Civ 4

This page is about Civilization IV, the simulation game we are using in this class. It has all of the information about the class use of the game in one place, so that it is easier to find.

Information on this page:

1. What is the Game?
2. Where Can I Play?
3. How Do I Play?
4. How Do I Make a Screen Shot?
5. Where Can I Get More Help?
6. How Can I Install the Game on My Own Computer? (not supported)

What is the Game?

We are playing Civilization IV. Civilization IV is a bestselling, award-winning commercial game released in 2005. It is a turn-based game in which the player is the ruler of a nation and the objective is to dominate the world over all other nations. Each player has pieces (the units of the game that move around the board as a piece might in chess or checkers), buildings (which, after you build them, affect your nation in some way), and cities (where citizens live and produce new game pieces and buildings). The game has many features and many ways to win, but our class focuses on winning using the production of culture.

Some technical details: We are using a game distribution system called STEAM (see the software manufacturer's Web site). STEAM allows you to play Civilization IV on any PC without using a DVD. It also allows you to save a game in our discussion section and access it later in the computer lab. We are playing Civilization IV updated with at least patch 1.61 (see the game manufacturer's Web site). There are a lot of versions of the Civilization game. If you already own the game, note that playing another version or an expansion pack will not work. We are using a "mod" (modification to the game) that makes the game shorter. The mod is called InnisMod and it was produced just for this class.

Where Can I Play?

The game is pre-installed and available in the discussion section rooms for you to play during discussion sections.

The game is also pre-installed and available in the ATLAS computer lab in room G8, FLB. Check the ATLAS Web site for updates about lab hours. The announced lab hours are:

Mon-Thu 8 AM - 9 PM
Fri 8 AM - 5 PM
Sunday 2-8 PM

How Do I Play?

You only need to do these things once. They are explained in discussion section:

• Sign up for a STEAM account and note your username and password
• Activate your copy of the game on STEAM by copying the product key from your Illinois Compass grade report for this class and pasting it into the product key box in your STEAM account
• Watch the interactive Flash movie How to Play

Next (from one of the campus computer labs listed in Where Can I Play?, click Start | Program Files | spcm280.

Then, to play the game (from the game's main menu), choose SINGLE PLAYER | PLAY SCENARIO | SPCM 199 InnisMod.

How Do I Make a Screen Shot?

A screen shot is a picture of the screen that shows what is happening in the game. To make a screen shot from Civilization IV, press the [Print Screen] (or [PrtSc]) key on the keyboard while you are playing. The game will ask you to name your screen shot. Your screen shot will be saved in "My Documents / My Games / Civilization IV / ScreenShots" and it can be uploaded as you would add any image to your blog.

The [Print Screen] doesn't work on some computers. If you find it doesn't work, press [Shift] + [Ctrl] + [Print Screen] (all at the same time) instead.

If you installed the game yourself (which is not supported), the screen shot might be saved to a different directory depending on your computer's configuration. You may have to search for it -- we can't tell you where it will be.

Where Can I Get More Help?

• Go to office hours. A computer that can play Civilization IV is available in office hours.
• Try the instruction manual. We've put it online PDF Version of Instruction Manual (large file!) Password Protected [Get Password Help]
• E-mail your instructor, email the professor, or try the Ask Mark Silverman Service. If you want help by e-mail, please be as specific as you can about the problem you are having.

NOTE that instructors cannot help you with technical problems on your own computer.

How Can I Install the Game on My Own Computer? (not supported)

We encourage you to go to the labs described above. If you want to try installing the game on your own computer instead, we can't provide you with technical support. You will need a fairly new computer and a little bit of technical expertise. IMPORTANT: If you choose to use the game from home, you need to follow ALL of the following steps:

1. Download STEAM (free, large download)
2. If you correctly created your STEAM account and added the product key in discussion section, you should be able to play Civilization IV using STEAM from home. The first time you play, it will download the game. (This is a VERY large download.)
   • If you can't use STEAM, a limited number of Mac and PC DVD-ROM versions of the game are shelved at the Undergrad Library Gaming Collection, and they are available on overnight loan. Search the library catalog for media and look for "Sid Meier's civilization IV [electronic resource]" to see if they are checked out. These DVD-ROMs are only available for overnight loan and you need the DVD-ROM to be in your drive to play. That is, if you use a DVD-ROM version from the library you can't keep playing the game after your return the DVD-ROM.
3. Install the InnisMod from http://pact.uiuc.edu/innismod/download/
4. Play the game (from the game's main menu) by choosing SINGLE PLAYER | PLAY SCENARIO | SPCM 199 InnisMod

If you have a Mac:
STEAM is not available for the Mac. You can still follow the instructions above, except that you must use a DVD-ROM version of the game.

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Last modified: Thursday May 8, 2008.
Comments to csandvig@uiuc.edu.