Final Thoughts

Since starting on this project back in early September, Civilization 5 has been a wild ride, full of ups and downs. Initially, I was hooked to the game. I logged many hours in the first week or two of playing, a ridiculous amount. But as the semester progressed, I began losing interest in the game. I felt that once you got into your game and nearing victory, the game dragged on. Each turn took what felt like forever and the end was so close, yet so far away. I couldn't manage to build up the enthusiasm to finish the game and win, I think I'm only a couple cities away from destroying the last civ and one city state away from achieving global domination.


This game has been one of the more frustrating games I've ever played in my life. But I appreciated the frustration. This game required me to think about what I wanted to achieve in the game and the steps I needed to take to get there. My patience was also greatly tested; having to sit through some of the denunciations or ridiculous trades that other civilizations offered just ticked me off. I think some of the most frustrating things made the game so fun, yet also so annoying. It kept me guessing through out my whole playing time.

I think that the game over all did a good job of accurately portraying the different course themes we've explored over the course of the semester. Although it wasn't 100% accurate, I think that the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. There were times where the game left me scratching my head wondering what the creators were thinking in regards to history, but they deserve some praise for a good game. If the question was if I would have my students play it, it'd be a tough decision. I think that it's an okay way to get students involved in history, but I feel like there are probably better ways in doing so. I like the game, I just don't really feel that it has a place in the classroom.

That being said, I did enjoy this project and I thought it was a very interesting way to learn about history, but I'll also be happy that it's over.