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Author Topic:   Favorite Feature

Derek posted 03-05-99 04:10 PM ET
Enough SMAC-whacking! What is your absolute favorite thing about SMAC (besides planet busters)?
For me, borders are at the top. I used to hate how the CPs would crowd you in CivII. It also gives you a real idea of territory, and also how close the other factions are, even if you haven't explored too far out.
tOFfGI posted 03-05-99 04:20 PM ET
Borders are certainly high on my list, but I'd say the whole play balance is the thing talking for this game. I've never seen a game where practically ALL the features work out in a balanced manner, but I think SMAC has reached this.
Derek posted 03-05-99 04:44 PM ET
Actually, I was thinking more of things like features. Play balance is more of a quality issue, IMHO, which is excellent.
What you said got me thinking about how much more alive the faction leaders seem than most any other game I've played. They all have their own belief systems and personalities, that people actually comment on and expand upon. The voice overs in the game do a fantastic job of fleshing out their personalities and providing each with their own sense of "wisdom." Even with CivII, I never heard anybody say, "man, I really hate those Americans," or "Genghis Khan is attacking me AGAIN!" There just wasn't any character development. SMAC has got characters up there with the best adventures and RPGs (at least as far as the big 7 go).
Nerve Stapling
CHUNK
OW!
Stop whining.
Yes, sir. Uhhh...
Freddz posted 03-05-99 06:33 PM ET
As I play Gaians a lot, I just love that I always catch the first Mind Worm I attack with just 25% chance of making the catch. Funnily, a friend of mine seems to report the same thing.
Oh, absolutely no irony whatsoever intended I love it to death.
Freddz posted 03-07-99 06:58 PM ET
Come to think of it, one of my favorite features is: That what the city is producing is stated by the city name (in paranthesis). I know it's a small thing and an just option, but small things...
I hope they have this in Call to power, as I will surely try that game too
Purgemoff posted 03-08-99 02:56 AM ET
My favourite thing about SMAC is that you have to adapt different ways of playing depending on which faction you are playing and which you are facing. It gives the game great replayability.
zaz posted 03-09-99 09:28 AM ET
The $10 rebate I just received from EB towards the purchase of CTP!!!
Of course the hype for that game might be as bad as for SMAC.
kmika88 posted 03-09-99 10:23 AM ET
how bout the fact that this game has
personality plus...
they've put together this incredibly rich and detailed world which would be great without the concept of factions...
but think aboutit .....this is game where
i can say things like...
yeah that !@(&$! Yang double crossed me and
teamed up that two timing Morgan and the next thing i new i had 10 copters buzzing down my throat....
and you guys are thinking...yeah i hate the
hive!!!....there is a very strong undercurrent of storytelling and dare i say emotion here that just doesnt exist in most games (half-life being the big exception IMHO)...i think the excellent voiceovers add a lot to this effect...
think about this for a second..i love reading all the peoples descriptions of what happened in their game and i'm realizing more and more that we're playing a game that works incredibly well as a story...
this is part of this design teams incredible knack for fun games
now i have to get back to my latest game and so what if i traded secrets of the human brain to dierdre because she's cute...
really cute
-k
absimiliard posted 03-09-99 11:05 AM ET
Hey! A topic I can love. How can you not love saying what you love about SMAC.
Derek/Kmika: I gotta agree, the roleplaying aspects really appeal to me. I too tend to give Dierdre stuff because she's cute. I'm always at war with the Believers because I hate the religious right. And who among us doesn't love to HATE THE HIVE. DIE YANG DIE!!!!
toffgi: (what is that name BTW?) I also love borders. In CIV II the city crowding really bugged me.
purgemoff: I also like the fact that play style is so radically different between the different factions. You simply cannot play Yang the same way you would play Morgan or Zakharov, if you try you WILL lose.
But my favorite things about SMAC are...... Even though it is a lethally enjoyable game, far more fun than most, I am getting more sleep on this release than I did with MOO II. SMAC leaves me much more willing to save and continue whereas MOO II had far too much "I can't quit till one more turn...." (5 turns later) "...nope, just one more turn honey...." (sound of girlfriend hitting me soundly over the head with a pillow and a pointed 'GO TO BED' )
Rasputin posted 03-09-99 02:57 PM ET
I like it when I'm pounding Sister Miriams' faction into the dust and she comes on to ask for a blood truce. The coolest reply: "I'll see you in hell first, Miriam!" Now, that's sweet.
PlanetRuler posted 03-09-99 03:48 PM ET
My favorite feature is turning the game off.
Wen_Amon posted 03-09-99 04:32 PM ET
Ya thas real good planetruler.
Anyways, anyone else love the fact that you can finally use diplomacy to win. This way, when you have already won the game towards the end, you dont have to go thorugh the monotonous task of conquering every remaining city or building some massive project!
DIPLOMACY KICKS!
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Author	Topic: Favorite Feature
Derek	posted 03-05-99 04:10 PM ET Enough SMAC-whacking! What is your absolute favorite thing about SMAC (besides planet busters)? For me, borders are at the top. I used to hate how the CPs would crowd you in CivII. It also gives you a real idea of territory, and also how close the other factions are, even if you haven't explored too far out.
tOFfGI	posted 03-05-99 04:20 PM ET Borders are certainly high on my list, but I'd say the whole play balance is the thing talking for this game. I've never seen a game where practically ALL the features work out in a balanced manner, but I think SMAC has reached this.
Derek	posted 03-05-99 04:44 PM ET Actually, I was thinking more of things like features. Play balance is more of a quality issue, IMHO, which is excellent. What you said got me thinking about how much more alive the faction leaders seem than most any other game I've played. They all have their own belief systems and personalities, that people actually comment on and expand upon. The voice overs in the game do a fantastic job of fleshing out their personalities and providing each with their own sense of "wisdom." Even with CivII, I never heard anybody say, "man, I really hate those Americans," or "Genghis Khan is attacking me AGAIN!" There just wasn't any character development. SMAC has got characters up there with the best adventures and RPGs (at least as far as the big 7 go). Nerve Stapling CHUNK OW! Stop whining. Yes, sir. Uhhh...
Freddz	posted 03-05-99 06:33 PM ET As I play Gaians a lot, I just love that I always catch the first Mind Worm I attack with just 25% chance of making the catch. Funnily, a friend of mine seems to report the same thing. Oh, absolutely no irony whatsoever intended I love it to death.
Freddz	posted 03-07-99 06:58 PM ET Come to think of it, one of my favorite features is: That what the city is producing is stated by the city name (in paranthesis). I know it's a small thing and an just option, but small things... I hope they have this in Call to power, as I will surely try that game too
Purgemoff	posted 03-08-99 02:56 AM ET My favourite thing about SMAC is that you have to adapt different ways of playing depending on which faction you are playing and which you are facing. It gives the game great replayability.
zaz	posted 03-09-99 09:28 AM ET The $10 rebate I just received from EB towards the purchase of CTP!!! Of course the hype for that game might be as bad as for SMAC.
kmika88	posted 03-09-99 10:23 AM ET how bout the fact that this game has personality plus... they've put together this incredibly rich and detailed world which would be great without the concept of factions... but think aboutit .....this is game where i can say things like... yeah that !@(&$! Yang double crossed me and teamed up that two timing Morgan and the next thing i new i had 10 copters buzzing down my throat.... and you guys are thinking...yeah i hate the hive!!!....there is a very strong undercurrent of storytelling and dare i say emotion here that just doesnt exist in most games (half-life being the big exception IMHO)...i think the excellent voiceovers add a lot to this effect... think about this for a second..i love reading all the peoples descriptions of what happened in their game and i'm realizing more and more that we're playing a game that works incredibly well as a story... this is part of this design teams incredible knack for fun games now i have to get back to my latest game and so what if i traded secrets of the human brain to dierdre because she's cute... really cute -k
absimiliard	posted 03-09-99 11:05 AM ET Hey! A topic I can love. How can you not love saying what you love about SMAC. Derek/Kmika: I gotta agree, the roleplaying aspects really appeal to me. I too tend to give Dierdre stuff because she's cute. I'm always at war with the Believers because I hate the religious right. And who among us doesn't love to HATE THE HIVE. DIE YANG DIE!!!! toffgi: (what is that name BTW?) I also love borders. In CIV II the city crowding really bugged me. purgemoff: I also like the fact that play style is so radically different between the different factions. You simply cannot play Yang the same way you would play Morgan or Zakharov, if you try you WILL lose. But my favorite things about SMAC are...... Even though it is a lethally enjoyable game, far more fun than most, I am getting more sleep on this release than I did with MOO II. SMAC leaves me much more willing to save and continue whereas MOO II had far too much "I can't quit till one more turn...." (5 turns later) "...nope, just one more turn honey...." (sound of girlfriend hitting me soundly over the head with a pillow and a pointed 'GO TO BED' )
Rasputin	posted 03-09-99 02:57 PM ET I like it when I'm pounding Sister Miriams' faction into the dust and she comes on to ask for a blood truce. The coolest reply: "I'll see you in hell first, Miriam!" Now, that's sweet.
PlanetRuler	posted 03-09-99 03:48 PM ET My favorite feature is turning the game off.
Wen_Amon	posted 03-09-99 04:32 PM ET Ya thas real good planetruler. Anyways, anyone else love the fact that you can finally use diplomacy to win. This way, when you have already won the game towards the end, you dont have to go thorugh the monotonous task of conquering every remaining city or building some massive project! DIPLOMACY KICKS!