So, as of like the 13th or so of November, SMAX and SMAC won't properly start anymore. They load a black screen, then dumps me back onto the Desktop. Haven't messed with files or installed Mods.

On what system, under what circumstances?

Having the same problem. Was fine. Noticed today that GG was saying that it wasn't installed, even though it was. Reinstalled and it doesn't start.

Microsoft removed DirectPlay from Windows.

Just wanted to chime in and say Im getting an identical problem (although at no prior point could I successfully launch because I just purchased the game)

My specs are:
Win10 64-bit
Geforce GTX 1060 6GB
Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-1620 v4 @ 3.50GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.5GHz
And Im launching on a Multi-monitor display with my primary monitor being a native 1920x1080 (though unplugging all other monitors did not solve the issue)

Ive tried:
-Enabling Directplay (already enabled)
-Installing the Unofficial Patches (no effect)
-Uninstalling GOG and SMAC completely, rebooting, reinstalling, rebooting, then attempting to launch (no effect)

I really wanted to try this game as Ive never touched the 4X genre and I love Sci-Fi - can anyone help?

EDIT: Here's the Windows problem report:

Source
terran.exe

Summary
Stopped working

Date
‎2022-‎09-‎01 9:29 AM

Status
Report sent

Description
Faulting Application Path: C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Alpha Centauri\terran.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: terran.exe
Application Version: 0.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 3d590cc5
Fault Module Name: terran.exe
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 3d590cc5
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 000d5793
OS Version: 10.0.19044.2.0.0.256.161
Locale ID: 4105
Additional Information 1: 6b65
Additional Information 2: 6b65b3c8fea03bbef7f046b258b46117
Additional Information 3: e26d
Additional Information 4: e26dafcbb65d73c4fe22b47860720ad1

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 9f4142902c63cc1ef4db49b74d63414e (0)

That could not be more unhelpful but I am sure you know that already. Installing Linux is not an option for me as it's a company machine.

Well, have fun with your Windows then. In the meantime I might play a bit of Alpha Centauri on a system that can run games.

I have no doubt that Windows is not why you can't run the game.

Now that it is a company machine would be your reason why you are having issues. If it is anything like my laptop they lock down everything and push out updates that won't be friendly to programs that they don't want running and using their resources.

I had the same problem. The solution was to rename the 'movies' directory in the Alpha Centauri folder as it was suggested in another thread. I hope this helps.

I'm having a similar problem, with the screen going black, then dumping me back to the desktop, when I attempt to open either Alpha Centauri or Alien Crossfire, on my new Windows 11 computer. (They seemed to run fine on my previous computer, running Windows 10.) On another thread specifically about Windows 11 issues with launching SMAC, the OP suggested finding the "axstart" executable file in this game's folder within Program Files (x86), creating a shortcut for axstart, and copy/pasting the shortcut to the desktop. The other thread's OP indicated that the axstart shortcut opened an EA start screen allowing access to both games; however, I still got the same "black screen, then desktop" result as I had experienced by clicking the shortcuts for the individual games.
I was prompted to install Direct Play when I first attempted to open Alien Crossfire, and did so.
I could try renaming the "movies" directory in the Alpha Centauri folder next, as you did. I sure hope that works!