Sid Meier's covert action ? Really ? Do we care that much that it's sid meier's, as opposed to the other games (pirates, colonization, etc) which are named by, well, their name, or all the other games not by sid meier, which are not named by their own authors (maybe rename them as "Not sid meier's ___") ?

I don't like this arbitrary starification much (nor stuff like "tom clancy's whatevers"), but, in this specific case, there is the added ridicule of having covert action filed under S (and pirates under P). So, seriously, what. Seriously. Guys.

Well he has a very big name and, to be honest with you, if it wasn't his name on this game, I don't think I would've looked twice.

Well, back in the day Sid Meier was arguably the most famous game designer, and his name on the game pretty much guaranteed it'd be amazing. It's beneficial both to the buyers and the sellers. ;)

Frankly, I didn't even know about this game and wouldn't have taken a second look if not for Sid Meier.
"A Sid Meier game I've never heard about and it's about spies? Intriguing."

Glad I did, since the game is really great. Never would have thought that a game that is essentially a few minigames stuck together could actually be so good.