If you want to see what the first GalCiv looked like back in 1993 you can see here:
http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?73790-Galactic-Civilizations-3-announced&p=3780404&viewfull=1#post3780404
While the graphics are nothing to write home about, please remember that the other game of the time, MOO looked like this: http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/101/Master%20of%20Orion_3.gif and probably had artists and more than a college student for its main dev.
Ah yes, I remember it well ...
Notice that the MOO shown here is the first MOO, not MOO2, which was a vast improvement (followed by MOO3 which mostly reverted back to the appearance and mechanics of MOO1).
Wow, the Altarans really put a lot of research in to Cosmetic Surgery over the years
guess some of the grapics got mixed up
Yup.
Mistakes were made. Luckily, no one noticed that the Altarian are was supposed to be the Torians and the Altarians are humanoid and the Arcean art are actually the Thalan. I got the art last second and well, haste. At least the Drengin and Yor are correct.
Still, they've gotten... bluer than they used to be:
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