Suggestions for next Patch! - Alpha Centauri Forums

  Alpha Centauri Forums
  The Game
  Suggestions for next Patch!

profile | register | prefs | faq | search

Author Topic:   Suggestions for next Patch!

C M Castleton posted 03-18-99 03:52 PM ET
Thanks for the UK patch, guys, which works fine for me except for stuttering when more than one production item at more than one of your bases is being completed in the same.
Now what I would very much like you to address in the next patch is fixing the problems with automating the air units so they dont crash because they cant work out far how they can go before refuelling. Or is there a problem of disorientation in flying on AC? How about extending their range, too, while you are at it. This is the twenty second century onwards and you only allow aircraft the range that they had back in the days of the Wright Brothers. Hey, how about losing the fuel restrction altogether and replacing it with, say, a maintenance one?
Live long and prosper.
Brother Christopher of the Peacekeepers, U-Thant base, AC.

Alexnm posted 03-18-99 11:44 PM ET
Hmm... I'm with you in what is related to automated air units. I can only figure out that the AI uses auto air units to explore the world, without concerning to their fuel.
But I think that their range is fine. If their range was extended, it could unbalance the game on the smallest maps, though it would be fine on the bigger ones.
Alexnm
googlie posted 03-19-99 06:42 PM ET
How about in-flight refuelling? Park an aerial tanker (flying airbase? or flying carrier) somewhere with, say, a five turn limit before returning and then let aircraft restart their 20/20 or whatever at that site. Of course the tanker could be destroyed through an attack.
But isn't that what airbases (land) and carrier decks (sea) do anyway?
Fresh Pope Druid posted 03-20-99 02:32 AM ET
Remember, it takes a year for the jet to move that far.
Jythexinvok posted 03-20-99 11:16 PM ET
Actualy what I think would be realy nice in a patch would be the ability to build bridges over ocean (or at least shallows) squares to connect islands. Something else that would be nice (but probably impractable since the coding would be extensive) would be a Sensor Array chassis type so one could develop differnt sensor types, and they could be attached to factions regardless of territory.
On the topic of aircraft, I think the range is fine, but an 'extended fuel' or 'ramjet' abilities to extend range might be nice. Though another possible way to handle it is just to say that aircraft can land given flat enough terrain & a road. That's why the US builds such nice long strait highways, they are designed to act as runways should it become nesseary.
<wave>
CBH posted 03-21-99 08:17 AM ET
You can build land bridges between islands by moving a Former right to the edge of the current land and selecting the Raise Land terraform option. When the square your in is raised some of the surrounding ocean shelf squares become land - repeat as nessecary til you have your bridge
EnBee posted 03-21-99 08:17 AM ET
Hey,
I think it'd be cool if on the spy console, we can see what kind of social engineering choices the other factions are using. Seems like an obvious thing to have if you can 'look' into each of their cities. And it would definitely affect how I plan my strategies.
MrSmily posted 03-21-99 09:15 AM ET
Does anyone else think Firaxis deserves a break from making all these patches? They listen to people b*tch and complain about the game they have been working on for a long time, they finaly release the game after god knows how many delays, working long hours and when they think they have got it done, a flood of complaints come it. But firaxis is right there helping everyone (even yin ). I know some people have hardware config. problems and the game crashes if X and Y happens, and I read somewhere on teh forums that it wont crash any more (for some people that is).
So what im trying to say is GREAT job Firaxis and you guys need to have 2 weeks off or something.
Marian posted 03-21-99 10:24 AM ET
Well,
You can see that from two sides. He think many people love the game and its deep so much that they won't more and more enhancements and care for the future of SMAC (:-

Ciao
Marian
Webmaster ACZone
http://alphazone.cjb.net
TBox posted 03-21-99 10:24 AM ET
I'm with MrSmiley, even tho' it's gonna start a flame war. . .
akathisia posted 03-21-99 12:20 PM ET
Firaxis can take all the time off they want. I still want new Enhancements on a regular schedule until the demo for SMAC2 comes out.
I still hope for Bridges and Canals to be implemented sometime soon. Raising and lowering land is kind of in-exact especially when you want to connect two continents. Think if you would want to connect Spain to Morocco by raising the land if that would mean isolating all the Mediterranean coastline from the rest of the Atlantic Ocean. Just a thought.
VKJ posted 03-21-99 03:58 PM ET
I'm fine with the lack of bridges, it is the ocean your building over don't forget. But the improvement i hankering after is the surrendering bit, a faction surrenders to you and what? no conditions no nothing, oh they won't attack you, great. it would be nice if you could put a restriction on military units or cities or population or somthing, at the moment its pants.
Deckard posted 03-21-99 07:53 PM ET
I don't think that giving creative output should be called "bitching." The game is amazing as it is, but since there is an opportunity to give feedback and actually see the changes being implemented...talk about software house that cares. Since I'm on the topic of changes - wouldn't it be nice to see diplomatic options increased a la Master of Orion II. One of the more annoying parts of the game is when I initiate the contact w/ another faction and our discussion begins with their demands or pleas. And how about option to declare vendetta, rather than forcing them to declare it on me (I don't think I missed that option somewhere - or did I)? A research treaty would also make the game much more interesting as far as interaction between factions goes.
Shining1 posted 03-21-99 08:06 PM ET
Yeah, I'd like to see underwater roads/ magtubes added as well.
Also:
* Please! Give us some way to add Sound FX to the different weapons. I don't care if I have to make my own wave files. That fried bug laser noise is getting so irritating!
* Cloning vats. Too powerful. Change to +2 growth and one future state impunity only. Maybe also add an immunity to negative growth. But a permanent population boom is just ridiculous.
* Teletubbie matrix. Also too powerful. Make it cancel the negative effects of punishment spheres, or else boost output of hologram theatres, or something. But this 'never riot' feature is ridiculuous, especially with all the other facilites required for drone control (??)
Shining1 posted 03-21-99 09:05 PM ET
Also, if new 2D ocean graphics can be included (as for undersea roads), then an underwater sensor would also be good.
Also, an OTH radar (Over the Horizon) for ships and planes would be neat. Ability: see 3 squares, cost 2 for ships and 3 for planes. Expensive, but good.
And the sensor rules could be adjusted, using something akin the captured bunker algorithm - if a unit is in the same square as a sensor array, that faction controls the sensors. The current system using the faction borders is a little irritating, as gaining control of a sensor array would be a definite plus as far as invasions are concerned.
EnBee posted 03-21-99 09:23 PM ET
This is in reply to the post saying that we should stop bitching and let Firaxis rest a while. My reply: I don't think these guys can afford to rest. They're starting out on their own, and they can't rest on their Civ can Civ 2 laurels. Otherwise people will say they suck withouth Microprose.
As it is, they might have rushed SMAC to beat out CTP, and they might have left in some minor bugs (bigger on some people's systems). But they put out a forum where we can bitch, and they actually participate in it ACTIVELY. And in response, they put out patch after patch (once per month). Patch 3.0 seems to run faster and smoother on my system. Now that's how you build a loyal clientelle!
Shining1 posted 03-21-99 09:34 PM ET
*sigh* More bitching from this unit:
* Bulk matter transporter: I first thought this was a Psigate in every city. What a cool project - I've got to have that!
Nope. A lousy +2 minerals in every city. And at the cost of 5 nessus mining stations. Okay, the stations are at risk from solar flares. The project is not. Does this justify such phenomenal expense?
MrSmily posted 03-22-99 04:36 AM ET
Most of the "features" that some people want are just nit picking things. Like bridges,what do you think formers are for?
As for the creative output being called bitching.I wasent calling it bitching.....i wasent even talking about the positive feedback about the game or ideas about it.I was talking about B I T C H I N G.
I still love the way Firaxis cares about its constumers, unlike *cough* Sierra and other big name companies.
Masakari posted 03-26-99 12:05 AM ET
I'm still getting over how good this game is (and I got it the second day it was out). For me, there hasn't been a game this immersive or engrossing since Civ I. I do have some suggestions for the next patch, but these are the few that come to mind just now.
* Even when the autodesign is off, you still end up with tons of AD'ed units everytime you score a new reactor. Granted, this only happens three times, it's still tedious to go in and designate them obsolete.
* Undersea mag tubes. A lot of other people are asking for this one.
* An orbital missile platform. Bases with the aerospace complex can send up missiles to the platform. Once there, they can be launched at any target, similar to the drop pod/space elevator technique. (I think it's the space elevator). To preserve game balance, I propose anti-satellite missiles.
* Streamline the production queue. I read they adressed this somewhat in the 3.0 patch, but they still haven't gotten rid of the fact that change and queue are two different things.
* I'm probably the only one who'll ever ask for this. After you resign or beat the game, your treated to a replay of the whole game in terms of territory (the crude map with the colors representing each faction's land). As the years tick by in seconds, you get to see each faciton's color try to overrun each other. I like watching this. One thing I noticed is that sea bases aren't included in the display. Please, if you effect any of the above, do this one (actually, do the missile platform then this one).

This is the greatest game to date, one I will be playing years from now. Thanks, Firaxis.
Shining1 posted 03-26-99 12:26 AM ET
Alternative colours for each faction - either do again or allow Alpha.txt adjustment.
Suggest:
University - White
Believers - RED
Hive - Blue
Gaians - Green
Spartans - DARK GREY
Morgan - Yellow
Peacekeepers - PURPLE
Aliens - Black/White border
Unlike the current shocking clash of colours on the faction dominance bargraph.
yin26 posted 03-26-99 12:40 AM ET
Shiny,
You're a genius! Never in a million years would I have thought to complain about the colors clashing in the power graph.
Come to the Dark Side where your skills will be nourished...Shiny--I'm your father!
C M Castleton posted 03-28-99 12:10 PM ET
Thank you, Marian! Hey, Mr. Smiley, do you work for Firaxis or have shares in the company or something? If you look at the Troubleshooting Web you will see more pain and anguish and howls of lost souls than I ever seen for any other game! Or are you gonna blame them for their pain, too! People have a right to bitch or, perhaps, you are the kinda guy anyway who prefers playing the Hive or the Believers? I prefer the UN myself and democracy!
It is (with some more patches! please and no delay for the U.K.) a CLASSIC game in the making but NOT YET!
Live long and prosper.
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: Suggestions for next Patch!
C M Castleton	posted 03-18-99 03:52 PM ET Thanks for the UK patch, guys, which works fine for me except for stuttering when more than one production item at more than one of your bases is being completed in the same. Now what I would very much like you to address in the next patch is fixing the problems with automating the air units so they dont crash because they cant work out far how they can go before refuelling. Or is there a problem of disorientation in flying on AC? How about extending their range, too, while you are at it. This is the twenty second century onwards and you only allow aircraft the range that they had back in the days of the Wright Brothers. Hey, how about losing the fuel restrction altogether and replacing it with, say, a maintenance one? Live long and prosper. Brother Christopher of the Peacekeepers, U-Thant base, AC.
Alexnm	posted 03-18-99 11:44 PM ET Hmm... I'm with you in what is related to automated air units. I can only figure out that the AI uses auto air units to explore the world, without concerning to their fuel. But I think that their range is fine. If their range was extended, it could unbalance the game on the smallest maps, though it would be fine on the bigger ones. Alexnm
googlie	posted 03-19-99 06:42 PM ET How about in-flight refuelling? Park an aerial tanker (flying airbase? or flying carrier) somewhere with, say, a five turn limit before returning and then let aircraft restart their 20/20 or whatever at that site. Of course the tanker could be destroyed through an attack. But isn't that what airbases (land) and carrier decks (sea) do anyway?
Fresh Pope Druid	posted 03-20-99 02:32 AM ET Remember, it takes a year for the jet to move that far.
Jythexinvok	posted 03-20-99 11:16 PM ET Actualy what I think would be realy nice in a patch would be the ability to build bridges over ocean (or at least shallows) squares to connect islands. Something else that would be nice (but probably impractable since the coding would be extensive) would be a Sensor Array chassis type so one could develop differnt sensor types, and they could be attached to factions regardless of territory. On the topic of aircraft, I think the range is fine, but an 'extended fuel' or 'ramjet' abilities to extend range might be nice. Though another possible way to handle it is just to say that aircraft can land given flat enough terrain & a road. That's why the US builds such nice long strait highways, they are designed to act as runways should it become nesseary. <wave>
CBH	posted 03-21-99 08:17 AM ET You can build land bridges between islands by moving a Former right to the edge of the current land and selecting the Raise Land terraform option. When the square your in is raised some of the surrounding ocean shelf squares become land - repeat as nessecary til you have your bridge
EnBee	posted 03-21-99 08:17 AM ET Hey, I think it'd be cool if on the spy console, we can see what kind of social engineering choices the other factions are using. Seems like an obvious thing to have if you can 'look' into each of their cities. And it would definitely affect how I plan my strategies.
MrSmily	posted 03-21-99 09:15 AM ET Does anyone else think Firaxis deserves a break from making all these patches? They listen to people b*tch and complain about the game they have been working on for a long time, they finaly release the game after god knows how many delays, working long hours and when they think they have got it done, a flood of complaints come it. But firaxis is right there helping everyone (even yin ). I know some people have hardware config. problems and the game crashes if X and Y happens, and I read somewhere on teh forums that it wont crash any more (for some people that is). So what im trying to say is GREAT job Firaxis and you guys need to have 2 weeks off or something.
Marian	posted 03-21-99 10:24 AM ET Well, You can see that from two sides. He think many people love the game and its deep so much that they won't more and more enhancements and care for the future of SMAC (:- Ciao Marian Webmaster ACZone http://alphazone.cjb.net
TBox	posted 03-21-99 10:24 AM ET I'm with MrSmiley, even tho' it's gonna start a flame war. . .
akathisia	posted 03-21-99 12:20 PM ET Firaxis can take all the time off they want. I still want new Enhancements on a regular schedule until the demo for SMAC2 comes out. I still hope for Bridges and Canals to be implemented sometime soon. Raising and lowering land is kind of in-exact especially when you want to connect two continents. Think if you would want to connect Spain to Morocco by raising the land if that would mean isolating all the Mediterranean coastline from the rest of the Atlantic Ocean. Just a thought.
VKJ	posted 03-21-99 03:58 PM ET I'm fine with the lack of bridges, it is the ocean your building over don't forget. But the improvement i hankering after is the surrendering bit, a faction surrenders to you and what? no conditions no nothing, oh they won't attack you, great. it would be nice if you could put a restriction on military units or cities or population or somthing, at the moment its pants.
Deckard	posted 03-21-99 07:53 PM ET I don't think that giving creative output should be called "bitching." The game is amazing as it is, but since there is an opportunity to give feedback and actually see the changes being implemented...talk about software house that cares. Since I'm on the topic of changes - wouldn't it be nice to see diplomatic options increased a la Master of Orion II. One of the more annoying parts of the game is when I initiate the contact w/ another faction and our discussion begins with their demands or pleas. And how about option to declare vendetta, rather than forcing them to declare it on me (I don't think I missed that option somewhere - or did I)? A research treaty would also make the game much more interesting as far as interaction between factions goes.
Shining1	posted 03-21-99 08:06 PM ET Yeah, I'd like to see underwater roads/ magtubes added as well. Also: * Please! Give us some way to add Sound FX to the different weapons. I don't care if I have to make my own wave files. That fried bug laser noise is getting so irritating! * Cloning vats. Too powerful. Change to +2 growth and one future state impunity only. Maybe also add an immunity to negative growth. But a permanent population boom is just ridiculous. * Teletubbie matrix. Also too powerful. Make it cancel the negative effects of punishment spheres, or else boost output of hologram theatres, or something. But this 'never riot' feature is ridiculuous, especially with all the other facilites required for drone control (??)
Shining1	posted 03-21-99 09:05 PM ET Also, if new 2D ocean graphics can be included (as for undersea roads), then an underwater sensor would also be good. Also, an OTH radar (Over the Horizon) for ships and planes would be neat. Ability: see 3 squares, cost 2 for ships and 3 for planes. Expensive, but good. And the sensor rules could be adjusted, using something akin the captured bunker algorithm - if a unit is in the same square as a sensor array, that faction controls the sensors. The current system using the faction borders is a little irritating, as gaining control of a sensor array would be a definite plus as far as invasions are concerned.
EnBee	posted 03-21-99 09:23 PM ET This is in reply to the post saying that we should stop bitching and let Firaxis rest a while. My reply: I don't think these guys can afford to rest. They're starting out on their own, and they can't rest on their Civ can Civ 2 laurels. Otherwise people will say they suck withouth Microprose. As it is, they might have rushed SMAC to beat out CTP, and they might have left in some minor bugs (bigger on some people's systems). But they put out a forum where we can bitch, and they actually participate in it ACTIVELY. And in response, they put out patch after patch (once per month). Patch 3.0 seems to run faster and smoother on my system. Now that's how you build a loyal clientelle!
Shining1	posted 03-21-99 09:34 PM ET sigh More bitching from this unit: * Bulk matter transporter: I first thought this was a Psigate in every city. What a cool project - I've got to have that! Nope. A lousy +2 minerals in every city. And at the cost of 5 nessus mining stations. Okay, the stations are at risk from solar flares. The project is not. Does this justify such phenomenal expense?
MrSmily	posted 03-22-99 04:36 AM ET Most of the "features" that some people want are just nit picking things. Like bridges,what do you think formers are for? As for the creative output being called bitching.I wasent calling it bitching.....i wasent even talking about the positive feedback about the game or ideas about it.I was talking about B I T C H I N G. I still love the way Firaxis cares about its constumers, unlike cough Sierra and other big name companies.
Masakari	posted 03-26-99 12:05 AM ET I'm still getting over how good this game is (and I got it the second day it was out). For me, there hasn't been a game this immersive or engrossing since Civ I. I do have some suggestions for the next patch, but these are the few that come to mind just now. * Even when the autodesign is off, you still end up with tons of AD'ed units everytime you score a new reactor. Granted, this only happens three times, it's still tedious to go in and designate them obsolete. * Undersea mag tubes. A lot of other people are asking for this one. * An orbital missile platform. Bases with the aerospace complex can send up missiles to the platform. Once there, they can be launched at any target, similar to the drop pod/space elevator technique. (I think it's the space elevator). To preserve game balance, I propose anti-satellite missiles. * Streamline the production queue. I read they adressed this somewhat in the 3.0 patch, but they still haven't gotten rid of the fact that change and queue are two different things. * I'm probably the only one who'll ever ask for this. After you resign or beat the game, your treated to a replay of the whole game in terms of territory (the crude map with the colors representing each faction's land). As the years tick by in seconds, you get to see each faciton's color try to overrun each other. I like watching this. One thing I noticed is that sea bases aren't included in the display. Please, if you effect any of the above, do this one (actually, do the missile platform then this one). This is the greatest game to date, one I will be playing years from now. Thanks, Firaxis.
Shining1	posted 03-26-99 12:26 AM ET Alternative colours for each faction - either do again or allow Alpha.txt adjustment. Suggest: University - White Believers - RED Hive - Blue Gaians - Green Spartans - DARK GREY Morgan - Yellow Peacekeepers - PURPLE Aliens - Black/White border Unlike the current shocking clash of colours on the faction dominance bargraph.
yin26	posted 03-26-99 12:40 AM ET Shiny, You're a genius! Never in a million years would I have thought to complain about the colors clashing in the power graph. Come to the Dark Side where your skills will be nourished...Shiny--I'm your father!
C M Castleton	posted 03-28-99 12:10 PM ET Thank you, Marian! Hey, Mr. Smiley, do you work for Firaxis or have shares in the company or something? If you look at the Troubleshooting Web you will see more pain and anguish and howls of lost souls than I ever seen for any other game! Or are you gonna blame them for their pain, too! People have a right to bitch or, perhaps, you are the kinda guy anyway who prefers playing the Hive or the Believers? I prefer the UN myself and democracy! It is (with some more patches! please and no delay for the U.K.) a CLASSIC game in the making but NOT YET! Live long and prosper.