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we’re gonna use the alien crossfire expansion to the base game, which might be an issue for someone who’s been sitting on an original disc for like 15 years. this'll probably take a very long time, possibly many months! yikes! just be forewarned. i'm not 100% sure what the best way to actually set up something like this is since i don’t think anyone’s done a pbem game this decade. Totally open to suggestions though. Why should i play this video game from 1999?: alpha centauri is basically civ 3 but instead of being about the past it’s about the future. in the other civs you have to research boring old technology like Writing and Horses and Hygenic making GBS threads, but in alpha centauri you get to research sick as hell future technology like Cyberethics and Neural Grafting and Organic Superlube. there’s a very cool design workshop that lets you make weird custom units like nerve gas helicopters and scifi dropship space marines. you could win the game by causing global warming and drowning everyone else like a captain planet bad guy. also the voice acting is great and the flavor text is legit compelling written fiction and the game art is really pretty. where to get it: sid meier's alpha centauri alien crossfile is $5.99 on GOG so just get it there. make sure it actually runs on your system! how pbem works: you download a save file, load it up in game, spend like 5 minutes doing your turn, make a new save that includes the turn you just did, and send it on to the next guy. make sure it's not just named the same as the last save! i was trying to find a good way to auto-sync the save folder between people or something but it looks like it might just be easiest to literally email a file around. what next??: need at least 7 people, so post in this thread saying so if you'd like to play. it's good to have stand-bys in case someone has to drop. factions will be first come first served out of all the human factions. tell me if you want your faction leader name to be anything funny so i can change it during setup. at the start of your first turn you'll pick a password so no one else can gently caress up your game, send it to me so we can keep going in case you get hit by a bus or whatever. also i'll need your emails to give you access to the top secret google drive folder. here's a note about changing the game settings to let you play on your big ol 4k tv 16 inches from your face: cheese-cube posted:also smac pro-tip that im sure i've posted before: add DirectDraw=0 to Alpha Centauri.Ini in the game's install folder like below. that makes it display/scale properly on today's modern computer systems (your screen will bug the gently caress out though when it plays the secret project vids that in 640x480): anthonypants posted:also i would like to suggest adding 'DisableOpeningMovie=1' to this list i was hoping we could get this going in like a week or so. anyways, see ya! Glorgnole fucked around with this message at 06:00 on Oct 21, 2017 |
# ? Oct 13, 2017 02:30 |
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# ? May 11, 2024 14:53 |
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video games
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 02:31 |
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OldAlias posted:video games you should play the video game
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 02:34 |
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Glorgnole posted:
i am maybe interested but please consider some version control system over a shared google drive ty
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 02:50 |
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wat
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 02:57 |
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OldAlias posted:i am maybe interested but please consider some version control system over a shared google drive ty pull request # 369: finished my turn e: totally agree that that would definitely be a much more robust way of doing this than having some insane drive folder Glorgnole fucked around with this message at 03:18 on Oct 13, 2017 |
# ? Oct 13, 2017 03:15 |
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maybe it is overkill but I have a kneejerk reaction against any incremental group "work" over drive / email. reminds me of dysfunctional jobs and school projects. I guess it's only one file so it's not too bad but yvcspos
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 03:21 |
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can u hack the save file
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 10:36 |
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bump_fn posted:can u hack the save file it's 15 years old imma go with "yes"
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 11:27 |
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im the eax=1
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 12:34 |
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Boiled Water posted:it's 15 years old imma go with "yes" it's probably possible but i;m not sure what i'd use it for if i could do that
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 14:22 |
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OldAlias posted:maybe it is overkill but I have a kneejerk reaction against any incremental group "work" over drive / email. reminds me of dysfunctional jobs and school projects. I guess it's only one file so it's not too bad but yvcspos some of the hotseat multiplayer setup stuff is kinda dependent on passing around a file in a particular order. like when you go around for the first turn you're supposed to choose and confirm a password. if you did git-style version control and there was just one save file that people pushed changes to then you'd need a way to stop folks from grabbing the save out of order before all the passwords had been locked in. i guess after that point you'd just be checking for updates regularly to see if your faction's login screen came up when you loaded the save. if you do it over email then it sort of inherently enforces the turn order, makes people commit to being 100% done with the file before they send it on, and you get a nice notification saying "hey my turn's done and now it's your turn". most annoying thing imo would be downloading some attachment then finding the right directory in-game.
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 14:30 |
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dibs on zakharov
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 14:43 |
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if i remember right this game works in mac os x. but are the save files cross platform? youre not gonna make us run windows are you?
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# ? Oct 13, 2017 16:30 |
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I'm interested when op gets back from probation
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# ? Oct 14, 2017 06:44 |
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A Pinball Wizard posted:I'm interested when op gets back from probation lol
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# ? Oct 14, 2017 11:45 |
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i wanna be the space pirates or cyber nerds.
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# ? Oct 15, 2017 00:11 |
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i think i last played this with goons over a decade ago and also need to find a copy, but if there's space im in
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# ? Oct 15, 2017 01:55 |
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Helianthus Annuus posted:if i remember right this game works in mac os x. but are the save files cross platform? youre not gonna make us run windows are you? it turns out the mac version of the game runs in wine i have been using the windows this whole time without even knowing. chilling. but the good news is that cross platform won't be an issue
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# ? Oct 15, 2017 03:22 |
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would probably be good to post a bit about the factions spartans: space survivalists +2 MORALE (well armed survivalist movement) +1 POLICE (highly disciplined followers) -1 INDUSTRY (extravagant weapons are costly) quote:"Superior training and superior weaponry have, when taken together, a geometric effect on overall military strength. Well-trained, well-equipped troops can stand up to many more times their lesser brethren than linear arithmetic would seem to indicate." gaians: space greenpeace +1 PLANET (environmental safeguards; can capture mind worms) +2 EFFICIENCY (experience with life systems such as recycling) -1 MORALE (pacifist tendencies) -1 POLICE (freedom-loving) +1 Nutrients in fungus squares Can use mind worms as police unit (reverence for native life). May not use Free Market economics quote:In the great commons at Gaia's Landing we have a tall and particularly beautiful stand of white pine, planted at the time of the first colonies. It represents our promise to the people, and to Planet itself, never to repeat the tragedy of Earth. university: space grad student listserve +2 RESEARCH (Brillant research) -2 PROBE (Academic networks vulnerable to infiltration) one bonus tech at start of game extra drone for every four citizen (lack of ethics) quote:"The substructure of the universe regresses infinitely towards smaller and smaller components. Behind atoms we find electrons, and behind electrons quarks. Each layer unraveled reveals new secrets, but also new mysteries." peacekeepers: space UN -1 EFFICIENCY (U.N. style bureaucracy) extra talent for every four citizens (attracts intellectual elite) may exceed Hab Complex population requirements by 2. receives double votes in election for planetary governor and supreme leader. quote:"As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last loose their grip on information flow will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master." hive: space juche +1 GROWTH (rapid population growth) +1 INDUSTRY (brutal serfdom) -2 ECONOMY (little political freedom) immune to inefficiency caused by social engineering choices quote:"Learn to overcome the crass demands of flesh and bone, for they warp the matrix through which we perceive the world. Extend your awareness outwards, beyond the self of body, to embrace the self of group and the self of humanity. The goals of the group and the greater race are transcendent, and to embrace them is to achieve enlightenment." believers: space evangelicals +2 SUPPORT (serious Waco-type poo poo) +1 PROBE (followers difficult to subvert) -2 RESEARCH (distrusts secular science) -1 PLANET (believed Planet is their promised land) 25% combat bonus when attacking (yikes!) no research for the first 10 turns quote:The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil. morganites: space capitalists +1 ECON (industrial conglomerate) -1 SUPPORT (followers have expensive tastes) bases can't exceed size 4 without Hab Complexes +100 credits at start can't use Planned economics quote:"Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant. Need as well as greed have followed us to the stars, and the rewards of wealth still await those wise enough to recognize this deep thrumming of our common pulse." planet cult: space anarchoprimitivists +2 PLANET: (Devoted to promoting native growth) -1 INDUSTRY: (Reluctant to pollute environment) -1 ECON: (Disinterested in wealth and its trappings) free Brood Pit with discovery of Centauri Genetics Mind Worms do double police duty: (Fear and reverence for native life) can't choose Wealth in social engineering quote:"Mankind has been blind for thousands of years-for all of its history. We have come to a place whose wonders are a hundred-fold more amazing than anything on Earth. Around us is clear evidence of the will of a higher power. I bring the Vision to the blind eyes of men. I bring the Word to the deaf ears of men. I will make them see it. I will make them hear it." consciousness: incel space cyborgs +2 RESEARCH: {Human research abilities enhanced by algorithmic control} +2 EFFICIENCY: {Cybernetic biologicals extremely efficient} -1 GROWTH: {Humans 'possessed by an algorithm' find reproduction awkward} no penalties for Cybernetic social engineering choice: {Cybernetic social choice is 'rational' and not dissented by citizens} can steal technology when capturing a base may not make Fundamentalist choice in social engineering quote:"Those who join us need give up only half of their humanity--the illogical, ill-tempered, and disordered half, commonly thought of as 'right-brain' functioning. In exchange, the 'left-brain' capacities are increased to undreamed potential. The tendency of Biologicals to cling instead to their individual personalities can only be attributed to archaic evolutionary tendencies." data angels: space 90s hackers +2 PROBE: (Highly motivated computer specialists) -1 POLICE: (Decentralized, difficult to control) gain any tech known to 3 other factions with whom Angels have infiltration: (Wide-ranging covert activities) -25% cost to PROBE TEAM actions: (Skilled at network access and control} free COVERT OPS CENTER with discovery of Pre-Sentient Algorithms may not make Power choice in social engineering. free Probe Team at start quote:"What's more important, the data or the jazz? Sure, sure, 'Information should be free' and all that--but anyone can set information free. The jazz is in how you do it, what you do it to, and in almost getting caught without getting caught. The data is 1's and 0's. Life is the jazz." free drones: space socialists +2 INDUSTRY: {Excellent craftsmen and skilled workers} -2 RESEARCH: {Emphasis on productivity instead of 'blue-sky' research} Revolting bases tend to join drones: {Offer a workingman's paradise} -1 DRONES in every base: {Working for common good reduces discontent} may not use Green economics quote:"Now it's day and night the irons clang, and like poor galley slaves pirates -1 EFFICIENCY (Individualistic mentality opposed to central organization) -1 GROWTH (Culture does not place high emphasis on family) free NAVAL YARD with discovery of Doctrine: Initiative: (Skilled shipwrights) enhancements may be built in ocean and trench squares with the discovery of Advanced Ecological Engineering: (Trained for life at sea) sea colony pod & sea former prototypes FREE: (Advanced oceanic technology) bonus mineral from ocean shelf squares: (Culture and technology adapted for the ocean) marine Detachment ability FREE to all naval combat units upon discovery of Adaptive Doctrine quote:"The sea ... vast, mysterious ... and full of wealth! And the nations of Planet send their trade across it without a thought. Well, the sea doesn't care about them, so it lets them pass. But we can give the sea a little hand in teaching the landlubbers a lesson in humility." Glorgnole fucked around with this message at 02:10 on Oct 17, 2017 |
# ? Oct 17, 2017 01:34 |
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iirc the consciousness gets a -2 to GROWTH because "humans 'possessed by an algorithm' find reproduction awkward"
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# ? Oct 17, 2017 01:46 |
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Luigi Thirty posted:iirc the consciousness gets a -2 to GROWTH because "humans 'possessed by an algorithm' find reproduction awkward" see also: the pirates' growth penalty also wanted to say sorry for preempting your post via edit
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# ? Oct 17, 2017 02:20 |
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ok here are the folks who have expressed any kind of interest either here or via PMs only a few people actually included faction preferences. the ones that are assigned are based on whoever posted something resembling a request earliest. Improbable Lobster - Drones OldAlias - Believers Luigi Thirty - University Helianthus Annuus A Pinball Wizard Cazlab - pirates! Crusader cheese-cube - Hive Glorgnole anthonypants - Spartans Boiled Water Sagebrush - Gaians please make a post here before WEDNESDAY (10/25) containing both: 1) confirmation that you would like to play (or not play, as the case may be) 2) what faction you want to be thanks Glorgnole fucked around with this message at 04:18 on Oct 24, 2017 |
# ? Oct 20, 2017 20:18 |
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Every time I see this thread I feel bad about just how awful Civilization Beyond Earth ended up being.
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# ? Oct 20, 2017 20:30 |
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Just wanted to co sign that Alpha Centauri loving owned and I realized it at the time and I was very excited because The Future would bring EVEN BETTER games! With better Grafx! With more xTreme choices! Radder characters! Badder enemies! But no, we got Civ 6 and Sim City (Online only). Oh and Firaxis made Xcom 1 and 2, I guess. Those are... ok...
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# ? Oct 21, 2017 02:30 |
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Glorgnole posted:ok here are the folks who have expressed any kind of interest either here or via PMs i would like to be the spartans please cheese-cube posted:[PREFERENCES] anthonypants fucked around with this message at 05:33 on Oct 21, 2017 |
# ? Oct 21, 2017 04:46 |
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i'm dtf (down to faction) are we running any of the fanpatches or just vanilla SMAX?
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# ? Oct 21, 2017 06:14 |
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anthonypants posted:i would like to play hello, very good Luigi Thirty posted:are we running any of the fanpatches or just vanilla SMAX? i've just been running regular ol SMAX with all the official patches (from like 2001). haven't ever used any of the fanpatches. i guess there are still a few weird bugs and exploits kicking around in the vanilla version. wouldn't be opposed if you think it'd be worthwhile.
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# ? Oct 21, 2017 06:29 |
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I haven't really played with them either.
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# ? Oct 21, 2017 06:41 |
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yo im down for some SMAX play-by-email.Luigi Thirty posted:dibs on zakharov dang beaten. dibs on chairman yang of the hive, looking forward to extreme utilitarian efficiency and oppressing the hell outta some drones i'll prolly end up getting owned by gaians, they can be wicked dangerous late game if you go all-in on mind worms Schadenboner posted:Every time I see this thread I feel bad about just how awful Civilization Beyond Earth ended up being. all i wanted was SMAC but in the civ 5 engine
Pile Of Garbage fucked around with this message at 13:25 on Oct 23, 2017 |
# ? Oct 23, 2017 13:23 |
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I am also in if there's more room (is there even an upper limit?) question: Can I run it on A Mac or is this windows land only?
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 13:40 |
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cheese-cube posted:all i wanted was SMAC but in the civ 5 engine
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 14:51 |
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cheese-cube posted:all i wanted was SMAC but in the civ 5 engine civ 4 engine, squares and stacking units for lyf
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 14:54 |
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Boiled Water posted:civ 4 engine, squares and stacking units for lyf Civ 4: Colonization trap: sprung. Schadenboner fucked around with this message at 15:48 on Oct 23, 2017 |
# ? Oct 23, 2017 14:59 |
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Boiled Water posted:I am also in if there's more room (is there even an upper limit?) the version on gog purportedly supports macos: https://www.gog.com/game/sid_meiers_alpha_centauri
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 15:45 |
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cheese-cube posted:the version on gog purportedly supports macos: https://www.gog.com/game/sid_meiers_alpha_centauri the real question is: "is this savegame compatible?" only time will tell
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 16:44 |
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welp of course i meant "has it stood the test of time?"
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 16:45 |
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Boiled Water posted:welp yeah we tried loading saves cross platform and it looks like it works ok. there's still room! you can have at most 7 players in a game. if you want in you've just got to say which faction you want to be.
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 17:51 |
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I'll jump in if we hang around at 6 confirmed people for a while, though I wouldn't mind being the official full time GM either also I'll prune the list of interested people if folks haven't made any new posts since before last Friday or still (!) haven't claimed a faction. gotta end up with 7 actively engaged posters to play!
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 17:59 |
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# ? May 11, 2024 14:53 |
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is the forests-improvements-everywhere-and-hybrid-forests-in-all-bases strategy competitive, or do you need to micromanage your formers? i don't want to play i'm just curious
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# ? Oct 23, 2017 18:14 |