SMACivilization - A CivII graphic retrofit project on the SMAX engine

[Buster's Uncle]

-The idea being to make SMAX look as much as possible like CivII. Gameplay is already quite similar.

This project is at the very beginning -some technical problems I go into in the working thread at the link are holding me up. -But II terrain and much of the interface look are definitely doable. I just need some help with a few things...

Much more at the link: https://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=22061.0

 

[Blake00]

Thanks for letting us know here mate, please keep us updated on any cool project developments here too.

This is a very cool project. Some won't get why but others like me will love it as I'm a huge fan of when someone take a Civ game and mods it to look and fell like another Civ game or even a non-Civ game (eg I'm the guy making C&C, Red Alert, Dune and Heroes of Might & Magic scenarios for Civ2 haha). I've nicknamed these sort of projects 'crossover mods' and have found and cataloged some pretty cool ones over the years. Civ2 has an (unfinished) SMAC mod so how fitting that you're working on the reverse idea but also still pushing the spiritual sequel route and asking questions like "what if you won Civ2 as the Aztecs and went to Alpha Centuari, how would that look?". Very cool work.

I plan to release all of my Civ2 scenarios this year which will take a lot of weight off me and free up some time, so hopefully in a few months time I can help out a bit as there's barely any of Civ2 left that I haven't played around with, so odds are any accessible graphic image file from SMAC you show me I can probably find something from Civ2 to stick there lol.
.

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Well for one thing, this is SMACX for people who hate SMACX. -Them there CIVillians who always say 'retina burning'. Sorta a gateway mod to lure them in.

---

Some custom faction art from Alexander's -he came up with the name, too- original concept:













I've been grinding away at mostly interface images, but check this out:

SMACX base screen people icons-


-to CivII people and the specialists who have direct equivalents w/ the other four on II backgrounds



And three pop-up images, background converted and II frames added:



More to come-

 

[Blake00]

Very cool work!

 

[Buster's Uncle]

So I finally wrangled those blank .pcxs I need - I'll probably find I missed something essential as I attend to details, but so far, so good, and now I can start trying to fit CivII terrain in and generate more interesting screenies soon.



MEANwhile-

I'm pretty sure console2_A.pcx is the one the SMAX uses for the bottom-screen status display.



I did this with it:


...And here's the difference:


-Every extra pixel you can see of the map while playing is good.

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Enjoy.

​

 

[Blake00]

hahaha that's really cool! Should convert that into a small intro video replacement for SMAC if you're not already heh.

 

[Buster's Uncle]

THAT, sir, is a capital idea! It's not even terribly small, as-is, for something II-style in a box.

 

[Blake00]

THAT, sir, is a capital idea! It's not even terribly small, as-is, for something II-style in a box.

Yup that way your hard work and cool animation isn't just for a forum post but also something really cool people will see when they play your mod, upping the immersion!

Has anyone in your community ever done SMAC video editing? If not then you get to be the first, although it'll also mean they'll also be no fan guides to help you lol.

I just had a quick look and can see the files are in some weird WVE file format I've never seen before. Thankfully VLC media player can still play them and when I go to the codec information screen it says "Electronic Arts TQI (TQIV)" was used which I've never heard of. It took forever for Metro & I to find an old video program that exported in the special (& ancient) Civ2 indeo video codec format when we did our Civ2 HoMM mod, so hopefully you have better luck finding one that exports in this format EA used!

 

[Buster's Uncle]

My sister has considerable expertise at generating decent-quality videos, so no prob. there. I pitched to/briefed her at lunch that I put a II frame around it, video enlarged about 25%, run at half-speed through once or twice - possibly to a bit of Ride of the Valkyries for soundtrack, if we don't think of better. We'll have to see how that looks when we get there. She'll definitely provide the help.

Now, the weird video format SMACX uses was cracked by 12 years or so ago, and I've mentioned it to Solver as yet another thing I need access to a working WPC for, another little lever to nag on the point. I can probably find what's known on AC2 or perhaps even Poly if I must, though. ISTR that it didn't look like a great huge problem to conquer once you know how.

 

[The_J]

Love the gif .

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Me too -

-smile-size version should also be in one of those .zips dying of neglect in Site. You could install it today, you know. It's within your bailiwick.

-Which reminds me of a recent thought I had, that the sheer volume of smiles is probably way more of a problem than the other stuff I've mentioned previously - which isn't insurmountable. I'd be delighted to work with anyone on the staff to pick, say, 10 or 20 in any category CFC cares to cover. There's also a smallish Civ4 set I've made since. It's --- not optimal that CFC has so few Civ smilies, and so many rank generics at the bottom, with an Uncle Scrooge's relevant hoard laying around...

@The_J

 

[Genesis21]

Awesome project, very cool ideas

 

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm surprised no one did it 20 years ago.