Need some help with what versions of what files to use

[IronHorse6]

Hello.  Newbie NewGuy here with an installation question (among others). 

So, recently I was cleaning up in the basement and stumbled across my manual from the Planetary Pack and I remembered how much I enjoyed the game 10 years ago.  I went and bought a copy from GOG and installed it.  Fired it up and discovered that I had some kind of video problem.   

Remembered that there was some kind of trick, but could not remember what it was.  Did some googling and found this site.  Hooray.  Found the DirectDraw=0 trick. 

But there was so much more.  Pulled up the Wiki and started reading. 

Found the Yitzi's patch.  Installed the unofficial 2.5 patch and then replaced the terranx.exe with the 2.5J version.  Kept reading the wiki.

Saw that there was a (much needed) update to the DataLinks; however, when I clicked the link in the Wiki, the link took me to another site entirely (see http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=291246) called Civ Fanatics.  Interestingly, the thread on Civ Fanatics points back to http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=2477.0 .  But I am totally confused which version of conceptsx and helpx to use at this point.  Can somebody advise me? 
Along those same lines, the Yitzi's patch has its own version of helpx -- so no matter which version of conceptsx I use, do I use the helpx from the Yitzi patch?  Or the helpx from GooglyBoogly_SMACX_Datalinksv1_3.zip or the helpx copied out of the wiki (see http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Helpx.txt)??

Help!!

I see that there is also a link in the Wiki for additional Factions.  Sounds like fun, but I just do not understand how those work -- that will be my next post asking for help. 

Finally, there appears to be several different sites with a lot of data on SMAX: alphacentauri2, Civ Fanatics, Apolyton, Civilization Gaming Network (although this one looks dead?), We play Civ, and (there may be others). 
I am NOT trying to start a religious war, but can somebody outline the strengths/weaknesses/advantages/disadvantages of these sites?  I realize that by posting the question on this site that the responses may be biased toward this site.  That is OK.  But still looking for some objective (or semi-objective) data on which sites I need to keep up with -- are they mutually exclusive or are some sites better at some things and other sites better at other things??

Bottom line is I need advice on what conceptsx and helpx files to use and then would welcome other commentary responding to this rambling post.
Thanks.

[Yitzi]

If you use my patch, it is necessary* to add the three lines added by my helpx in #TECHHECK.  Everything else can use the one from the wiki if you prefer.

I'm attaching a modified helpx (the one from the wiki plus those three lines) to this post, and plan to use it for future patches.

*I'm not sure if not using it will cause the game to crash, but it will at least cause some things to display incorrectly.

[Petek]

Regarding the datalinks update: GooglyBoogly's update on CivFanatics built on prior work and was the only such update for several years. Then ete started a project on various forums to improve the update. That's why his update is mentioned in the CivFanatics thread. However, ete didn't completely finish his work and recommended that players use GB's update on Civfanatics. Thus, GB's version 1.3 is the most current. Note that the update is only for SMAX, not SMAC. If you're using Yitzi's patch, then follow his advice for which files to use.

Here's my take on the various Alpha Centauri forums: For many years, Apolyton was the primary place for discussion of SMACX. The current forum isn't very active now. Don't overlook the archives, which contain lots of interesting discussions. WePlayCiv also hasn't been very active for the past several years, but contains some articles worth reading. The CGN forums have been locked, but were the primary place to discuss scient's unofficial patch. (Scient created the first unofficial patch and all the other patches build off it.) GOG also has an Alpha Centauri forum, but I find the interface difficult to use. I hang out on the CivFanatics SMAC forum. It's the best place to get my attention for help with most technical problems (but Yitzi is the one to go to here for help with his patch). This forum, AC2, is the most active SMAC forum.

[IronHorse6]

If you use my patch, it is necessary* to add the three lines added by my helpx in #TECHHECK.  Everything else can use the one from the wiki if you prefer.

I'm attaching a modified helpx (the one from the wiki plus those three lines) to this post, and plan to use it for future patches.

*I'm not sure if not using it will cause the game to crash, but it will at least cause some things to display incorrectly.

Thank you for responding back.  When I compared the helpx.txt from GooglyBoogly1.3 to the version in the wiki, they seemed to be fairly similar (not quite close to identical but definitely similar); however, the helpx.txt from your 2.5 is radically different from both GooglyBoogly1.3 and the version in the wiki.   Given the differences and all the comments about multiple projects and multiple versions, I was just confused and frustrated (and a bit afraid to use anything that was not in your patch package).

Are you sure that you actually attached the file that you intended?  The attachment to your post looks exactly like the helpx.txt file in your 2.5 Package and nothing at all like the helpx from the wiki?   

I do understand which are the 3 specific lines that you have called out in the #TECHHECK section and I would be comfortable adding them to either the wiki helpx or the GooglyBoogly, but there are so many other differences between your helpx.txt in the 2.5 package and the wiki helpx that I am sill a bit apprehensive.

[IronHorse6]

Regarding the datalinks update: GooglyBoogly's update on CivFanatics built on prior work and was the only such update for several years. Then ete started a project on various forums to improve the update. That's why his update is mentioned in the CivFanatics thread. However, ete didn't completely finish his work and recommended that players use GB's update on Civfanatics. Thus, GB's version 1.3 is the most current. Note that the update is only for SMAX, not SMAC. If you're using Yitzi's patch, then follow his advice for which files to use.

Here's my take on the various Alpha Centauri forums: For many years, Apolyton was the primary place for discussion of SMACX. The current forum isn't very active now. Don't overlook the archives, which contain lots of interesting discussions. WePlayCiv also hasn't been very active for the past several years, but contains some articles worth reading. The CGN forums have been locked, but were the primary place to discuss scient's unofficial patch. (Scient created the first unofficial patch and all the other patches build off it.) GOG also has an Alpha Centauri forum, but I find the interface difficult to use. I hang out on the CivFanatics SMAC forum. It's the best place to get my attention for help with most technical problems (but Yitzi is the one to go to here for help with his patch). This forum, AC2, is the most active SMAC forum.

Really really appreciate your take on the various sites.  When you state that "This forum, AC2, is the most active SMAC forum," does that also apply to SMAX??  I kinda stopped playing SAMC basic once SMAX was published -- so I am obviously more interested in sites that have active SMAX communities.   (I did make a note that I might be able to reach you on CivFanatics for technical questions -- seems like a safe bet that I will be needing to take advantage of that generous offer).

Also, appreciate you filling me in on the history of the Datalinks files.  When I compared the wiki helpx and conceptsx files to the GooglyBoogly files I did notice a large number of differences and that the wiki files did seem to be built upon (and improvements on) the GooglyBoogly files.   It is unfortunate that ete did not get finished with his project and that the recommendation seems to be to use the older GooglyBoogly files rather than the improved wiki files, but if the wiki files are not stable, I definitely do not want to start with them.  (I am sure that it would be my luck that there would be no issues until I am about 50 hours into the game and then something in the files causes a meltdown).   However, if Yitzi confirms that the wiki files are OK to use, then I will give them a go.

Thanks again for your help.

[Petek]

I should have referred to SMACX. AC2 covers both the original release SMAC and the add-on SMAX.

[Yitzi]

If you use my patch, it is necessary* to add the three lines added by my helpx in #TECHHECK.  Everything else can use the one from the wiki if you prefer.

I'm attaching a modified helpx (the one from the wiki plus those three lines) to this post, and plan to use it for future patches.

*I'm not sure if not using it will cause the game to crash, but it will at least cause some things to display incorrectly.

Thank you for responding back.  When I compared the helpx.txt from GooglyBoogly1.3 to the version in the wiki, they seemed to be fairly similar (not quite close to identical but definitely similar); however, the helpx.txt from your 2.5 is radically different from both GooglyBoogly1.3 and the version in the wiki.   Given the differences and all the comments about multiple projects and multiple versions, I was just confused and frustrated (and a bit afraid to use anything that was not in your patch package).

That would be because the one on the wiki built on GooglyBoogly, and mine didn't include any of the GooglyBoogly sources or the later ones.

Are you sure that you actually attached the file that you intended?  The attachment to your post looks exactly like the helpx.txt file in your 2.5 Package and nothing at all like the helpx from the wiki?

Whoops...I changed the version in my patch but not my main version, then uploaded the main version.  I'll upload a replacement now (to both this post and replace the earlier one).

I do understand which are the 3 specific lines that you have called out in the #TECHHECK section and I would be comfortable adding them to either the wiki helpx or the GooglyBoogly, but there are so many other differences between your helpx.txt in the 2.5 package and the wiki helpx that I am sill a bit apprehensive.

I'm fairly certain all the other changes are just not having the differences between the original and the wiki/GooglyBoogly.

[Buster's Uncle]

Here's a thread with some background on various related forums: http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=4233.0

...As far as weaknesses of various SMAC(X) nexuses, -I don't want to be all negative, so I don't have a lot to say about the others- AC2 is not a subforum of a site devoted to something else, and the difference shows, not least in activity.  CFC AC does have it all over us in having Petek, king of troubleshooting getting SMACX running on your machine, and it's a place a light conversational topic like "Which faction would you join?" will probably get a lot more traction.  I do not know why we can't manage to get much of that action going, but there it is.  As far as strengths, look around - we've got a very strong modding bench, a great deal of content, and we know how to treat a newb.  AC2 is made out of people.

[Yitzi]

and it's a place a light conversational topic like "Which faction would you join?" will probably get a lot more traction.  I do not know why we can't manage to get much of that action going, but there it is.

When's the last time you tried to get that sort of thing going?

[Buster's Uncle]

Guessing, about six months ago.  I try, occasionally.