Some things I found odd about the Civ2-TOT Extended Original Game

[IMBC2]

All these were observed using Civilization II: Test of Time, version 1.1:

1) When you build the Apollo Project wonder, both the entire landscape of Earth and of the planet Centaurus are completely mapped, even though no Earth human has "officially" discovered Centaurus yet via spaceship. Oddly enough, this project was so grandiose that it also found a way to map the exact terrain features of an unknown world some four light-years away!

2) Speaking of the alien world, even the Centaurians have to deal with Barbarian threats, as noted by our friend Valka D'Ur. However, if our nation is Earth-based, then the movement of these extra-terrestrial Barbarians remain unknown to us (even if we have the Apollo Project) until we actually land on Centaurus.
Correction:
It seems as if the Barbarians that I've seen on Centaurus after discovering Apollo were the result of the Centaurans opening up a goody hut containing "a horde of Barbarians". In my 30+ turns since landing on Centaurus, playing Raging Hordes barbarian activity, I have yet to see a Barbarian uprising near any of my Centaurus cities. On the other hand, if I were playing as the aliens, then I would not know if "Barbarian silence" (except for Huts) on Centaurus is the norm even on the Raging Hordes setting, for I am still experimenting with my current game as the Americans, and I am too lazy to start a new game as the aliens

3) It seems as if we've discovered a way to figure out what aliens are up to long long long before NASA was built. In fact, our old old old old friend Marco Polo, and his Embassy can tell us precisely the moment that aliens from Centaurus discover Philosopy!

4) The Tech Tree Poster and the Civilopedia both state that Sphithres and Liwaythns [sic] can only be built by a Fundamentalist nation. However, my Americans who have been a Democracy for many many years cannot build a Fanatic, but they can build a Sphithre or Liwaythn [sic] anytime they want.

5) Tired of your Senate signing peace treaties behind your back and overruling your attempts to start wars??? Well then, to make a long story short, this trick still works

(NOTE: Not recommended if you are currently at Peace with a nearby large empire. Also, have a good-sized task force of Engineers/Colonists nearby to clean up all that resultant pollution )

6) Notice how Starports can transport units to a location several trillion kilometers away (from any city on Earth to any city on Centaurus or vice versa) with relative ease but have trouble transporting units to locations less than 20000 kilometers away (between cities on the same planet).

7) If you play as the aliens (who start on the planet Centaurus), and build the first spaceship of the game and land it successfully, you will see the message "In ____ AD, voyagers from the planet Earth..." and the movie of a spaceship from Earth taking off and landing on Centaurus! After it's over, you get alien colonists and marines scattered about in various different locations on the planet Centaurus!
NOTE:
This was tested by starting a new Extended Original game, activating Cheat Mode, giving my alien civilization all necessary techs for Spaceship Parts, building every part by using the "Cheat!" button, then setting the game year to 1 AD and launching the completed ship.

 

[IMBC2]

8. Brainwashing. I have no other term to describe the phenomenon that I shall discuss here. First, let's get re-acquainted with what the Civilopedia has to say about some of the utterly alien (and unbribeable) units in the TOT Extended Game:

Chon-ee
Although there is no incontrovertible evidence, every scientist familiar with the Chon-ee is firmly convinced that these carnivorous plants must have been created by a past Centauran empire conversant in genetic engineering. Even the most imaginative biologist cannot fathom what sort of hellish environment would be necessary for a plant like this to develop naturally. Its skin is nearly as tough as modern polymer armor, and its spiky mouth parts can cut through tempered steel. Chon-ee have never been observed to move, but they are perfectly capable of traveling across the globe to reach a sustainable food source. Photosynthesis, though it is not the organism's primary source of nourishment, accounts for the ability of this species to survive extended periods of starvation in a state of alert semi-hibernation. Human specialists in xenohorticulture have had no success at all in cultivating or taming even a single Chon-ee.

Honata
'Honata' is a word borrowed from one of the local dialects. It describes a small grouping of domesticated marine mammals trained by the Centaurans (who seem able to communicate with the animals) and used as a military force. At first glance, these pods of dolphin-like animals are often indistinguishable from the non-intelligent Sea Bees. However, the two species are as distinct--and as closely related--as chimpanzees and humans. Despite their playful demeanor, don't underestimate these groups; they are savage predators, and quite capable of sinking seagoing vessels. Human trainers have had no success at all in their attempts to domesticate these animals.

Denshuk
The Denshuk is perhaps the single most unusual species yet found on the Centauran world. Although they are plants, both anatomically and on the cellular level, these tree-like beings are ambulatory and--most surprising of all--intelligent. The Centaurans have managed to successfully communicate with and domesticate them, and many Denshuk are grown in special arboria to serve as military units. The "tree warriors"--as they have been nicknamed by human troops--are tough when faced by infantry, but they are no less vulnerable to advanced weaponry than any other vegetable. Studies suggest that unless aroused by attack, they are immobile at night. Human trainers have had no success at all in their attempts to communicate with these beings.

Wuk Turr
The Wuk Turr is a species of carnivore native to the Centauran planet. This animal's superficial resemblance to wolves is a classic case of convergent evolution--in which two quite different species adapt the same physical characteristics to fill similar environmental niches. Early colonists were lured by this seeming familiarity into often fatal mistakes. Do not be fooled--these beasts are utterly alien and extremely vicious. Trained by the Centaurans, who seem to be able to communicate quite well with the animals, these canine analogs are used as military scouts and occasionally as fast attack squads. Human trainers have had no success at all in their attempts to domesticate these animals.


Now, I got sneak attacked by the aliens in my current game, so I resorted to building a Quantum Portal near their main cluster of towns and using spies to bribe away their cities. However, lo and behold, after all the bribing was said and done, I had several "American Chon-ee"s, a couple of "American Denshuk"s, an "American Honata", and some "American Wuk Turr"s. All these units could move at my every command without ever raising a fuss despite the fact that "Human trainers have had no success at all in their attempts to domesticate these animals".

 

[Redrake]

7) If you play as the aliens (who start on the planet Centaurus), and build the first spaceship of the game and land it successfully, you will see the message "In ____ AD, voyagers from the planet Earth..." and the movie of a spaceship from Earth taking off and landing on Centaurus! After it's over, you get alien colonists and marines scattered about in various different locations on the planet Centaurus!

That's a well known flaw in playing as aliens, you can't get to Earth by launching the spaceship. OTOH, launching it first will prevent you from being invaded by Earth civs and you may prepare an invasion once you have units with instant teleportation. You must be careful though and do not allow them to recapture one of their lost cities or they'll take those special techs from you.

Also nukes are for Earth only, they are not allowed on Alpha Centauri.

 

[IMBC2]

So you're saying that if I were NOT the first to land a spaceship on Alpha Centauri, then the only way to get to the planet would be to steal the "space race winner"'s UltraString technology or to utilize any QT Portals that (s)he might later build?

In reality, other civilizations should have the chance to launch their own spaceships whenever they want (with perhaps a chance that such a spaceship could get shot down by the other nation's defense systems if that nation is well-developed already on Alpha Centauri). Oh well, I guess in the reality of game developing, it might be difficult to keep finding of different places for Earth colonists/marines to land so that they wouldn't immediately be "easy pickings" for the civilization(s) that are already on Alpha Centauri.

Your post might beg an experiment to find out what happens to the loser's spaceship if there are 2 spaceships on the way to Alpha Centauri or if 2 spaceships reach Alpha Centauri at the exact same time