@Helgis:
The graphics sure are gorgeous, that's for sure. But... Okay, I know I'm going to be skinned, filetted, quartered, and get a host of other unpleasant things done to my beloved body for saying this. There's more to a Civ-game than just good graphics. Are you aware of
FreeCiv? You might want to check out their engine for inspiration.
Unless you and your team members are way ahead of me, in which case I will hurriedly shut my mouth and continue lurking :-)