posted 08-25-99 08:11 AM ET        

Welcome to the latest edition of AlphaNews. This is an extra special
edition, as we^�ve just announced the details surrounding Sid Meier^�s Alien
Crossfire^�, the upcoming official Expansion Pack for Sid Meier^�s Alpha
Centauri^�. There^�s a ton of great information on the Alpha Centauri website
(<http://www.alphacentauri.com/> ), but here^�s a preview of what you can
expect in this must have add-on disc for SMAC.

The original inhabitants of Alpha Centauri have come back to reclaim their
world. Split in a brutal struggle, the aliens engage in battle over Alpha
Centauri's surface, nearly destroying each other. The survivors jettison to
Planet's surface where mankind has set up a new home. Now the Earth humans
are caught in the Alien Crossfire. Will mankind band together to defeat the
offworlders or will they form separate alien alliances to ensure the
survival of their faction? The future of mankind is once again in your
hands.

Seven new factions offer entirely new strategies for exploration,
discovery, empire-building and conquest. A new sea-faring Pirate faction
provides new naval advantages. The Probe Team faction specializes in
espionage and spying. A Cybernetic faction provides radical scientific
advantages and the working-class Drones have now formed their own powerful
faction as well. Native life-forms and the powers of nature form the
backbone of the extreme Ecological faction while the two Alien factions add
mystery, wonder and surprise to the human struggle.

With seven new factions, Alien Crossfire essentially doubles the scope of
Sid Meier^�s Alpha Centauri, providing an entirely new game experience in
the proven tradition of the best strategy game ever made. Sid Meier^�s Alpha
Centauri fans can chose to play classic Alpha Centauri (with the original
seven human factions), the new Alien Crossfire story (with seven all-new
factions), or customize the game by combining their favorite factions from
the entire suite of fourteen! A host of gameplay enhancements and new
features, along with the new factions and story line makes Sid Meier^�s
Alien Crossfire the most exciting expansion pack of the year!

Here's a quick look at some of the new features to experience in Alien
Crossfire:
� Seven new playable factions (5 human, 2 alien)
� Expanded backstory: discover more about the world of Alpha Centauri
� New custom faction editor
� Seven new technologies
� Four new Secret Projects
� Five new weapons
� Four new armor types
� Five new special abilities
� Seven new base facilities
� Four new landmarks
� Two new native lifeforms
� A new victory pathway (aliens must build an interstellar beacon to call

for reinforcements)

For more information on Alien Crossfire, be sure to visit
<http://www.alphacentauri.com/>. There will be weekly updates as the seven
new factions are revealed and the back-story of the aliens^� arrival
unfolds. In addition, stay up-to-date on the progress of Alien Crossfire^�s
development as we get closer to release this fall. And, of course, get all
of the latest information on Alpha Centauri including the latest patches
and scenarios.

// I don't know who get this, but I think //some information in there are interesting //for everyone here.