Where are the bugs being whined about??

  Alpha Centauri Forums
  The Game
  Where are the bugs being whined about??

profile | register | prefs | faq | search

Author Topic:   Where are the bugs being whined about??

Vostok posted 03-12-99 03:13 AM ET
I haven't had a problem except with the sound occasionally going nucking futz on me.
If you think that the time between unit movement is too slow, thats not a bug, but just a production decision. As far as i can tell, the AI DOESN'T think when during your turn. Sure, it would act differently if your units moved during that turn, but honestly most turn moving your infantry 3 spaces aint that big a deal, so most of its *processing* could be done during your turn, and then it just gets polished when your turn is over.
I also don't see the complaints against the graphics. (catch it?) The units admitedly aren't inspiring (very aerodynamic transport plane and the unchanging attack sounds are very disapointing, but the *terrain* looks great -- especially next to the CTP screenshots (thats an ugly game!!)
Anyway, i understand compaints about a faction, or lack of realsim or that you couldn't do X with Y. Bugs suck, so ill just say this -- if you post "SMAC is buggy!!" how about some info on your system? Are you using some 4th rate Taiwanese motherboard and goofball "TNT-like" graphics card, running it all on Windows 98 (shudder -- never ever upgrade )? Make it FYI
yin26 posted 03-12-99 03:17 AM ET
Vostok,
Quick question: Have you actually finished a game yet?
mic posted 03-12-99 03:58 AM ET
Well, I have several times now. On several machines, with versions UK, US 1.0 and US 2.0. On NT and W98.
Some small quirks (undoubtedly OS-related) that went away pretty soon.
I'm sorry yin26, but at the risk of being flamed to ashes I have to say that anyone who knows how to reinstall a laptop, also should be able to get the game running pretty smoothly (which isn't to say that everyone should be able to do techie things before he/she can play a game, alas).
You might say that SMAC can be used to test your OS installation, because it uses much unused features. Thus, when 'all other games run fine, but SMAC doesn't', these games simply don't use these features.
Blame Redmond, not Firaxis.
The same second Microsoft starts giving support that even comes close to Firaxis' support, I'll eat my hat.
Happy SMACing!
Aredhran posted 03-12-99 05:21 AM ET
Well, had my first crash last night... I was designing some new unit in the workshop when all of a sudden I get a dialog box informing me of some DirectX error... Click OK and I'm back to my Desktop (which looks like SMAC anyway, what with all these cool bitmaps in the gallery section).
I reloaded the game right away (I know I shouldn't have, it was 1 am already, but when you're addicted, you're addicted and that's that - what can I do ? Blame Firaxix ?) and everything worked fine... What gives ?
Anyway, I was just thankful for this habit of mine of saving at least every turn (sometimes up to 5-6 times per turn). Call me a CTRL-S maniac, but I didn't lose anything !
It's annoying for sure, but doesn't remove anything from the fun I'm having with this game (now I just wish I had a faster PC).
- Aredhran
LackOfKnack posted 03-12-99 05:27 AM ET
I encountered two bugs yesterday that'd I'd never heard of before. Twice, when I had pressed an F-key, it shut down but first told me something about not being able to refill the draw buffer or something. The other one was a cheat: At the start, I had given Brother Lal $1,000,000,000 to help him out as an experiment because he always lost. He lost anyway. But the bug was, in the diplomacy screen, here was our conversation:
"What do you want me to do?"
"You must cede control of one of your bases."
"Which one?"
(chose any one of three, let's say U. N. Disaster Relief)
"I see. And what do you offer in return?"
"You need but name your price, Brother Lal."
"Well, seeing as U.N. Disaster relief is an unused prison camp with crap on the walls, etc., I think I could be persuaded to part with it for a mere -381902647 energy credits."

So, he hated that place so much that he gave ME $381 million just to take it off his hands. Hmm...
Lack
yin26 posted 03-12-99 05:35 AM ET
Mic,
I'm confused (but that's not saying much). Are you also Vostok? It seems like you were answering my question to him.
Anyway, my game runs no worse or less than anybody else's. I just whine about it more to try to keep Firaxis honest (I know, I know, they're a great company blah blah--hey, that should go in the blah blah post).
The laptop is still a mess, but thanks for remembering.
To close this thread, click here (moderator or admin only).


Hop to:

Contact Us | Alpha Centauri Home

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Version 5.18
© Madrona Park, Inc., 1998.

Author	Topic: Where are the bugs being whined about??
Vostok	posted 03-12-99 03:13 AM ET I haven't had a problem except with the sound occasionally going nucking futz on me. If you think that the time between unit movement is too slow, thats not a bug, but just a production decision. As far as i can tell, the AI DOESN'T think when during your turn. Sure, it would act differently if your units moved during that turn, but honestly most turn moving your infantry 3 spaces aint that big a deal, so most of its processing could be done during your turn, and then it just gets polished when your turn is over. I also don't see the complaints against the graphics. (catch it?) The units admitedly aren't inspiring (very aerodynamic transport plane and the unchanging attack sounds are very disapointing, but the terrain looks great -- especially next to the CTP screenshots (thats an ugly game!!) Anyway, i understand compaints about a faction, or lack of realsim or that you couldn't do X with Y. Bugs suck, so ill just say this -- if you post "SMAC is buggy!!" how about some info on your system? Are you using some 4th rate Taiwanese motherboard and goofball "TNT-like" graphics card, running it all on Windows 98 (shudder -- never ever upgrade )? Make it FYI
yin26	posted 03-12-99 03:17 AM ET Vostok, Quick question: Have you actually finished a game yet?
mic	posted 03-12-99 03:58 AM ET Well, I have several times now. On several machines, with versions UK, US 1.0 and US 2.0. On NT and W98. Some small quirks (undoubtedly OS-related) that went away pretty soon. I'm sorry yin26, but at the risk of being flamed to ashes I have to say that anyone who knows how to reinstall a laptop, also should be able to get the game running pretty smoothly (which isn't to say that everyone should be able to do techie things before he/she can play a game, alas). You might say that SMAC can be used to test your OS installation, because it uses much unused features. Thus, when 'all other games run fine, but SMAC doesn't', these games simply don't use these features. Blame Redmond, not Firaxis. The same second Microsoft starts giving support that even comes close to Firaxis' support, I'll eat my hat. Happy SMACing!
Aredhran	posted 03-12-99 05:21 AM ET Well, had my first crash last night... I was designing some new unit in the workshop when all of a sudden I get a dialog box informing me of some DirectX error... Click OK and I'm back to my Desktop (which looks like SMAC anyway, what with all these cool bitmaps in the gallery section). I reloaded the game right away (I know I shouldn't have, it was 1 am already, but when you're addicted, you're addicted and that's that - what can I do ? Blame Firaxix ?) and everything worked fine... What gives ? Anyway, I was just thankful for this habit of mine of saving at least every turn (sometimes up to 5-6 times per turn). Call me a CTRL-S maniac, but I didn't lose anything ! It's annoying for sure, but doesn't remove anything from the fun I'm having with this game (now I just wish I had a faster PC). - Aredhran
LackOfKnack	posted 03-12-99 05:27 AM ET I encountered two bugs yesterday that'd I'd never heard of before. Twice, when I had pressed an F-key, it shut down but first told me something about not being able to refill the draw buffer or something. The other one was a cheat: At the start, I had given Brother Lal $1,000,000,000 to help him out as an experiment because he always lost. He lost anyway. But the bug was, in the diplomacy screen, here was our conversation: "What do you want me to do?" "You must cede control of one of your bases." "Which one?" (chose any one of three, let's say U. N. Disaster Relief) "I see. And what do you offer in return?" "You need but name your price, Brother Lal." "Well, seeing as U.N. Disaster relief is an unused prison camp with crap on the walls, etc., I think I could be persuaded to part with it for a mere -381902647 energy credits." So, he hated that place so much that he gave ME $381 million just to take it off his hands. Hmm... Lack
yin26	posted 03-12-99 05:35 AM ET Mic, I'm confused (but that's not saying much). Are you also Vostok? It seems like you were answering my question to him. Anyway, my game runs no worse or less than anybody else's. I just whine about it more to try to keep Firaxis honest (I know, I know, they're a great company blah blah--hey, that should go in the blah blah post). The laptop is still a mess, but thanks for remembering.