Could Civ4 be the foundation for Alpha Centaur 2

[Phoenix_56721]

I have been thinking about some things about Civ4 and one of the points that Frekk had brought up in one of his post keeps bothering me. The subject is about Farxix’s releasing all the code with Civ4, by doing so, mods will surly compete with future expansion packs and a possible Civ5. So why would they release the code right away, instead of just waiting till after they have released some expansions? My theory and its just a theory is that maybe Civ4 is the foundation for Alpha Centaur 2. They couldn’t just make Alpha Centaur 2 without having first made a Civ4, bringing a new 3D engine and a fresh start to the series. By releasing all the code with Civ4 they can spawn a whole slew of mods and they can observe and get ideas from and also draw a lot of attention back to the series as well as weed out all the bugs. Then in a few years they could release not Civ5 but Alpha Centaur 2, which would be huge in the gamming world since the first one, is arguable the best strategy game ever made! I hope I'm right! ...... What do you think?

Civilization: Released in 1995
Civilization 2: Released in 1997
........Alfa Centuria: released in 1999
Civilization 3: Released in 2001
Civilization 4: Released in 2005
……….Alfa Centuria 2: Released in (2007) ?????

 

[Quentin]

Well, if the modding for Civ4 isn't too tough, I think a mod that basically remakes SMAC or is largely inspired by it would appear, since AFAIK many Civ fans are also Alpha Centauri fans.

... since the first one, is arguable the best strategy game ever made!

It's that good huh? Maybe I should go buy it.

 

[labguy23]

I loved SMAC, but I was really disappointed that air units were so dominate vs the AI. Once you had Doctrine:Air Power it was all over. You could just bomb enemy cities into oblivion.

 

[vbraun]

I'm pretty sure SMAC2 will be possible with the full modabilty that comes with Civ4.

 

[frenchman]

I had the same idea than you reading the preview of Civ IV... we can imagine an add-on about alfa centuria ...

 

[Phoenix_56721]

It's that good huh? Maybe I should go buy it.

I started playing Sid games with Civ3, I have never played SMAC but everything I've read sounds great. In the preview of Civ4 in PCGAMMER magazine they mentioned SMAC and said it was only 1 of 2 games to ever get a 98% rating on their review. I would like to try it myself but with Civ4 coming out I wont have time for 2 games of that magatude! Theirs sure to be a mod from Civ4 so I will get me a chance to try it out. I still think even if it is modded, Fraxis's still might consider making a SMAC2, they might improve the engine and combine concepts from poeple mods and come up with a great game.

 

[nicae]

SMAC2? nahhhhhh... go COL2! :yay:

 

[Melendwyr]

I doubt very much there will ever be an official SMAC2 -- or even an unofficial one. Having a sequel to a game in which humanity merges with an alien lifeform and becomes transcendent is conceptually implausible.

 

[Crimso]

I doubt very much there will ever be an official SMAC2 -- or even an unofficial one. Having a sequel to a game in which humanity merges with an alien lifeform and becomes transcendent is conceptually implausible.

Yeah, somehow I don't think that would stop anyone from making a new SMAC. Game makers do not consider what happened story-wise in a previous game, they think "will it sell?" I think we've all been playing games, reading (comic) books and watching movies for long enough to know that.

If they do make a new SMAC, I bet it will be a remake comparable to Pirates!. That would kick ass.

 

[Nobody]

which would be huge in the gamming world since the first one, is arguable the best strategy game ever made!

Do you reliz u is in a civforum biarch? *does clicky thing with fingers in guy who said its face*

 

[PriestOfDiscord]

Oh get my hopes up, why don't you?
SMAC is my favorite game of all time but I doubt a sequel is coming any time soon, short of a fan-made total conversion mod of civ 4. Strategy games that give the player an almost endless amount of content are just too scary for the mass market, and therefore get the death sentence that is the "niche market" label by big name publishers.

I loved SMAC, but I was really disappointed that air units were so dominate vs the AI. Once you had Doctrine:Air Power it was all over. You could just bomb enemy cities into oblivion.

Well, it depends on what kind of air unit. The Needlejets you get from D:AP are actually kind of underwhelming, and the late game Gravships aren't worth it at all except in rare situations. Copters are where it is at. If you are the first to get Mind/Machine Interface and start pumping out Nerve Gas-enabled Chaos or Fusion Copters, conquest is assured. If you really want to go over the top, it is only a step or two after that until Planet Busters.

I doubt very much there will ever be an official SMAC2 -- or even an unofficial one. Having a sequel to a game in which humanity merges with an alien lifeform and becomes transcendent is conceptually implausible.

Well, I think Phoenix means a sequel in the same way Civ gets sequels. It isn't like Civ 2 started at 2050, when Civ 1 ended.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Has anyone here read the Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri novels? There was a trilogy published a few years ago, and I enjoyed them very much. Without giving away the ending, I will say the series left an opening for new adventures and future civilizations to rise up on the planet.

 

[Phoenix_56721]

Has anyone here read the Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri novels? There was a trilogy published a few years ago, and I enjoyed them very much. Without giving away the ending, I will say the series left an opening for new adventures and future civilizations to rise up on the planet.

Really thats very interesting, I wonder if Sid ever plans to explore that opening in a new game? I think it would be a perfect sequel to Civ4, and a lot of new games that are very popular now a days are in the Scifi realm, world of warcraft, the new sequel to RON (sorry cant remember the name) and many others. I hope Sid decides to explore this option!

 

[warpus]

I have been thinking about some things about Civ4 and one of the points that Frekk had brought up in one of his post keeps bothering me. The subject is about Farxix’s releasing all the code with Civ4, by doing so, mods will surly compete with future expansion packs and a possible Civ5. So why would they release the code right away, instead of just waiting till after they have released some expansions?

Firaxis is doing EXACTLY the RIGHT thing by allowing us an unprecedented level of modability. They are giving the fanbase the ability to turn the game into anything we want, including an Alpha Centauri clone, for example.

While this will probably give us countless of free add-ons + mod packs and reduce Firaxis' profits from such products (which are usually a ripoff anyway), it is a sign that they respect the fanbase. They are giving up a % of expected initial profits to give us an amazing game playing experience.

I would have more to add to this subject but my ride is here

 

[Phoenix_56721]

Firaxis is doing EXACTLY the RIGHT thing by allowing us an unprecedented level of modability. They are giving the fanbase the ability to turn the game into anything we want, including an Alpha Centauri clone, for example.

While this will probably give us countless of free add-ons + mod packs and reduce Firaxis' profits from such products (which are usually a ripoff anyway), it is a sign that they respect the fanbase. They are giving up a % of expected initial profits to give us an amazing game playing experience.

I would have more to add to this subject but my ride is here

I think this is one of the reasons they are realeasing the code, but also a lot a Mods turn into Successful games, case and point Battlefeild 1942, the mod Dessert Combat was very popular and the makers of the mod where used as consultants to make Battlefeild 2 which is basically their mod with new graphics and other addtions, and its doing very well. This could be the outcome of a SMAC mod, hey they get free development ideas when they allow a game to be modded easily, which might really benefit a new game like (SMAC2) but only time will tell!

 

[Yuri2356]

I doubt very much there will ever be an official SMAC2 -- or even an unofficial one. Having a sequel to a game in which humanity merges with an alien lifeform and becomes transcendent is conceptually implausible.

But what if something destroyed the Planet-mind? What if someone escaped Planet's awakening and ran off into space, perhaps back to Earth? What if it were set after a game that didn't end in transcendance?

Suppose some crazy Scientist from the University devised a bio-weapon that could destroy every mindworm and fungal patch on planet? The Planet-Mind would die off with it, and the human factions would be left alone to build a thriving civilization that could become the centre of a massive empire. The possibilities are endless...

And as Crismo said, it could just start the same way SMAC did, but with a new game style and possibly a new plot to go with it.

 

[sir_schwick]

Firaxis has been exploring the possibility of sequels to some of these 'classics' recently. We all remember the short poll with the point-less questions about laptop gaming. The top two games on that list are Colonization and SMAC. Letting modders do thousands if not tens of thousands of free developement and testing is not only smart, its brilliant. It also allows Firaxis to find all kinds of talent that would never show up through traditional industry channels.

Valve was probably the first, and most successful, company at buidling a relationship with the modding community and using it to keep franchises alive. Many of their employees, like at Epic Games and a few others, were recruited from the internet. There is a rumour that Rhye's is being allowed to develop his mod to ship with Civ 4, signs of a new level of community-company interaction. That is how games such as Civlization will survive in a grand theft auto world.

 

[apatheist]

I doubt very much there will ever be an official SMAC2 -- or even an unofficial one. Having a sequel to a game in which humanity merges with an alien lifeform and becomes transcendent is conceptually implausible.

No kidding. You guys ought to give up on wishing for a sequel to Civilization. Having a sequel to a game in which humanity rises from the stone age to reaching another star system is conceptually implausible.

 

[joethreeblah]

Anyone know where I can get SMAC?

I went to Fry's a couple of days agoa nd they said it is currently not being published by anyone

I kind of like Joe - THE BLAH!

16 Days to go!

 

[Phoenix_56721]

No kidding. You guys ought to give up on wishing for a sequel to Civilization. Having a sequel to a game in which humanity rises from the stone age to reaching another star system is conceptually implausible.

Hello somebody needs a reality check CIV. IS JUST A GAME, and in games everything is plausible, SMAC was a continuation of Civ2. It is just as plausible that SMAC2 can be a continuation of Civ4!!!!......

Edit: If you guys were Being sarcastic I guess I missed it, think I need some sleep! ... lol