The enduring legend of "Nuclear Gandhi" from the original Civilization game is a prime example of gaming folklore. This article explores the myth, its origins, and the truth behind the infamous bug.

The Nuclear Gandhi Myth:

The story goes that in the original Civilization, Gandhi, known for his pacifism, inexplicably became a nuclear-armed aggressor due to a coding glitch. His low aggression value (1), upon adopting democracy (reducing aggression by 2), supposedly caused an integer overflow, resulting in a maximum aggression value (255), making him a prolific nuke-launcher.

Debunking the Myth:

However, Sid Meier, the game's creator, confirmed in 2020 that this was impossible. The game's integer variables were signed, preventing the overflow. Furthermore, government type didn't affect aggression. Brian Reynolds, lead designer of Civilization II, corroborated this, stating the original game only had three aggression levels.

The Legend's Spread:

The myth's popularity surged in the mid-2010s, long after the original game's release. Its persistence is likely due to its ironic humor. The story's spread was fueled by online forums and gaming publications.

A Twist of Fate: Civilization V:

While the original Civilization didn't feature Nuclear Gandhi, Civilization V did! The game's AI explicitly gave Gandhi a high preference for nuclear weapons, a deliberate design choice by Jon Shafer. This likely contributed to the myth's persistence.

Civilization VI and Beyond:

Civilization VI even acknowledged the legend, giving Gandhi a high chance of the "Nuke Happy" hidden agenda. However, Gandhi's absence from Civilization VII might finally lay the myth to rest.

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