What about a RTS spinoff?

The diplomat · November 17, 2002, 13:53

Don't nerve staple me for this.

I am not saying that SMAC should have been RTS, I love it just the way it is. I am talking about a spinoff set in the AC world.

Wouldn't it be great to have a RTS game like Empire Earth with its great close-up 3D graphics, set in the world of AC?

It would be a great opportunity to see how favorite factions up close in gorgeous 3D. We could build our favorite facilities like the holo theatre, the rec commons, or the network node facility and see what the facilities look like. We could see the mindworms! I'd love to build those Spartan Myrmidons that Mike Ely talks about in his books.

It could be like Empire Earth where we gather ressources, build our base, and crush our opponents.

Or what about a city building game like Ceasar/Pharaoh/Zeus series but set in the SMAC world. Wouldn't that be fun? Just like in the Pharaoh games, where the pharaoh will make requests, imagine in the SMAC world, where you build your base, and get requests from your faction leader: "Pravin Lal needs you to get 5 units of Shard infantry in 5 months to help with the war against the Morganites"

It seems to me that a RTS would provide a new look into our favorite factions and beautiful graphics. But most importantly, it would provide that "quick fix" when we need some SMAC but don't have 6 hours. We could pick our favorite faction, build a base, build our favorite SMAC units, and do some stomping during our lunch break.

Alex · November 17, 2002, 14:07

Guards, take the diplomat to the nerve-stapling chamber...

Now, seriously, that would be just fluff, wouldn't it? I like it (I love fluff!

) but it would be innocuous and tiresome after a while, imho.

The diplomat · November 17, 2002, 14:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexnm
Now, seriously, that would be just fluff, wouldn't it? I like it (I love fluff!

) but it would be innocuous and tiresome after a while, imho.

I don't think it would have to be just fluff. RoN seems to indicate that there is still room for innovation in the RTS genre. So, I think it would be possible to have a RTS set in the SMAC world, that would be innovative and combine typical RTS action with some cool strategy. After all, if RoN can do it, then it should be possible in the SMAC world too.

And even if it were a lot of fluff, isn't fluff sometimes good?

Aren't there times when you'd like to play SMAC, but don't have 6 hours? An RTS in the SMAC world would provide that "quick fix".

I don't know about you, but sometimes I am in the mood for a long 6 hour strategy game, but sometimes I am in the mood for a 30 minute quicky. I think there are times when we would just want some "fluff".

Mongoose · November 17, 2002, 15:04

I am not remotely interested in RTS SMAC. Matter of fact, I'm not remotely interested in RoN, either.

I'm with Alexnm on this one... "GUARDS!"

Clear Skies · November 17, 2002, 16:54

The nerve stapling chamber awaits...

The diplomat · November 17, 2002, 17:04

Dang! Tough crowd tonight! Maybe I should start thinking about asking the PK for political asylum.

(Now where did I leave my scout rover?)

Seriously folks. SMAC has a very rich backstory. Can't it diversify a bit? SMAC2 can be TBS.

Are you telling me that there can never be any game based on the SMAC world unless it is 100% TBS?

Maniac · November 17, 2002, 17:10

Why not a first person shooter where you are in a probe team trying to free Lal out of the Hive punishment sphere???

The diplomat · November 17, 2002, 17:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Maniac
Why not a first person shooter where you are in a probe team trying to free Lal out of the Hive punishment sphere???

NO! NO! NO!

1st person shooters and RPG's are out of the question because they are not strategy. It would be so wrong!

But I don't understand why nobody would consider a city-building game like Pharaoh set in the SMAC world. It would be pure strategy. The Pharaoh games are good strategy, right? Are they so bad just because they are not turn based?

I can see why people would hesitate about a standard RTS, but a city-builder?

Personally, I would love a city-building type game set in the SMAC world!

wgabrie · November 18, 2002, 00:44

Quote:

Originally posted by The diplomat

Personally, I would love a city-building type game set in the SMAC world!

Why not contact Maxis and declare the need for a Sim Centauri? Once they realize they missed something to "Sim"ulate they'll get right on it.

gwillybj · November 18, 2002, 04:56

Steve Jackson Games has released GURPS Alpha Centauri, based on the SMAC storyline (website).
I know, it's RPG not RTS, pencil-and-paper not computer, but has anyone taken a look at it? It might be fun to make a whole series of miniatures with interchangeable parts to model the Unit Workshop.

Alex · November 18, 2002, 07:03

Hey, we could have a Tomb Raider-like game where we would play as Deirdre (naked, of course!

), running through the trees and killing Miriam's Impact Laser squads...

Probably not. Where would she put her guns?

Ok, I'll have to admit that a city-builder game set up in the SMAC universe could be somewhat interesting...

November 18, 2002, 11:42

Smac is too intellectual to be a Rts click-fest, IMO. Every Rts i've played seems to devolve into a reflex test. Leave smac alone

Ogie Oglethorpe · November 18, 2002, 13:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Maniac
Why not a first person shooter where you are in a probe team trying to free Lal out of the Hive punishment sphere???

Yeah and think of the potential for a movie. You could have this portion of planet population that are one with nature and going to bail out a dignitary in an otherwsie impreganable fortress.

Whoops already done called Star Wars.

DinoDoc · November 18, 2002, 15:26

Quote:

Originally posted by The diplomat
Wouldn't it be great to have a RTS game like Empire Earth with its great close-up 3D graphics, set in the world of AC?

Shogun might make for a better role model.

The diplomat · November 18, 2002, 16:29

Quote:

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Shogun might make for a better role model.

It is true that Shogun combines turn based strategic map with real time combat. And seeing the same 3D battles in the SMAC universe would be very impressive. Imagine a column of shard rovers racing through a breach in the enemy lines

The question is: would it be really worth it just for cool battles?

One of the reasons why I am excited about the idea of a city building game in the SMAC world, is that it would emphasize the social and economic aspects of the SMAC world, which has always been SMAC's strengths.

A city builder would allow the player to explore the city life, social engineering and economics of the SMAC world.

DinoDoc · November 18, 2002, 16:43

The reason I chose Shogun is the role model for a SMAC RTS was that I think it would be easier to work a Unit workshop into that type of game than it would be to do the same to Empire Earth.

I do have to agree with you though that a Sim City/Ceaser set in SMAC would be interesting. They tried to do the same with Star Trek, why not this?

quantum_mechani · November 20, 2002, 14:30

Hi, I have been a lurker here for quite some time, but this is my first post.

Anyway i'd just like to join the crowd against a RTS SMAC. However, who said good graphics and TBS have to be mutualy exclusive? Also I would not mind a turn-based game with RTS battles, like MoO3.

Frankychan · November 20, 2002, 22:33

whaddup quantum! good to see you finally decided to post.

I think that an RTS would be difficult to make, but would be pretty interesting to see. Just because it would be an RTS doesn't necessarily mean that it would be blasphemy.

I'd give it a chance, but don't think that it would work out in the end. I personally think that there are too many variables in SMAC to account for in a RTS format game.

The diplomat · November 20, 2002, 23:03

Quote:

Originally posted by Frankychan
whaddup quantum! good to see you finally decided to post.

I think that an RTS would be difficult to make, but would be pretty interesting to see. Just because it would be an RTS doesn't necessarily mean that it would be blasphemy.

I'd give it a chance, but don't think that it would work out in the end. I personally think that there are too many variables in SMAC to account for in a RTS format game.

Remember that I am not talking about remaking SMAC into an RTS. That would be blasphemy!

I am talking about making for example a city-builder that would be set in the SMAC world but otherwise be it's own game. For example, in a city-builder, the player would first choose one of the 7 SMAC factions but the game would be about building a single base. Like Pharaoh/Caesar, the player would interact with the rest of the world and be tasked to build a single base and meet certain requirements.

The game would be set in the SMAC universe, so instead of building a roman city or an egyptian city and dealing with nubian invaders or the Nile flooding, the player could build a Spartan base or a Gaian base from a single colony pod into eventually a large metropolis and might have to deal with drone riots, mindorms, Chiron storms, and the other SMAC factions. And, the player would get requests from their faction leader.

Whereas SMAC allowed players to explore what it is like to develop a powerful empire on an alien world, a city builder game would be an opportunity to explore a single base in the SMAC world. What is life like in Peacekeeper base or a Spartan base? What kinds of problems does it face?

All I am really saying is that the SMAC world is incredibly rich and fascinating. I hope there is a SMAC2 that would be turn-based and allow us us fans to build our empire even better and higher. But I am saying that we should not limit ourselves to just the civ type game. Since the SMAC world is so rich, there could games that explore other aspects that SMAC was not able to completely address. SMAC is about empire building so it is not able to focus on the individuals bases.

A city builder would be able to explore what managing a base would be like in far more detail than SMAC could.

Straybow · November 21, 2002, 14:07

Yeah, but I'd hate that random event:

Quote:

You are awakened by the chime of your communicator.
"Sir, incoming Hive PB detected on the warning net. We've got 8 minutes to say our good-byes."

Major Guz · December 10, 2002, 03:47

Well, IMHO the Earth series (earth 2150:The moon project etc.) present a nice game which encompasses the element of research during the game (not as in Red Alert, when completing a mission some new tank comes available).
You can also set weapons on different chassis (Rocket launcher tank, Laser Gun airplane etc.) during the game.
Off course, it does'n even get close to AC (in the end it will fall down into a mouse clickfest and the one with the most tanks will win), but being able to research techs and design units during a mission in the game is there.
The setting is definitely not AC, but one of three: Siberia, Europe/America and the Moon (which is prety cool).

But again: it can not compete with a fine TBS game like AC, however to take a look at the web page can't hurt:
www.earth2150.com

Jamski · December 11, 2002, 11:20

If you want SMAC/RTS/still a good game, then I humbly suggest MoO2, or wait for MoO3.

Good fun, but againt most ships wins again.

-Jam

FNBrown · December 11, 2002, 15:30

How about The Sims: Alpha Centauri?

You could micromanage things like where to put the zebra-skin sofa you just purchased for your recreation commons...

Nubclear · December 11, 2002, 17:30

Quote:

Originally posted by FNBrown
How about The Sims: Alpha Centauri?

You could micromanage things like where to put the zebra-skin sofa you just purchased for your recreation commons...

If I could get a deidre skin........

cinattra · December 12, 2002, 06:48

I've never played a city-builder before, but still I'm maybe thinking that maybe Mr. city-builder guy has a point that shouldn't be so easily shrugged off.

You couldn't play the faction leader, but you'd play a governor of the colony. Your job of course would be not only the protection and growth of the colony but also dealing with the whims of the neurotic faction leaders. Maybe even dealing with other colonial governors of the same faction and of different factions also.

Fighting couldn't be like traditional RTS where it is a click fest. It would definitely have to have some tactics and not just greater number of forces prevail.

It might actually be cool dealing with COL Santiago or it could be made to play as only one faction or only a handful of factions.

Mindworms at the colony level would definitely be more threatening.