Title: Civilization II
Overall Rating: B+
Source: Microprose Software Inc.
Playing Time: 1 hour to months depending on the life span of your civilization
Date: 1996
Cost: $ 19.95  http://www.varcon.com/page2.html
Number of Players: not a competition game, ideal game for a group but one person is at the keyboard
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed: cd-rom, 68030 or higher, 8mb of ram
Subject Area: Social Studies, Government, and Science
Objectives: To build a thriving civilization
Brief Description: You build a civilization considering elements like population, terrain, military, diplomacy etc.,. and see how long and how well your nation thrives.   Your knowledge of history and the rise and fall of civilizations helps as you make your choices.
Entry Capabilities Required: Reading skills, ability to use the mouse, the more history and science you know the better.

Rating: (1-5)

Relevance to objectives: 5- The game challenges you to learn what elements make a civilization survive
Provides practice of relevant skills: 5- The more you know about social studies and science, the better your civilization will do
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 3-4 - It takes a lot of work to get the civilization going, but its your creation, you want to see what happens
Likely to be comprehended clearly: 3-4- There is a lot of reading to prepare your civilization, may not be easy for the learning disabled
Technical quality (durable, attractive): 3-4- It doesn't break down, cool looking but graphics not as great as could be.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather than chance):  5- Need to know what you are doing, can't just pick it up and play it
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic, accurate depiction):  5- very realistic, you have to know what you are doing to make your civilization thrive
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test results): n/a
Clear directions for play: 4- directions clear,  has a chart to help but directions could have been organized better.
Effectiveness of debriefing: 5- The activity will show what works and doesn't work in a civilization based on what  we know in history.

Strong Points: Excellent teaching tool to see all the complex pieces and parts that are involved in the life of a civilization.  The more you know the better you do.
Weak Points: Very slow starting because you must read a lot before you can play.  Organization of directions could be better because some of it you have to read and some you really don't need to.
Reviewer: Jessica E. Donnelly
Position: Grad Student and English Teacher
Date: 3/21/99
Computer System Reviewed on: Power Macintosh G3/223 64mb ram