Is Civilization IV a mod?

[BleachAddict13]

So I'm in this bet with two of my friends. They believe that civilization IV is not a mod, because it is a standalone application.
I believe that Civ IV could be considered a mod. This is because all of the mods, including Civ IV, all are off of one basic code, with an interface, a basic combat system, an advancement system, an advisor system, and basically every other part of the game.
Ok. So I'm going to use an analogy to a color-by-number game. The basic system which I have outlined is the lines with the empty space to color in. The mod fills that in with units to deploy, different people to play as, different things to advance to, etcetera.
People, take your sides. If you have a point for MY side, the "it is a mod" side, please find something on the internet to prove it. My friends have a piece of evidence, and I need one to combat it.
Sorry for the length.

 

[Dean B]

It's not a mod.

It is a standalone game, it is released as a standalone game.
There is several Expansion pack's, but even they wouldn't be defined as mod's ( maybe the Conquest one)
If it was maybe building on the Engine of another game, you could consider it a mod. Like the Source Mod's building of the Source Engine used in Half Life 2, or Oblivion Mod's, etc.
There are mod's for Civ IV, like changing the unit's, making realistic map's etc.

What you seem to be describing is some kind of philosophy of all games being the same underlying principal with extra's bolted on.