I have a new theory about the fall of the Roman Empire. Forget the fact that the Empire had expanded too far to be defendable, that the population had too many different cultures with its own agendas, that the army was made up of too many mercenaries, or that Roman society was only a consumer society, corrupt and morally bankrupt, too dependent on slaves and its living necessities from its vulnerable outer provinces instead of from itself.

“Sure, it was the competition for scarce resources that was pushing some of the ‘barbarians’ into the Empire in search of land and wealth, but the truth is simpler even than that. Civilization Revolution has taught me that the Roman Empire fell because the enemy had developed cannons before the Romans did and no matter how many legions you have, cannons have a better attack.

“Even though I watched in horror as Roman legion after legion, city after city, fell to the opposition’s cannon armies, and as I tried desperately to make alliances to revive my empire’s fortune, I knew I had experienced something special. Every once in awhile a console game is released that reminds you what gaming is all about; it’s about fun.

“I wouldn’t call Civilization a revolution at all, but rather a revelation. It brought me back to the hours of my life I spent playing the original on my old 486 watching little icon-squares that represented units move around the low res screen, hoping to be the one who dominated the world.