Hmmm...okay "useless" was the wrong word.
The combat exists in demo and I gave it some testing. Problem is AI is very strong

, and the rules are somewhat "unclear". For example, they say that flanking attacks and combined forces attacks are more effective then ordinary frontal ones.
But in my short (I played 2 days) expirience, the random element is too high. It is so big that it denies the advantages you get tacticizing.
Sometimes one soldier can miss three or four times in a row, and sometimes he hits two others with one shot! Probably these extremes "even" when you play more.
I didnt think the combat conecept itself was bad,just that it would be useless in a civ game. Especially since civ combat engages great distances (artillery), close combat (warriors vs horses) and arial and naval fight, so this "chess board" system seemes to me isnt enough abstract.
Game has many strongpoints, of which I like graphics best. I am sure we will have 3d terrain in civ3 and I hope it is going to be something like this.