GameTap Thursday: Civilization IV stands the test of time

Civilization IV, a game so addictive it has its own support group, joins GameTap this week as the 1000th title on the service. Civ IV, under lead designer Soren Johnson (who is currently trying to make a game out of Spore), was the Civilization game that brought an incredible amount of accessibility to the epic franchise. We aren't currently aware if Civ IV expansion packs, Warlords or Beyond the Sword, are integrated into this version for the GameTap service, but perhaps they'll be added at a later date. For GameTap subscribers who have even the slightest hint of interest in an accessible strategy game and somehow missed Civ IV, along with Sid Meier's Pirates! which was made available a couple weeks ago, now is the time to try them on the service.

The new subscriber games this week are:

• Armored Warriors (Arcade) - Capcom's Final Fight-esque brawler with robots. If you happened to get very lucky you may have run across this game in an arcade during the mid-90s. A beat 'em up with robots, there really aren't enough of those -- and no, Gundam does not count.
  
• Civilization IV (PC) - Build an empire to stand the test of time. Create your German monarchy full of Buddhists focusing on environmentalism and then send them to Alpha Centauri to win the game. And as is obligatory whenever saying Alpha Centauri, we still want a sequel to that other great strategy game of our time -- now if EA would just give the rights to Firaxis.

After the break we have GameTap's list of free games. New free games are bolded for easy reference. Topping the list of additions is Hitman: Contracts, which is part of GameTap's continuing Hitman promotion leading up to the film's debut in theaters.

1. Hitman : Contracts
2. Street Fighter 2 Championship Edition
3. Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2
4. Disciples II: Rise of the Elves
5. Sam and Max Season One Episode 4: Abe Lincoln Must Die!
6. Tomb Raider: Legend
7. Baseball Stars 2
8. Second Sight
9. Jaws Unleashed
10. Bubble Bobble
11. Rampage
12. Elevator Action
13. The New Zealand Story
14. Zoo Keeper
15. Hitman: Agent 47
16. Bloodrayne
17. Mercs
18. Twinkle Star Sprites
19. Ghouls 'N Ghosts
20. Ikari Warriors
21. Shock Troopers
22. Cannon Fodder
23. Samurai Shodown
24. King of the Monsters
25. The Last Blade
26. King of Fighters 95
27. Mega Man: The Power Battle
28. Vampire Savior
29. Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
30. Space Invaders
31. Joust
32. Defender
33. Root Beer Tapper
34. realMYST 3D
35. Bust a Move
36. Buku Sudoku
37. Sensible Soccer 2006
38. Neo Turf Masters
39. Colin McRae Rally 2005
40. Myst Online: Uru Live
41. Fast Lanes Bowling
42. 1941
43. Metal Slug
44. Final Fight
45. Ghosts 'N Goblins
46. Captain Commando
47. Rainbow Islands
48. Hitman 2: Silent Assasin
49. Zoo Empire
50. Restaurant Empire