Popular mods & fan patches for SMAC/SMAX

[grodysattva]

Alpha Centauri Unofficial patch by Scient[github.com]

Install this first. This fixes bugs with yields for probe teams, farming, and several other issues that were never officially addressed.

PlotinusRedux's GUI improvements and renderer for SMACX[github.com]

This allows better UI scaling, resolution and windowed options, and other modern features that didn't exist in 1999.

Please comment on this guide with others you'd like to see added.

[realizationman2003]

Originally posted by Donald:

what would be the benefit of running the Steam release of SMAC/SMACX instead of the GOG release?

Apparently there is no benefit the game remains the same with the same old bugs.

Originally posted by Donald:

I installed the Steam release on my computer's D drive (more space there), but I keep getting dumped back to the desktop after the initial Firaxis Games logo screen. Not sure why my husband and I get such different results,

One thing i have noticed in general about windows 10 and 11 is sadly it does seem to break, get corrupted which can lead to programs not running as they should. I would recommend to anyone that they backup their hard drive with something like macrium reflect (just in case) ( look on youtube how to use, then download windows media creation tool, use it to upgrade/replenish your old windows corrupted data, if u do it right it will keep your old system intact, it will repair windows keeping all your programs and documents, files etc. I find the download iso and put onto usb with rufus the fastest option or u can let windows media creation tool download windows install files to the pc automatically and it will do it with minimal fuss (tho can be really slow) . Even if it is unsuccessful technically is should rollback to before it attempted the install. Very important when u install it it will give u an option to choose keep apps and documents do so, choose your current operating system make sure you know if you are currently running i.e windows 10 or 11 home or pro etc be sure to choose the one that's the same as your current system and it will install windows again replenish any corrupted files. it may sound a bit extreme but is not. If you chose keep windows apps and , files documents etc, your desktop will be exactly the same when it finishes with all your program, files documents untouched. I had issues with windows games and programs not running, tried various sfc scannow commands and DISM restore windows health of which said no problem but never was able to fix the issues until i did the media creation tool upgrade which made windows like new again. Anyways hopefully this may get your Alpha Centurai running.

[Necroscourge]

Is there anything for allowing all 14 factions to play?

[White Rabbit]

No, there isn't. That is one of the fundamental flaws of the expansion pack. 7 additional factions were added, yet it's impossible to play with all of them while still keeping the original factions.

Maybe the open source recreation GLSMAC will one day make it possible.

[Don Cheadle's victim face]

I dont understand github.
Why is it laid out so as casual users can't understand it?
I can't even see a .exe file in there to download.
Your 'Simple guides' are not simple enough for me!, sorry.

[grodysattva]

Originally posted by Schloffey_Johnson's_Womad_Cycle:

I dont understand github.
Why is it laid out so as casual users can't understand it?
I can't even see a .exe file in there to download.
Your 'Simple guides' are not simple enough for me!, sorry.

In the Guides section I wrote an expanded version with warnings, a few directions for github, and more specific information. I can't edit that like this, so I made aguide.

[Don Cheadle's victim face]

Originally posted by grodysattva:

Originally posted by Schloffey_Johnson's_Womad_Cycle:

I dont understand github.
Why is it laid out so as casual users can't understand it?
I can't even see a .exe file in there to download.
Your 'Simple guides' are not simple enough for me!, sorry.

In the Guides section I wrote an expanded version with warnings, a few directions for github, and more specific information. I can't edit that like this, so I made aguide.

Thanks for making a guide.
But again, where is it!?
I see no guide see section anywhere on steam discussions or store page options.

I had to dig around and think I found it.
For some reason there is no guides link on shop page.
Somehow people are supposed to know where to go, not store front, not discussions. But community hub or something, then can discover a sub menu on guides...


But the very first message there is
'IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO GITHUB, YOU FIND THE INSTALLER IN THE "RELEASES" SECTION OR IN THE BODY OF THE POST'

Where?

I went to releases and there is not an .exe link or installer link ?

Thanks for the effort but that's clear as mud to me.

[Sishiya]

Originally posted by Schloffey_Johnson's_Womad_Cycle:

Originally posted by grodysattva:

In the Guides section I wrote an expanded version with warnings, a few directions for github, and more specific information. I can't edit that like this, so I made aguide.

Thanks for making a guide.
But again, where is it!?
I see no guide see section anywhere on steam discussions or store page options.

I had to dig around znd think I found it.
But the very first message is
'IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO GITHUB, YOU FIND THE INSTALLER IN THE "RELEASES" SECTION OR IN THE BODY OF THE POST'

Where?

The literal next line that says:

Alpha Centauri Unofficial patch by Scient[github.com]

...is the link. Hover your mouse over that line and left click on it.

[grodysattva]

Originally posted by Schloffey_Johnson's_Womad_Cycle:

Originally posted by grodysattva:

In the Guides section I wrote an expanded version with warnings, a few directions for github, and more specific information. I can't edit that like this, so I made aguide.

Thanks for making a guide.
But again, where is it!?
I see no guide see section anywhere on steam discussions or store page options.

I had to dig around and think I found it.
For some reason there is no guides link on shop page.
Somehow people are supposed to know where to go, not store front, not discussions. But community hub or something, then can discover a sub menu on guides...


But the very first message there is
'IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO GITHUB, YOU FIND THE INSTALLER IN THE "RELEASES" SECTION OR IN THE BODY OF THE POST'

Where?

I went to releases and there is not an .exe link or installer link ?

Thanks for the effort but that's clear as mud to me.

The guides link is also at the top of the page you are reading this on.

Every link tells you how to install in the body of the page it links to except for GLSMAC, which is not easy to use off the bat. It's in there. It's not steam workshop or nexusmods easy, true, but it's a 25 year old game.

[Don Cheadle's victim face]

Originally posted by grodysattva:

Originally posted by Schloffey_Johnson's_Womad_Cycle:

Thanks for making a guide.
But again, where is it!?
I see no guide see section anywhere on steam discussions or store page options.

I had to dig around and think I found it.
For some reason there is no guides link on shop page.
Somehow people are supposed to know where to go, not store front, not discussions. But community hub or something, then can discover a sub menu on guides...


But the very first message there is
'IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO GITHUB, YOU FIND THE INSTALLER IN THE "RELEASES" SECTION OR IN THE BODY OF THE POST'

Where?

I went to releases and there is not an .exe link or installer link ?

Thanks for the effort but that's clear as mud to me.

'The guides link is also at the top of the page you are reading this on.'

100% no
Maybe because I'm on my phone?



'Every link tells you how to install in the body of the page it links to except for GLSMAC, which is not easy to use off the bat. It's in there. It's not steam workshop or nexusmods easy, true, but it's a 25 year old game.

No idea what glsmac is.
I really just wanted to try out the first two mods you recommended, I'd they aren't too confusing to install.

Thanks for the pointers.

I just wish people could post direct links to the stuff they are recommending.
Then it really would be a case of pointers, click, download, install.

I occasionally have the misfortune of having to use github and mostly have no clue at all how to use it.

[Don Cheadle's victim face]

Originally posted by Schloffey_Johnson's_Womad_Cycle:

Originally posted by grodysattva:

'The guides link is also at the top of the page you are reading this on.'

100% no
Maybe because I'm on my phone?



'Every link tells you how to install in the body of the page it links to except for GLSMAC, which is not easy to use off the bat. It's in there. It's not steam workshop or nexusmods easy, true, but it's a 25 year old game.

No idea what glsmac is.
I really just wanted to try out the first two mods you recommended, I'd they aren't too confusing to install.

Thanks for the pointers.

I just wish people could post direct links to the stuff they are recommending.
Then it really would be a case of pointers, click, download, install.

I occasionally have the misfortune of having to use github and mostly have no clue at all how to use it.

https://github.com/DrazharLn/pracx
There is no 'releases' link on top of that page, had t oscroll down and see the unhelpfully names .exe file :/.. doable but not smooth.
Absolutely ridiculous github is..

The mods havent been updated for 6 years? Is there any reason of having them exclusively on github?
Could they not be put on something like mediafire to be linked to and downloaded simply?

There must be a reason why you use github I guess.

Anyway, I installed the main two mods you recommended.
Game is often crashing within a few minutes of gameplay.
Crashing to desktop.
I'm not sure if it's anything to do with the mods as I did not try the vanilla game.
I guess it's just a very old game.
Can't be playing it if it's going to crash every five minutes, impossible.

Thanks for the pointers.

[Sishiya]

Originally posted by Schloffey_Johnson's_Womad_Cycle:

https://github.com/DrazharLn/pracx
There is no 'releases' link on that page, and I cant understand the 'installer' folder.
Absolutely ridiculous github is.. unless people sit on front of linux all day, they aren't going to understand it.

They havent been updated for 6 years? Then whats the point of having them exclusively on github?
Why doesn't someone just put them on mediafire to be understood and downloaded simply.

The entire point of github is that it's a code repository. One of the best ways to inadvertently install a virus on your PC is to download and run .exe files that have been hosted by multiple people on free hosting sites. Github, in addition to allowing hobbyists to use their own compilers to build .exes for their environments and allow group collaboration on projects, allows people to easily verify exactly what is there in the code.

What github isn't is a place for people who just want to download an automated installer without much effort beyond clicking the left mouse button four or five times. Some familiarity with your OS's file structure is expected at a bare minimum. I get that it sucks for those who don't have the resources to figure it out, but short of hiring someone to do it, I'm not sure what other recourse there is.

[Sishiya]

Pracxpatch 1.11[github.com]
Under the 1.11 section download the first two files into your Alpha Centauri folder (or first four if using the Thinker mod); you don't need to download the source code files.

Then run PRAC.v1.11.exe. If using the Thinker mod as well, run pracxpatch.exe.

[Don Cheadle's victim face]

Originally posted by Sishiya:

Pracxpatch 1.11[github.com]
Under the 1.11 section download the first two files into your Alpha Centauri folder (or first four if using the Thinker mod); you don't need to download the source code files.

Then run PRAC.v1.11.exe. If using the Thinker mod as well, run pracxpatch.exe.

I just managed to download the first two mods that were recommended by the OP
I think they just installed automatically straight into the game folder.

My game is crashing though..
After about 3 minutes of play.


Will have to open another thread and see if there are any solutions.

Thanks again

[Name]

Originally posted by grodysattva:

Alpha Centauri Unofficial patch by Scient[github.com]

Install this first. This fixes bugs with yields for probe teams, farming, and several other issues that were never officially addressed.

PlotinusRedux's GUI improvements and renderer for SMACX[github.com]

This allows better UI scaling, resolution and windowed options, and other modern features that didn't exist in 1999.

Please comment on this guide with others you'd like to see added.

How can i scale the UI? thx

[Liberty Or Death]

Upon attempting to install the PRACX.v.1.11 file, I receive an error message indicated that there "Is no Alpha Centauri found to patch." Anyone else having this issue? I'd really like to fix this UI.