Please Don't Go, The Drones Need You, They Look Up To You

[Ka Plewy]

Originally posted by Kinjiru
If a SMAC2 is ever released, I may just have to quit my job and roam from wireless enabled coffee-shop to wireless enabled coffee-shop, laptop in my grungy bag of possesions...

But roaming would take valuable time away from SMAC.

[Tommar]

I've probably bought well in the range of 30-50 games since I bought SMAC.

I always keep coming back. I'm starting to understand why that is with me, but I'm wondering what you guys think?

Why do you keep playing SMAC?

[Kinjiru]

For me, it is the exqusite balance. I actually only play SMAC, not SMAX (though I have it also).

The rich story involving the factions really draws you in and each of the original factions has a distinct personality.

To be successful, you really need to play to the personality of the faction. Thus, the replayability is huge because you are forced to develop new methods of play if you want to do well as each of the factions.

This balance and 'loveability' is lost as soon as the available factions start to grow. While I thought Cinder Roze was pretty cool, I just didn't care about the expanded factions as much as the originals.

Plus, I love being able to name the features of the landscape on the random maps.

Lastly, the game is fast. With an equal number of factions on an equal size map, SMAC plays about 6 times (by my calculations) as fast as CivIII. Meaning you can quickly iterate your strategy and learn from your mistakes.

Dammit, how can you people expect me to work now. It is only 11:00 in the morning and now my workday is shot. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Kinjiru


Dammit, how can you people expect me to work now. It is only 11:00 in the morning and now my workday is shot. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Been there-- when I wasn't working the intense amount of smax was the benefit. Now with a regular job and a 2 year old son, I try to sneak a turn at 7 am.

[Commy]

That's why I'm glad I'm still in High School...I can play SMAC ALL DAY LONG!!!! Well, at least until the social worker comes and tells me to go to school...

I even used some quotes from the game for a school project...I replaced Morgan's name with Milton Friedman, and Zakharov's name with some Asian doctor that no one has hear of...

[Barinthus]

Yeah enjoy all those free time while you can.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Damn real life!

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
Damn real life!

yup

I played until 2 am on Wednesday and then crashed Thursday night only to have my son be sick so I didn't get much sleep--

So now its Friday-- I'm sleep deprived and at work, with a half played SMAX game beckoning me at home and a ton of job and home related stuff to do as well.

[Lazerus]

tick tock tick tock ... must finish solstice .. tick tock tick tock ... one more turn just until i get that tech and see whats available next .. tick tock tick tock

[Hydro]

Kinjiru,

You nailed it. Even when I think I'm tired of SP and then try it again I'm surprised when I get sucked in. I guess I identify with the personalities (Gaians especially), but find I can immerse myself in the personas of all the factions except the Believers (I've never played them).

Playing PBEM also keeps it fresh.

Hydro

[Flubber]

I finished solstice at 4:25 am my time. First time in a long time I played that late

[Ghidorah]

Just when I thought I was out....it pulls me back in

There is no piece of software that has "wasted" more of my life than SMAC. Not Civ I, not Civ II, not MOO II, not even Freecell. And now I'm back into it again. I found the CD under a pile of stuff and that was it for another few weeks...so far. It's like those movies where there's some guy rummaging through a pile of old books and then comes upon the Necronomicon or something and it calls to him with terrible unearthly power and his hands lose all ability to resist opening it and tasting its dark secrets.....yeah, something like that.

Apart from just being a hopeless tragic for turn-based 4x games in general, I think it's just the sheer DEPTH of the game. You can play it in Civ-lite mode and not even use 90% of the options and still do respectably and have fun, but then every new game you discover new things to give you a little leg-up on your opponents. I still remember the epiphany I felt when I first figured out the sheer power of Morgan. It's been years now and I'm STILL discovering new tricks. Certainly not something I can say for Civ 3.

And the factions have become like old friends (errr acquaintances maybe) - I can pretty much predict exactly what each of them will say anytime the comm channels are opened. And I love their ideological quirks, too. Some of the new factions as well - I'm hopelessly in love with the Drones.

Also PLANET BUSTING ENTIRE CONTINENTS INTO SAD LITTLE PUDDLES
It's somehow even more satisfying than Stellar Conversion....

[DarkCloud]

I even used some quotes from the game for a school project...I replaced Morgan's name with Milton Friedman, and Zakharov's name with some Asian doctor that no one has hear of...

great idea

[Jamski]

I'm on holiday in Australia with Skanky, and I'm playing SMAC. I suck at life

[Senethro]

Originally posted by Jamski
I'm on holiday in Australia with Skanky, and I'm playing SMAC. I suck at life

12700+ posts on 'poly and only now do you have doubts?

Keep the faith strong brother, believe in the SMAC.