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Alpha Centauri Players | Info][AlphaHQ][Official Forums]
Last Updated: 03/29/99[SMAC
Reference & Resources]Auto-Updated: 03/29/99
[FTP Download Demo 1.1][Download
2.0 patch: US | UK | German | French]
Multi-Player
Info
US only 3.0
Patch Download Page
Link Status: All links in Alpha Centauri Heaven were verified on Feb 1, 1999.
Jump to Headline News or the old Archived News
Alpha Centauri #1 & #1!
Mon Mar 29 - The Alpha Centauri DEMO is #1 again (Eleven weeks in a
row now) and the full retail game moved up the charts and now is also #1 (knocking out
Baldur's Gate). If you want to vote to keep it number 1, just click on the button heading
this news clip to go to the voting page.
No Copy Protection for all Patch 3.0's!
Fri Mar 26 - Firaxis (Jeffrey Morris) has advised us that when Patch
3.0 is released for UK, French and German that it will NOT be Copy Protected!
Apparantly customers complaints did not fall on deaf ears.
Research Assistant for Palm Pilot HELP!
Wed Mar 24 - James Thorpe will make his C++ source code to SMAC
Research Assistant available to anyone who wishes to port it over to the Palm Pilot.
This could be a really cool use of the Palm Pilot! In the middle of the game,
you might wonder what techs you need in order to get Drop Pods or the Hover Tank ... just
whip out your Palm Pilot and check! If this is something you could help develop please
contact CaptComal@hotmail.com !!!
SMAC Patch 3.0
for US!
Fri Mar 19 - Gamespot has the 3.0 patch for the US SMAC now. Jump to this page
to get it now.
SMAC specials
all week!
Tue Mar 16 - Gamespot is featuring special SMAC information and
specials all week, and claim Friday will be really special! Jump to Gamespot SMAC Special
SMAC is WIRED!
Tue Mar 16 - Many people have been asking about Multiplayer and SMAC.
So, we have started a page devoted to that topic. Jump to the SMAC
Multiplayer page.
European Patch 2.0 Released!
Fri Mar 12 - Firaxis has released the long overdue UK, French & German 2.0 patch.
Alpha Centauri #1 & #2!
Sun Mar 7 - The Alpha Centauri DEMO is #1 again (Nine weeks in a row
now) and the full retail game moved up the charts from #3 to #2! Only Baldur's Gate
blocked it's ascent to #1. Well, it made it to #2 in just three short weeks ... let's get
it up to #1 now! Click on the button heading this news clip to go to the voting page.
SMAC is WIRED!
Sat Mar 6 - SMAC has already been reviewed in Newsweek and CNN ...
and now it is in WIRED magazine! Yes, the April 1999 issue of WIRED features SMAC on page
164 in an article by Wagner James Au titled A World for the Taking. It includes the
following interesting quotes:
"Sometimes Alpha Centauri feels like a sociology lecture interrupted by occasional gunfire."
"This is a game that turns conquest into a form of interactive literature."
SMAC is the BEST game EVER!
Tue Mar 2 - PC Gamer April 1999 issue gave Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
the HIGHEST RATING EVER - 98%! They also
gave it Editors' Choice. The headline for the two page review states:
"What could unseat the highest-rated game we've ever reviewed? How about an unofficial sequel that takes the genre to a new level of excellence."
The review also states: "It's also the best strategy game ever made." And: "Alpha Centauri may have Civilization II at its core, but it raises the bar to an entirely new level".
Alpha Centauri #1 & #3 with a bullet!
Mon Mar 1 - The Alpha Centauri DEMO is #1 again (Eight weeks in a row
now) and the full retail game moved up the charts from #12 to #3 with a bullet!
People said Alpha Centauri couldn't make it to the top 3 because the other games were
entrenched up at the top. Well, it made it to #3 in its second week on the charts
... let's get it up to #1 now! Click on the button heading this news clip to go to the
voting page.
Chiron Computer is Simply Gorgeous!
Wed Feb 24 - The Chiron Computer database has been released by Jon
Wilson. I don't know if we are allowed to refer to a database as gorgeous, but hey,
it is! If you have Access97, go get it and see for yourself. It is in the Database section of the SMAC Resources!
SMAC 5 out of 5 Stars & Editors Choice!
Wed Feb 24 - Computer Gaming World April 1999 issue gave Sid Meier's
Alpha Centauri a PERFECT 5 out of 5 stars
(only one other game has 5 stars on their list - StarCraft: Brood War)! They also gave it
Editors' Choice (only 4 other games on the list have that distinction). The headline
for the two page review states:
Alpha Centauri is Great Stuff, Even by Sid Meier's Standards
Tim Carter's review includes this statement in the opening paragraph:
"...gamers have come to expect a lot from Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds. Even with the sky-high expectations for the designing duo's latest project, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, it's likely that few gamers will be disappointed."
Alpha Centauri #1 & #12 with a bullet!
Sun Feb 21 - The Alpha Centauri DEMO is #1 again (Seven weeks in a
row now) and the full retail game entered the charts at #12 with a bullet! Click on the
button heading this news clip to go to the voting page.
Vote for Alpha Centuari NOW!
Mon Feb 15 - Let's see if we can get Alpha Centauri full retail game
to be the #1 game on the PC Games charts! Click on the button heading this news clip to go
to the voting page. SMAC is referred to this way:
Alpha Centauri [3168]
The SMAC DEMO is 3131.
SMAC $10 Rebate!!
Fri Feb 12 - You can get a $10 rebate if you buy (or bought) SMAC at
the following places:
Software Etc or Babbage's (purchase on or before 3/9/99)
EB World or Electronics Boutique (WaldenSoftware?) (purchase on or before 2/28/99)
SMAC Patch 2.0 is available NOW!
Fri Feb 12 - The 2.0 patch is now available. It adds Hotseat and Play
By EMail to the game and fixes minor bugs. It is less than 800K so the download is pretty
quick! FTP Download SMAC 2.0 Patch.
Even NEWSWEEK is talking SMAC!
Thur Feb 11 - The Feb 15 issue of Newsweek has a blurb about SMAC
setting "the gold standard for strategy"!
Alpha Centuari Gets 4 out of 4!
Wed Feb 10 - The GamePower review by Shane
Mooney just gave Alpha Centauri a PERFECT 4
out of 4 lightning bolts! The review starts with saying that Alpha Centauri will be
the computer strategy game by which all others are measured into the new millenium!
Alpha Centuari Gets 9 out of 10!
Wed Feb 10 - The Gamesmania review
just gave Alpha Centauri 9 out of 10! "SMAC
is truly a masterpiece"
No Internet Multiplayer without Patch!
Wed Feb 10 - Apparently you cannot use the free player matching
service Firaxis is providing on the www.alphahq.net
site without the 1.2 patch. You **CAN** still play multiplayer games though!
Alpha Centuari Patch 1.2 (2.0?) Friday!
Wed Feb 10 - Expect the first patch to Alpha Centauri on Friday, Feb
12.
Alpha Centuari in US Stores Now!
Wed Feb 10 - Alpha Centauri is on store shelves across the US now
(example, Software Etc)
Alpha Centuari Ships!
Tue Feb 9 - Alpha Centauri has shipped in the US. EB says it will be
in their store tomorrow 11am!
Alpha Centuari Ships!
Mon Feb 8 - Alpha Centauri is now available in stores in Australia
and Europe as well as directly from EA. It should be in US stores as early as tomorrow!
SMAC Reference Cards!
Mon Feb 8 - The SMAC Resource site Index
Card collection has been updated and now contains 279
cards! Latest additions were Unit and Terraformer cards.
Alpha Centuari #1 FIVE weeks in a row!
Mon Feb 8 - Alpha Centauri DEMO is the #1 Download on the PC Games
charts for FIVE weeks in a row now! Remember to vote for your favorite PC games. Click on
the button heading this news clip.
The Story - Episode 35 Released
Mon Feb 8 - Firaxis will release Episode 35 of the story today. See all previous episodes. (all NINE parts to
this final episode are now posted)
SMAC Resource Site Expanded!
Thur Feb 4 - The SMAC Resource site Index
Card collection has been updated and now contains over 260
cards with more on the way!
The Story - Episode 34 Released
Mon Feb 1 - Firaxis released Episode 34 of the story today. See all previous episodes.
Alpha Centuari #1 fourth week in a row!
Mon Feb 1 - Alpha Centauri DEMO is the #1 Download on the PC Games
charts for four weeks in a row now (on the charts for only 5 weeks!) Remember to vote for
your favorite PC games. Click on the button heading this news clip.
The Story - Episode 33 Released
Wed Jan 27 - Firaxis released Episode 33 of the story today. See all previous episodes.
Hotseat & Play By EMail is IN!
Tue Jan 26 - Jeffrey Morris of Firaxis announced that they made a new
GOLD master for SMAC incorporating changes based on feedback from the demo. Read the
entire message thread which
includes:
...even though we believed we were finished, we decided to make additional changes [based on feedback from the demo].
jkm
firaxis games
SMAC Resource Site Keyboard Overlay!
Mon Jan 25 - The SMAC Resource site now includes a full color
keyboard overlay in addition to the charts of Technologies (sorted by level) and Secret
Projects (sorted by prerequisite level) and full set of index cards ready to print and cut
out for all Factions, Society Models, Society Effects, Facilities, Technologies and Secret
Projects! All available from Reliable Alpha Centauri
Players site (requires Delphi membership which is free ... we have a page of info on this too)
Hotseat & Play By EMail is IN!
Mon Jan 25 - Jeffrey Morris of Firaxis announced that both Hotseat
and Play by EMail options for Multiplayer will be added to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri in
either the first or second patch. Read the entire message thread which includes:
Expect hotseat and PBEM. Really cool implementation with lots of requested security features. Hopefully it will make it into the first patch, definately in any after that.
jkm
firaxis games
Alpha Centuari #1 third week in a row!
Mon Jan 25 - Alpha Centauri DEMO is the #1 Download on the PC Games
charts for three weeks in a row now (on the charts for only 4 weeks!) Remember to vote for
your favorite PC games. Click on the button heading this news clip.
Release Date to be week of Feb 16!
Thur Jan 21 - Firaxis announced that the release date for Sid Meier's
Alpha Centauri will be the week of February 16, 1999 (Feb 14 - 20)
The Story - Episode 32 Released
Thur Jan 21 - Firaxis released Episode 32 of the story today. See all previous episodes.
2nd Demo (ver 1.1) is Released!
Thur Jan 21 - Firaxis released an updated Alpha Centauri DEMO. It is
available for FTP download on
their site (about 20Meg download). They also have a 50Meg download available that
includes the intro movie. Here is the update as announced on the Firaxis site:
Shortly after releasing the demo, a large wishlist was compiled by you, the players. We have taken it to heart and went back and re-cut a demo based on the final software code. Some of the changes made from the previous demo:
- Higher resolution graphics
- A gamma correction slider for better monitor compatibility
- Optional interface/faction leader displays without interlacing
- Multiple gameplay balancing fixes
Note: the higher resolution graphics slows unit animations way down. Jeffrey Morris at Firaxis addressed this issue:
It's because of the higher resolution units that your map performance may have dropped. You can replace all the caviar units from the first instance of the demo if you want to restore the original units (*.cvr). Simply overwrite the ones in demo 1.1. The full game includes both sets so people with more powerful systems can use the sharper units. Other performance tips are disabling various animations in the A/V preferences or running at 800x600.
jkm
firaxis games
Alpha Centuari #1 second week!
Tue Jan 19 - Alpha Centauri DEMO is the #1 Download on the PC Games
charts for two weeks in a row now (on the charts for only 3 weeks!) Remember to vote for
your favorite PC games. Click on the button heading this news clip.
Keep Alpha Centuari #1 -- Vote!
Mon Jan 18 - Keep Alpha Centauri DEMO as the #1 Download on the PC
Games charts! Include it in your votes for your favorite 4 (or more) PC Games. Click on
this button to jump to the World Charts voting booth:
Alpha Centuari is #1 Game Download!
Mon Jan 11 - The Alpha Centauri DEMO is already #1 on the Download
Games charts!
SMAC Resource Site opens!
Tue Jan 5 - Reliable Alpha Centauri Players site has started a SMAC
Resource site. Currently available are charts of Technologies (sorted by level) and Secret
Projects (sorted by prerequisite level) as well as a full set of index cards ready to
print and cut out for all Facilities, Technologies and Secret Projects! All available from
Reliable Alpha Centauri
Players site (requires Delphi membership which is free ... we have a page of info on this too)
Demo is Released. It's Gggreat!
Thur Dec 24 - Firaxis releases the Alpha Centauri DEMO. It is
available for FTP
download on Gamespot.
Multiplayer Info from Brian Reynolds
Tue Dec 22 - Brian Reynolds of Firaxis posted this note about
Multiplayer in their Forum (jump to the original message thread):
Yes, multiplayer will feature options for either simultaneous moves (everybody takes their turns all at the same time) or sequential turns (each player takes a "turn", when it isn't your turn you can twiddle your bases and do diplomacy, but not move units).
Simultaneous movement is good for 2 (human) player games, or for LANs. Definitely use sequential turns for larger TCP/IP games, since considerably less hand-shaking (and therefore lag) is involved.
There will be the option to impose flexible time controls on players' turns.
Brian Reynolds
Alpha Centauri Designer
FIRAXIS Games
Official Message Forums now OPEN
Tue Dec 22 - Firaxis has opened their message forums
again. The temporary forum is still there, but has been renamed "Old Test
Forums". These are the forums now available:
Visitors since October 12, 1998:
Yes, now you can challenge CaptComal to a multiplayer game ... just keep the map tiny or small and settings at NO CLOCK. Contact by ICQ using the number published in the Reliable Alpha Centauri Players site or EMail to CaptComal@hotmail.com
If you find any errors please report them to
CaptComal@hotmail.com so
they can be corrected. Thanks.
[Official Alpha Centauri Site]
[Links]
[Image/Sound Effect] from Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri copyright 1998 Firaxis Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Remainder of this site is copyright ©1998 & 1999, Alpha Centauri Heaven. All rights reserved.