Alpha Centauri Complete

[scient]

Hmm any recommendation then on how to proceed?

[Maniac]

Blake is a buddhist monk these days.

[Petek]

Hmm any recommendation then on how to proceed?

I think we should enlist the aid of either DanQ (principal owner of Apolyton) or Solver (an Apolyton co-owner and beta tester for Civ4), both of whom are known to Firaxis. Perhaps one or both of them would be willing to make the argument that since the Windows 2000 compatibility patch removed the copy protection for SMAC, it would be consistent to do so for SMAX. However, we may run into the problem that the rights to SMAC/X are split between Firaxis and EA.

If this seems to be a reasonable plan, I'd be glad to compose and send the message.

Petek

[scient]

I think we should enlist the aid of either DanQ (principal owner of Apolyton) or Solver (an Apolyton co-owner and beta tester for Civ4), both of whom are known to Firaxis. Perhaps one or both of them would be willing to make the argument that since the Windows 2000 compatibility patch removed the copy protection for SMAC, it would be consistent to do so for SMAX. However, we may run into the problem that the rights to SMAC/X are split between Firaxis and EA.

If this seems to be a reasonable plan, I'd be glad to compose and send the message.

Petek

Sounds good to me, cheers!

[Petek]

Sounds good to me, cheers!

I'll wait for a day or two to allow for other comments.

Petek

[Dan_Grr]

Thanks for this, I've ordered the game (which has Alpha Centauri and the Expansion).

[Petek]

I'll wait for a day or two to allow for other comments.

Petek

I PM'd DanQ and Solver, with BCCs to other interested parties.

Petek

[Mart]

Petek,
The message looks good.
I think it might be also good to point out to the fact, that EA released this AC Complete edition. That maybe does not change much, but on the other hand, removing copy protection from a game that just another company released may develop into a big issue. It might be Firaxis is not yet aware that EA released this game again. So that would be just in case ...

[Petek]

Petek,
The message looks good.
I think it might be also good to point out to the fact, that EA released this AC Complete edition. That maybe does not change much, but on the other hand, removing copy protection from a game that just another company released may develop into a big issue. It might be Firaxis is not yet aware that EA released this game again. So that would be just in case ...

Mart,

Thanks for your suggestion. I agree that the re-release should be mentioned. I sent Solver another PM about the matter.

Petek

[Petek]

To everyone involved in the project to squash the bugs in SMAX:

Solver told me that he received a reply from Firaxis about the project. Unfortunately, they have no current control over SMAX. Our only recourse is to contact EA, but I'm not so sure that that would be a good idea. Looks like we'll have to keep going as we are.

Petek

[scient]

That's a shame. I wonder if it would be acceptable to post exe's on the board if I added in my own cd check? It would give no more protection than current setup with safedisc.

[Petek]

That's a shame. I wonder if it would be acceptable to post exe's on the board if I added in my own cd check? It would give no more protection than current setup with safedisc.

Send a PM to Illuminatus, this forum's moderator.

Petek

[Mart]

We could also take a look at other similar cases in other games. Especially those from EA. Anything where users do modify exe files and EA considers this ok as long as certain conditions exist. CD check, anything else...
Scient, you mentioned you know other projects like this, but I will try to google it also

[scient]

There looks like an unofficial patch effort for C&C: The First Decade here. The unofficial patch removes the cd check (safedisc) completely which was present in last official patch v1.2. Now, C&C First Decade is a newer game that ACX and EA even has it listed on their website. EA makes no mention of AC/ACX anywhere in their list of games. If you search their website, no mention. I would imagine that that C&C patch would be targeted far before one for AC/ACX. Plus, at most Apolyton would get would be a take down notice from EA to removed links / downloads to my patch.

I sent a PM to Illuminatus acouple days ago but he hasn't responded. I originally suggested adding in a cd check but after seeing that project for First Decade I'm inclined to think it doesn't matter.

On another note, if anyone can put me in contact with Brad Oliver (formerly with Aspyr and I believe currently with Apple) that would be great. Maybe I can see if he has access to windows source and could compile patches to both win/mac if I gave him details on what to sort. Aspyr would have had to have windows source at some point to port it over to cocoa or carbon.

[WolfRenault]

i've been playing smac for about 3-4 years now, found it in a thrift shop, just got this AC complete via air mail and it is wonderful. works well and i look forward to spending many more years playing.