I am trying to like this game but the controlls are horrible!

[hardcore_gamer]

Seriously, I have to use the KEYBOARD to move units? And what is up with turns automatically ending instead of waiting for me to press the end turn button?

Ugh.

I bought this game from GoG.com and was hoping for some fun times, but while I like the idea of the game and many of the concepts I find the controls and interface to be too horrible.

Also, why can't I customize which civs are in the game at start-up? Is that a feature that is only in the expansion pack (gog doesn't have it)?

Thoughts?

 

[Petek]

Hi hardcore_gamer,

Recall that SMAC dates back to 1999, so its interface isn't the same as more recent games. However, you can use the mouse to move units: Place the mouse cursor on the target tile and hold down the left mouse button. The current unit will then move to that tile. You also can configure the game to pause at the end of each turn by going MENU --> GAME --> Preferences --> Pause at end of turn. Finally, SMAC (and the expansion SMAX) require that exactly seven factions be present. In SMAC, you can replace the original seven factions with fan-created factions (available on various sites - let me know if you want more information). The SMAX expansion adds seven new factions and you can play with any combination of the original and new ones. The option to play with more than seven factions is on just about everyone's wish list for a mod or new version. Hope you find this information useful!

 

[magic9mushroom]

I just right-click and choose "Move unit to here".

 

[RD-BH]

I just right-click and choose "Move unit to here".

This.

 

[History_Buff]

Also, was your first Civ game Civ 5? Because I think the turn-ends-automatically was standard right up through Civ 4, so that's not so unusual. But it has always been customizable.

 

[MilesBeyond]

Hi hardcore_gamer,

Recall that SMAC dates back to 1999, so its interface isn't the same as more recent games. However, you can use the mouse to move units: Place the mouse cursor on the target tile and hold down the left mouse button. The current unit will then move to that tile. You also can configure the game to pause at the end of each turn by going MENU --> GAME --> Preferences --> Pause at end of turn. Finally, SMAC (and the expansion SMAX) require that exactly seven factions be present. In SMAC, you can replace the original seven factions with fan-created factions (available on various sites - let me know if you want more information). The SMAX expansion adds seven new factions and you can play with any combination of the original and new ones. The option to play with more than seven factions is on just about everyone's wish list for a mod or new version. Hope you find this information useful!

This. You move units with the mouse in SMAC. Keyboard is clunky.

The controls really aren't any different from Civ games. The only part of the interface I find frustrating is the way your newly created units tend to get lost in the production list...