Prehistoric posts about SMAC

[MysticWind]

Found a repository of ancient Apolyton threads that some kind soul had archived for future generations:

The Old Apolyton Civilization Forums. When the Apolyton Civilization Site took down its old discussion forums devoted to classics such as Civilization II and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, I created a quick and dirty mirror here.

I was poking around on the last link, Other Games-Archive, which is where some SMAC talk was happening before there were dedicated AC boards, and I found these gems from the haters:

Alpha Centauri is not good

I played the demo...Very bad playability...some functions very difficult to find...Is Sid getting old ...or too rich ?
And inventions are totally unrealistics...I will not buy it ! But civ mutiplayer is just great...I can't stop defeating peoples ...

SMACABRD's 98% rating in PC Gamer

When I first heard that PC Gamer had been bribed into adding on a 10% rating, I didn't believe it, but when I saw the 98% rating I was shellshocked! I couldn't believe it! They must have been blinded from the poor multiplay, bad graphics, and dull stuff! I think it should have gotten a 75%, all in all avery average, average game.

Funny how these trolls were always around. I kinda agree with this exchange on a thread about Michael Ely, though.

Yes, the user "michael_ely" who posted the topic that's stickied to the top of this forum is the real Michael Ely.

We should play him in a PBEM some time.

What makes you think his SMAC playing would be any better than his writing?

Well, it can't exactly be worse, can it?

[MysticWind]

Broadening this to be a general "old websites about SMAC" archives thread.

Found some good classic fiction on Archive.org's copy of The Chiron Archives

Also found the copy of Xenofungus, complete with info (but sadly no files) for the DS9 TC project in German. For some reason the pre-2003 archives contain scenarios that the later archives lack.

[Buster's Uncle]

Have you found this yet?  https://alphacentauri2.info/ResourceCenter/index.html

-Especially the Alpha.owo archive?

We have some, watchyacall, interest in this sort of thing...

[MysticWind]

I'd be happy try to find more contact so it can be archived by this site. Would any of my finds be worth adding links to, especially the old Apolyton forums archive by Chris Street (CodeHappy)?

Also I'm still trying to find a particular webpage I found a few years ago that looked like almost pre-release cut content. It had the look of one of the Firaxis faction leader profile pages, but was missing images (so like a skeleton of the site), and I believe mentioned that the leader studied at the Royal Thai military academy or something like that. Maybe it was the draft version of the profile for Joaquin/Joaquim Ortega, the original pre-Santiago leader of Sparta?

[Buster's Uncle]

Not sure I follow that second sentence.  I'd probably be interested in doing something linking.  -Faux Official Site page, maybe.

...I've been considering lately what can be done, within my tech reach, to fish what's left of CGN on the Wayback Machine off, and host...

[MysticWind]

Not sure I follow that second sentence.  I'd probably be interested in doing something linking.

From my other thread, I'm wondering if this archive deserves to be linked to on AC2's central directory links somewhere, since it seems to be a wealth of historical information: http://www.codehappy.net/apolyton/

-Faux Official Site page, maybe.

Which one's that?

[Buster's Uncle]

Pages in this style.  https://alphacentauri2.info/official/

Pretty easy.

[bvanevery]

What makes you think his SMAC playing would be any better than his writing?

Well, it can't exactly be worse, can it?

I wonder what the production role of Michael Ely was.  Someone did some good dialogue for the Morganites etc.  Perhaps I should mull over the Credits.

[MysticWind]

Based on various podcast interviews I've listened to, including an illuminating one on Three Moves Ahead, Brian Reynolds wrote most of the in-game dialogue himself, especially the diplomacy quotes. It was a different era in game development. That said I'm wondering who else contributed to other in-game writing like the Datalinks, and the Firaxis website faction leader profiles.

[bvanevery]

Well, if you mean like what a faction leader says to you when you're interacting with them, that wouldn't shock me.  Most of it is not up to the standards of a professional writer, although it has its moments.

Whereas, the tech quotes are much more put together in most cases.  Whoever did the Morganite quotes, had some writing chops.  And a deep cynicism for corporate conferences!

[MysticWind]

Bingo. Found another archive with the goods:

http://www.datapacrat.com/Art/FIRAXIS/

Early draft version of Lal's faction profile, it's what I was looking for

Name: Pravin Lal
Rank: Something
Position: Chief of Surgery
Country of
Origin: India
DOB: 05-03-2046
Height: xx cm
Weight: xx kg
     
Service Record:
Educated PanMayo Clinic xxx Branch (M.D.), Royal Surgeon's College, Bangkok, Combat Surgeon, Net3 Civilian Unrest Force, 3 Tours United Nations Peacekeeping Force, Distinguished Service Award for directing holding action during Node Riots, awarded Nobel Peace Prize 2044 for work on xxx. Accepted Chief of Surgery, U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission.   
Psych Profile:

Early draft faction profile for Santiago

Name: Corazon Santiago
Rank: Lieutenant
Position: Security Officer
Country of
Origin: Mexico
DOB: 05-25-2068
Height: xx cm
Weight: xx kg

Service Record:
Educated University of New Mexico, Major in Criminal Justice with Naval ROTC. Trained as NAVY SEAL, honorable discharge after 6 years. Joined U.N. Security Force, peacekeeping missions to Russian Republic, New Czech, various locs in Middle East. Applied for U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission, accepted on security team with unconditional recommendation Prime Minister Villalobos.

Based on that directory's list of files, this archive was created in May 1998. Perhaps some of those links are also archived in Internet Archive, with the images intact.

Also check out this cut content:



Where did these wallpapers come from:

[bvanevery]

I think I've seen some of this before, somewhere.  Can't remember where.

[MysticWind]

hah that'd be cool. old mailing list correspondence

Have you decided on any of the various factions' tunes? For example, the
Morgan Conglomerate might have some industrial rock, or maybe electronic-
type beeping; the Gaian Stepdaughters could easily have some Celtic
themes, or maybe some 60's-style folk tunes; the Spartans should have a
lot of prideful, rolling drums; the Conclavists might have your standard
church organ and hymnals, or possibly something from the more oriental
temples; the Labyrinth some complex, classical instrumental fugues and
concertos; and so forth.

Have you been listening in on some of our development meetings?. All
those ideas are being checked out.

[MysticWind]

What makes you think his SMAC playing would be any better than his writing?

Well, it can't exactly be worse, can it?

I wonder what the production role of Michael Ely was.  Someone did some good dialogue for the Morganites etc.  Perhaps I should mull over the Credits.

Turns out I was wrong to bash him for the novel and the stories. He made some great stuff!

Meanwhile, Mike Ely directed our Secret Projects movies, coming up with a coherent vision, doing storyboards, figuring out which movies needed licensed footage and which we should develop in-house, and working with the artists to bring Planet to life cinematically.

Meanwhile, Mike Ely went through unending grueling casting sessions to find us seven faction leaders with good voices, acting skills, and authentic accents. Want to make Mike wince? Just sing a few bars of the “Deirdre’s got a Network Node” song.

The credits also lists him as Webmaster.

[MysticWind]

Found another one with some good graphics - claims to be "the biggest AC gallery on the web ."

https://web.archive.org/web/20021201230123/http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Stage/2252/AC.htm