Release: SMAC in SMAX

[DrazharLn]

SMAC in SMAX!

Play SMAC in the slightly improved SMAX engine!

This project mods SMAX to make it play like SMAC.

This is a good idea for you because the SMAX engine is slightly better (less buggy, and much better if you're into modding, thanks to Yitzi) and has a better faction select screen. This is good for the community, too, because all modding effort can be concentrated on one version of the game.

Summary of changes:
* SMAC Tech tree restored
* Unit and Facility prerequisites restored
* Progenitor references purged (as far as possible) from datalinks
* Progenitor references purged from tutorial messages
* Map of Planet and Huge Map of Planet replaced with SMAC variants
* Yitzi: Sealurks, Spore Launchers, Fungal Towers and Battle Ogres will not spawn or appear in pods
* Yitzi: Unity Wreck and Fossil Ridge landmarks will not appear on randomly generated maps
* Yitzi: SMAC Main menu screen and colours used

History:

(click to show/hide)

Two years ago, diessa and BUncle kicked off talks about making a SMAC in SMAX project, and the community came together collected lists of differences between the games. Ford_Prefect made a mod manager and I did all the modding we could do without .exe support. In early 2015, Yitzi released version 3.4 of his patch, including an expansion features code that allows us to turn on and off precisely the bits of the game engine we needed to.

For my share of the changes, I thank vimdiff.

Original threads:
SMAC within SMAX
Comprehensive SMAC->SMAX changelist

Installation:

Latest versions of thinker include an ac_mod directory with all the files you need. See instructions here https://github.com/induktio/thinker/blob/master/Details.md#smac-in-smacx-mod

If not using Thinker, read on.

I recommend that this patch is installed with Ford_Prefect's SMAC Mod Manager Beta 3, so install that first.

Then download the two mods attached to this post, yitzi3.4b+pracx1.07 and smac_in_smax. The first is a compilation of the Yitzi 3.4, 3.4b and PRACX 1.07 patches, for your convenience, and as a recommendation of a better way to do these things. Extract the two mods to the Mod Manager's mod directory, then run SMACXLauncher.exe, enable both by moving them to the right column, ensuring that yitzi3.4b+pracx1.07 is higher up the list than smac_in_smax. Click "Apply".

You can now run terranx.exe, and you'll be playing SMAC, without the X!

[Buster's Uncle]

So you consider this a finished full release version?  Is it up in Downloads?

[DrazharLn]

It's not in downloads yet. I'd like forumites to give it a go first. I'm particularly interested in any bug reports or difficulties experienced using the mod manager.

[mcshame]

A question about the SMAC in SMAX mod and what I should expect to see.  I understood that this mod would limit the new elements of SMAX.  Does this include the selection of your faction?  I noticed I could still select the aliens or new ones in the game setup phase.

Thx

[DrazharLn]

You can still select any faction (replacing the Alien factions with some other custom factions is on the todo list, though), if you select a faction that gets a free tech or facility that I've disabled, I dunno what will happen. Probably you'll just get the tech/facility. (though you won't be able to research any of the other disabled techs).

[mcshame]

ok, so if I play the original factions, I'll be good and get the gameplay experience like original? I like the idea of that, especially until I figure out how to play the game.

[Buster's Uncle]

I believe some of the idea -certainly something that interested me about the project- is that stuff like games of the month scenarios can all be done in SMAX w/o leaving out a substantial portion of the potential audience who don't have/like x-fire...

Check the subforums of Command Nexus for a LOT of scenarios...

[mcshame]

lol, first thing first, got to play the game.  I started yesterday and found 3 groups got attacked by the Spartans and I was freaking out! I just wanted to build up my cities and suddenly it got really crowded. Didn't have enough time to play, but will get a serious  playthrough soon. What play level should I start at for my first run at it?

[Buster's Uncle]

The lowest - the problem with the AI being stupid take a few years playing and getting good at it to crop up...

[DrazharLn]

I dissent!

I think Librarian is a good default difficulty. It'll be a bit challenging in the early game for a newer player, especially on a smaller map, but not too bad.

[Buster's Uncle]

Depends on how much of a natural you are, I guess...

What were you the first time, anyway; ten?

[DrazharLn]

Young, anyway. I don't know what I played on originally.

[mcshame]

Played SMAC_in_SMAX with the mod organizer and it's working like a charm.  Although I wouldn't really know yet if there was a lore related item issue, it seems really good so far. 3 hours put into this playthrough.  I'm on the easier level and kinda owning everyone but that's ok, making lots of mistakes and hopefully will learn from them.

[DrazharLn]

I'm fairly confident I got rid of all the references to the progenitors, so you should be safe

I'm glad everything's working and that you're having a good time with it. Thanks for the report!

[scient]

Did you set this flag inside SMACX binary (v2.0)?

009A6488 g_ENABLE_SMACX

It gets toggled to TRUE in WinMain on start. It might actually cut down on the need to some edits since it will prevent a lot of SMACX specific content. You can find all references to it inside db draft.