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Fan Response To GameSpy Article
December 12 1999 -- Dan Quick |  |
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GameSpy has posted several letters it has received in response to John Keefer II's profile on Firaxis, posted less than a week ago. The criticism has been sharp, and there are definitely differing opinions on Firaxis' company practices. The letters, and Keefer's responses to them, make up a good chunk of the second page of GameSpy's weekly Mailbag feature. One user, referring to themself only as "Shining1", went as far to say that he didn't know what to make of "that Firaxis propoganda article".
"It's obvious that there's a large customer base out there that's highly dissatisfied with Firaxis' business practices. Hopefully, Firaxis has listened to these and will rectify any problems like this in the future. It'd be a shame to see such a talented group of game developers lose touch with the very people they're trying to reach", writes Keefer in his followup to one of the letters.
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PCGamer's SMAC-X Strategy Guide
December 12 1999 -- Dan Quick | |
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On page 91 of PCGamer's (PCG) January 2000 issue begins the gaming magazine's 2 1/2 page guide for Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire, with input from Firaxis' Tim Train. The sections covered include how to play against the Progenitor factions, such as discovering Progenitor Psych technology as quickly as possible, to playing as one of the Progenitors. The guide also offers tips and hints for the builder and conqueror in all of us.
As the article's tagline puts it, PCGamer has got some strategies to turn this snarling bit pull into a whimpering puppy". Imagery aside, look for PCG at your local newsstands.
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MacDonald: "Caught In The Crossfire"
December 12 1999 -- Dan Quick | |
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The January 2000 issue of PCGamer has a lot of interesting tidbits and insight into Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire. T. Liam MacDonald, who writes the regularly featured "Extended Play" column for the magazine, devoted 3/4 of his monthly space to the expansion pack. Here are some excerpts:
"Alien Crossfire adds far too many new technologies, projects, facilities, and unit elements to detail here... This really is a great improvement to Alpha Centauri, expanding upon core concepts without radically changing the tone of gameplay or creating new missions that are simply more dificult... The only people likely to be disappointed are those who were hoping for a new tile set or location: everything takes place on Planet".
The only comment of MacDonald's that is apt to stir some grumbles is his reference to SMAC-X's faction editor, which many fans consider to be a grossly overrated add-in, as "very accessible".
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GameSpy Profiles Firaxis
December 8 1999 -- Dan Quick | |
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GameSpy's John Keefer II, aka "Warrior", has written a detailed four-page profile on Firaxis Games, from its humble beginnings in June of '96 to what it has become today. He also speculates on what is in store for the company in the future, and what it will mean for the gaming genres it enters.
An interview with Jeff Briggs makes up a substantial portion of the article, with lots of interesting tidbits to read. The ongoing interview with Briggs throughout the article is impressive, with his thoughts on resigning from MicroProse, where the company is looking down the road, and -- yes -- his take on how the shutdown of the company forums affected public relations. In short, the interview is, to date, one of it not the largest interview, both in size and content, conducted with Briggs and perhaps even any other member of the Firaxis staff.
There is something more that makes this profile unique from others that have been documented in the past: an entire page devoted to picking the brains of several webmasters that handle Firaxis/Sid Meier games. To put it simply, quote: "the company goes beyond expectations". The list of these people include Ken Robbins, webmaster of The Hornet's Nest, Kunal Shah, Administrator and Owner of SidGames.com and a certain Co-Owner/Administrator of Apolyton CS. 
Did Briggs spill any beans on Sid's next project? Nope. "Sorry no leaks. Just keep a close eye on our Web site for the latest information on the game".
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Episode 8 Now Playing
December 8 1999 -- Dan Quick | |
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Episode 8 of SMAC-X was made public by Firaxis on the Official SMAC-X website. The four-part story, entitled "Centauri: Arrival", focuses on the new Drone Faction, introduced in the SMAC expansion pack.
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Brenesal on SMAC-X, Part II
December 2 1999 -- Dan Quick | |
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Last month we talked to Barry Brenesal with some of this afterthoughts to his GameProWorld review on Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire, aka SMAC-X. Barry was kind enough to time out of his often busy schedule to answer some further questions from us in regards to the game.
1) How would you rate the new factions of SMAC-X?
"Overall, positively -- though I'd rather more time had been spent on
decision-making AI (the pirates build plenty of colony pods, but damn few ships, in my experience); and AI that permitted computer-driven opponents to expand their land mass via formers".
2) The two alien factions are powerful, but they are always at war with the other, "balancing the game" according to Firaxis. Your view?
"Nice idea, except that the current code permits you to have only one of the
two alien races in the game, without the other. I think even with both present, each may be a bit overly powerful, given their starting units. If they're not in proximity to one another, they tend to overrun their more humanoid neighbors quickly".
3) Your experience from mixed games (in other words, with old factions, new factions)?
"Reasonably balanced, and fun to play. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if
Bruce, Sid & Company devised all the races at the same time, and held half of 'em back to throw at players in an add-on module-- in short, they feel well-integrated".
4) Do you see any changes/improvements in the AI? If so, like what?
"Regrettably, no. I'm not saying the AI plays like an idiot (it doesn't),
but I don't get any sense of improvement in combat or building-- and you can easily check on the latter, as soon as you become Planetary Governor, by peeking into what they're doing. No, I think the add-on was largely concerned with rules repair and improvement, rather than markedly better AI".
5) Overall, how would you rate SMAC-X? Is it a good buy and, if so, for whom?
"It's an excellent buy: the basic game is so complex, that there were bound
to be plenty of rules that needed fixing and tweaking after release (and that's no aspersion cast on the creators, either). The new factions, buildings, etc, are nicely done. If you liked SMAC, I think SMAC-X is mandatory.
I also think that Sid and Bruce should hire a graphics designer away from Triumph (who did Age of Wonders) for their next game...but that's another issue, entirely {grin} ".
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