"Alpha Centauri: Disunity" offshoot game

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Author Topic:   "Alpha Centauri: Disunity" offshoot game

Rang posted 12-03-98 06:29 PM ET
When Descent2 was completed, it's designers decided to split into two groups and work on 2 simultaneous sequels. One was named Descent3, and the other was an offshoot named Descent:freespace. Descent:3 followed the tunnel format of the D2, but d:f followed the a new setting in space instead of tunnels.
I think that it would be interesting to see both a SMAC2 and an offshoot named SMAC: Disunity. The SMAC game would focuse on the struggle on the ship Unity. Controlling one of the faction leaders, you must amass more supporters, scrounge for weapons, attack, defend, etc. The formate would probably be very different from SMAC, just as D:f's space vessel fighters were different from D:2's tunnel crawling.
What does everyone thing of this idea?
Gord McLeod posted 12-03-98 06:33 PM ET
I don't know about the Disunity idea so much, but the idea of two (or more?) sequels of different formats appeals to me greatly. One obvious area of divergance occurs to me - the long-debated 'multiple worlds in a region of space' vs. 'single world development' model of play. Have a sequel that follows the tried & true Civ/SMAC model, played out on a single planet. Have a second sequel that's more in the MoO2 vein, spanning a region of space. And maybe take your Disunity idea and turn it into a 3rd sequel, some sort of RTS, mission-based game. That might be pretty interesting.
CClark posted 12-03-98 06:42 PM ET
What I would like to see is a franchise that has games in more than one genre. There are lots of franchises that stick to one genre (mostly in RPGs - Ultima, anyone?). But there are very few that use the same game world or same characters for games of different types. The only one that comes to mind is Star Wars (flight "sims", FPSs, strategy). Actually Microbrains are trying to do that with Star Trek now too. (KHG and BotF)
SMAC will be a grand strategy game. How about a WingCommander-type flight "sim" set on Chiron. (Sid used to do flight sims, right?) Have a campaign of missions where you play an up-and-coming officer in the Spartan army during a period where they are engaged in a heated war with the Hive. (Okay, this is blatant sucking up to some regulars... ) I think it could work.
Or an FPS game... You are the lone Gaian survivor in a raid against a Believer's base. You must adventure through the remains of the base, across hostile terrain, etc. to get back to your home. Along the way you fight humans from other factions, Mindworms, etc. (Adding a story like in Shogo would be nice. Maybe find out that your unit was actually betrayed by a spy and once you get back to your base the real game begins as you head back out to track down the spy and get revenge. Cheesy, maybe, but it's an FPS - what do you want? )
At any rate, it would be nice to see the magic Sid touch bring something new and innovative to another genre.
Spoe posted 12-03-98 06:42 PM ET
How about an asteroid field colonization game. You start out with x equal civilizations on a planet that is running out of mineral resources that can build space ships, mining colonies, etc. and you compete to mine and colonize the asteroid field. For a good part of the game you would have to transfer minerals from the asteroids to the planet for construction of new ships, etc. Later, colonies in the asteroid field could build new ships, etc.
What do you think?
Gord McLeod posted 12-03-98 06:54 PM ET
That sounds like it'd be pretty interesting, Spoe...
SnowFire posted 12-03-98 08:48 PM ET
If it wasn't for the fact that it had been tried before, Fragile Allegiance I believe, and got panned in PC Gamer. While I'm sure Sid could make a good game out of it, that's a difficult genre to do.
Rang posted 12-04-98 06:21 PM ET
I definitely see SMAC as either a RTS or a RPG game. If Firaxis doesn't wish to pursue such offshoot games, perhaps they should liscense others to do it (people they trust). It would be great to see Alpha Centauri diversify in to multigenre games (like starwars/startrek). There's a lot of potential here, more that just strategy (though I have no complaints with strategy).
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Author	Topic: "Alpha Centauri: Disunity" offshoot game
Rang	posted 12-03-98 06:29 PM ET When Descent2 was completed, it's designers decided to split into two groups and work on 2 simultaneous sequels. One was named Descent3, and the other was an offshoot named Descent:freespace. Descent:3 followed the tunnel format of the D2, but d:f followed the a new setting in space instead of tunnels. I think that it would be interesting to see both a SMAC2 and an offshoot named SMAC: Disunity. The SMAC game would focuse on the struggle on the ship Unity. Controlling one of the faction leaders, you must amass more supporters, scrounge for weapons, attack, defend, etc. The formate would probably be very different from SMAC, just as D:f's space vessel fighters were different from D:2's tunnel crawling. What does everyone thing of this idea?
Gord McLeod	posted 12-03-98 06:33 PM ET I don't know about the Disunity idea so much, but the idea of two (or more?) sequels of different formats appeals to me greatly. One obvious area of divergance occurs to me - the long-debated 'multiple worlds in a region of space' vs. 'single world development' model of play. Have a sequel that follows the tried & true Civ/SMAC model, played out on a single planet. Have a second sequel that's more in the MoO2 vein, spanning a region of space. And maybe take your Disunity idea and turn it into a 3rd sequel, some sort of RTS, mission-based game. That might be pretty interesting.
CClark	posted 12-03-98 06:42 PM ET What I would like to see is a franchise that has games in more than one genre. There are lots of franchises that stick to one genre (mostly in RPGs - Ultima, anyone?). But there are very few that use the same game world or same characters for games of different types. The only one that comes to mind is Star Wars (flight "sims", FPSs, strategy). Actually Microbrains are trying to do that with Star Trek now too. (KHG and BotF) SMAC will be a grand strategy game. How about a WingCommander-type flight "sim" set on Chiron. (Sid used to do flight sims, right?) Have a campaign of missions where you play an up-and-coming officer in the Spartan army during a period where they are engaged in a heated war with the Hive. (Okay, this is blatant sucking up to some regulars... ) I think it could work. Or an FPS game... You are the lone Gaian survivor in a raid against a Believer's base. You must adventure through the remains of the base, across hostile terrain, etc. to get back to your home. Along the way you fight humans from other factions, Mindworms, etc. (Adding a story like in Shogo would be nice. Maybe find out that your unit was actually betrayed by a spy and once you get back to your base the real game begins as you head back out to track down the spy and get revenge. Cheesy, maybe, but it's an FPS - what do you want? ) At any rate, it would be nice to see the magic Sid touch bring something new and innovative to another genre.
Spoe	posted 12-03-98 06:42 PM ET How about an asteroid field colonization game. You start out with x equal civilizations on a planet that is running out of mineral resources that can build space ships, mining colonies, etc. and you compete to mine and colonize the asteroid field. For a good part of the game you would have to transfer minerals from the asteroids to the planet for construction of new ships, etc. Later, colonies in the asteroid field could build new ships, etc. What do you think?
Gord McLeod	posted 12-03-98 06:54 PM ET That sounds like it'd be pretty interesting, Spoe...
SnowFire	posted 12-03-98 08:48 PM ET If it wasn't for the fact that it had been tried before, Fragile Allegiance I believe, and got panned in PC Gamer. While I'm sure Sid could make a good game out of it, that's a difficult genre to do.
Rang	posted 12-04-98 06:21 PM ET I definitely see SMAC as either a RTS or a RPG game. If Firaxis doesn't wish to pursue such offshoot games, perhaps they should liscense others to do it (people they trust). It would be great to see Alpha Centauri diversify in to multigenre games (like starwars/startrek). There's a lot of potential here, more that just strategy (though I have no complaints with strategy).