Well, the major similarity between the two games is that they are both extremely time consuming, and they pretty much force you to keep clicking "next turn" to see what will happen. This turns addictive very quickly, and can be very destructive if you want to do "just a few more quick turns" before you have to go to work or school, or go out with your girl. The funny part is that it takes, many, many turns to get anywhere in these games, and hours upon hours fly by before you can notice. You can wake up in the morning, play until evening and feel like only two hours passed. This s exactly why I don't play such games anymore.
As for differences, alpha Centauri is about space exploration, and planet colonization while Civilization is concentrated here on mother earth. Civ IV is newer and has better graphics. If you have time to waste to get into these games I recommend you try both, but I just have to mention than this same time is better spent looking for a girlfriend, working out/self improvement/education, or looking for ways to earn more money.
just my 2c
PS: I am not against games. I am against time consuming games.
As for differences, alpha Centauri is about space exploration, and planet colonization while Civilization is concentrated here on mother earth. Civ IV is newer and has better graphics. If you have time to waste to get into these games I recommend you try both, but I just have to mention than this same time is better spent looking for a girlfriend, working out/self improvement/education, or looking for ways to earn more money.
just my 2c
PS: I am not against games. I am against time consuming games.