Civilization VII to Exclude Atomic Gandhi

The enduring legend of "Nuclear Gandhi" from the original Civilization game is a classic example of gaming folklore. But was this infamous bug, transforming the peaceful leader into a nuclear warmonger, real? Let's explore the history and truth behind this myth.

The myth: In the original Civilization, leaders had an aggression level (1-10 or 1-12). Gandhi, being a pacifist, started at 1. Adopting democracy reduced this by 2, resulting in -1. The legend claims this negative value, stored as an 8-bit unsigned integer, caused an overflow, boosting his aggression to 255 – making him incredibly aggressive, especially when combined with his access to nuclear weapons post-democracy.

The reality: Sid Meier, the game's creator, debunked this in 2020. He stated that variables were signed, preventing the overflow. Furthermore, government type didn't affect aggression. Brian Reynolds, Civilization II's lead designer, confirmed only three aggression levels existed, and Gandhi wasn't unique in his pacifism. The code simply didn't support the described behavior.

The myth's spread: The Nuclear Gandhi story didn't gain traction until the mid-2010s, long after the original game's popularity waned. A TV Tropes entry likely played a significant role in its resurgence.

A twist: While the original Civilization didn't feature Nuclear Gandhi, Civilization V did! Jon Shafer, the lead designer, intentionally coded Gandhi with a high preference for nuclear weapons, making the legend a self-fulfilling prophecy in a later iteration.

The legacy: Despite being debunked, the Nuclear Gandhi myth persists, highlighting the power of gaming legends and the enduring appeal of ironic twists. Civilization VI even acknowledged the joke. With Gandhi absent from Civilization VII, the legend might finally rest.

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