Civilization Syndrome is an affliction targeting gamers, especially turn-
based strategy gamers, in which they promise themselves "just one more turn"--only to realize that
seven hours have passed and they'
ve soiled their drawers.
Most games that cause Civilization Syndrome possess an explosive mixture: they create long to-do lists for the
player, which grow infinitely and exponentially with each completed task, and combine that with the ability to complete tasks easier and quicker than real-life, thus creating an overwhelmingly addictive illusion of achieving things.
Note that a game doesn't have to be turn-
based to cause Civilization Syndrome, it merely has to produce addictive and never-ending to-do lists.
Named after Sid Meier's Civilization series, which codified most turn-
based strategy tropes present in today's games.
"It was ten
PM, my
game was going really well, and I just had a few more things I wanted to finish before calling it a night. Next thing I knew the
sun was rising. I got fucked by Civilization Syndrome."
