Review by Ryan Lord.

Sid Meier's Civilization returns, but this time the series is bound for the consoles only with Revolution, which features some crucial changes. Can Civilization work on a console? The answer may surprise you.

http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2008/0 [...] on_review/

I think a PC version would have been pointless. The game appears to be very similar to Civ 4 and I'd assume almost every change can or has been done through mods.

The review I read on Eurogamer said it was simply a dumbed down version of Civ4.

I would still find it hard to believe that any extra content or features couldn't or haven't already been modded for Civ 4. It would be great if this game does well and draws more gamers into this series, but I don't see the draw for the hardcore PC fan base of the game - which most Civ players are. The DS version sounds the most interesting for the obvious reason that you can play Civ where ever you want and it's a game that does not rely much on graphics or visuals.

I haven't played Civ Rev and probably never will unless it comes out for the Wii so it's hard for be to argue about what content could or couldn't be added. But Civ 4 is incredibly mod-able on many levels and intentionally so by Firaxis. Non-content changes like controls, matchmaking, ladder etc obviously had to be made in order for it to work on a console. But something like artifacts and the ICBM changes are pretty easy.
For example

That's a pretty simple change, although I don't really like the idea of only one Civ having nukes. The current Civ4 BTS gameplay requires the prerequisite techs be researched and then The Manhattan Project be built by any Civ (only 1 can). Then nukes are available to all Civs. The only change would be to simply make owning the Manhattan Project a requirement to building nukes. There all ready is a mod out there were this required except that every Civ can also build the Manhattan Project on their own. Artifacts really just sound like events tied to goody huts that give you a bonus; nothing too difficult to add even without any serious modding.

From reading the first part of the review it sounded like you were concerned that Civ Rev was a departure from the PC for the series where as I see it as an extension. It's not like they created Civ V as a console exclusive. I just don't think Civ Rev was even needed on the PC and I applaud Firaxis for not releasing for the PC just to grab a few more dollars from the larger Civ fan base. Instead they announced Civilization Colonization which I suspect will have many more innovations to the series than did Revolution.

Luscious,
Other than ebay or Amazon I'm not sure where you'll find the retail version. Steam does have all three for $59.99, but if you all ready have Civ 4 or can get it cheap all you really need is Beyond The Sword, unless you really want the Warlords scenarios. Otherwise BTS has everything Warlords does.

Thanks guys, much appreciate the info. I'll give steam a look!