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Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri - Nerve Stapling Forever
WMain00
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Since it's now up on Gog, I thought I'd make a thread for it, in which we can discuss our terraforming escapades.
What is Alpha Centauri?
Alpha Centauri is a 4x/civilization game released in 1999 by Firaxis, set on an entirely alien world simply called Planet. Alpha Centauri explores what happens after you launch your civilization into space in the Civ games. It also contains its own story interweaved within the single player game. It received a reasonable, but not brilliant, response when first released, but has gathered a loyal following of players since then.
Why?
Well for starters it has more personality than any of the Civ games combined, and that includes IV and V. The factions in the game are uniquely interesting, each offering different play scenarios as well their own ideaologies. The game is also unique in having an entire database full of quotations and philosophical statements on life, the universe and everything. Where the Civ games refer to quotations in our history, SMAC (as its abbreviated) has its own unique set.
Why the hell should I care about that?
Because some of these quotes were written in 1999 but have scarily become useful in modern society today. For instance, the UN factions quote pretty much explains what the hell is going on with the Spring Revolution in the Middle East.
What about the game?
The game plays similar to Civ II and III, but also has its own advanced mechanics: Terraforming is important since Planet is only half-habitable, you can customize your units as you wish and you can either set governers to run your cities automatically or entirely run developments on your own. It caters to all sorts of playing styles and although the UI can take a bit of getting used to, it's quick and easy to get hooked into the game.
Nerve stapling: Yay or nay?
These bastards don't work hard enough!
Where can I get this?
You can get it on Gog for as little as $5.99:
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/sid_meiers_alpha_centauri
Unfortunately the expansion, Alien Crossfire, is not available. If you find a legitamite and cheap way of getting it, please let us know.
What is Alpha Centauri?
Alpha Centauri is a 4x/civilization game released in 1999 by Firaxis, set on an entirely alien world simply called Planet. Alpha Centauri explores what happens after you launch your civilization into space in the Civ games. It also contains its own story interweaved within the single player game. It received a reasonable, but not brilliant, response when first released, but has gathered a loyal following of players since then.
Why?
Well for starters it has more personality than any of the Civ games combined, and that includes IV and V. The factions in the game are uniquely interesting, each offering different play scenarios as well their own ideaologies. The game is also unique in having an entire database full of quotations and philosophical statements on life, the universe and everything. Where the Civ games refer to quotations in our history, SMAC (as its abbreviated) has its own unique set.
Why the hell should I care about that?
Because some of these quotes were written in 1999 but have scarily become useful in modern society today. For instance, the UN factions quote pretty much explains what the hell is going on with the Spring Revolution in the Middle East.
What about the game?
The game plays similar to Civ II and III, but also has its own advanced mechanics: Terraforming is important since Planet is only half-habitable, you can customize your units as you wish and you can either set governers to run your cities automatically or entirely run developments on your own. It caters to all sorts of playing styles and although the UI can take a bit of getting used to, it's quick and easy to get hooked into the game.
Nerve stapling: Yay or nay?
These bastards don't work hard enough!
Where can I get this?
You can get it on Gog for as little as $5.99:
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/sid_meiers_alpha_centauri
Unfortunately the expansion, Alien Crossfire, is not available. If you find a legitamite and cheap way of getting it, please let us know.
WMain00 on
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The factions in Sid Meier's Alpah Centauri all have their own ideaology and system of working. This affects what sort of way you should play them. Here's a handy guide on all the factions.
Gaia's Stepdaughters
Leader: Dierdre Skye
Gaia's Stepdaughters are your typical tree huggers...IN SPPPAAAAAAAAAAACCCCEEE!!! Just kidding. Gaia have the advantage in that they gain a nutrient from xenofungus (yup, they eat the fungus), while the rest of factions go "Eww gross what the hell Dierdre stop eating that!" Since they're all tree huggers though their disadvantage is low morale and police state tactics. That they are okay with xenofungus though means you can set them up in areas other factions would need to terraform first.
Special note: Everyone wants to do Dierdre. :winky:
Human Hive
Leader: Sheng-ji Yang
The Hive are ridicolously powerful: they can expand quickly, are immune to inefficiency and have perimeters defences automatically in every city. Their rapid growth though means that their energy economy can be terrible, and they detest Democracy. Play them if you want to mimic People's Republic of China...IN SPPPPAAAACCCEEEE!!!
University of Planet
Leader: Prokhor Zakharov
The University of Planet are your science nuts, going about discovering things and general being all nerdy. they have a significant gain in the areas of research, getting free extra starting tech and a free network node. Unfortunately they're not too clever when it comes to Probes, and for every 4 citizens you will encounter one idiot who just wants to be a painter. Nerve staple!! Play them if you want to transcend and become more than just those silly fleshy things.
Morgan Industries
Leader: Nwabudike Morgan
You know what Planet means? Oil. More Oil. MORE AND MORE OIL! OIL FOR THE OIL GODS MAUAHAHAHAHAH!! Ahem. Morgan Industries are your typical mega-corporation rich kids. If you want to get mega wealthy, you go them. You start off extra rich, have a better economy than others, and get even richer rather quickly. Why fight when you can buy out everyone? Unfortunately they do suffer from hab problems, meaning their cities are crowded until you build a hab module to expand it.
The Spartan Federation
Leader: Corazon Santiago
The Spartan Federation are your gun nuts. They love guns. Love 'em. If they're not going about loving their guns they're probably shouting SPARTA! at delegates. They have high morale and police state abilities, get free prototypes, and start off with a scout rover instead of a man and a space-dog. Unfortunately because they're so busy loving their guns they have a tendency to forget about their industry. Play them for quick conquerable expansions.
The Lord's Believers
Leader: Miriam Godwinson
Yes, through a beaurocratic slip up, somebody thought it would be a bright idea letting religious fundies onto the trip. The result is that we have a bunch of bible bashing nutcases on Planet, telling us the end of the world will happen next month...and if not then the month after that. The Lord's Believers aren't able to research anything for at least 10 turns, what with the fact that they burnt all their scientists as witches. They do however have an attack bonus (nothing worse than an angry hoard) and they generally are quite sneaky.
Special note: It's difficult to discern whether Miriam is a man or a woman. All worship our ugly space pope.
Peacekeeping Forces
Leader: Pravin Lal
The same committee that let religious nuts on board also thought it would be a good idea to let a UN advisor on board to tell everyone to stop bombarding each others cities, and to write angry letters when they do so. The Peacekeeping Forces gain an extra talent for every 4 citizens (useful) and have +2 hab for cities. They also gain double the votes in planetary elections and supreme leader (proof if ever the UN is corrupt). What with the fact they're busy writing letters and being all neutral on us, they do suffer from inefficiency. Play them if you have no soul and like neutrality.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Delete/Close then. Sorry