Do you still play Alpha Centauri?

Mr. President · September 28, 2002, 04:09

Since Civilization III is now well established, MOO3 is on its way, Velociryx's and Blake's games are coming along, and new SimCity games are on the horizon, I thought this might be a pertinent question.

For me, sadly, the answer at the moment is no. I'm just tired of it, and that coincides with a resurgence of interest in older games like SimTower, SimAnt, and Super Mario Brothers. Maybe I'll come back to it in time, but for now it's classic gaming all the way.

How about for you?

Adalbertus · September 28, 2002, 05:35

I don't play it at the moment. Just saved the game and thought about connecting to Apolyton

Why didn't you vote in your poll? I can't believe you voted "What's Alpha Centauri". ...
I rarely buy games before they went "Classic". My two recentmistakes were CtP2 and, to a lesser extent, Civ3. (Btw, I like that they have some typical 15th century cadenza in one of the pieces for the medieval period. Music and artwork at least resembling the period of time a game is set in should be done much more. Of course, this doesn't really apply to AC...). I somehow regret to have no access to Railroad Tychoon 2. A nice thing, in general.

Cybergod · September 28, 2002, 06:04

The last time I played the game, it was in May 2002

It has finnaly unleashed me from its gripping jaws!

Mr. President · September 28, 2002, 07:54

Quote:

I can't believe you voted "What's Alpha Centauri".

It was an accident. I meant to vote for "I don't play it" but clicked the wrong one.

Quote:

Music and artwork at least resembling the period of time a game is set in should be done much more.

Frankychan · September 28, 2002, 14:54

I can only play sporadically cause I have to use my friends computer. It's either SMAC or Half Life: Counterstrike.

But I need to play my Chairman Yang dammit!

Method · September 28, 2002, 15:18

sometimes... i spend most of the time i'd usually use to play SMAC playing the demo game

Cybergod · September 28, 2002, 17:52

Quote:

Music and artwork at least resembling the period of time a game is set in should be done much more.

OK, please elaborate... do you want more spacey sound? More pictures of Miriam tempting you to slay her wretched behind off Planet? More punishment sphere movies...

Tau Ceti · September 28, 2002, 20:03

Several times a week, but only PBEM. My last SP game was some time in early 2000...

gwillybj · September 29, 2002, 02:11

... pausing just long enough to read the Apolyton Forums, of course!

Tommara · September 29, 2002, 09:48

I've been playing the game every day. But yesterday, I decided to try Everquest again, so this could change.

MariOne · September 29, 2002, 09:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. President
Since Civilization III is now "well established"...

Yes, ON THE SHELF!!!!!

"Do you still play AC"????
Hey Prez, WHAT would be someone doing in this very same forum, had he quit to play the game the forum is about?????????
beats me
Oh, wait, that one is you?
Well, it has been nice having you around! Goodbye!

Joking apart, I've decided to not start any new pbem (and the 2 1/2 I have underway are dying) because I could not cope with some long-term r/l endeavour, like finally moving.
Well, I found out that when I don't have a pbem to play, I MUST play some single player SMAC turn, it's like a daily fix, I'm addicted, it will take longer than expected to be able to do without....

MattyBoy · September 29, 2002, 20:04

I haven't played for a couple of months.
RL intrudes too much to take on a serious game of SMAX, so I muck around with MoM, Nethack, Bebop for now. In a few weeks time, I will have enough time to start again.

Jethro83 · September 30, 2002, 04:05

Not at the moment. Civ III is getting much better (especially with the heavy modding I am doing on it), and I am getting back into some classics like Colonization, System Shock II, Shogun Total War and Age of Empires II.

tonic · September 30, 2002, 04:23

Almost every day as SMAC is my current addiction. There are still a lot of details to master although I am finishing my first successful game on transcend level. Will try OCC (more in line with the rules derived from Civ2 than the (artificially tough) basic format stated by Velocirix) next.

Sikander · September 30, 2002, 19:08

I've been playing Europa Universalis 2 recently. I'll get tired of it and come back to SMAC though, it's already happened twice with EU2, and many times with one game or another.

Mr. President · October 1, 2002, 02:23

Quote:

Hey Prez, WHAT would be someone doing in this very same forum, had he quit to play the game the forum is about?????????

Increasing his postcount.

Alex · October 1, 2002, 15:18

So, let's increase it. +1

No, seriously, I play it sporadically. My problem is that I am a compulsive game buyer, I recently bought Commandos Ammo Pack and Tropico and have not played neither so far. I have so many games to play that I rarely find some time to play the only two games that really mean something to me: Civ3 and SMAC.

But I just can't uninstall the others, it would make me feel guilty.

big_canuk · October 1, 2002, 15:48

Quote:

Originally posted by MariOne

I MUST play some single player SMAC turn

Oh my....

I have just been struck by lightening.

I thought I would never see the day that MariO again played against the artificial idiot (possibly he gave it that name.)

And I know of one game (CW1) that MariO is playing that is just on hold till a couple of players get back from vacation. That one, at least, is not dying.

I play the game several times a week, but also only PBEMs. I have a couple of partially completed scenario challenges saved, and I might continue those, if I get withdrawl pangs. These could happen, if I go too many days without having a PBEM turn show up.

So I guess I empathize with you MariO.

bc

Dis · October 1, 2002, 19:19

well I just started up a game today after 3 years. So I guess that would be sporadically.

but damn if I remember many things.

Exactly what do monoliths do? and does the effect go away?

Vlad Antlerkov · October 1, 2002, 21:30

Dissident:

Monoliths:

-- Change production in the tile to 2/2/2, regardless of underlying terrain or improvements. (Energy production can be boosted with Economy ratings or the Merchant Exchange, and the mineral production can be added with factories. If it's in fungus, any bonuses you get from fungus are added, too.)

-- Can give units a one-time morale upgrade.

-- Can repair units.

Morale upgrades are permanent (IMHO, shouldn't morale be experience instead?).

There's a random chance that a given monolith will disintegrate after being used (1/32, IIRC).

I still play sporadically, in long binges (typically, pick it up after three or more months and play it almost constantly for a few weeks, then move onto another game).

Alex:

You haven't played Tropico yet? Play it, it rocks.

Alex · October 2, 2002, 08:33

Vlad: I finally played some Tropico last night and I have to say you're right: the game rocks! It is funny, full of nice little touches (interesting animations, rain patterns) and a deep economic simulation (I'm still trying to get the hang of it, balancing wages and construction expenditures is not so easy)...

Back to the thread subject: I played SMAC again because of this thread! Only a few turns, but I had all those "aahhhs" and "ooohhhs" again.

Vlad Antlerkov · October 2, 2002, 20:52

Yeah, having lots of people named after world leaders (I've had at least one Russian priest named Boris Yeltsin-- no lie) and baseball players (lots of Garciaparras, a few Nomars-- strangely, I've had one "Manuela Ramirez", think Manny would be offended?) is a nice touch.

(No Tejadas yet, or Minosos, or Clementes.)

Tommara · October 2, 2002, 21:53

Grrr, haven't played SMAC since I posted here. Dang EQ...

Pandemoniak · October 3, 2002, 19:11

I play SMAC several times a week, while i play SMAC/X every day...

Mongoose · October 3, 2002, 19:34

Heh. In Lost Secrets, I have a monoloth on a nutrient special - 4-2-2 !! WooHooo!

Pandemoniak · October 4, 2002, 06:20

Mongoose, if you play with Gaians, you get the same at ther first turn for a monolith with fungus on it.

Mr. President · October 4, 2002, 06:22

What is the premise of Tropico? I don't think I've heard of that game.

aaglo · October 4, 2002, 06:39

Yes indeed I do. I had a long (about 1 year) period, when I didn't play SMAX at all. My mind was on Mom, Moo, Moo2, RailRoad Tycoon Dx and Colonization...

But recently (since I joined Apolyton) I've started playing that game again. It actually gets better with time. (since hardly nothing better is born)

Alinestra Covelia · October 5, 2002, 02:01

I like SMAC and I play it SP. My last PBEM fell through and I think my partner has sworn off SMAC forever

Cybergod · October 5, 2002, 08:12

I've reinstalled the game yesterday and played as Gaians on abundant lifeforms on Transcendi

I must say I started enjoying it again. Now, if only I could change my vote in this poll...