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Chief Owner/ Administrator
Ontario, Canada
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Aug 1998
time: 22:45
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 Revisit Planet. More than nine years ago, the turn-based strategy game Alpha Centauri and soon after its Alien Crossfire expansion pack was released by publisher Electronic Arts. Developed by Firaxis Games, its community remains strong to this day. Towards recognizing this fact, Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) presents a special edition of PolyCast (PC) focusing on the game with a panel of individuals well-known for their long-standing involvement in its community.
ACS staff member DarkCloud leads this special's panel with Darsnan, Erik "Hydro" Spande and Maniac to discuss the many aspects of AC, commonly referred to as SMAC, from its initial release to the possibilities of a sequel. A PC regular co-host, ACS Chief Owner/Administrator Daniel "DanQ" Quick makes a brief cameo.
Entitled "Focus: Alpha Centauri", its total runtime is an 79m54s -- a ~75% extension in length over current regular PC episodes. PolyCast is an official podcast of ACS and is also the collective banner for both the PC and sibling ModCast series'. ACS is the only known community to produce its own Civilization podcasts.
Last edited by DanQ on 23-07-2008 at 02:38
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Chief Owner/ Administrator
Ontario, Canada
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Aug 1998
time: 22:45
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- 01m41s | Introductions
Introducing DarkCloud, Darsnan and Hydro. (Maniac joins in later.)
- 04m51s | Style
What is Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, (SMAC); game dislikes; how the co-hosts found SMAC; and an overview of the factions (including Alien Crossfire).
- 21m08s | Gameplay
Darsnan and assisting SMAC's Artificial Intelligence (AI), and generating Playing By Email (PBEM) games and scenarios; upgrading the game's acquatic elements; utilizing the conditioned response of players as an advantage; what to give the A.I. to start a game to help it out; and some key individuals in the SMAC community past and present.
- 39m10s | Fiction
Looking back on Michael Ely's SMAC triology; remembering both the Spartan Chronicles and the Chiron Chronicle; on the writing styles of Alinestra Covelia as seen in the story "Joe"; though its title is not recalled during the recording, Velociryx's Magnum Opus" is what is being referred to, written by Velociryx; the funny "Morgan Spy Tanning Lamps" by Elemental and "Santiago Claus" by Vi Vicdi.
Getting into "The Wizard of Chiron" by Raging Mouse; DarkCloud himself on his first and second "University Saga" and, his most proud work, heading "The Chrion Chronicle" which eventually gave birth to the "Beyond Alpha Centauri" spin-off; The most prolific SMAC fiction writer, Erik 'Hydro' Spande, on his more than thirty published stories; the premiere SMAC story index, the Chiron Archives compiled by Illuminatus (here's one: Mindworm Tales by Googlie; comparing Vel's to the official strategy guide for SMAC.
- 54m31s | Modding
The reknown Network Node factions; using FacEdit and scenarios; the "SMANIAC" MOD by Maniac who himself talks about it; also from Maniac, the "Planetfall" MOD.
- 67m51s | Remarks
Tuning in to PolyCast, the sense of SMAC community and the possibilities of a sequel for the game.
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Prince
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May 2001
time: 04:45
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Well done! I don't think we've had as packed an episode yet. (The topic helped, of course.)
quote:
Originally posted by Heraclitus
Please consider doing similar specials for other games or even another SMAC one in a 6-12 months in the future. |
Allow me to second that proposal.
Verrucosus
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Dark Cloud, thank you. This was my first PolyCast. Looking at the descriptions of the other PolyCasts, I gather that this was your first time moderating. Great job.
I enjoyed Darsnan and Hydro. They were both very interesting.
It was too bad about Maniac's microphone. I would like to have heard more about the development of SMAniaC.
And finally, thank you, DanQ, for featuring SMAC!
Last edited by vyeh on 23-05-2008 at 22:12
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quote:
I have a question for the SMAC community, have there been any petitons to release the source code of SMAC? In a manner similar to what could have been done with Civ2 (if it hadn't been lost) or CTP2. This would allow the community to improve the AI. |
Hmm... I don't believe there have been any. It might be worth a try to start something on the forums here and CivFanatics.
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quote:
Originally posted by vyeh
It was too bad about Maniac's microphone. I would like to have heard more about the development of SMAniaC. |
Anything in particular you'd like to hear or ask?
Perhaps they could be answered in a Modcast, considering there's also some other stuff waiting to be used.
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quote:
Originally posted by Maniac
Anything in particular you'd like to hear or ask?
Perhaps they could be answered in a Modcast, considering there's also some other stuff waiting to be used. |
Big picture/after action type of questions:
(1) It has been two years since SMAniaC Gold was released. How has it met your original goal of widening "the strategic choices available to the player?" Where has it fallen short?
(2) What has been the differences in modding SMAC versus Civ IV? Do you think Civ IV is a better modding environment than SMAC?
(3) Were there things you wanted to do in SMAniaC that you couldn't?
(4) Fall from Heaven: Rise of Mania had a similar goal to SMAniaC: "to increase the value of currently underused options and make everything more balanced." Which was more successful?
Personal/anecdotal:
(5) Why did you undertake such a big project when the AC community is so small?
(6) What was the most rewarding part of SMAniaC?
SMAC 2:
(7) If there is a SMAC 2, what changes would you like to see to make it more moddable?
(8) What is the most significant change in SMAniaC that you would like to see in SMAC 2?
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King
Winfield, IL, USA
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Jun 1999
time: 03:45
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Wow, Dan you did a terrific job compiling and integrating the SMAC polycast - first rate. I loved the integration of Datalink quotes to key in on topics and as transitions.
You also managed - somehow - to make us sound somewhat coherent!
Thanks Dan!!
Hydro
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As I missed half the episode 
most of it is new for me too.
so it's 'second hand' if I understand correctly.
It added to the post-production time and effort, but I believe it was well worth it.
