PC classic Civilization makes iPhone debut

Following in the footsteps of PC classics like Doom, Myst, and SimCity, Sid Meier's legendary Civilization just landed in the App Store.

Not only has it arrived, but also it's on sale for $4.99--but only until tomorrow (Aug. 12), at which time the price jumps to $9.99.

Of course, die-hard Civilization fans (of which there are a few hundred bazillion) would probably pay any price for a mobile, iPhone-optimized version of the beloved game. If you're new to the world-building party, there's a single-scenario Lite version available for free.

Civilization Revolution for the iPhone closely resembles the Nintendo DS game of the same name, which debuted a little more than a year ago. This version, however, lacks multiplayer support, though it does take advantage of iPhone gestures: you can pinch to zoom in and out and drag your finger to move units in a desired direction.

Confession time: I've never been a Civilization player, so I found the learning curve here a little steep--despite the presence of some basic tutorials. What's more, the screen is undeniably cramped for a game that revolves around massive maps. And the onscreen controls seemed unresponsive at times.

That said, I can see how a few minutes with Civilization could easily turn into a few hours. I think that's been the case with every version of the game, which is why it's widely regarded as one of the most addictive of all time.

Needless to say, if you're a fan of the series, you'll undoubtedly want to add this to your iPhone or iPod Touch (along with a spare battery, perhaps). If not, give the Lite version a try and see what all the fuss is about.