Sega of America (developer and publisher)

$49.99

Both the Winter and Summer Olympics usually offer some of the best events on TV. Video games based on these meetings of the world's best athletes haven't been so great.

It's usually a case of very simple mechanics of gameplay, because so many different sporting events are offered. With many sports to medal in, it isn't easy to make each one a completely different experience.

Sega of America, with the help of two powerful consoles has tried, however. Admirably so.

The game features 38 events based on seven disciplines including track and field, gymnastics, combined events (decathlon, heptathlon), and "other," sports such as judo and table tennis.

As one would expect, this is mostly a button-mashing/stick-wiggling affair. Sprints call for tapping buttons quickly, gymnastics events consist of button combinations in quick succession, and field events are tests of timing.

With online competition available for both consoles, one could theoretically set up your Olympic games, although unfortunately, there are no official online events (which really is a shame). Imagine if the IOC did allow Sega to set up a virtual global Olympic tournament as opposed to just leader boards. How cool would that have been? Regardless, this game should be a blast to play with friends and foes alike online.

There is a big hole in this lineup, however. The Nintendo Wii. With all of the motion-sensing peripherals it possesses, one has to wonder how it could be left out of this lineup. A virtual Olympic controversy.

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

(Xbox 360, PS3, DS)

Fireaxis, Take 2 Interactive

$29-99-59.99

This is a pretty momentous occasion. One of the computer game greats has descended on consoles with a hall of fame game.

It was 1991 when we first came upon the historical turn-based game with gamers bent on world domination. It is by far one of the most popular PC series ever made. I suspect it won't do too badly on consoles and handhelds either.

One of the things that has been different about the Civilization games is that conquering the world by military force isn't the only option, unlike most games of this type. Gamers can guide the great civilizations, including Egypt, Germany, Russia, India, Rome and China, to scientific, economic and cultural means of conquest (while not as easy), as well. It is another way to prove your earthly mettle as gamers start in the Stone Age and progress through and beyond these troubled modern times.

Unlike the real-time-strategy games that have moved to consoles and still have trouble substituting a controller for a mouse (RTS games usually require quick selections and movement), a turn-based game (where players alternate movements and actions), gives the user more time and makes for a much more pleasant experience for those whose reflexes might be waning. In Civilizations, each turn represents 100 years, so careful considerations are a must.

This may not appeal to the twitch gamers whose addiction to fast-paced gaming keeps them in the realm of shooters or sports titles, but this is more than a worthy choice that should last the entire summer and beyond for those who have as many brains as virtual brawn and choose to use them . . . taking over the world.