posted 02-25-99 02:02 PM ET        

It has actually managed to provide the illusion of a great game without actually delivering.

I keep playing and playing and playing and I constantly have this tingling feeling that I'm almost about to figure it out. Just about to see the light and fall at the feet of Sir Sid like so many people have before and proclaim his greatness. But it never happens. I just keep playing and playing and playing, and becoming more and more frustrated by just about every aspect of the game.

I have a favorite Quote. And now I have realized that it fits this game perfectly.

"Do not confuse something that sounds profound with something that is simply obscure."

Oh, and the next time a person is so egotistical as to actually add his name to the TITLE of a game, I suggest that you wonder whether he is more interested in making a great game or making people think that he is responsible for making a great game.

posted 02-25-99 02:49 PM ET            

Had the game for 2 weeks now, beat it maybe 6 out of 12 times have not played the boring game for days now..

Keep visiting the CTP Forum just to see if that can make me addictive has the old CIV's did!!!

posted 02-25-99 04:52 PM ET            

>I've yet to have a game last less than 20
>hours and several have lasted much longer
>than that...

Heh. In my current game, I've got 80+ bases. My turns are 10 minutes long each.

posted 02-28-99 12:41 PM ET         

You are basing all of your opinions on CTP, and how CTP will be better, and how CTP is more realistic and on and on and on and on... on one thing:

Hype.

posted 02-28-99 04:40 PM ET            

For example:
"... the A.I is retarded..." - compared to what? SMAC has the best A.I of any empire game I've ever seen - less cheating, more options, more interactivity. If you want a genius level A.I that doesn't cheat, program it yourself.

"... Micromanagement is ridiculous..." - unless you take full advantage of the build queues, fomer automation, etc.

"... lack of real random aspects to the factions or the game..." - why should the factions be random? The whole point to them is that they are set groups with individual advantages (try changing the faction.txt files to create something different if you need it). And as for the game, it makes a new map every time (pretty random there), randomises the research tree (use blind tech), and comes up with random events occasionally.

'graphics...' - Yes. But what specifics, again?

As for the game being substandard, IMO this implies there aren't many games out there that would ever come up to this 'standard' you mention.

posted 03-02-99 03:12 PM ET            

What I object to is the constant stream of insults and lack of partiality too really take a look at this game. If, as you all suggest, that I bitch too much about it well isn't that my right. Ninety-nine percent of my "bitching" is directed at one source and one source only, SID & BRIAN. It is really not fair to attack those of us who dislike the game, too many of you make it personal and that's what pisses us off more, we are attacking the game, NOT YOU. It's like the radio or the TV turn the channel, this is our commentary and we are allowed. When you sign up for a Forum you never know what to expect, and that's what makes it work. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings about the game but I am entitled to my opinion, and maybe next time around Firaxis will satisfy me and disappoint you. I am one of Sid and Brian's fans and I think I am allowed to bitch about something that really should have stayed on the development shelf for another six months to a year. As for not stating my numerous reasons for disliking the game... I don't want to be typing for hours on end. I really do have that many problems with this game. I have stated repeatedly that the gameplay is great to a point, but why when I buy somehting off the shelf do I have too go and edit files too satisfy my gaming needs. I neither understand nor want to mess around with those files. There is a lot missing in this game I don't think those pieces of the puzzle are going to fall from the sky. So many others have indicated what's wrong with the game and stated it eloquently, I am tired of being nicey nice just too make you SMAC happy people, well, happy. Anyone who doesn't really appreciate the game Is allowed in a "FORUM" too state how much or how little they dislike this game. Some of us will bitch loudly, while others will be more diplomatic, but you'll never take away the fact that I really respect what Firaxis was trying to accomplish here. I p/o'd that all the hype wasn't the game they delivered. And part in part I think that had a lot too do with parent company Electronic Arts, pushing the product out onto the market for their own deluded reasons, without caring that the game could of used more refining and work. I don't have the answers and I bet you, nobody here does either. And as for playing it for 15 days straight, I would be hard pressed to find anybody in here, who likes or dislikes the game, who has stopped playing in those fifteen days or what ever. I have played this on several different levels with different options and so on and so on. I am bored, the game always ends up the same at the end a regular MINDWORMPALOOZA and me kicking everybody's arse. Sure I play to win, but give me a challenge, and keep me interested. In my opinion, it has fallen short for me.

AS it stands for me SMAC is still a dud and I eagerly await Firaxis' new game. By the way in one of my other posts I had stated "there is more strategy and fun in trying to figure out if Monica Lewinsky is dateable." Now that was funny...... Life is too short my friends to really worry about some bitching and ranting, I have always kept this as light as I could, so don't make it personal. IF you don't agree or dislike what some of us have too say, you are grown ups turn the channel.

posted 03-02-99 05:18 PM ET            

I am on my third install already, for purely performance related reasons, and the game doesn't perform all without a full install and the Low res units. I have some minor problems with the stability of the game, and major complaints about the sound quality (both system performance and actual content). And I agree that the game has been released far too early given these flaws, it feels and plays like a half finished alpha version (pun sort of intended).

posted 03-02-99 06:19 PM ET            

Would you buy a new car if you had to adjust your own engine timing and balance your tires? I hope you not only said no, but heck no! Both of these items make your car run better, but they should have been taken care of before going to the lot.

Case in point, Firaxis should have withheld the release of this game until the bugs were worked out. I.E. patches are a poor excuse for good workmanship.

posted 03-02-99 07:12 PM ET            

ELECTRONIC ARTS, on the other hand, deserve a good kicking...

posted 03-02-99 07:55 PM ET            

Perhaps we owe a debt of gratitude to the beta testers as they saved us from something really bad. Thanks for pointing that out to me as being a bit harsh.

However, my point still stands that when you put your name on a product and ship it to your customers that you are in the unenviable position to not only reap the praise, but also hear the awsh#@s. As such, the blame cannot be only borne by EA as Firaxis could have and should have stood their ground if they thought the game was substandard. QED, patches are still not an excuse for poor workmanship.

posted 03-02-99 08:11 PM ET            

No, I don't think you can say the Beta testers are responsible, or that they left the job unfinished. I'm not even sure they got to see the new graphics at all (read the Questions to Beta Testers thread - I think it's about a month old, so you may have to hunt for it), and all the final testing was supposed to be done by Absolute Quality and a group over at Origin (I think). Don't bag the Beta testers.

posted 03-03-99 12:10 AM ET            

Okay, Ohay, I'll lay off the beta testers a little. However, "The Search for the Guilty" paradigm requires that blame be laid on the feet of the appropriate parties. As such, someone dropped the ball if there are this many glitches, bugs and problems that are so easily found. Case in point, I am trying to use the automated bombing protocol and the penetrator stops after each bomb and waits for new orders. It seems like I'm averaging one goof per hour played. Let's see, thousands of hours played equals lots more problems. Boy am I in trouble. Maybe they'll give me frequent griper miles on this forum?

Finally, re running naked thru the woods. I'll have to skip that for now as God has chosen to bless me with more hair on my back than on my head. As a result, someone is sure to plug me and hang me from a wall if I try that running naked stuff. BTW doesn't DEEDRUH remind you of that gal that starred with Arnold in "Total Recall"? I think it's Rachel Ticotin or something like that.