The SMAC/X FAQ: Feedback Thread

[Illuminatus]

I'll leave this compilation up for comments and suggestion until middle of next week. This thread will remain for FAQ and forum comments. Considering we have 65 items, perhaps we should rearrange questions per topics (trouble installing, modding, game mechanics) for easier use?

[Petek]

I'll post more detailed comments later. For now, I agree with the idea to breakdown the FAQ into separate topics. Here's a proposed outline:

Introduction
Terms, Abbreviations and Acronyms
Troubleshooting

• Installation Issues
• Post-installation Issues

Patches
Modding
Game Mechanics

• Ecodamage

Miscellaneous

However, one disadvantage to this idea is that future additions to the FAQ will have to be manually incorporated into the body. Probably wouldn't have to be done more than once a year, or so.

Petek

[BlackCat]

It seems that this thread has lost it's stickyness - that is probably a bad thing.

[yeehi]

60)

Q: Can I run SMAC(X) in windowed mode?

A: Yes, you can using a third party Japanese program D3DWindower.

Download link: http://www.geocities.jp/menopem/D3DWindower.lzh
English version: http://www.dungeondelve.net/_files/f...werenglish.rar

Usage:
On the main window press "+" to add executable or it's shortcut.
Go into settings and enter the window height and width - should be the same as the game resolution.
Then select the last tab (Direct Input) and check two bottom boxes - Cursor Clip and GetCursorPos.
Return to main window and press ">" to activate windowed mode.
Launch the game.

Thank you xalien!

What do we need to enter in the command line box and dll box? Or is nothing necessary there?

Do we have to launch the game from that device, or can we continue as before, from our favourite short cut?

[yeehi]

Also, do we need to add any lines in the alphacentauri.ini file?

[Illuminatus]

It seems that this thread has lost it's stickyness - that is probably a bad thing.

This is my "fault", I destickied it to bring it towards attention of regulars.

[Petek]

Comments on revised FAQ:

1) Q: Where are some general sites of SMAC/X interest?

Since CGN no longer has much traffic, I suggest replacing the reference to it with:

"The SMAC Acadamy at CGN (Civ Gaming Network) contains many interesting articles. It may be found here:

http://www.civgaming.net/smac/academy.shtml"

I also suggest adding:

"Civ Fanatics hosts another active forum for discussion of Alpha Centauri:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/forumdisplay.php?f=27"

Items 2), 26), 27), 28), 29), 35), and 41) all refer to patches. I suggest that they be consolidated into a single subsection as follows:

PATCHES

*) Q. Where can I find all the patches for SMAC and SMAX?

A.The following Firaxis page contains all the patches, plus other files of interest:

http://www.firaxis.com/games/downloads.php

*) Q. What is the latest patch for SMAC?

A. The SMAC Win 2000/XP Update, which will update SMAC to version 5.0.

*) Q. What is the latest patch for SMAX?

A. Alien Crossfire v2.0 update.

*) Q. For both SMAC and SMAX, do I need to install patches that came out earlier than the above?

A. No, you only need to install the latest patch.

*) Q. I'm running a pre-Windows 2000 version of Windows. Do I need to install the SMAC Win 2000/XP Update?

A. Technically no. However, you should install the patch to take advange of several undocumented fixes (see elsewhere in the FAQ for a description), or if you play multiplayer games in which the other players have patched to version 5.0

*) Q. What were the most important fixes in the SMAX 2.0 patch?

A. In prior versions of Alien Crossfire, base facility upkeep was incorrectly computed at Thinker and Transcend Difficulty. At Thinker, base upkeep was reduced to 2/3 it's correct value, so a Hologram Theater (for example) would only require 2 ECs in upkeep. At Transcend, base upkeep was reduced to 1/3, so the same Hologram Theatre would only cost 1 EC each turn. Once the SMAX 2.0 patch is applied, all upkeep costs are identical at all difficulty levels, and match those in the online documentation.

Also, the patch fixed a problem in which certain factions couldn't pop boom during a Golden Age.

*) Q. What was changed in SMAC by the SMAC Win 2000/XP Update?

A. The patch fixed problems running SMAC on certain systems running Windows 2000 or XP. The patch also corrected problems with maintenance costs and pop booms, the same as mentioned in the previous item. Finally, the patch removed the requirement to have the SMAC CD in the drive when starting the game.

See the file named SMAC_XP2000_readme.txt in your game folder for more information.

The following comments are not intended to be included in the FAQ:

NOTE: This corrects the information in current item 29) by removing the reference to SMAX. The SMAC Win 2000/XP Update has no effect on SMAX.

NOTE: I've used *) as placeholders for the item numbers.

More comments to follow.

Petek

[Petek]

The first paragraph of item 10) is outdated. It comes from a time in which the standard screen resolution was 640x480 and users wanted to run the game in higher resolutions. I suggest eliminating the first paragraph of the answer and editing the second paragraph to read:

A. You may add the line DirectDraw=0 (or change DirectDraw=1 to DirectDraw=0) to Alpha Centauri.ini (and remove any Video Mode= lines). This setting will force the game to run at your native Windows resolution, including widescreen monitors. However, this technique works best with SMAX.

Item 36):

Does the line "As of right now, I have no idea how to change the reactor setting for 'predesigned units'." belong here?

Item 37): The reference to item 12) needs to be updated to item 1) (or whatever it eventually ends up as).

Item 44): In line 2 of the answer, "following" is misspelled, and the next line "quote:" should be removed.

Item 45): Change the answer to

A: Search for the file autoexec.nt on your hard drive (it might be found in C:\WINDOWS\REPAIR) and copy to C:\WINDOWS\System32.

Remove the reference to XP SP2.

Item 55): For consistency, the last line in the answer should be preceded by "B: ".

Item 57): Change to:

Q: Are the SMAC archives indexed?

A: Although the SMAC archives may be searched the same as any other forum, minute mirage prepared this useful partial index to the archives:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=3991837#post3991837

Item 61): This may be deleted, since the information is available in other items.

That's all for now. Let me know if you want any comments on dividing the FAQ into topics.

Petek

[Illuminatus]

Looks excellent as always Petek.

I'll add it to my to-do list for this weekend.

[Illuminatus]

I've put up stickied version of the new thread. There were various other changes as well. If you feel I have omitted something or failed to notice someone's comments point it out.

Comments would be more than welcome, and it would be great if you could test hyperlinks.

[Illuminatus]

Removed by hubris of new ACS administration.

[Darsnan]

Darsnan is warning me about a omission in 30) but unfortunately he is unclear on how to fix it . ( :P )
. What about Fuel Nanocells and Algorithmic Enhancement?

You are correct about Fuel Nanocells and Algorithmic Enhancement being omitted as well (and sorry about being unclear in my PM - I misinterpreted what you were asking). The following would be the correct format:

10000000000000000000000000000 Algorithmic Enhancement
01000000000000000000000000000 Fuel Nanocells
00100000000000000000000000000 Marine Detachment

These lines would be added above Disassociative Wave in item 30 of the FAQ.

D

[BlackCat]

# 57) Q: The program doesn't act as described in the manual.

A: Most programs doesn't do such, though, if you look here, you'll find a number of bugs, quirks, and undocumented features. Note that it isn't a full list and that you are welcome to add not mentioned issues.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?t=181950

[vyeh]

Addition to question 44) Q: How can you starve a base to death? How do you reduce a base pop size to 1?

"If you are playing at citizen or specialist level, building a colony pod will not eliminate the base. You can starve the base by homing one or more supply crawlers to the base and conveying nutrients to another base. For more information, go here."

[Lefty Scaevola]

need to change a link in the first post

http://www.firaxis.com/smac/ is 403 forbidden



http://www.firaxis.com/games/game_detail.php?gameid=7 works