SMAC/X Bug Fix Project Orientation

[vyeh]

Welcome to the SMAC/X Bug Fix Project!

A quick history of the Bug Fix Project

The project started at Alpha Centauri - Civilization Fanatics' Forums in the list of all curent bugs in AC(X) thread with

Originally Posted by scient

I was wondering if anyone knew of a list of all the current bugs that exist in the game unresolved by the official patches? Alpha C is one of my fav classic games and I figured I'd see about working on an unofficial patch similar to project fixing engine bugs in Planescape: Torment.

After being linked to the Alpha Centauri - Apolyton Civilization Site Forums, scient saw a thread with the Data Angels roll-over bug and fixed it in 12 hours. The next day he fixed the interceptor scrambler bug.

The project found a home.

Why Scient and I moved the project here

(1) The patch couldn't be posted at Apolyton. As Nasrudin pointed out, even CFC allows patches.

(2) Combing repeatedly through a single large thread (there are now 500 responses to the thread at Apolyton) to find all the posts relating to a bug was a pain. Apolyton was willing to create a subforum only after there was official approval.

(3) A friendly administration and a friendly moderator. Due to the recent transition at Apolyton, most of scient's contacts at Apolyton are gone.

A quick history about the Civilization Gaming Network

(1) I believe it was started by Apolyton members who were unhappy about Apolyton, somewhat similar to the WePlayCiv Forums.

(2) From the front page

The Civilization Gaming Network is a run by gamers for gamers. ... The site has existed since Oct. 2000 ... You will find no adds on our site. It is an entirely non-commercial, non-political activity.

We have possibly the most extensive collection of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri related write-ups, mod packs, maps, factions, fiction etc. in existence. Find them in our SMAC section.

A few organizational notes

(1) I have set up a SMAC/X Bug Fix Project social group. The primary purpose is to let me and others know who should be PM'ed about the project. If you want notices, please join the group. If you no longer want to receive notices, leave this group.

(2) In order to send and receive PM's, you must have been registered for 48 hours and made two posts (this doesn't apply to CMN private forum members). Feel free to start a thread in the Off-Topic forum introducing yourself and respond to someone else's thread. There are only two non-SMAC regulars there: z4ckdabeast, part of the Civ's future, and phoenixcager, a self-described "relic."

(3) While you are welcome to post anything SMAC related in this forum, the only people that will read it are people interested in the Bug Fix Project. If you want a wider audience, consider CFC, Apolyton or WePlayCiv.

(4) The threads related to the Bug Fix Project will be heavily moderated. Scient and I go through posts repeatedly for issues like morale and having all the posts in one thread without clutter helps.

Thanks

Like scient, I'd like to thank buster, CGN's owner. I had only 28 posts here when I sent him a link to the Bug Fix Project and asked for moderation powers, which he gave without further question. He also raised the maximum size of zip and rar files that can be attached here to accomodate the patch.

How you might be able to help scient

There is one important thing on scient's wish list that one of you might be able to help fulfill. Scient would love to work with a designer or programmer who was involved with either SMAC or SMAX, in a similar way he works with Quinn on the Planescape: Torment project.

If any of you happens to know someone who knows a designer or programmer and you could help scient get that designer or programmer involved in this project, you will make scient's day, week and month!