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[Turn Complete] Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Windfayir
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Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (SMAC) is a turn-based strategy game that was released in early 1999. Developed by Firaxis Games, the game was designed by Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds, who was lead designer of Civ II and later founded Big Huge Games (They made the XBLA version of Catan, as well as developed the Rise of Nations series). The game won many awards, including the highest score ever given by PC Gamer Magazine, a 98% (since then, two other games have scored a 98%: Half Life 2, and ...actually forget about the other one) and is still hailed today as one of the best turn-based strategy games ever released.
The expansion, Alien Crossfire, was released several months after the original game's launch. It added 7 new factions and many new technologies.
Story
Often called a spiritual successor to Civilization II, the game takes place in the distant future, when Earth's shit is ruined. Fearing extinction, the U.N. puts together a ship full of people, blah blah blah, sends it towards Alpha Centauri, mutiny, etc. The captain of the ship is assassinated, and from the resulting panic, seven factions emerge. (See below)
The ship reaches its destination, the planet Chiron. The seven factions split up and make planetfall. Here is where you begin, alone for hundreds of miles on an alien world, with nothing but a colony pod. Strange fungus covers the planet, and though it may be removed from tiles later in the game, the fungus will continue to expand and grow. Huge colonies of Mindworms roam freely, attacking anything foreign to the planet. I won't go into too much detail, as the relationship between the fungus, the worms, and the planet becomes very interesting.
A few books were published set in the SMAC universe, and for those wishing to know more about the story, there are two short stories available for free at the Firaxis Website.
Edit: Subedii has pointed out a few more short stories based on the game, for even more reading! These will contain spoilers, obviously.
Alpha Centauri Story
Alien Crossfire Story
There is no campaign in the traditional sense, as the story progresses throughout any game played on the Map of Planet, the main map included with the game. Random maps can also be generated, and the game features a robust map editor.
The Factions
Spoiler'd for long
Spartan Federation
The most military-driven faction in the game, the Spartan Federation is led by Colonel Corazón Santiago.
"Superior training and superior weaponry have, when taken together, a geometric effect on overall military strength. Well-trained, well-equipped troops can stand up to many more times their lesser brethren than linear arithmetic would seem to indicate."
-- Col. Corazon Santiago, "Spartan Battle Manual"
Gaia's Stepdaughters
A green bunch of planet-huggers, led by Lady Deirdre Skye
"In the great commons at Gaia's Landing we have a tall and particularly beautiful stand of white pine, planted at the time of the first colonies. It represents our promise to the people, and to Planet itself, never to repeat the tragedy of Earth."
-- Lady Deirdre Skye, "Planet Dreams"
University of Planet
The technocrats of SMAC, led by Academician Prokhor Zakharov
"The substructure of the universe regresses infinitely towards smaller and smaller components. Behind atoms we find electrons, and behind electrons quarks. Each layer unraveled reveals new secrets, but also new mysteries."
-- Prokhor Zakharov, "For I Have Tasted The Fruit"
Peacekeeping Forces
A very calculated and diplomatic faction, led by Commissioner Pravin Lal
"As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last loose their grip on information flow will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master."
-- Commissioner Pravin Lal, "Librarian's Preface"
Human Hive
Bunch of Commie pigs. Move on. (led by Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang)
"Learn to overcome the crass demands of flesh and bone, for they warp the matrix through which we perceive the world. Extend your awareness outwards, beyond the self of body, to embrace the self of group and the self of humanity. The goals of the group and the greater race are transcendent, and to embrace them is to achieve enlightenment."
-- Sheng-ji Yang, "Essays on Mind and Matter"
Lord's Believers
The fundamentalists. I admit, they are the one faction I have never played. Led by Sister Miriam Godwinson
"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil."
-- Sister Miriam Godwinson, "The Blessed Struggle"
Morgan Industries
Led by CEO Nwabudike Morgan, Morgan Industries has enough capitalist gusto to make Ayn Rand blush.
"Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant. Need as well as greed have followed us to the stars, and the rewards of wealth still await those wise enough to recognize this deep thrumming of our common pulse."
-- Nwabudike Morgan, "The Centauri Monopoly"
Expansion Factions
Cult of Planet
Going one step further than Gaia's Stepdaughters, The Cult of Planet worships Planet. Led by the Prophet Cha'Dawn.
"Mankind has been blind for thousands of years. For all of its history, we have come to a place whose wonders are a hundred-fold more amazing than anything on earth. Around us is clear evidence of the will of a higher power. I bring the vision to the blind eyes of men. I bring the word to the deaf ears of men. I will make them see it, I will make them hear it."
-- Prophet Cha'Dawn, "Planet Rising"
Cybernetic Consciousness
An efficient and technologically-gifted race of cyborgs. Led by Prime Function Aki-Zeta 5.
"Those who join us need give up only half of their humanity. The illogical, ill-tempered, and disordered half, commonly thought of as 'right-brain functioning'. In exchange, the left-brain capacities are increased to undreamed potential. The tendency of biologicals to cling instead to their individual personalities can only be attributed to archaic evolutionary tendencies."
-- Prime Function Aki-Zeta 5, "Convergence"
Data Angels
This faction centers on espionage and free information systems. Led by Datajack Sinder Roze.
"What's more important, the data or the jazz? Sure, sure, information should be free and all that, but anyone can set information free. The jazz is in how you do it, what you do it to, and in almost getting caught without getting caught. The data is ones and zeros. Life is the jazz."
-- Datajack Sinder Roze, "Infobop"
Free Drones
Socialist and very industry-focused, led by Foreman Domai.
"Now it's day and night the irons clang, and like poor galley slaves, we toil and toil, and when we die, must fill dishonored graves. But some dark night, when everything is silent in the town, I'll shoot those tyrants one and all, I'll gun the flogger down. I'll give the land a little shock to remember what I said."
-- Foreman Domai, "Tradition"
Nautilus Pirates
At home on the water, the Pirates receive many sea-based bonuses. Led by Captain Ulrik Svensgaard.
"The sea: vast, mysterious, and full of wealth. And the nations of Planet send their trade across it without a thought. Well the sea doesn't care about them so it lets them pass. We can give the sea a little hand in teaching the land-lubbers humility."
-- Captain Ulrik Svensgaard, "The Ripple, and The Wave"
Manifold Caretakers
One of the two alien races, the caretakers aim to protect the planet (the "Sixth Manifold") by preventing any race from achieving Transcendence. Always enemies with the Manifold Usurpers. Led by Guardian Lular H'minee.
"Tau Ceti: Flowering. Horrors visited upon neighboring systems must never be repeated. Therefore, if it means the end of our evolution as a species, so be it."
-- Caretaker H'minee, "Sacrifice: Life"
Manifold Usurpers
The second alien race, the Usurpers look to exploit planet by forcing transcendence upon it. Bitter enemies with the Caretakers. Led by Conqueror Judaa Maar.
"Risks of Flowering: Considerable. But rewards of Godhood: Who can measure?"
-- Usurper Judaa Maar, "Courage: To Question"
Each Faction has its own unique bonuses, starting technologies, and play style.
The most military-driven faction in the game, the Spartan Federation is led by Colonel Corazón Santiago.
"Superior training and superior weaponry have, when taken together, a geometric effect on overall military strength. Well-trained, well-equipped troops can stand up to many more times their lesser brethren than linear arithmetic would seem to indicate."
-- Col. Corazon Santiago, "Spartan Battle Manual"
Gaia's Stepdaughters
A green bunch of planet-huggers, led by Lady Deirdre Skye
"In the great commons at Gaia's Landing we have a tall and particularly beautiful stand of white pine, planted at the time of the first colonies. It represents our promise to the people, and to Planet itself, never to repeat the tragedy of Earth."
-- Lady Deirdre Skye, "Planet Dreams"
University of Planet
The technocrats of SMAC, led by Academician Prokhor Zakharov
"The substructure of the universe regresses infinitely towards smaller and smaller components. Behind atoms we find electrons, and behind electrons quarks. Each layer unraveled reveals new secrets, but also new mysteries."
-- Prokhor Zakharov, "For I Have Tasted The Fruit"
Peacekeeping Forces
A very calculated and diplomatic faction, led by Commissioner Pravin Lal
"As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last loose their grip on information flow will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master."
-- Commissioner Pravin Lal, "Librarian's Preface"
Human Hive
Bunch of Commie pigs. Move on. (led by Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang)
"Learn to overcome the crass demands of flesh and bone, for they warp the matrix through which we perceive the world. Extend your awareness outwards, beyond the self of body, to embrace the self of group and the self of humanity. The goals of the group and the greater race are transcendent, and to embrace them is to achieve enlightenment."
-- Sheng-ji Yang, "Essays on Mind and Matter"
Lord's Believers
The fundamentalists. I admit, they are the one faction I have never played. Led by Sister Miriam Godwinson
"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil."
-- Sister Miriam Godwinson, "The Blessed Struggle"
Morgan Industries
Led by CEO Nwabudike Morgan, Morgan Industries has enough capitalist gusto to make Ayn Rand blush.
"Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant. Need as well as greed have followed us to the stars, and the rewards of wealth still await those wise enough to recognize this deep thrumming of our common pulse."
-- Nwabudike Morgan, "The Centauri Monopoly"
Expansion Factions
Cult of Planet
Going one step further than Gaia's Stepdaughters, The Cult of Planet worships Planet. Led by the Prophet Cha'Dawn.
"Mankind has been blind for thousands of years. For all of its history, we have come to a place whose wonders are a hundred-fold more amazing than anything on earth. Around us is clear evidence of the will of a higher power. I bring the vision to the blind eyes of men. I bring the word to the deaf ears of men. I will make them see it, I will make them hear it."
-- Prophet Cha'Dawn, "Planet Rising"
Cybernetic Consciousness
An efficient and technologically-gifted race of cyborgs. Led by Prime Function Aki-Zeta 5.
"Those who join us need give up only half of their humanity. The illogical, ill-tempered, and disordered half, commonly thought of as 'right-brain functioning'. In exchange, the left-brain capacities are increased to undreamed potential. The tendency of biologicals to cling instead to their individual personalities can only be attributed to archaic evolutionary tendencies."
-- Prime Function Aki-Zeta 5, "Convergence"
Data Angels
This faction centers on espionage and free information systems. Led by Datajack Sinder Roze.
"What's more important, the data or the jazz? Sure, sure, information should be free and all that, but anyone can set information free. The jazz is in how you do it, what you do it to, and in almost getting caught without getting caught. The data is ones and zeros. Life is the jazz."
-- Datajack Sinder Roze, "Infobop"
Free Drones
Socialist and very industry-focused, led by Foreman Domai.
"Now it's day and night the irons clang, and like poor galley slaves, we toil and toil, and when we die, must fill dishonored graves. But some dark night, when everything is silent in the town, I'll shoot those tyrants one and all, I'll gun the flogger down. I'll give the land a little shock to remember what I said."
-- Foreman Domai, "Tradition"
Nautilus Pirates
At home on the water, the Pirates receive many sea-based bonuses. Led by Captain Ulrik Svensgaard.
"The sea: vast, mysterious, and full of wealth. And the nations of Planet send their trade across it without a thought. Well the sea doesn't care about them so it lets them pass. We can give the sea a little hand in teaching the land-lubbers humility."
-- Captain Ulrik Svensgaard, "The Ripple, and The Wave"
Manifold Caretakers
One of the two alien races, the caretakers aim to protect the planet (the "Sixth Manifold") by preventing any race from achieving Transcendence. Always enemies with the Manifold Usurpers. Led by Guardian Lular H'minee.
"Tau Ceti: Flowering. Horrors visited upon neighboring systems must never be repeated. Therefore, if it means the end of our evolution as a species, so be it."
-- Caretaker H'minee, "Sacrifice: Life"
Manifold Usurpers
The second alien race, the Usurpers look to exploit planet by forcing transcendence upon it. Bitter enemies with the Caretakers. Led by Conqueror Judaa Maar.
"Risks of Flowering: Considerable. But rewards of Godhood: Who can measure?"
-- Usurper Judaa Maar, "Courage: To Question"
Each Faction has its own unique bonuses, starting technologies, and play style.
Units
Units in the game are all completely customizable, and new units may be built from the ground up. This is all done through the games Workshop.
First, you select a basic unit type, such as land, sea, air, hover, missile, etc., and from that point, you can add a reactor to power it, shielding, weapons, and special abilities, which can add all kinds of bonuses. If you played Civ II, this system should feel fairly familiar.
The workshop, in all of its beautiful simplicity
Gameplay
The interface
The gameplay will feel very familiar if you have played any of the other Civ games. Really. No, go play one of them, and save me some time writing all of the basics.
Differences! Let's talk about what makes this game not Civilization.
The game is centered on the planet, Chiron (Usually referred to simply as Planet). Ecology is very important, as some actions raise your faction's negative effect on the environment, and if you do too much, Planet will get tired of it and you'll notice much more activity from the native life surrounding your bases.
The terrain is extremely important, and to the expert player, can be used as a weapon on its own. Each tile has its own attributes, such as rainfall, rockiness, fungus, elevation, etc. Each tile affects the tiles around it. For instance, you could terraform some mountains near your enemies base, which will trap moisture, adding much rainfall to your side, and drying out theirs.
There is also a heavy sociological component to the game. All aspects of your society, such as Politics, Economics, Values, and Future can be controlled, providing additional customization options to your faction.
Winning
Victory can be achieved in a number of ways. You can simply kill everyone else, or opt for a more diplomatic route, forging bonds and eventually being elected supreme ruler. You can win an Economic victory if you're into that sort of thing. Last but not least, you can win a technological victory, the victory by Transcendence.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer is possible, but since it it all TCP/IP, it can be hard to get into a match with someone unless you set it up with them beforehand. I have heard some good things about using Kali to get things set up.
At this point you are probably tired of reading. Here are some introduction videos.
Sid Meier's Painstakingly Long Intro
Admittedly, not much there.
Did I mention the expansion pack, which came out later the same year? I did? Well it has an intro too. A much meatier intro. A thinkin' man's intro.
SMAC:AC
I would include the trailer, but frankly, there's no gameplay, just a bunch of CG concept clips that don't have much to do with the game.
Admittedly, not much there.
Did I mention the expansion pack, which came out later the same year? I did? Well it has an intro too. A much meatier intro. A thinkin' man's intro.
SMAC:AC
I would include the trailer, but frankly, there's no gameplay, just a bunch of CG concept clips that don't have much to do with the game.
Screenshots!
Starting out
Base Management Screen
The Planetary Council
A Council Vote
Tech Discovery
Late Game
The Datalinks (In-Game Encyclopedia)
The two games were released together as part of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack. Prices on this vary wildy, however, and while the original game is relatively cheap to buy, the expansion was produced in limited quantity and can easily fetch over $100 on Amazon and Ebay.
If you are a fan of turn-based strategy, and have managed to avoid it for this long, track this game down! It is well worth the trouble.
Windfayir on
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And now I've left it at my uni home.
Bugger.
I'd never played Civilization at the time either.
This is the first I've heard about the expansion. The new factions look interesting.
From what I heard they weren't all that great. Really I think you get enough options in vanilla.
BTW, could you include this in the OP? Way back when the site was still alive Firaxis created a whole written story for both Alpha Centauri and Alien Crossfire. Part of it was in the manual but the complete story was on the website.
Fortunately now you can find the complete stories for both on gamefaqs:
Alpha Centauri
Alien Crossfire
Be warned, they're pretty long.
Didn't we already have one of those? Or was it a [Game On] ?
Firaxis used to have an online store where you could buy it, but I think now it's completely out of print.
It was included in the The Laptop Collection, but the price on that has climbed since it too was discontinued.
Like I said, buying the original game alone will only set you back about $10, it's the expansion that is hard to get.
t Subedii- Thanks! I didn't know about these, I'll get them added ASAP
I would actually love to do this, but I have not been able to find my planetary pack disc
I'm going to go find it and get started on one, unless someone else wants to do the Let's Play.
The expansion is okay, I suppose. It adds more of the same, really. Races with different strengths on the Social Engineering scale. Some of the hooks are interesting, but the game isn't really about the story, so you start looking at the alien races as just another civ on the planet, and the fact that they're alien doesn't really come into it.
I do remember that it changed the Hunter Seeker Algorithm project to something like 50% effectiveness (down from 100%) which annoyed me as a usual University player. No more -4 probe +4 research or whatever with no consequences.
The Gaian campaign definitely had a story going, involving one of her followers who was able to communicate with the Mind Worms.
And yes, Miriam can die in a fire. You can't negotiate with her. Either give her what she wants, or wipe her off the face of the planet.
I love how the factions are very different from eachother, which was one of the things that really annoyed my with Civilization. The factions also make a lot of sense, and I really enjoyed hearing the various quotes from the faction leaders as I researched technology and built base facilities.
Although from what Ive heard about the expansion the new factions don't fit in at all, still wont stop me from buying it if I find it though.
skate, halo 3
Is that space expansion for Civ IV (Beyond the Sword I think?) anything like Alpha Centauri? Or are they completely different? Can you still strive for transcendence?
The original factions are archetypes. The expansion factions are stereotypes.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
I've thought about trying to track down the expansion multiple times, but I've always stopped looking when I realized that I'd still just play as Zakharov :P
As for the expansion... I liked it, if only because the new 'Free Captured Leader' Probe team action. It's not terribly useful, I guess, but I get kick out of, say, liberating Santiago from a Universtiy Punishment Sphere. Whilst playing the Gaians.
And then teching up from there into Deathspheres and taking over the entire planet.
Santiago is my usual pick, and I usually start out by locating Miriam and putting her into a Pain Sphere asap. Then I start to look towards the hive. I usually try to get an alliance going with the Gaians. Once the alliance is cemented with mutual vision, blood and toil, it's all mindworms and Pain Spheres for anyone who gets out of line. When Ascension is the goal, all other considerations are secondary. Only a Leader with vision can understand this maxim.
There is a free demo available through www.battlefront.com and TacOpsHQ is a good resource for the game.
Now... back to the Nerve Stapling.
Realistic, no; punishing, yes.
I remember that I never finished my Gaian run because of Miriam. Endless stalemate. Her troops would not concede one space of land.
You're not using enough planet busters.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
I was trying to establish a less devastating reign.
Swarms of mind worms aside.
The drones need you.
They look up to you.
I'm crossing my arms and giving you an expectant look. THROUGH THE INTERNET.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
YES