The Civilization series was getting people addicted to building and upgrade-based gameplay before Farmville was even a twinkle in Zynga's eye. Now the game is moving to a new medium, Facebook, to share its addictive properties with the masses.
Civilization World is available now, and is a "freemium" app where most gameplay is free, but real cash can be shelled out for virtual goods for die hard players. Civ's Sid Meyer had this to say about the launch:
[The game] will offer "everything you enjoy in Civ in a fully persistent environment — you can play as much as you like, whenever you like, and it'll be free to play."
Back in 2010, the project hadn't been updated in a long while, and many presumed it had been scrapped, but it was just gestating, and you can play today if you like. Watch yourself though, like the many who have been enslaved by Farmville, Civ is even MORE addictive, and presumably the Facebook version will be as well. It's no Farmville clone to be sure, and will likely offer even the most anti-casual gamers something to get them hooked.
