Does it though? If all the players start on relatively equal footing with similar goals where only one can win, does it matter who is in control of the other players?
I will say, this topic also spurred a healthy discussion in my house. In the instance of civ, I firmly believe AI opponents who are playing the same game as you qualify it as inherently multiplayer even when playing alone.
Me either. Multiplayer games have multiple players playing. Wether the thinking is done digitally or organically makes no difference. It is possible to play a multiplayer game alone, that does not make it a single player game
You think when you play a multiplayer modes game alone your suddenly playing a game designed as single player? Just because you can play a multiplayer mode alone doesn't make it a single player game.