lol
Is it really that good?

Don't worry about it. I don't need one in return. After all, that's what gifting is supposed to be about, isn't it? If at all pay it forward to somebody else. Now enjoy your game. ;)

I played both Civ 3 and Alpha Centauri quite a lot. And only advantage Civ 3 has, if you ask me, is slightly better graphics. As for gameplay and strategic possibilities, Alpha Centauri is waaaay better.

Firstly, terrain is represented way better than in any Civ game (up until newest). Instead of having three generic elevations (plains, hills, mountains) each tile has it's own elevation. Which in turn affects your energy input (higher the elevations higher the income from solar plants) and fertility of tiles do to planet climate (higher rainfall and food output on western slopes of mountains). This can be changed, if you have advanced enough technology. Just send formers to raise/lover elevations. In this way you can even create new seas or dry out current ones. And that's just one of the things formers can affect. You don't like that your territory has no rivers? No problem, send former to drill a new river source and create new river. You don't like arid climate? Build devices that will affect micro climate of surrounding area.

Factions are way more diverse than in other Civ games. Yeah, in Civ they have their own bonuses. But here choice of a faction can really affect the way you play the game. For example, if you choose enviromentalist faction you can pretty fast adept to local wild life and use it to battle against your opponents.

Technology is a bit more complicated compared to Civ games though. Until you get a hang of technology tree. Way you get new units is also different. Instead of new single type of units you develop new technologies (new engines, weapons, chassies...) and combine them any way you want.

Last thing that crosses mine mind, this is only civ game in which weapons of mass destruction can make really, really big damage. For example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJjQEoFF5Q8

Drop this baby in populated part of enemy land and it's pretty much game over for him (although other factions tend to declare war on you in a instance). :D

Edit: Drats, I'm too late. :D

This topic is just filled with love.

I love GOG community for this.

How did he convince you?

"violates the UN charter..."

Good, good....

I seem to recall that the Civ games usually had advisers. Does this game have them and can you name them?
Went ahead and bought him the dang game :P

Fair enough. But a prize is a prize! So do me a favor and pick one person from this topic and he/she will get any 9.99$ game. I started this topic with an intend to buy somebody a game and I will NOT play Alpha Centauri before I accomplish it ;)

He just bought him the game? That's brilliant:P

Because that's how our community "convinces" people, apparently :D

I can't imagine a better way to convince somebody ;)

Since this thread is all about Alpha Centauri, let's simply spread the joy. That can buy three more copies. Even better!

IronStar should get one, as he needs to be clued in to how good 4x gaming can be.
One for Judas as well? It doesn't sound like he has a copy yet.

what's "4x gaming"?

Perfect! Just wait a sec I will send one copy to IronStar. What about the rest?

eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate

eXplore
eXpand
eXploit
eXterminate.