Why I (might) Never Play Civilization 3 Again!

on

(but I probably will)

Yesterday I uninstalled Civilization 3 again. For me, it is a massively addictive time sink. I've been playing it on and off since it came out in 2001. I never felt the same way about Civilization 4 or 5 (think I played 5, can't totally remember) as I do about 3. And I'm not interested in 6 or 7.


Why did I uninstall it?

  1. The guilt! It is such a guilty pleasure. Perhaps if I was retired, I would simply play Civilization 3 endlessly, and I wouldn't feel guilty about all the work/study/self-development I'm failing to do. And it's not like I can just pick it up for a short-time, every game is a long-time affair, I just have to get to the next turn, and the next, and the next ...
  2. The game is either too easy or too hard. I never seem to find a game that's just right (i.e. I'm either way behind the best AI nation, or way ahead of the best AI nation). I'm probably being a total idiot seeking the perfect game. If it looks too easy, I get bored. If I know I'm going to fail, I get bored. Excitment at the start of the game is super high, but when each turns start to take many minutes, the boredom (guilt) creeps in.
  3. Partly because of 1 and 2, I never finish a game! Which always seems like a total waste of time. Days played for nothing. I start to feel guilty at the time invested in the game and/or I reach a point where it's either so obvious I will win (but don't have the time to finalize my win), or so obvious that my nation will be ultimately defeated (and why play to lose, especially when time is so precious for a salaryman.)

What do I love about Civilization 3?
  1. I love the start. Exploring a new planet. Placing your first cities. Building your empire. Building Wonders of the World. The anticipation of glory. Yes, I absolutely love it.
  2. I love the escapism of being in this world.
  3. I love thinking about strategy.
  4. I love conquering enemies.
  5. I love being a god!*
  6. I love nukes!**
*In Civilization you aren't a leader (real leaders only live a few years then die), you are a nation god, who lives forever, controlling your people on a map.
** Rarely I play long enough to get nukes, but it is so satisfying nuking rival civilizations.

What if I was retired?

The title of this blog site is currently:

"Life is Equally Meaningless for EVERYBODY in the Universe! There is NO Meaning to Life!

"We are all equally meaningless in the eyes of the Universe (but we are the Universe)! Life simply is. Nothing really matters - whatever you do or don't do, big or small, is meaningless. Don't take life too seriously, it's a game and we're meant to dance whilst the music plays. The best we can do is endeavour to improve our situation and that of others. Find something good to do with your life. Find things that make life worth living. Find things to live for. Do things with love!"

Whilst you're not retired, you are working to improve your situation, to improve your retirement, to improve the situation of your loved ones (if you have any.) When you're retired, things don't need to be like that. Yes, you can still endeavour to improve the life of others (which is a very good and noble cause), but you don't have to (it is all meaningless at the end of the day - you will be forgotten in time, no one will remember you existed, and that's not a bad thing.)

If I was retired, then, yes, I could play Civlization endlessly and not feel any guilt. I'd simply be passing time until I die which is what most retired people are doing. Some retired people spend their retirement watching TV, gardening, falling asleep, doing all sorts of pointless things, and they've earned that right to do nothing with their time.


A Dream Retirement with Civilization?

And here's a funny thought. Could playing Civilization be part of a dream retirement?

Yes, I love sportscars, but cars are very very very expensive, especially if you want to go to events, go on trackdays, etcetera. And do I really get a better feeling from cars versus Civilization!? No, I don't. Often I'd be playing Civilization in my house and my car is sat outside neglected.

Just imagine:

  • Wake up when you want to wake up
  • Go running (maybe on a treadmill)
  • Breakfast and morning ablutions
  • Play some Civilization
  • Lunch
  • Go walking
  • Play some more Civilization
  • Supper
  • Watch a movie/good quality TV
  • Night time ablutions and go to sleep
Perhaps even blog about playing Civilization. I could have a running journal "What I did in Civilization today".

Perhaps the freedom from guilt would inspire me to come up with a great idea. Like Sid Meier's great idea was Civilization.

Nothing in the above is expensive. That would be a cheap and highly enjoyable retirement. If it was affordable, I could go running all over the country. I could travel the country to go running and walking (and bring Civilization with me on the laptop.)

Yes, it is a meaningless existence, but aren't all our existences meaningless!? Animals are happy just surviving. Human's are animals with delusions of grandeur.

Or, as a human, do we have a responsibility to make life better for mankind!? Hmmm... I would say if you are capable of making life better for your fellow humans (like Sid Meier created Civilization which has made my life in some ways better and in some ways worse) then you should do so, but you don't have to - it is up to you.

Who knows, maybe if I was retired and had all the time in the world to play Civilization guilt-free, maybe I would get bored or wouldn't want to play Civilization!? I won't know until the day of retirement comes.

Perhaps as a retired person, and knowing I am simply living out my days until I die, I might find some cause to improve the life of a fellow human/humans. Even if I was giving blood regularly to the blood bank, that would be something. Volunteer.