Colonization 1492

@unknown: When Colonization (MicroProse, 1994) was first published, I thought it was just a little "side quest" game based on Civilization. And while there are some similarities, the emphasis in Colonization is much more on exploration, trade and skill development, rather than expansion, war and world domination. The diplomatic aspect also plays a much bigger role compared to Civilization. You start in 1492 and control the colonial forces of either England, France, the Netherlands, or Spain. You are given one ship and two units arriving at the new world; as the ship moves into the unknown, the map is revealed and your journey begins... You explore, meet indigenous Indians, build houses, workshops, trade/hunt/farm facilities, and cultivate the surrounding land. The ship can return to Europe to collect more colonists (including experts in certain trades and skills), and to buy and sell goods. The ultimate goal of the game is winning independence from the mother country. When the player has a sufficiently high percentage of "Sons of Liberty", he may choose to declare independence.