played Civ III for a while, and was always frustrated with the unrealistic means of making it more difficult at higher levels - such as warriors defeating Knights in battle, other Civs building wonders in record turns, things like that. In Civ IV, those issues seem to be repaired. I've found that the rules they give us for combat movements, cost, etc., are not bypassed to make the game more difficult at higher levels.
I like the added variety of leaders and their abilities, seems more realistic and helpful for long term strategy. I also like the addition of more wonders, though they have changed some of the benefits of certain wonders so I needed to get used to the same thing being different.
I also am enjoying the new "Permanent Alliance" option. I just finally used that and really liked the dimension it added to game play.
The graphics do bother me a bit - too bouncy. I've changed settings as much as I can to get away from it, but it is still a bit bouncy and makes me dizzy.
I'm also not pleased with the bug that makes the game not work with my graphics card - which I have yet to find a fix for. I am playing it on another computer. One of my son-in-laws also can't use the game since his graphics card doesn't seem to be supported. He has a much bigger, badder, multimedia computer.
It also has a problem with the online updates. I updated and had serious issues which I had to call the manufacturer to fix - couldn't start the game, couldn't uninstall the game, couldn't reinstall the game - totally useless. A Direct X fix repaired that, but I don't think I even got the update after all the work! I'm quite leary of trying again. Then my son, who also has the game, updated his and it caused serious corruption for him too. I told him what my fix was, and it didn't work for his. He has to call and see what to do now. Updates aren't supposed to break the game, they are supposed to fix it. The game works fine without the updates, so I'm going to forego any future attempts to update.
Error ridden for Vista December 9, 2007
Steveo (Baltimore, Maryland USA)
27 out of 39 found this review helpful
I have attempted to update the game but I get an error when I try that. I have uninstalled the game, reinstalled it several times. I have made sure that direct x and other things are completely updated before reinstalling. I have followed all instructions that the company has given me to fix the issue..(to include removing the game from the registry) and STILL I get the same error. I can not install ANY patches because it says that there is NO previously installed version of the game. No patches. They keep telling me to install patches in a particular order...NO PATCHES WILL INSTALL... I can not update the game or upgrade to the next version. Overall this game is good but I am not happy about the Vista incompatibility.
Still can't top Civ II January 7, 2008
J. Marsano (Urban Gristle Mill)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
Sure, in terms of graphical sophistication and rules, this latest Civ is the most impressive yet. But in terms of sheer escapist fantasy power, it doesn't hold a candle to Civ II.
The problem with making things gorgeous to look at, especially at high resolution and in detail, is that the game slows down considerably. By the time you have invested 8 hours playing a round, and your little empire has grown, you want the game to proceed a snappy pace. Rendering all that detail, however, has a cost, even on a higher-end home system. Civ IV's big weakness is that game play becomes very slow.
Others certainly disagree and prefer the eye candy of animated rivers and watching individual units flex their muscles in combat. I've turned off all the detail and as much animation as I can get away with, but the game still isn't as much fun as Civ II, which I still play. Your mileage might vary, so give it a shot--the 'gold' edition is certainly a good deal.
They always change the wrong stuff October 14, 2007
Don Lowry (Hemet, CA United States)
9 out of 16 found this review helpful
Instead of spending all their time and energy on improving the graphics, which was NOT really needed, so far as I'm concerned, I wish the designers would concentrate on improving the GAME, especially the movement and combat systems, which are pathetic. Even 40-year-old board games had better systems, and they didn't have the advantage of a computer to figure out all the ramifications of terrain, numbers, etc. Why can't we have combat where whole stacks attack whole stacks? Why can't we have lines of supply for units in the field? Why can't we have a limit on how many units can be stacked in one square? Why can't they use a grid of hexagons instead of squares? Come on, guys! If I want fancy graphics I'll get a movie DVD; give us a GAME!
While they're at it, I'd also like to be able to choose the color for my units.
So far, after a few games, I don't think Civ IV is any more fun than Civ III; and isn't fun what's its all about?
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