Civilization IV: Alpha Centauri II

[Robert]

So, why doesn't Firaxis just release an civ4:AC2 expansion? Just use the civ4 engine and totally 'mod' it with factions, new technology tree, units, etc. etc.

They may add some new stuff, but it can easily be done.
Way better then creating a total new AC2. Why would they do that? If they can just do it this way! Nobody would be expecting lots of new features, it's an easy win though since most SMAC fans will most probably buy it and love it.

And best of all: Firaxis won't have to spend to much valuable civ5 programming quality time on making a new SMAC2 or something.

So I say: Firaxis: make one additional expansion: Civilization IV: Alpha Centauri II

[Robert]

Oh, and one of the extra's may be of course that the players may continue to play on AC after they won / lost the spacerace.

Thus: either start on earth and expand to AC, or just only earth or just only AC.

[Adagio]

I believe have considered it, it would make a lot of sense. I wouldn't be suprised if they have a few people working on it now

[Urban Ranger]

I am not sure the engine is flexible enough to handle the Unit Workshop. Social Engineering, maybe, but interchangable parts for units may be too much.

[Robert]

Well, they can modify that.
It's not as if an EP can't have some new concepts.

[Robert]

They may even base the unit workshop on the promotion system. Units are already quiet flexible in cIV. I think it will be no problem.

[Zoid]

Ehrm, for those of you who don´t know it we have an entire sub-forum devoted to the creation of a Civ4:AC mod...

[Zoid]

Come to think of it. This would indeed be a Xpack I would embrace with all my heart and soul. Now there´s an expansion for you...

[Lemmy]

Having such an expansion would be great. But i think it would be a stand-alone game, rather than an expansion. Wasn't Civ3 still partially based on the SMAC engine? In a similar way they might be able to use the C4 engine to make a whole "new" AC2, which can be different enough from C4 to warrant an independent release.

The C4:AC project is interesting, but IIRC their goal is to first recreate SMAC, and then improve. Add to that the inevitable shortages fanbased projects have to deal with, both in manpower and knowledge, and i'd put my chances on a Firaxis-made AC expansion/release before the C4:AC mod becoming close to playable.

[Robert]

Please no stand alone game.
Let Firaxis just focus on civ5 if they want a new creative game. It's a waste of time to spend that much creativity on AC. It was the only way back in the 90's since Firaxis didn't own the right to make civ in those days.

Right now it's enough to just put a SMAC skin on civ and please the few SMACers.

[alva]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
I am not sure the engine is flexible enough to handle the Unit Workshop.

Good!!


Why would they release it as a expansion when they could sell it to you as a brand new game?

[Lemmy]

@CyberShy
Eh, no, you're misunderstanding me. I'm basically saying that if they did like you said in the opening post, including adding new AC-specific features, it could very well be released as a stand-alone game rather than a Civ4 expansion.

It would be silly to release an expansion that targets a different audience than the original. SMACers might not want to buy Civ4 just in order to play the AC2 expansion. Civ4 players might not care for an AC expansion. So why keep the two connected, why force one onto the other?

I really have the same type of modifications in mind as you. I just think such modifications could be sold as an independent game, that doesn't require the original Civ4.


Heh, Alva beat me to it, and said it much better than i did

[Senethro]

Originally posted by CyberShy
Right now it's enough to just put a SMAC skin on civ and please the few SMACers.

You really didn't understand AC if you think a skin will do the trick. That Social Engineering and unit specialisation (amongst other features) were absent in Civ3 but part of what has made Civ4 good shows that its the AC game mechanics that made it a great game.

I'm in favour of AC in any form. A new game at an expansion price (I got Civ4 cheaper than most expansions) would be my favoured form, but I don't know what Firaxis thinks it would profit most from.

[player1]

I think Gamebryo engine is flexible enough to make brand new SMAC game based on it.

[Robert]

SMAC is in fact just civ 2.5
In those days Firaxis didn't got the right to create civ3, that's why they came with SMAC. (Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds were the civ-guru's but the rights were still with Microprose)

If they would've had the rights I'm sure that they would've made civ3 instead of SMAC. Then civ4 would've been civ5. Of course SMAC is a part in the evolution of the civ series.

Why make it not a stand alone release?
1. because you cannot just change skin and release it as a brand new game. (with some new features like the workshop) that would be a whole new level of ripping your customers off
2. I don't want them to waste valuable civ5 develop time to SMAC 2
3. "civilization IV: SMAC II" will most probably sell better then just SMAC II. Remember that the civ-title does miracles.
4. The civ4 engine is REALLY GOOD. The fans are REALLY HAPPY. Maybe 60% of the civ4 players will buy the SMAC expansion. And a lot of the SMAC fans who didn't bought civ4 will buy it because of the expansion.
5. They sell it in a civ4/civ4:smac2 combo
6. the civ4-mod community and the (coming) civ4-smac2 mod community can collaborate in that case
7. good SMAC2 features can be incorporated in civ4
8. it's easy, quick and good. And most people won't concider it as an easy expansion rip-off as usual.
9. firaxis will credit me for the idea (Soren: I know you read this!!!!!!) (I hope you did in fact)