If you've never played it before, Civilization V is a grand strategy game in which players choose a civilization and take turns guiding it through the ages by establishing cities, securing resources, and choosing between different technologies, religions, and forms of government.

The match is being played on the largest Earth-shaped map the game is capable of, with both civilizations that were included in the retail version of the game and custom, player-created civilizations that were modded into it after release.

So far the match has lasted 161 turns, putting it at 1880 BC, but some interesting, historically inaccurate world events are already taking place.