posted 02-11-99 11:08 PM ET        

I know this is not the type of post welcome here, but I feel I have to put my $.02 in about the game. I've been lurking here quite a while and enjoying it. I went and bought the game today and will be returning it tomorrow. The reasons follow.

1. It's little more than a glorified Civ2 mod pack wrapped in wacko New Age mumbo jumbo. I mean, good grief, we have to call the planet "Planet"? I don't play games to be preached at and it's clear that Firaxis have gotten way off in to New Age silliness and are pushing it for all they are worth.

2. The graphics are, if possible, <b>worse</b> than Civ2's. That's just not acceptable with today's machines. Look at Age of Empires' gloriously detailed units and land. SMAC is just pathetic in this area.

All in all, SMAC was the most disappointing game I've ever installed on my pc. I certainly expected more. A real shame.

posted 02-11-99 11:33 PM ET         

Is that IT?

The name "Planet" and the graphics? Because if it is, good grief.

The graphics, IMO, are good for a TBS. They certinely look better than the simple sprites of Civ II, and this is a TBS anyway, they were never designed to be graphically superb.

The name Planet? Well, I don't really care. They could've called it Disco-Mania, or Boozehound Land. I myself prefer good gameplay over nitpicky things like a simple name.

I myself don't think SMAC is a rehashed Civ II. It has far, far too many new elements to be compared as a Civ II MOD.

I play TBS games for, you guessed it, "Gameplay."

And I think a one-day trial is downright unfair. I myself was turned off by Civ I at first, but after a week I couldn't put it down. If I were you I'd give SMAC a bit more time.

posted 02-12-99 12:42 AM ET            

It's probably because Chiron was the name attributed to it by SOME people...

I think you'll find that Indian natives do not call their country India. It's Bharat or something, if I remember. Maybe soembody can ask Pravin Lal

posted 02-12-99 01:59 AM ET            

==

Exactly. We call our planet "Earth"-- which is synonymous with "ground" or "dirt". It's a fairly generic name.

I think the idea behind calling Chiron "Planet" is, it's the only planet they have-- it emphasizes that Earth is lost, that Chiron is their only option. And maybe, after years on that stinkin' ship, the distinction between "Earth" and "Chiron" didn't matter as much-- they were much more concerned with the distinction between "ship" and "planet". "When we make planetfall we'll..." "I can't wait to be on a planet again..." "Things'll be different when we're on the planet".

Anyway, it's hardly something to return the game over. I mean, if you could get used to Ghandi saying "This means war!", you can get used to Deirdre calling Chiron "Planet"...

posted 02-12-99 02:00 AM ET            

Over the next couple of days, count how many times you hear people call this globe "Earth", and count how many times you hear them call it "the world". See what I mean?

posted 02-12-99 09:08 AM ET            

More technolgies, more units, more of everything. the original poster, wants a perfect game....there will never be a perfect game.

I have been waiting a long time for the game and it met and exceeded my expectations. Only one problem. the graphics for the "man" based units looks hokey. But I guess customized icons will be around the corner, SOOOOO I really have no complaints.

EXCELLENT job guys!!

But I am waiting for Homeworld!

posted 02-12-99 09:37 AM ET            

Sounds like a kind of literary truncation common to our shifting language:

"I've been in country for three tours."
"What's it like back in the world?"
"A new life waits for you on the off-world colony..."

You get the picture.

And comparing SMAC to Age of Empires is silly. I've played 'em all, and RTS games like AoE are just too different... they are tactical, SMAC is strategic.

But hey, why not make other comparisons: Where are all the cool cinematic movies in AoE? Why can't my Zerglings develop cloaking devices? Who invented liquid soap and why?

Personally, I love RTS games. They are quick, often bloody, and great fun. However, going through the intesive mental exercise that TBS games offer has an appeal AoE just cannot match.

posted 02-12-99 10:10 AM ET            

I'm glad to see that Firaxis welcomes the sort of debate you've started. You're not alone in your reservations. Other folks have complained about the graphics. After 24 hours (more or less) of playing, I, too admit to having trouble distinguishing units on the basis of anything other than chasis, armor, and sometimes weapon. But, then again, that's a function of the huge number of options available. If I look closely, there are differences, and maybe with greater magnification, they'd be more obvious. (You have to remember that AoE's units take up about four times as much screen space on the default setting as SMAC's, so there's a lot more room for detail.)

I was also a bit disappointed by the similarity with Civ. But each time I think that, the computer throws something new at me -- weather shifts, an opponent who joins his continent to mine, new types of units, etc. I think it's going to be great fun, and become even better when I feel comfortable with the gameplay to take on another human.

posted 02-12-99 01:04 PM ET         

We all know it is a planet... but why name it that?!? Had I an opportunity to throw in an idea during development I would have suggested that each faction have it's own name for THE planet. Thus giving some added role-playing elements to the game.

Regards,

posted 02-12-99 03:02 PM ET            

IMO

posted 02-15-99 10:20 AM ET            

Yes, SMAC has less sophisticated graphics than the units of AoE, and AoE looks like a cartoon compared to Unreal, and Unreal looks like a cartoon compared to a real film. Big deal.

This game is Civ II with a ton of cool options. If you are sick of this line of games, then avoid SMAC. I, for one, am enjoying the hell out of sinking enemy cities, designing my own units, dropping colony pods from space, and drilling into the planet's crust.

posted 02-15-99 12:36 PM ET         

Comparing RT"Stategy" games like AoE to TBS games is a case of apples and oranges - but that's just another mark of the smug ignorance expressed by "Killiam's" post.