Alpha Centauri?

Perhaps it was an inspiration for GalCiv?

The GalCiv series is actually (depending on how you figure it) older than MoO, and quite a bit older than SMAC. The first version was released on OS/2 in 1993. Though GC does share some common concepts with Civ, the original version of which was out in 1991.

Do I? No, not really. Sure both were TBS, but I see a lot more in common with the MOO series. SMAC was a great game, but to me at least it felt fairly different.

I wouldn't compare Alpha Centauri with any other game to be honest. As far as i know, there are still no games in existance that are equally as packed full of so many interesting and brilliant game concepts all in one game.

Of course if the AI in Alpha Centauri was as good as the AI in Galciv then it would be the best game in existance.

Yeah the reason I picked up Galciv2 was because I saw some similarities with Alpha Cent. He he I missed the expansion pack bya couple years and when I went looking for it no store had it.. flash forward another 2-3 years, I see it in a giant bundle pack with 4 other games including the origonal game and buy the entire pack donating the games I hate or have to friends.

I missed the expansion pack bya couple years and when I went looking for it no store had it..

The expansion pack won't work with P4 computers. It has a stupid message that say's 'cpu not supported'.... WHO THE F---K CARES! JUST RUN THE GAME ANYWAY!!! but no, only the original game works. So i never played the expansion pack... any good?

I have an AMD computer now, so maybe the expansion pack will work?

Alpha Centauri was an awesome game... I still play it along with Homeworld and Myst....Classics still rule........

I love the classics. And if you want to go waaayyyy back, I picked up the Zork collection a few years ago. (Re-released sometime around 1994.) I remember playing that on my parents Apple IIe. Ahh, I miss the monochrome green screen. I still have the re-release and pop it in sometimes. Great text adventure game.

West of house
There is a Mailbox Here
>_

(And if I recall, it is all open sourced now so you can probably download it from abandonware.)

The expansion pack won't work with P4 computers. It has a stupid message that say's 'cpu not supported'

It will work with both P4 computers (which I used to use) and AMD computers (which I use now) by adding this line to the [Preferences] section of the "Alpha Centauri.ini" file.

ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1

Enjoy!

P.S. Still a great game. I started a new game of Alien Crossfire yesterday

I couldn't stand it anymore due to the crap AI, and the fact none of my friends play MP anymore.

Only thing most of us would ever play MP with each other again is this...
and even then it would be rare to be honest.

Seriously though, crap AI has done a lot of ruin my love of gaming- thankfully GC2's AI is acceptable, though it does need to be more aggressive. The big problem is the AI War/Peace equibilireum. I honestly think AI's should be more willing to give up a weak planet then a bunch of techs for peace, and they should if losing offer the moon to get someone else involved in the war.

I loved SMAC a lot, but it did seem to have a weak core engine riding around in a fabulous chassis. I found it very immersive and IIRC it had one some of the strongest support for micromanagers that I've ever seen.

But in the end, the rival AIs were much more stylish than they were clever. PC games are kind of like food in that you eat with your eyes first, but for both games and meals, the main ingredients need to be the best you can get.

I hated bombard from that game *shudders* I still have nightmares of AI invasions bombarding the same unit even though it couldn't die from it (I believe).

I couldn't stand it anymore due to the crap AI, and the fact none of my friends play MP anymore

Yes the AI is the one thing that lets the game down. The multiplayer i never used, tried it once but seemed like you cannot micromanage during somone elses turn. Big fopar for Alpha considering that civilisation multiplayer (an older game) does let you micromanage off turn.

I hated bombard from that game *shudders* I still have nightmares of AI invasions bombarding the same unit even though it couldn't die from it (I believe).

That is true, not so dumb though since constant bombarding prevents unit from healing.

It will work with both P4 computers (which I used to use) and AMD computers (which I use now) by adding this line to the [Preferences] section of the "Alpha Centauri.ini" file. ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1

Thank you!

Alpha Centauri was an awesome game... I still play it along with Homeworld and Myst....Classics still rule........

I played homeworld too. Imagine if they introduced that 3d space system to Galciv! Although homeworld is a real time game, and is quite difficult to controll.

What game is 'Myst'?

Some of my other favourite old games are Total anihilation, civilisation multiplayer, lords of the realm oh and Quake1 (naturally).

Myst link is http://www.cyan.com/

Anyway speaking of classics, I'm headin back to my game of PONG

Myst link is http://www.cyan.com/

Ah so it is a Dungeonsiege type game?

Dungeonsiege was good, but the replayability is nothing like Galciv.

Ah so it is a Dungeonsiege type game?

Nooooo.... Myst (at least the older ones, I never saw the later ones) was a pre-rendered point and click puzzle/adventure type game. Not really an RPG, and definitely nothing like Dungeon Siege.

Nooooo.... Myst (at least the older ones, I never saw the later ones) was a pre-rendered point and click puzzle/adventure type game. Not really an RPG, and definitely nothing like Dungeon Siege.

Ah ok, just looking at the website, the game 'appears' to look similar to dungeonsiege. I'm not sure what a pre rendered point and click game is? Any other examples?

Personally I can't see more than surface similarities between the two games. In fact, GalCivII might benefit a bit from the immersive style of SMAC. In SMAC, while playing the TBS you were also playing out this incredible story of the transition of humanity from mortals to a form of immortality. Also, the AI leaders were really individuals, with their own personalities and ways of acting. GalCiv actually has a strong, interesting backstory, but personally, the campaign just isn't worth playing through to get the story. Also, the AIs seem to pick standard patterns of behaviour that are available to all of them, so they may be very different from game to game, but from their own previous behaviour, not necessarily from each other.

With that said, the most obvious difference is that SMAC was confined to one planet, and GalCiv features a whole galaxy. I find playing on galactic maps just more enjoyable than on planetary ones.

I didn't find the expansion that great actually. The aliens were interesting from a story point of view, but gameplay-wise they weren't much fun to play against. It added a few new human factions too, but most weren't as interesting as the originals. The one I did like a lot was the pirates. I always removed the Believers from my games and put them in instead. Sometimes I replaced the University with the new faction led by the blonde chick (can't remember the name now, lol).

the most obvious difference is that SMAC was confined to one planet, and GalCiv features a whole galaxy

I don't see the difference? What you call 'planets' in galciv, are the equivalent of 'cities' in Alpha centauri. Except that the planets in Galciv do not even have a fraction of the features an Alpha city does.

Also, the AI leaders were really individuals, with their own personalities and ways of acting. GalCiv actually has a strong, interesting backstory, but personally, the campaign just isn't worth playing through to get the story. Also, the AIs seem to pick standard patterns of behaviour that are available to all of them, so they may be very different from game to game, but from their own previous behaviour, not necessarily from each other.

I see differences in play styles in the different races and it gets more distinct each patch. Of course, you can go and randomize stuff and you'll lose that feel.

You're right tho, the differences in SMAC were much more apparent.