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U KNOW WHEN U PLAYED TO MUCH SMAC WHEN...
(30 January 2000, 9:37 EST/SMAC) We'll just post the first 8 here :)
1. You see "talking heads" on Tv and think they are Transcendi.
2. You refer to your lawnmover as "Former."
3. You are afraid of little elderly ladies with red hair... especially if they are regurals in church... and especially if their name is Miriam.
4. You wonder why there are so much churches in you neighbourhood. Have the Believers taken over it?
5. You are hysterically afraid of normal earthworms.
6. You go to doctor and congratulate him for keeping people happy.
7. You refer to your computer as "Network Node".
8. You have karaoke version of "Deidre has a Network Node."
Much more on the thread in our smac forum!  -MarkG
SMAC NOMINATED: GDR
(3 February 2000, 9:58 EST) GamesDomain has opened the polls for the general public to vote for their gaming cream of the crop of 1999.
One of the nominees in the Strategy Camp is none other than Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. The competition in the category is stiff, including other notable titles such as Age of Empires 2, SimCity 3000 and, naturally, rival Civilization: Call To Power.
In each "Camp" you can vote for up to three of the nominated categories. You need only your name and email address to participate. What comes after?
"After a set period of time, the results are then tallied and announced, and we move on to the Knockout Round where the top-voted games are placed in head-to-head bouts to compete for the Overall Best of 1999 Award", reads the introductory paragraph to the feature.
Good luck SMAC! Everyone else: cast your ballot today. -DanQ
STAR WARS MODPACK IN BETA
(1 February 2000, 15:47 EST) Seems like someone has been working a lot. Check out Jasonian's page with lots of factions and of course the beta version of his Star Wars modpack. Download it and give your comments on this thread of our AC-Creation forum! -MarkG
MORE ABOUT SID IN THE SIMS
(4 February 2000, 17:54 EST) We had posted some days ago(Jan.21) about a Sid Meier character in the The Sims game by Maxis if you ordered it from EBWorld. Well, Firaxis posted two more detailed images of... Sid as he appears in the game. Check them out, and if get The Sims along with Sid, tell us about the experience of having a legendary game designer in your dream house... :) -MarkG
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Apolyton
News29 January -
4 February
2000
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SMAC FOR MAC IS HERE!
SMAC FOR MAC NOW!
(4 February 2000, 7:26 EST)  SMAC for the macintosh seems to be arriving to stores, finally! At least it is available on Amazon and thus listed in the Apolyton Links&Products Directory, so you can either buy it, review it or both! :)
Btw, if you got SMAC for mac from your local store, post where you found it on the forums -MarkG
MAC PORT: ALMOST GOLDMASTER
(31 January 2000, 10:59 EST) MacGamer's Ledge is this morning
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reporting that Westlake Interactive's Brad Oliver, Project Leader on the Mac port of SMAC, commented on two bugs which he has fixed after receiving reports of them from users who downloaded and played the demo, and news that the game will be declared in gold master either today or tomorrow.
"I was able to fix two bugs in SMAC yesterday that people had reported on here [MacLedge]", Oliver said. "The game itself should go GM on Monday, Tuesday at the absolute latest, barring discovery of any show-stopping bugs (of which there haven't been any yet - knock on wood)". -DanQ
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CLIP FROM FEB. 5, 1999
(4 February 2000, 11:47 EST) "240 Seconds of Gaming" is a continuous feature of the All Games Network. Its February 5, 1999 installment provided a four-minute highlight into what gamers should expect from of SMAC. The two hosts go back and forth between discussing their likes and dislikes of the title; one of them refers to Sid Meier fans as "rabid" in embracing what he produces!
Click here, and then click on the "Play" button that appears to launch the program. To view, you will need either the RealPlayer G2+ or the Windows Media Player. -DanQ
GAMEADDICT REVIEW
(3 February 2000, 10:10 EST) It's not the newest review on the block, but it is worth mentioning. GameAddict has archived their review of SMAC and, has SMAC fans have become accustom to learning, it's a positive one.
Here are just some of the things reviewer Private Hudson had to say about Firaxis' heralded title:
"Alpha Centauri is like getting on and riding a bike: you never forget how once you learn...
Not bound by the conceptual restraints of history or modern day technology, the faction you control in Alpha Centauri is really free to do and take whatever path you see fit... This is a terrific feeling when you first start the game, with only one unit and a whole world to explore.
The greatest thing about this game is the sheer amount of cool things you can do, whether it be building sensor arrays on your border, bunkers or farms, even orbital satellite combat. Alpha Centauri gives you so many gameplay features you can play this game over and over and not even dent the surface of its offerings.
Alpha Centauri is a game that will go down as a classic if today's gamers let it". -DanQ
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SMAC & EXPANSION REVIEW
(3 February 2000, 10:28 EST) Still trying to decide whether to purchase SMAC, SMAC-X, or both?
While released within two different time periods, it is interesting to read the similarities and differences in Games Weekly Magazine's review of SMAC and its expansion pack Alien Crossfire side by side.
As for the original, GWM reviewer Werewolf was thoroughly impressed with the product. "SMAC, as it's commonly called, is Sid Meier's most recent blockbuster civilization simulation", he asserts. "SMAC is one of the best story driven games I have seen in a while".
Not all was a walk in the park, though. Werewolf explains:
"Can't very well play a strategy game without any units. This is where the game generally bothers me. Unoriginality kills the fun of the units in my eyes".
Overall, SMAC's success is rosy, as summarized by Werewolf in the final paragraph of this 3-page review.
"This game is definitely worth the price you pay for it. I recommend it highly. I've pointed out many aspects that are unlikable but it's still a fun enough game to want to go out and dominate in".
Carpe M'Karzi reviewed SMAC-X last November, and for the most part only had good points to comment in his exposee of the game.
"... the factions are fairly well balanced. No one faction can dominate the others. Here’s the great part. In Alien Crossfire you can play as any of the seven new factions OR any of the original factions.
Firaxis has done all it can to keep this game fresh, fun and challenging. If you liked SMAC, go get this add-on. If you loved Civ II or Call to Power get Alpha Centauri and Alien Crossfire. This expansion is worthy of the name Sid Meier, and that is the highest praise I can think of".
-DanQ
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COLUMN #97; BY DEREK BARRETT
(2 February 2000, 22:43 EST) This week's installment of "The Column" comes from Derek Barrett, who explores the intricacies of Apolyton and what he believes makes this place so special. (Thanks Derek  )
If you have any comments to pass along regarding the piece, feel free to contact the other directly or post them for others to read in our forums. -DanQ
COLUMN #96; WHY SE DOES NOT BELONG IN CIV3
(29 January 2000, 21:08 EST/Misc) Raingoon, the Religion Thread Manager(check the Civ3 List forum if you're dont what this is) isn't exactly font of the Social Engineering system of SMAC. Read his thoughts about it, in our 96th column, titled: Why SE Does NOT Belong in Civ 3.
This week the Column has a new, a bit experimental layout, hope you like it... -MarkG
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DINO DIARY 4
DIARY INSTALLMENT #4
(31 January 2000, 16:51 EST) Firaxis has unveiled the fourth installment of their Dinosaur Diaries. It's a few days behind schedule (they're dated Jan. 28), but nonetheless worth a look!
Sid Meier himself starts off the discussions, as usual, commenting this time around how much snow has accumulated in their neck of the woods in recent days but, despite that, "the game must go on".
From there, the next eight pages features Mike Ely debating some of the technological issues surrounding Dinosaurs' development, primarily as to what colour resolution to use. A bonus diary is included to talk about the team's obsession with a game inspired by a television series that is making a killing in network television ratings today. -DanQ
SCENARIO OR BIG WORLD?
(30 January 2000, 9:29 EST) Following the subject of the 3rd Dino Diary we wonder about what would fit best in a dinosaurs game. What is easier to imagine your dinosaurs doing? a big "arena" when anything can happen or smaller parts of a campaign(evolution?)? Well, vote on our new poll, and give your comments on the related thread -MarkG
TURN BASED, BUT STILL...
(30 January 2000, 9:24 EST) 491 Votes in our first poll on the choice between Real Time or Turn Based for a Dinosaurs game and the results are| Real Time |  102 / 15% | | Turn Based | 252 / 51% | | Mix of RT and TB | 107 / 21% | | Not sure/No opinion | 30 / 6% |
I would personally expect to see turn based get much higher numbers from civers. But perhaps we are ready for experiments with real time(blasphemy!) Your thoughts on the results? -MarkG
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Apolyton&Friends News 22-28/Jan/00
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