Getting back into AC

vee4473 · November 6, 2002, 21:41

I was just wondering how many of you out there are deciding to start playing AC more often after having played Civ3 for a while.

I like Civ3. Lately, I have been thinking about my past gameplay experiences with AC and yearning for them.

I seem to feel like AC is still light years ahead of any other turn based game that I have played. (I admittedly haven't played them all, like the call to power series).

AC is old, but it is still the game that gives me great memories.

thoughts?

Frankychan · November 6, 2002, 21:57

Well....i haven't played civIII (played CivII and Call To Power) so I don't know what it's like. But what everyone says, it's really buggy.

I like AC because is deals with ideology instead of nationalism. It's more easy to relate to and has so many different layers to it that I find really refreshing and innovative.

I played Call to Power (back in the day) and even though there was a multitude of units, it doesn't compare with the diplomacy and unit customization of AC.

That, and AC has those 'oh-so-refreshing' planet busters that make much more destruction than the nukes in CivII.

Sarxis · November 7, 2002, 10:58

I won't play Civ3 at all, rather play ToT then that.

But I've been playing ACx again rigorously after a year break. I've modded the rules a bit to balance some of the techs and stuff (copters only move base 5, come later; tanks a bit earlier; some specials projects come earlier/later; etc.).

Been loving it more now then ever!

Alex · November 7, 2002, 12:57

Yes, I returned to it and I'm having a blast!

It still is probably the best TBS game of all time...

spartak · November 7, 2002, 16:10

:blast:

Ogie Oglethorpe · November 7, 2002, 16:26

Best TBS ever

Method · November 7, 2002, 16:37

far better than civ3....far, far, far better....far. in fact:

civ3------------>

<--------------TKG

Earwicker · November 7, 2002, 17:12

A while ago I took a long break from SMAC to ease the sleep deprivation

, not to try another game. Never tried Civ III but have been disappointed by what I hear. Loved Civ2 but prefer SMAC/X by far!

Alinestra Covelia · November 7, 2002, 19:35

Civ3 is poor in comparison to SMAC. SMAC is well researched and manages to make the unknown seem convincing.

Civ3 can't even make the bygone seem convincing.

Sarxis · November 8, 2002, 02:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexnm
probably the best...

Recant now or burn at the stake!!

Alex · November 8, 2002, 07:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Anunikoba

Recant now or burn at the stake!!

Ok, ok, it is the best TBS of all time! I just wanted to show some respect to the old Civ2...

Quote:

Civ3 is poor in comparison to SMAC. SMAC is well researched and manages to make the unknown seem convincing.

Civ3 can't even make the bygone seem convincing.

Sig material...

night crawler · November 8, 2002, 15:11

I have only recently started playing SMAC and it is my new favorite game. Civ 2 was my favorite for years. Civ 3 never grabed me like I thought it would... it's just not what I had hoped for I guess. Although I recently bought the play the world expansion pack and have yet to use it... I plan to soon. It's just too hard to tear myself away from AC. The call to power series never really did it for me either. I have call to power 2 but seldom play that. I recently found a copy of ToT and I do like that game a lot... but I only have so much time to spend on gaming, with work and other responsibilites. Overall I would have to say SMAC is the best game ever with Civ 2 as a solid second choice. I have been trying to obtain a copy of Alien Crossfire off of ebay but always get out bid. Guess I will have to shell out some more dough...

Sarxis · November 8, 2002, 15:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexnm

Ok, ok, it is the best TBS of all time! I just wanted to show some respect to the old Civ2...

Sig material...

Your new sig has earned you your absolution.

But you are right: Civ2 even out-does Civ3.

ashbery · November 9, 2002, 17:28

Well i've started playing this game again after about a year and its still rocks, its much better than civ3 it has far more inovation and style if only we had more turn based game's like AC.

Clear Skies · November 9, 2002, 18:21

Just started my first game in over a month - I defected to Theme Hospital for a while, and I've just had too much schoolwork otherwise.
Still love the game. It's fantastic, and for an amateur writer like me it has so much scope for development

dworkin · November 10, 2002, 12:25

Getting back is easy. It was a matter of finding where the SO hid the disk.

In no other TBS can you raise/lower terrain to the extent of AC.
Unit design.
Social engineering and the fact that the other factions will change thier opinions based on this.
Unit design.
Yang's quotes.
Unit design.
The different factions encourage differnet styles and victory paths.
Unit design.
Native life is an actual hassle with several methods to deal with it.
Did I mention I like being able to design my own units?

Alinestra Covelia · November 10, 2002, 14:22

I've returned to SMAC last week after about three months away (a PBEM fizzled out and I was sceptical about the single player).

I incorporated some of marid_aurian's suggestions to the game and found it to be very enjoyable!

Method · November 10, 2002, 15:30

Quote:

Originally posted by dworkin
Getting back is easy

not after civ3 it's not! whenever i wanted a forest, i kept pushing 'n' and getting condensors!

Alinestra Covelia · November 10, 2002, 16:09

It is time for you to forget all that Civ3 has taught you. Reach out and embrace the truths of SMAC, young Skywalker.

Method · November 10, 2002, 16:17

i did, back in april or so. besides, the only thing civ3 taught me was how good SMAC is

Capt Dizle · November 10, 2002, 23:30

Amen.

gwillybj · November 11, 2002, 01:24

Quote:

vee4473 wrote
... AC is still light years ahead of any other turn based game ...

If memory serves me correctly, AC is roughly 4.3 light years ahead

(and nothing else is even close).

MariOne · November 11, 2002, 05:40

Hmmmm... you might have given an idea to NASA... interstellar TURN BASED spaceflight....

Hey, with all these people coming back, I must say I CAN'T comeback.
...because... I never stopped!
I am instead trying to take a break now, as in 2 months it will be 4 years that I'm playin it without interruptions (even when I took some very short holiday, I didn't go away form home & my PC...).

Sarxis · November 11, 2002, 05:43

The really sad thing is that someday, Firaxis may actually make a sequel, and then life really won't be worth living anymore.

I sent a PM to Brian Reynolds urging him to buy the rights to AC.

Straybow · November 11, 2002, 11:40

Ummmm, as long as BR doesn't turn it into RTS schlock…

Nethog · February 20, 2003, 13:49

Add me to the list of those who went off SMAC to play Civ3/PTW and are now back playing SMAC confirming it is the best turned-based strategy game of all time.

As for a sequel, even if Firaxis just upgraded the graphics to modern high-resolution 3D, and improved the AI, I would immediately fork out $50US for the game! Anyone else share this opinion?

Alinestra Covelia · February 20, 2003, 20:44

Let them iron out the bugs first and then I'll put my money where my fingertips are.

vee4473 · February 20, 2003, 21:14

nice avatar Alinestra.

HaVoC · February 21, 2003, 02:02

Greetings,

I agree that AC is generally the better game; the excellent diplomacy options, the council, the custom units, satellite "space combat", land heights, the psycho-virus, the great immersive storyline and just the way the whole game feels, the whole story and the technologies really show, that the people who made it actually invested alot of time in figuring it all out.

But let's face it that Civ3 is far superior in certain issues like:

1. Balance of Power: In Civ3 I have to actually try hard to stay on top of the "leading civilizations" list. More so without constantly going to war against neighbouring civs. In every other civ-like game I played (except freeciv, which is WAY too hard), it just ends up to me becoming the one and only world-dominating power leading with 50 technoligies before everyone else.

2. War: In Civ3, war is serious. When someone declares war to you you can actually expect them to have taken measures by having moved all their assault troops and artillery next to your borders ready to overrun you on the next turn. The AI does very well at forging alliances against you and he also tries very hard to defend himself. In every other civ I've played (except Freeciv again, where all the AI does is overrun you all the time) the AI just sits there and practically waits for you to conquer his cities. Once in a while he sends some lone troops or a lone transport to get beaten up by your defences... it's not a challenge.

3. Special Resources: This is something I like, but perhaps overpowered in Civ3. A player without iron hasn't a chance against one with iron in the early ages, for example. I don't like the implementation of the resource system, that one resource is enough for a whole civ, no matter it's size or how often that resource is actually used, but I like the concept.

if these three things get into AC II, and they don't mess up everything that makes it so good, we've got the perfect game.

Mr. Harley · February 21, 2003, 04:16

A question for Havoc - I haven't seen any comparisons yet between Freeciv and SMAC or Civ3. You mention Freeciv, which has some people working on a Alpha Centauri version using its game engine. I might try Freeciv depending on what makes it tough. Why is it "too hard?" Does the AI cheat, or just its very well written, i.e. it makes very few mistakes? I'm curious, because yours is the first good a-b statement I've seen reference SMAC/Civ3. I'd be interested in you comparision of these to Freeciv. Thanks.