Multiplayer doesn't always mean logging on to some mmorpg, or playing with random people from the internet. I think most multiplayer is done between friends. Me an my buddies play games together. Some big matching service isn't needed. Most of our games are lan, or direct hosting over the internet. We don't use matching services. We often use mods. But, since its private it doesn't matter.
Some games may not lend themselves as well to multiplayer as others. Bioshock I can't say is one of them. A co-op mode on any shooter action adventure games always makes them better. Who wants to have some friends over so they can take turns playing Bioshock?
TBS games are about competition. Playing a computer just isn't nearly as satisfying as playing a living human being.
Maybe the people who are the single player flag carriers don't have friends. Maybe you prefer masterbation to sex. I'm not trying to slam you here, but I just don't understand why you don't think having multiplayer would add significant value. Maybe you should just play galciv with no enemy civilizations. Cause in a way you can look at it like they are other players, just AI ones. Would that make it so much more fun, to be totally by yourself?
And to the guy who responded to my bargin bin comment. I'm sorry, but galciv is a bargin bin game. Distributed by a no-name distrubutor (stardock, or os that the dev company). I didn't pay full game price for it. The collectors edition only cost me $30. Usually collectors editions go for more than base game prices. It get's no high profile attention. And yes, bargin bin games have expansions, look at the Battlecruiser series. Battlecruiser I view in much the same way I view GavCiv. AWESOME concept. But, it just doesn't back it up with full features that make it a long lasting interest. Also lead by a short sighted developer who uses lots of excuses to explain why his game is so buggy and lacks multiplayer.
To me, this is all very simple. I play games to relax, to have fun, and to enjoy time with friends. This means games have to fill these needs. They have to be fun, and I have to be able to share them with friends. I am not alone. All consoles have more than one controller port. Games like WoW have 8 million subscribers. When games are reviewed, they are deducted points if they don't have multiplayer. Even my daughter's Nintendo DS has wireless capability that allows multiplayer. This isn't a new concept. This isn't a fad. This is fact. Anything that is fun, is more fun with friends.
So if you don't like the game, why don't you just shut ya mouth and leave?

Cut your losses and get lost? Don't like it, don't have to play it. Why sit here complaining about something when it's not going to happen? Last time i checked, you weren't god's gift to game designers, and you're word was no where in any bible... Soooo... What ARE you doing here?