Civilization :)

[Darrin]

Yep, Civ was always a big favourite of mine, and it was Civ2 coming out on the PC that made me buy my first Windows PC (a used 100Mhz Pentium).

I still play the Civilization games, but I prefer Civ3+Expansion.  I've tried to get into Civ4 a few times, but there's something about the display and menu that makes me cringe.  I've noticed Civ5 in the shops, so I might give that a try.

Edit:  One last tip... when you know you're about to lose a city to the enemy then sell the most expensive improvement before it falls.  

[Darrin]

In Civ 2 I once got a tank (combustion) before 40BC by sending scouts to discover free techs. At chieftain level of course.
I usually always try to get a railroad stretch built before 0BC at chieftain level.

The key to all of the Civilization games is unit movements.  As soon as I build a new city I build a road to link it to the others and railroads are deployed as soon as possible.  At least that way you can back up the defenses of one city with several near-by ones and quickly replace lost units with new ones.