hmm, game length, the start of a game usually lasts til 1904.
at which point one player is eliminated, and most of the three power struggles are resolved (France-Germany-England and Turkey-Russia-Austria being the most important ones - though increasingly Italy-Austria-Turkey is seen as a key triangle, and Russia-Germany-England if you ask me) Solid alliance are formed and two or three groups fight against each other in the mid-game (sometimes one plaeyr is on their own otherwise there is usually two/three player alliances) - this phase usually lasts 3 years, before a victor becomes obvious, or a victorious alliance - and then there is the end game, which can last 4/5 years, where everyone either opposes the leader and he either wins by solo or struggles against a stalemate line - or nobody opposes the leader, and they win really quickly...

I guess Live games are different because you have less time to think through tactics and plan/execute a stab... meaning more mistakes and perhaps a faster game...