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Author Topic:   Demo Next Week

Snoman posted 12-18-98 01:12 PM ET
Usenet again. Brian R., in a post about SMAC "probe teams" (spies) says "the demo should be out next week." Don't know how to evaluate "should", but give it up for this weekend.
Also says it won't have any multiplay features.
CClark posted 12-18-98 01:17 PM ET
Thanks for the update Snoman.
Let the whinging begin!
Lee Johnson posted 12-18-98 01:23 PM ET
Thanks for the update.
DHE_X2 posted 12-18-98 01:36 PM ET
Technically, Sunday is next week.
Frank Moore posted 12-18-98 01:51 PM ET
Hey Snoman, I can't seem to find the post you're referring to, how about some help locating it. I searched for posts by [email protected] and the latest post was from 12/8/98. Any help would be much appreciated.
gladestrider posted 12-18-98 02:08 PM ET
Keep checking, it's there. Here's the text:
Wanted to let everyone know the good news-- Firaxis has "reached Alpha
Centauri". We sent what we hope is the final master off to Origin last
night; we have a week or so to repatch if we discover something
embarrassing which we missed, but barring that we're gold.
Our demo should be up Xmas week; check it out.
Since I'm (ahhhh) no longer in a crunch, I'll also be happy to answer
any questions anyone has about the game.
Brian Reynolds
Alpha Centauri Designer
FIRAXIS Games
Fluke posted 12-18-98 02:42 PM ET
I believe it to be a mistake on the part of Firaxis not to include any multiplayer since that's the aspect of the game I would want to make sure was done right if I wasn't sure that I would buy the game.
Especially since the multiplayer has been more than a little bit dodgy in some recent games (Dune2000, Unreal, Shogo, more) and this is a new concept in multiplayer gaming (as I understand it anyway).
Has anybody really understood how multiplayer is supposed to work?
Snoman posted 12-18-98 04:24 PM ET
The post I was quoting was different than the one above. In a thread titled "Smac won't have this problem", which is discussing spy units in CIV2, it reads:
"Can't help myself but interject here; saw this coming for a long time.
Yes, spies are too powerful and the countermeasures against them are too
few.
Some good news: the probe team, the Alpha Centauri unit which allows you
to steal technologies and do other nasty stuff, will be better balanced.
In particular, a probe team can be used effectively on the -defense-.
Probe teams fight their own style of "covert combat", ignoring other
units in the area (and without the diplomatic penalties associated with
open warfare). If you've got a probe team in your base, enemy probe
teams must destroy your probe team -before- they can take any action
whatsoever against your base.
You can also, as you would expect, reduce your vulnerability to probe
teams through social engineering, secret projects, etc. Certain factions
are also more or less vulnerable based on their ideology.
Our demo should be available next week; check it out (though for multi
player you'll have to wait for the full product).
Brian Reynolds
Alpha Centauri Designer"
The DirectorGeneral posted 12-18-98 04:34 PM ET
actually, I can think of no more effective way for Firaxis to get us into a frothing fit over the game than to give us a highly functional single player demo, while dangling certain items ( AVI's, endgames, and especialy multiplayer ) over our heads, so to speak.
Me, I'll be happy just to get my grubby paws on the demo at all...( DROOL DROOL )
THE DG.
Bokonon posted 12-18-98 04:55 PM ET
Funny, the way probe teams work in SMAC are a lot how spies work in Seven Kingdoms, a neat rts game. The spies implementation there was quite cool, and added a lot of fun. If the probe teams are similar, it would be tre cool
-Bok
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Author	Topic: Demo Next Week
Snoman	posted 12-18-98 01:12 PM ET Usenet again. Brian R., in a post about SMAC "probe teams" (spies) says "the demo should be out next week." Don't know how to evaluate "should", but give it up for this weekend. Also says it won't have any multiplay features.
CClark	posted 12-18-98 01:17 PM ET Thanks for the update Snoman. Let the whinging begin!
Lee Johnson	posted 12-18-98 01:23 PM ET Thanks for the update.
DHE_X2	posted 12-18-98 01:36 PM ET Technically, Sunday is next week.
Frank Moore	posted 12-18-98 01:51 PM ET Hey Snoman, I can't seem to find the post you're referring to, how about some help locating it. I searched for posts by [email protected] and the latest post was from 12/8/98. Any help would be much appreciated.
gladestrider	posted 12-18-98 02:08 PM ET Keep checking, it's there. Here's the text: Wanted to let everyone know the good news-- Firaxis has "reached Alpha Centauri". We sent what we hope is the final master off to Origin last night; we have a week or so to repatch if we discover something embarrassing which we missed, but barring that we're gold. Our demo should be up Xmas week; check it out. Since I'm (ahhhh) no longer in a crunch, I'll also be happy to answer any questions anyone has about the game. Brian Reynolds Alpha Centauri Designer FIRAXIS Games
Fluke	posted 12-18-98 02:42 PM ET I believe it to be a mistake on the part of Firaxis not to include any multiplayer since that's the aspect of the game I would want to make sure was done right if I wasn't sure that I would buy the game. Especially since the multiplayer has been more than a little bit dodgy in some recent games (Dune2000, Unreal, Shogo, more) and this is a new concept in multiplayer gaming (as I understand it anyway). Has anybody really understood how multiplayer is supposed to work?
Snoman	posted 12-18-98 04:24 PM ET The post I was quoting was different than the one above. In a thread titled "Smac won't have this problem", which is discussing spy units in CIV2, it reads: "Can't help myself but interject here; saw this coming for a long time. Yes, spies are too powerful and the countermeasures against them are too few. Some good news: the probe team, the Alpha Centauri unit which allows you to steal technologies and do other nasty stuff, will be better balanced. In particular, a probe team can be used effectively on the -defense-. Probe teams fight their own style of "covert combat", ignoring other units in the area (and without the diplomatic penalties associated with open warfare). If you've got a probe team in your base, enemy probe teams must destroy your probe team -before- they can take any action whatsoever against your base. You can also, as you would expect, reduce your vulnerability to probe teams through social engineering, secret projects, etc. Certain factions are also more or less vulnerable based on their ideology. Our demo should be available next week; check it out (though for multi player you'll have to wait for the full product). Brian Reynolds Alpha Centauri Designer"
The DirectorGeneral	posted 12-18-98 04:34 PM ET actually, I can think of no more effective way for Firaxis to get us into a frothing fit over the game than to give us a highly functional single player demo, while dangling certain items ( AVI's, endgames, and especialy multiplayer ) over our heads, so to speak. Me, I'll be happy just to get my grubby paws on the demo at all...( DROOL DROOL ) THE DG.
Bokonon	posted 12-18-98 04:55 PM ET Funny, the way probe teams work in SMAC are a lot how spies work in Seven Kingdoms, a neat rts game. The spies implementation there was quite cool, and added a lot of fun. If the probe teams are similar, it would be tre cool -Bok