Civilization IV features breathtaking 3D graphics, cool reward movies, brilliant audio and music, and, most importantly, the best and most addictive gameplay of any strategy game ever created. As a matter of fact, Time magazine has named Civ IV one of the hottest new games this year!

A game of remarkable depth, Civilization IV spans the entirety of human history, from the stone age to the space age. At the start you choose the nation you want to lead. At first, your people are primitive stone-age villagersand its your job to guide their development and research technologies to drive their advancement. They begin by discovering more primitive technologies such as sailing, archery, mysticism, and mining; eventually - if they survive - you will lead your people to the modern era and beyond, becoming the greatest ruler in history.

During the game, you will meet other growing civilizations - the United States, Mongolia, Persia, China, India, France - there are 18, each ruled by famous historical figures. Each civilization has its own special military units and strategies - some are fairly peaceful, while others are expansionists and conquerors. You will battle your foes with a huge arsenal of weapons, beginning with primitive archers and warriors, then catapults, knights and frigates, and eventually with modern tanks, submarines, mobile infantry, helicopter gunships, stealth bombers, and nuclear weapons. However, Civilization IV is more than just a great combat game: you can achieve victory through global conquest, diplomatic cunning, cultural or religious alliances, and technological dominance.

Sid Meier's Civilization IV offersthe most fun, addictive and visually exciting Civ experience ever. In addition to faster mid- and late-game AI turns, as well as vastly improved graphics and audio, Civilization IV offers greater control over your civilization's government and religions, while at the same time de-emphasizing the less fun portions of the earlier games (cleaning up pollution, for example). Further, Civilization IV has been designed from the ground-up to deliver fantastic multiplayer gaming options, as well as easy modding - allowing you to create new units, game maps, scenarios, and even entire new civilizations!

Sid Meier's Civilization IV is scheduled for release in winter of 2005.