SMAC 2, what are the odds?

[vyeh]

No way a science fiction game could use Civ. Civ has to start in 4000 BC and end in 2000 AD. Alpha Centauri starts in 2100 AD.

 

[Darsnan]

No way a science fiction game could use Civ. .

I'll disagree with this statement: look at Foundation and that whole series. The Galactic Civilization falls, and some solar systems fall into complete barbarism. The sci-fi authour Pournelle also had a series of books about a Co-Dominium which ultimately failed, and many solar systems fell into barabarism before a new power arose to unite Humanity once again. Both of these are fertile ground for a mod IMO, as you can mix and match different things from the past, present, and future in creating new worlds for adventure.

D

 

[Russia4Life]

Civ 2 Test Of Time had a sci fi version of civ....

 

[Buster's Uncle]

...and Alpha Centauri is a straight continuation of the Civ storyline. It is the expedition you launched in CivII...

Sid Meier's Civilisation: Alpha Centauri 2 :nod:

 

[Elsewhere Adv]

Quick question, are the rights to SMAC 2 divided up between 3 companies? Since Brian is working for a different company as Sid, and I think EA still holds the rights to the name?

 

[Russia4Life]

I think EA has all the rights to the game. I doubt sid or brian have any say in the matter.

 

[vyeh]

I think Firaxis also has some rights to the name Alpha Centauri since they developed it. So the rights are split between Firaxis and EA. I did a quick search on 'poly and saw somewhere (I can't find it now) where Brian Reynolds said BHG had no rights to SMAC.

 

[Elsewhere Adv]

I think Firaxis also has some rights to the name Alpha Centauri since they developed it. So the rights are split between Firaxis and EA. I did a quick search on 'poly and saw somewhere (I can't find it now) where Brian Reynolds said BHG had no rights to SMAC.

So it's basically just EA and Firaxis that hold the rights to a SMAC 2? Awesome, thanks for the info.

 

[vyeh]

That has always been my understanding. Firaxis developed the game so they own the rights. When EA distributed SMAC, it got a license that included rights to the name.

I think it must be fairly standard for developers/distributors to hold joint rights in a title.

What I think must complicate the issue is that Brian Reynolds, who designed SMAC, is no longer at Firaxis. So it would be hard to include him and I think there is a recognition that a sequel wouldn't work without his vision.

 

[GoodGame]

The odds are probably greatest if a fan mods it.

 

[vyeh]

Well there is the Planetfall mod of Civ IV:BtS.

Planetfall is a mod for Sid Meier's Civilization 4 that uses the storyline and characters from Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, combined with gameplay that takes the best from SMAC, Civilization, and the modding community.

Planetfall will not be a clone of SMAC using the Civ4 engine, but rather will incorporate the Factions, general storyline and Characters combined with the newest gameplay modifications to allow for more strategic gameplay.

 

[Dasphios]

Well... Granted that it's likely still a few years in coming, but with EA in the process of gaining control of Take Two (which owns 2K, which owns Firaxis), we might see two of those three elements brought back together. Just something to consider.

 

[vyeh]

I don't think the issue is the division of rights betweeen EA and Firaxis, which must occur anytime a developer uses a distributor.

I think the real issue is that SMAC was much more a Brian Reynolds game than a Sid Meier's game. And Brian Reynolds is at Big Huge Games, which has no rights to the Alpha Centauri name.

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Well, ultimately, I'm pretty happy with the game the way it is. We have scient and his scient-ificPatch in the works, and we have modding to keep it fresh. I don't need no steenking AC2.

 

[vyeh]

I kind of liked the unit promotion system in Civ IV. I like those workshops that become factories. There were some things that weren't developed in SMAC that you can see traces in alphax.txt: energy/projectile weapon/armor distinction; psi resources from map squares and there have been calls to have more than 7 factions.

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Sure; there's a lot of room for improvement, but I dare not hope that a SMAC2 wouldn't be a step down in overall excellence of design.

Sequels to anything are rarely as good as the original....

 

[vyeh]

Civ II was better than Civ. SMAC was better than Civ II.

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Sure. I've played all three and you're right. I'm just being cautious. The point about sequels stands, notwithstanding the exceptions.

...More factions at once on large maps would be really wonderful, but then scient has expressed interest in looking at that eventually...

 

[zsozso]

A lot depends on how the sequel is done. It is clear, that AC could benefit a lot form the 10+ year advancements in graphics and CPU power not to mention AI development. It should be possible to write an AC-playing AI that actually plays well with good strategy. I'd love to be involved in the development of that part

 

[Buster's Uncle]

They'd need better graphics, too...

But seriously, I'd say that the way to aim is "the same, only bigger and better." The structure, storytelling and gameplay is faultless in my book. If they can keep everything that works, I'm all about SMAC2.