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Aga1 posted 12-18-98 04:34 PM ET
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
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2ND Post A reply
Ex Mudder wrote:
> 1) What are the 12 pre-play faction generation options, and what
> do the 3 different settings do?
This one doesn't ring a bell. Alpha Centauri has 7 factions (each w/
unique powers), various different world-generation options, 16 "optional
rules".
> 2) What are the 8 in game social / governmental customizations,
> and what do the different options do?
Social Engineering has 4 major categories from which you choose one of 4
settings:
Your POLITICS can be "Frontier", "Police State", "Democratic",
"Fundamentalist"
Your ECONOMICS can be "Simple", "Free Market", "Planned", or "Green"
Your VALUES can be "Survival", "Power", "Knowledge", or "Wealth"
Your FUTURE SOCIETY can be "None", "Cybernetic", "Eudaimonic", or
"Thought Control"
The effects are a lot to go into (check out the demo), but the main
effect areas are Economy, Efficiency, Unit Support, Morale, Police,
Population Growth, Planet (environment), Probe, Industry, and Research.
Each of these areas can range upward or downward from "bad" (say, -5) to
"good" (say, +5), and are also affected by your faction power.
> 3) What are the faction stats for all 7 factions?
Also a lot to go into, but I'll summarize and refer you to the demo for
full details:
Gaians => Green, Environmentally correct, efficient
+Efficiency +Planet -Morale -Police
25% chance to capture mind worms
Human Hive => Brutal dictatorship, social experiments, Big Brother
+Industry, +Population, -Economy
Free perimeter defense at every base
University => Brilliant if somewhat unethical researchers
+Research, -Probe
Free Tech at start
Free Network Node at every base
1 extra Drone for every 4 citizens
Morgan Conglomerate => Mogul, Industrialist, Laissez-faire capitalism
+Economy +Commerce, -Support
100 extra energy at start
Special population growth limits
Spartan Survivalists => Survivalists
+Morale +Police -Industry
New unit prototypes do not incur premium cost
Lord's Believers => Religious Devotees
-Research +Probe -Planet
+25% combat bonus when attacking
Peacekeepers => Latter day U.N. humanitarians
-Efficiency (bureaucracy)
1 extra Talent for every 4 citizens, rounded up
Population growth limits relaxed
x2 votes in Planetary Governor elections
> 4) Baldur's Gate was at this state on monday, but should be out
> before 12/21. why will it take until Feb for SMAC to come out?
That's more a question for EA/Origin than for Firaxis, since they're the
publisher. I think what it comes down to is they didn't think we were
really going to be finished when we were.
Brian Reynolds
Alpha Centauri Designer
FIRAXIS Games
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3rd Post Another Reply
It depends on (a) how many people (b) internet, lan, or modem (i.e. how
much latency can be expected).
For internet games of more than 2 players, I'd say go with the
non-simultaneous movement. The short scenarios can probably be completed
in around 2 hours, but typically people seem to want to jump right in
with big games on big maps, in which case you can spend pretty much as
long as you care to :-)
If you're lucky enough to have a LAN, or have a very good connection or
very small # of players, you can try the simultaneous movement, where
everybody takes their turn at the same time. That normally speeds things
up considerably, but watch out because if there's enough lag out there
it will actually take longer than the non-simultaneous games & be
infinitely more frustrating.
Brian Reynolds
Alpha Centauri Designer
FIRAXIS Games

Han wrote:
>
> Brian Reynolds wrote in message <[email protected]>...
> >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.
>
> Hello, Brian (The man who put the "fun" in "fundamentalism". What are we
> looking at in terms of the average as well as extremes for the amount of
> game time in multiplayer games?
> --
> ...Han (El Pollo)
> http://www.gamepost.com/editorials.html
> =======================================
zaz posted 12-18-98 04:48 PM ET
Since you are now finished, will EA move up the release date, or will they still hold till Feb??
BoomBoom posted 12-20-98 01:43 PM ET
just thought I'd bring this up the list a bit.
The DirectorGeneral posted 12-20-98 02:28 PM ET
Brian Reynolds mentioned in a few of the usenet posts that the reason EA isn't ready to go is that Firaxis "surprised them".. something about EA not believing that Firaxis would actually be done anytime soon...
The DG
Foxtaur posted 12-20-98 02:41 PM ET
(From Brian Reynolds' posts to usenet)
*The mag demo will include somewhat more multimedia than the download version.
*Sorry, no multiplayer in the demo! For that you'll need the full game.

*Once your industrial base and technology level are reestablished, you can launch satellites, build lunar mining facilities, and so forth. There are provisions for limited satellite-vs-satellite (and satellite-vs-missile) combat. The focus of the game remains firmly on events Planetside, but there is an orbital/solar subgame.
*Once your industrial base and technology level are properly reestablished, you can build various satellites, lunar mining facilities, and so forth. There are provisions for simplified satellite-vs-satellite combat.
*Our research on the physics of the Alpha Centauri system indicate that there would be nothing in the way of outer planets, and most likely relatively little in the way of asteroids, so we've played those aspects down.
Yo_Yo_Yo_Hey posted 12-20-98 05:19 PM ET
Just one thing about the first post. Why does the Hive get a population bonus?? I think more people would be deterred from joining the Hive & would join the PK's. I guess I was wrong.
Your faithful & hell-bent NIMadier general,
YYYH
Octopus posted 12-20-98 05:39 PM ET
Don't be silly, Yo, everybody LOVES the Hive .
SnowFire posted 12-20-98 05:43 PM ET
It's probably because Yang told citizens it's their duty to create lots of new Hivesters to people the world.
I put some more posts in the Usenet thread. Head over there right now! BR actually responded to one of my posts!
To close this thread, click here (moderator or admin only).


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Author	Topic: Posts From BR Posted Here
Aga1	posted 12-18-98 04:34 PM ET 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 __________________________________________________________________________________________ 2ND Post A reply Ex Mudder wrote: > 1) What are the 12 pre-play faction generation options, and what > do the 3 different settings do? This one doesn't ring a bell. Alpha Centauri has 7 factions (each w/ unique powers), various different world-generation options, 16 "optional rules". > 2) What are the 8 in game social / governmental customizations, > and what do the different options do? Social Engineering has 4 major categories from which you choose one of 4 settings: Your POLITICS can be "Frontier", "Police State", "Democratic", "Fundamentalist" Your ECONOMICS can be "Simple", "Free Market", "Planned", or "Green" Your VALUES can be "Survival", "Power", "Knowledge", or "Wealth" Your FUTURE SOCIETY can be "None", "Cybernetic", "Eudaimonic", or "Thought Control" The effects are a lot to go into (check out the demo), but the main effect areas are Economy, Efficiency, Unit Support, Morale, Police, Population Growth, Planet (environment), Probe, Industry, and Research. Each of these areas can range upward or downward from "bad" (say, -5) to "good" (say, +5), and are also affected by your faction power. > 3) What are the faction stats for all 7 factions? Also a lot to go into, but I'll summarize and refer you to the demo for full details: Gaians => Green, Environmentally correct, efficient +Efficiency +Planet -Morale -Police 25% chance to capture mind worms Human Hive => Brutal dictatorship, social experiments, Big Brother +Industry, +Population, -Economy Free perimeter defense at every base University => Brilliant if somewhat unethical researchers +Research, -Probe Free Tech at start Free Network Node at every base 1 extra Drone for every 4 citizens Morgan Conglomerate => Mogul, Industrialist, Laissez-faire capitalism +Economy +Commerce, -Support 100 extra energy at start Special population growth limits Spartan Survivalists => Survivalists +Morale +Police -Industry New unit prototypes do not incur premium cost Lord's Believers => Religious Devotees -Research +Probe -Planet +25% combat bonus when attacking Peacekeepers => Latter day U.N. humanitarians -Efficiency (bureaucracy) 1 extra Talent for every 4 citizens, rounded up Population growth limits relaxed x2 votes in Planetary Governor elections > 4) Baldur's Gate was at this state on monday, but should be out > before 12/21. why will it take until Feb for SMAC to come out? That's more a question for EA/Origin than for Firaxis, since they're the publisher. I think what it comes down to is they didn't think we were really going to be finished when we were. Brian Reynolds Alpha Centauri Designer FIRAXIS Games __________________________________________________________________________________________ 3rd Post Another Reply It depends on (a) how many people (b) internet, lan, or modem (i.e. how much latency can be expected). For internet games of more than 2 players, I'd say go with the non-simultaneous movement. The short scenarios can probably be completed in around 2 hours, but typically people seem to want to jump right in with big games on big maps, in which case you can spend pretty much as long as you care to :-) If you're lucky enough to have a LAN, or have a very good connection or very small # of players, you can try the simultaneous movement, where everybody takes their turn at the same time. That normally speeds things up considerably, but watch out because if there's enough lag out there it will actually take longer than the non-simultaneous games & be infinitely more frustrating. Brian Reynolds Alpha Centauri Designer FIRAXIS Games Han wrote: > > Brian Reynolds wrote in message <[email protected]>... > >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. > > Hello, Brian (The man who put the "fun" in "fundamentalism". What are we > looking at in terms of the average as well as extremes for the amount of > game time in multiplayer games? > -- > ...Han (El Pollo) > http://www.gamepost.com/editorials.html > =======================================
zaz	posted 12-18-98 04:48 PM ET Since you are now finished, will EA move up the release date, or will they still hold till Feb??
BoomBoom	posted 12-20-98 01:43 PM ET just thought I'd bring this up the list a bit.
The DirectorGeneral	posted 12-20-98 02:28 PM ET Brian Reynolds mentioned in a few of the usenet posts that the reason EA isn't ready to go is that Firaxis "surprised them".. something about EA not believing that Firaxis would actually be done anytime soon... The DG
Foxtaur	posted 12-20-98 02:41 PM ET (From Brian Reynolds' posts to usenet) The mag demo will include somewhat more multimedia than the download version. Sorry, no multiplayer in the demo! For that you'll need the full game. Once your industrial base and technology level are reestablished, you can launch satellites, build lunar mining facilities, and so forth. There are provisions for limited satellite-vs-satellite (and satellite-vs-missile) combat. The focus of the game remains firmly on events Planetside, but there is an orbital/solar subgame. Once your industrial base and technology level are properly reestablished, you can build various satellites, lunar mining facilities, and so forth. There are provisions for simplified satellite-vs-satellite combat. *Our research on the physics of the Alpha Centauri system indicate that there would be nothing in the way of outer planets, and most likely relatively little in the way of asteroids, so we've played those aspects down.
Yo_Yo_Yo_Hey	posted 12-20-98 05:19 PM ET Just one thing about the first post. Why does the Hive get a population bonus?? I think more people would be deterred from joining the Hive & would join the PK's. I guess I was wrong. Your faithful & hell-bent NIMadier general, YYYH
Octopus	posted 12-20-98 05:39 PM ET Don't be silly, Yo, everybody LOVES the Hive .
SnowFire	posted 12-20-98 05:43 PM ET It's probably because Yang told citizens it's their duty to create lots of new Hivesters to people the world. I put some more posts in the Usenet thread. Head over there right now! BR actually responded to one of my posts!