posted 03-09-99 03:41 AM ET            

zipnar
posted 03-09-99 03:10 AM ET

Check out the PCVelocity Alpha Centauri Review at:

http://www.pcvelocity.com/gaming/reviews/alphacentauri/a1.shtml

thanks!
yin26
posted 03-09-99 03:24 AM ET

To your advice:

"If you do, by some chance, get better than the computer, you can always battle it
out with human-controlled factions by firing the game up multiplayer."

* I did become better than the computer--and fast. You know how? I played the game
a second time. You might try that too before you give the game a 92% rating.

* Running a multiplayer TBS game is just about as exciting as watching my
terraformers spin in circles, which, I'm not sure if you caught this or not, I can do
without an Internet connection.

posted 03-09-99 03:45 AM ET            

Whoever the author was begged us to read it. He/She should be ready for the mean-spirited Yins of the world. Besides, isn't that the fun of trying to rate this stuff anyway?

It just generates discussion.

posted 03-09-99 04:02 AM ET            

read it then reply to it please...
its a peaceful email

posted 03-09-99 04:10 AM ET            

Dear Celiaz28,

If I offended you, that was not my intention. I just think you were a bit extreme about America's power. You also didn't seem to have any real experience yourself living or working in other countries, so you lacked credibility.

But listen. I love America. I love being American. But there are good reasons why Americans are not liked in other countries. Some of those reasons are silly or unfounded. And others are rightly based on attitudes like you wrote--that the world owes everything good to America. I HAVE lived abroad. In fact I live in Korea now where a certain number of U.S. Army guys walk around like Koreans should kiss their asses. Don't you see, that kind of attitude only ruins America's good (if sometimes misguided and selfish) intentions?

I've gone round and around with people overseas about how ignorant most Americans are of international affairs and the myriad ways America uses its power to get everything its way. I finally came to some conclusions about that:

O.K., we can argue that every citizen of the world's last super-power should be aware of every global issue so that the country's power can be used fairly and effectively.

But that will never happen. Not on any grand scale anyway.

But I think it is fair to expect Americans to understand that underneath all that religion and "We are the world" flag waving is a nation that stole its land and killed its rightful owners in the bargain. It's also a nation built by breaking the backs of slaves.

Now, if you can accept that, appreciate America's progress but do so with humility and understanding of other cultures, you'd be a fine person, I'm sure, respected first for your humanity and second, if ever, for being American.

Finally, the dropping of the bomb on Japan, even if you think it was "necessary," was the darkest moment in world history. I hope you never feel good about it.

posted 03-09-99 04:17 AM ET            

I hope everybody on this board scans e-mail from unknown sources.

posted 03-09-99 07:07 AM ET            

It's fascinating to see what a game can do. I take it that the people of Firaxis can hire some councellers and start a 'members only' pay-board.

Anyway, as a non-American, I find this all very interesting. I'll keep on checking this thread to learn more about your culture (no sarcasm intended).

Yin26: As far as I can see, you already offered your apologies to Firaxis (and in my opinion, you should), so that closes the issue, doesn't it?

posted 03-09-99 12:35 PM ET            

This is what i posted about America....

I think the ATOM BOMB is the best option for war. After we used it , it contributed
to the longest peace in our worlds HISTORY. In my opinion the Atom boming in
Japan was the best thing to do in that situtation. We also needed to prove to the
world(Europe and USSR)
that we are not weak and back down to a little pathetic island in the pacific.Europe
needs to admitt that they just dont like AMERICA. They feel that since they
colonized the modern world and they were always the best,then when America
comes along and we are better than them, then they thing its ok to critize
them.FOR GODS SAKE ENGLAND AND FRANCE THINK THEY ARE THE BEST COUNTRIES
IN THE WORLD. When my friend went on a across Europe tour and they told people
that they were AMERICAN they got treated very badly. People hate us there.

And get this we helped save EUROPES BUTT in WW2when All of MAINLAND Europe
was conquered by Hitler,except Sweden and i think Spain. And they still hate us.I
think AMERICA is the best damn country in the WORLD.

In Russia , the people get treated like crap.
In England they still have a Queen!!!!
In France they also droped A bombs in experimental uses :ie:French Ploneisa(Pacific)
In Germany,thats a time bomb waiting to explode.
In China they put a population limit of 2 children per home(this is on what i heard)
In SouthEast Asia people worship idols
In the Middle East theres a tyrannical madman
controling a huge military.
In Africa tribes are still in wars.
In India and pakastan there testing biological weapons.

IN AMERICA THERE A STABLE DEMOCRACY\REPUBLIC
founded on the Christian religion.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

----
Ok i agree this is a little to fanatic but i do love my country and i think other countrys should like us too. Come on we fought communism, we helped save the world in WW1 and WW2. We were founded on Christianity,and on the fact that "All men are creted equal".
Now about the slave issue.
Back then people thought is was ok. They were selling Africian slaves in Europe too.Indians were slaves in The Spanish colonies in South and Central America. Now its justified but back then it wasn't.

Im sorry for fanatical Americian pride but

posted 03-09-99 01:20 PM ET            

>>
I think the ATOM BOMB is the best option for war.

Even when it's overkill and nearly every country in the world would condemn us for it?

>>
After we used it , it contributed to the longest peace in our worlds HISTORY.

Somehow, I don't believe that's very accurate. There's almost always a war going on, somewhere in the world. Besides, I wouldn't exactly call the Cold War peace. Do you have any clue how close we came to nuclear war, several times?

>>
In my opinion the Atom boming in Japan was the best thing to do in that situtation. We also needed to prove to the world(Europe and USSR) that we are not weak and back down to a little pathetic island in the pacific.

Erm, we already proved we were quite strong. We beat the crap out of the Japanese for bombing Pearl Harbor, and we beat them back to their homeland without using nuclear weapons. The only reason they were used, besides as a terror device, is to save the lives of millions, for the cost of a couple hundred thousand.

>>
Europe needs to admitt that they just dont like AMERICA. They feel that since they colonized the modern world and they were always the best,then when America comes along and we are better than them, then they thing its ok to critize them.

How, exactly, are we better than them? Oh, wait, is that what that list a bit lower down is for?

>>
FOR GODS SAKE ENGLAND AND FRANCE THINK THEY ARE THE BEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

And you think the US is the best country in the world. Any similarity in the thought processes there?

>>
When my friend went on a across Europe tour and they told people that they were AMERICAN they got treated very badly. People hate us there.

There can be several explanations for this. One, they 'hate' us because we think we're so superior to them. Two, they 'hate' us because we were able to pull them from the brink in two separate World Wars, and we dangle that in their faces every day. Three, they just don't like tourists. I know I don't, regardless of their origin.

>>
And get this we helped save EUROPES BUTT in WW2 when All of MAINLAND Europe was conquered by Hitler,except Sweden and i think Spain. And they still hate us.

Of course they do. We had the resources and the time to build our armies to war capacity while they didn't. And, just because we saved them 50 years ago doesn't mean they want to be REMINDED OF IT every single day by people like you.

>>
I think AMERICA is the best damn country in the WORLD.

Generally, a citizen of a country thinks their country is the best.

>>
In Russia , the people get treated like crap.

People get treated like crap here. You're probably against immigration, and probably look down on naturalized Americans.

>>
In England they still have a Queen!!!!

A figurehead, really. The Parliment does the actual running of the country (I'm not British, so I can't say for sure what purpose the Queen actually serves).

In France they also droped A bombs in experimental uses :ie:French Ploneisa(Pacific)

The US, Russia, and China (ESPECIALLY the US) tested thousands of nuclear devices in the pacific and their own countries. What's so big about France dropping a couple on test islands (despite the fact that the superpowers banned all nuclear testing a few decades ago)?

>>
In Germany,thats a time bomb waiting to explode.

Erm, it is? Explain.

>>
In China they put a population limit of 2
children per home(this is on what i heard)

Good for them. They're the only government in the world taking charge of the overpopulation problem. Every country needs to do this.

>>In SouthEast Asia people worship idols

Oooh...that must be really bad.
And you worshipping that idol stapled up to a cross...you must hate yourself, eh?
Damn hypocritical Christians (not all Christians, just the hypocritical ones).

>>
In the Middle East theres a tyrannical madman
controling a huge military.

There's one of those in every part of the world.

>>
In Africa tribes are still in wars.

So? What's so bad about tribal conflict? Tribal conflict got us to where we are today.

>>
In India and pakastan there testing biological weapons.

So is the US, Russia, and China; and probably dozens more countries. Don't kid yourself into thinking the US is above all that. The US probably has some of the most sophisticated biologicals in the world.
Besides, last I heard, they were only testing nuclear weaponry, not biological.

>>
IN AMERICA THERE A STABLE DEMOCRACY\REPUBLIC
founded on the Christian religion.

We weren't founded on Christianity, we were founded on FREEDOM of religion. And that's the primary problem with this country. Religion. It's the inexplicably powerful religions holding back progress in this country (Cloning, dammit!).

>>
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Satan bless the government!...oh, too late.

posted 03-09-99 01:35 PM ET            

1) I am American. I am proud to be an American. I love my country, for all of its failings.
2) Separation of church and state is good.
3) I try to take any information in a history book with a skeptical eye.. after all, as they say in Moo2, "history is written by the victors."
4) I agree aout the idea of population control. China's plans for reducing propulation growth is excellent. Upwards of 70% of the social/environmental problems on this planet are caused by one thing: rampant population growth. This is why I am pro-birth control, pro-abortion, pro-family planning, pro-governmental incentives for limiting the number of children you spew into this world.

posted 03-09-99 02:21 PM ET            

But it seems like some people have nothing better to do all day than post "U STINXX. THIS GAME STINXX. I HAT YOU. ME AM ANGRY AT CHRIS AND JEFF BECAUSE THEY STINXX."

And there's really no point in it. You hate the game, fine. Meanwhile people will keep posting their opinions about THE GAME in here.

posted 03-09-99 05:15 PM ET            

If you are lucky, you'll one day understand that it's this kind of talk that makes some people hostile against Americans.

posted 09-07-99 06:11 AM ET            

Every time I see this whining "Europeans don't like Americans, they should 'cause we saved their butts crap." it makes me laugh. We don't like the loudmouth arsehole Americans but I've met a lot of American's I've got on really well with, maybe because I base my opinion of people on the individual in question rather some naive and offensive national stereotype or generalisation.

posted 09-10-99 06:55 AM ET            

...

CeoTJ -

In Civ, nuclear weapons are a good, practical way to break open a front. Just get a bunch of settlers out there to clean up the mess & you are fine.

In today's world, things are a bit different. I have read some research papers that make me think that "nuclear winter" is unlikely at best, so humans may survive. Still, nuclear, chem, & bio weapons kill large numbers of people and render the land unusable for quite some time. If you want to see 1/3rd of humans lost to fire, and 1/3rd lost to plague, start using nuclear, chem, & bio weapons. Instant Armageddon, just add water.

Yes, we did create the longest peace in history. We demonstrated that weapon power had finally reached the point where a world war could wipe mankind off the face of the planet. I am glad that only two were ever used. I would be more glad if that number was smaller, or if they had been used on targets that showed the power of the weapon without killing off all the people.
Need to prove to Japan & USSR? No... that had already been done. We went from getting our troops kicked halfway across the Pacific Ocean to winning the war, and we used less than half of our power to do it. We were pointing out that we could simply destroy them instead of invading, so they might as well surrender now & save lives. (At this point in time, this argument does not work. The best we can say is "If you blow us up, we will blow you up".)

I am sorry to hear about your friends in Europe. I am afraid that many Americans are very rude & arrogant when visiting other countries. They make it clear that they feel that American ways and customs are all the very best, and who cares about what customs they have had for longer than America has existed as a country. Yes, we came in and helped them in WW2. We have long since worn out our welcome.
Is the average American that way? I hope not. But the ones who are have made a stereotype for the rest of us to live with. Is it fair? No, but it is our fault, not the fault of the people in countries we annoy.

Russia: Early this century, Russians attempted to better themselves. It didn't work. A few years ago, they tried again. Perhaps they will get it right this time.
England: Please go review English government. There is a bit more to it these days.
France: True. Americans tested them inside America. This makes the French a bit smarter, eh? (we also blew up little islands, and boats in the open sea,... why do you think we have the best nukes? Practice...)
Germany: Hard to say...
China: And if they don't, please tell me how they will feed the extra people. They have already been fruitful, multiplied, and filled their country.
SE Asia: I find it more hypocritical to see Christians doing this in US. At least many of the people is SE Asia have no religious reason not to.
Middle East: Several of those in the world today. This increases the CBR weapon dangers.
Africa: Sorry... haven't kept up on Africa.
India, Pakistan: Again, like nuclear weapons testing, are you trying to imply that we don't?
America: Well, we were founded that way, but we got a little away from that when we broke treaties & backstabbed our way all the way to the west coast, not to mention what we have done in other countries.

Are we the best country? I think this is one of those "favorite faction" votes. We are certainly one of the better countries to live in, but the best?

Should other countries like us?
Yes, we fought communism. This made lots of countries like us, but lots of other ones hate us. Sorry to say, not everyone hates communism. We helped save the world in WW1 & WW2. Yes, we broke our isolation & joined into the WW1. Then, when it was most important (peace talks @ end), we failed our own leaders & helped create WW2, which we later helped win. We then wore out our welcome. Yes, they liked us for a while, but we stopped deserving it, and then we annoyed them.

Yes... all men are created equal... but just the men, and not the black men. A wonderful concept. Now, a few hundred years later, it has a chance of becoming true without the added comments.
Slaves? Nope... won't go there on this BB.

...

I too love America for all of its failings. After some problems, we are finally growing up. I hope we continue to learn & grow.

Empath
(in Korea)

posted 09-10-99 01:30 PM ET            

Longest period of peace is relative. Which countries? USA? Let's see... Gulf, Vietnam, Korea, WWII, WWI... nope. There were definately recognized conflicts... unlike the banana grabs and other things. Now, in general all of europe didn't care what we were doing... is that the distinction?

Dead men and women are dead. They don't care what you call it, peace-keeping, war, defending the faith. Conflict due to National or Political interest is still a chance for you to get your bottom shot off. And Peace is a relative thing in the politically sensitive realms...

posted 09-11-99 08:38 PM ET         

It is also so nice to see another American who has pride in his country. So many americans dont and it is very sad.

The fact is, our country is the best in the world and you fellow americans should be proud of that.

Yes america has made mistakes, the Indians and slavery were wrong, but it was excepted at that time as a way of life. Every country did it then. It was wrong, but I do not blame myself for that, that was long ago, way before my time and our country has tried to correct this bad mistake, and we should be proud of that.

The A-Bomb was not a mistake, it saved lives over all. Everyone knows if the US didnt drop any A-Bombs ALOT more American lives would have been lost, and many more Japanese lives would have been lost if the war continued. If we didnt nuke them, we would have firebombed the cities, which we did to many other cities and killed many people. So there was nothing wrong with nuking the **** out of them.

Any American who is not proud of their country and not proud to be an American, is pathetic and sad.

God Bless America.

posted 09-12-99 06:10 PM ET            

Is "God" this practical when it comes to wasting lives and prioritising humans in your religion?

Personally, I prefer to judge humans, not nationalities. Fanatic nationalism gets in the way of that, it always has.

posted 09-13-99 04:51 AM ET            

Korea and Vietnam are the opposite side of the world from us but there were British troops there I think, not in Vietnam but then no-one agreed with that, not even a lot of Americans. In the Gulf there were British and French soldiers and planes. There aren't many European countries with the armed forces to take on conflicts like that. We haven't really anymore.

It's possible to be proud of your country and notice the problems with it and it's possible to like your country but not be proud of it. God bless America is one of those expressions that makes Europeans laugh.

-MikeH

posted 09-13-99 07:37 PM ET            

Speaking of which, the UN voted Canada the best country in which to live (based on economic prosperity and stuff like that) for the last six years in a row. Just goes to show that they haven't been here--to places like the skid rows in Vancouver or Montreal or whatever.

Proudly Canadian, but even more proudly human,
SP