I must admit I am sort of worried about the missing expansions in the first EA releases. Still.. it's SMAC.. I'm not sure if I can make a stand on this, I want it too much :P

I... will buy it either way, but would LOVE to see it with Alien Crossfire.... I just can't wait for them to release it..

Can we get an answer from GOG? Will Alpha Centauri include Alien Crossfire? I can't wait to buy this. But without Alien Crossfire, it'll be incomplete and I will be very, very sad.

I never played it with Alien Crossfire so... I will buy it either way. The base game was just too good.

You contradicted yourself. You admit that Crossfire adds to the experience, meaning it is by definition part of the "perfect SMAC experience".

Also, no one is being ridiculous (assuming that the title is meant to be tongue-in-cheek). You act as if we are demanding something that doesn't exist. There is an expansion. It did add to the game experience in most peoples minds. If they don't include it then there is a real question whether you would be better off just tracking down an old copy on Ebay or something.

I'm with you. No pasaran.

No. My analogy was this: you are offered the best meal of your life for almost free, but you refuse to take it because it's missing a tea-spoonful of salt. Worst part is, you probably won't even notice it's missing unless someone tells you so. I find that ridiculous.

Are there any campaigns/scenarios? Or is it purely a sandbox game? If its all sandbox then I will buy both games, but likely won't play the first since the sequel has all that content and more. And the sequel has an added victory condition along with improvements for the builder strategy. I'd just rather spend my time on the version with the most options and variety. Hopefully both games are included.

It's like with Civ3 and Civ4. Once the expansions came out, I never went back to the vanilla game. And once the mods starting coming out, I rarely played the unmodded game. Since SMAX came out just a year after SMAC, I'm assuming that the majority of mods are for SMAX?

That said, if SMAX is not available, then I will be glad to at least have SMAC.

Your analogy (which I had not previously seen you make) is seriously flawed. I'll stick to just addressing the main issue with it, which is that you present a false choice. As I said, we are not talking about a hypothetical expansion. It does exist. Most (not all) people think it adds to the game. Most (certainly not all) people think it adds to the game more then you imply. Copies can still be tracked down.

So, the choice is not between the classic game Alpha Centauri or nothing. The choice is between Alpha Centauri, or nothing, or just tracking down the complete game somewhere else.

Of course, all this assumes they don't include the expansion. I very much hope they do, and there has been no official word either way that I have seen. Still, if they don't then the choice facing buyers is NOT the one you lay out. Even if it were, there is nothing ridiculous about pushing hard for them to sell the best version of the game. In fact, if this were going to be the only option available it would be even MORE important to lobby for the complete edition.

I think it's a bit more than a teaspoon of salt. ;~p It's like the meats absent the gravy, the salads missing croutons, theres no garlic and chives in the mashed spuds, the veggie medley contains only peas and carrots, and the dinner roll is a slice of bread. Still a balanced hearty meal. Just not as tasty without the extras.

But I've a great hunger for a quality 4x TBS meal. So I'll still be satisfied with the original menu.


I'm still giddy over the news that its coming. And thankful that it'll arrive in the second wave, before the break.

I can't recall SMAX having too many upgrades over SMAC other than the new factions (including progenitors) and the revamped maritime bases (which made actually expanding into the ocean possible). Then again I didn't play it too much, by when I finally got it my interest in the game had waned.

As for mods, I don't think most are for SMAX -- SMAX had a very limited release, so not everyone had the chance to get it.

The new factions were the highlight for me, although they also added a handful of new buildings and projects (wonders). I think they might have added a unit type and one or two new victory conditions as well. I also forget exactly what was added, although in my case because I am so used to having the expansion installed. The exact details can be looked up pretty easily.

New techs, units, buildings, and projects. Double the number of factions. Improved UI. An additional victory condition.
Plus PBEM and HotSeat MP. More strategies, more options, more variety, more toys!

I seem to recall reading that the Progenitors were overpowered by design--not just because it makes sense from a story perspective, but also to encourage the human factions to form alliances against them and keep them from dominating the game. I guess that dynamic would would only really come out in multiplayer--I don't know how well it worked, having only played the game solo, but I at least like the idea of this sort of asymmetrical "balance" and the possibilities it offers.