Sid Meier’s Civilizationis one of the most iconic strategy game franchises, but many players wonder why the legendary game designer’s name appears in the title. Unlike most games, which simply use their brand name, Civilization prominently credits its creator, Sid Meier.
Over time, his name became synonymous with deep, strategic gameplay, but how did this first come to be? The thing is, the Civilization games weren’t the first ones to have Meier’s name on them, so the tradition of using the name of the creator spans further back than a single franchise. Here’s what you need to know.
Why Is It Called Sid Meier’s Civilization?
The inclusion of Sid Meier’s name in the title of Civilization wasa strategic decision by MicroProseto leverage his growing reputation as a game designer. This practice began withSid Meier’s Pirates! in 1987, aiming to attract fans of Meier’s earlier works.
The idea wasfurther encouraged by actor Robin Williams, who suggested promoting Meier as the star to boost the game’s appeal.This branding approach proved successful, leading to Meier’s name becoming synonymous with quality strategy games.
As such, we can see three main reasons that intertwine to have the games be called what they are:
While Sid Meierdidn’t program every aspect of Civilization, he played a pivotal role in its design, ensuring the mix of turn-based strategy, empire-building, and historical progression that made it iconic.His name remains on the series to this day, even as newer developers lead its design.
Is Sid Meier Still Making The Civilization Games?
Sid Meier’s direct involvement in the development of the current Civilization seriesappears to be minimal.While his name remains prominently associated with the series, it seems thathe does notactively participatein the game’s design or development.
The development of Civilization 7, the latest game in the franchise, has been led by Firaxis Games, withother key figures steering its direction. Sid Meier continues to berecognized as the original creator of the series, and his legacy influences its ongoing evolution.
