Will we see a SMAC 2?

[waynehead]

I sure as hell hope so. SMAC was very close to perfection, but I think we can all imagine a few things we'd like to see in a potential sequel.

So, will there be a SMAC 2? Does anyone have any info on this? (I'm talking to you Firaxis boys, btw ) And assuming there is a sequel, what should be in it?

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[The diplomat]

Let them do civ3!!
After that, maybe, who knows...

[Adam_Smith]

Who needs SMAC 2 when we will have CIV3. If CIV3 bites (not likely) then let's worry about SMAC 2. What about CTP2? Will that be any good? I have my doubts, but I'm trying to keep an open mind.

[Master Marcus]

Everything is possible for a SMAC(x) sequel, but because of Civ III and other internal things at Firaxis we will not see it until at least 3 years. A game that complex requires lot of testing and a sooner release will mean lots of bugs again

But again, I wonder if they have abandoned the existing engine or not ( I mean here the uncertain SMAC 5.0/ smacx v3 )...

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The art of mastering:"la Maîtrise des caprices du subconscient avant tout".

[Joe Bourque]

I doubt we will see a SMAC2 for a long time, if ever. First off, I get the impression, (I may be wrong) that SMAC was primarily developed by the folks who left for Big Huge Games, with Sid Mier only `advising' them. So I'm not sure if Firaxis will ever see fit to redevelop the game from the ground up.

But if they DID, I can think of some stuff I'd like to see. First off: Different Planets. In other words, you don't always land on the planet of SMAC with pink fungus and trancendence and stuff. Sometime it's an Earthlike planet. Sometimes it has a pre-existing civilization (in this case the humans might remain united, or almost so). Sometimes it's like Mars and terraforming involves the creation of oceans and a breathable atmosphere. Etc etc. I think there are alot of various types of planets you could play on. Of course, you could either pick the style of planet, or have it randomly selected.

The other fun thing SMAC2 would need is space travel and multiple maps. This way if you came into the system and found the planet with a pre-existing civilization, you could settle on ANOTHER planet in the Alpha Centauri system. This would also allow the settlers to split up when they entered the system, colonizing various planets. Balances would be made so that the folks who settled the biologicaly rich world might have less minerals then the folks who settled the dead one.

This would also facilitate the possibility of having more factions playing at once and civil wars etc. Children of Planet split off from Gaian's in bloody civil war and so forth. Other spaceships (better equipt) could be launched from Earth behind you. Heck, when the Earth discovers the same technology you have and you've both got interdimensional gateways and stuff, maybe Earth decides it's time to reclaim its wayward colonies and invades Alpha Centauri. (You could even fight your old Civilization from Civ3.. including sending bombers back to Earth and blowing up all the stuff you spent so long building before. )

Of course, if they were going to do a game in this vein, I would MUCH rather they kept it in the solar system and the realms of slightly more realistic science. Then it could continue right after the end of Civ3... with civilizations building up on the various worlds of the solar system... rebelling, fighting, developing tech etc. They wouldn't all have to strictly be `factions' like SMAC either... the Lunar Free State. The Martian Alliance. Bla bla bla.

In fact, I'd rather see a neat game centered around the future development of civilization in the solar system opposed to a simple reworking of SMAC. But maybe that's just me.

Joe
[This message has been edited by Joe Bourque (edited May 12, 2000).]

[RedFred]

The idea of Joe's that I like the best is the first one about landing on different worlds so that all the factions could wind up on an artic world, airless world or what have you.

I think somebody needs to buy Firaxis a big can of Raid to address the hundreds of bugs now in SMACX before they worry about SMAC2. But if they did that I would probably get a SMAC2 - if it is a good game.

I will no longer buy a Civ-type game without first seeing the reaction on the chat lines and forums. To be fair this is much more on account of the fundamental unplayability of CTP when it came out than on account of some SMAC bugs. And now they are already gearing up for CTP2!?

And you can't trust the gaming mags either. They all thought that CTP was a great game.

[Alinestra Covelia]

Actually, IGNPC.com gave CTP the 60% or so that I thought it rightfully deserved. After mods and patches etc CTP is said to be a reasonably playable and rewarding game.

I wouldn't know, though, because I returned it to the vendor for a refund not long after buying it

[Sarxis]

Has there been any new news/gossip/whishful thinking since this thread was last responded to?

We all know that Civ III will be out before anyone will even hear about AC II. But how many of us would be interested in a sequel to Civ III? I know I would!