<s>
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Alpha	I-Application
Centauri	I-Application
is	O
a	O
4X	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
considered	O
a	O
spiritual	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
Civilization	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
a	O
science	O
fiction	O
depiction	O
of	O
the	O
22nd	O
century	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
begins	O
as	O
seven	O
competing	O
ideological	O
factions	O
land	O
on	O
the	O
planet	O
Chiron	O
(	O
"	O
Planet	O
"	O
)	O
in	O
the	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
star	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sid	O
Meier	O
,	O
designer	O
of	O
Civilization	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Brian	O
Reynolds	O
,	O
designer	O
of	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
developed	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
after	O
they	O
left	O
MicroProse	O
to	O
join	O
with	O
Jeff	O
Briggs	O
in	O
creating	O
a	O
new	O
video	O
game	O
developer	O
:	O
Firaxis	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Arts	O
released	O
both	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
,	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
,	O
in	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
following	O
year	O
,	O
Aspyr	O
Media	O
ported	O
both	O
titles	O
to	O
Classic	B-Application
Mac	I-Application
OS	I-Application
while	O
Loki	O
Software	O
ported	O
them	O
to	O
Linux	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
features	O
improvements	O
on	O
Civilization	B-Application
IIs	I-Application
game	O
engine	O
,	O
including	O
simultaneous	O
multiplay	O
,	O
social	O
engineering	O
,	O
climate	O
,	O
customizable	O
units	O
,	O
alien	O
native	O
life	O
,	O
additional	O
diplomatic	O
and	O
spy	O
options	O
,	O
additional	O
ways	O
to	O
win	O
,	O
and	O
greater	O
mod-ability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
introduces	O
five	O
new	O
human	O
and	O
two	O
non-human	O
factions	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
additional	O
technologies	O
,	O
facilities	O
,	O
secret	O
projects	O
,	O
native	O
life	O
,	O
unit	O
abilities	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
victory	O
condition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
wide	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
being	O
compared	O
favorably	O
to	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
also	O
won	O
several	O
awards	O
for	O
best	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
and	O
best	O
strategy	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Space-race	O
victories	O
in	O
the	O
Civilization	B-Application
series	O
conclude	O
with	O
a	O
journey	O
to	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beginning	O
with	O
that	O
premise	O
the	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
narrative	O
starts	O
in	O
the	O
22nd	O
century	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
United	O
Nations	O
sends	O
"	O
Unity	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
colonization	B-Application
mission	O
,	O
to	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
's	O
planet	O
Chiron	O
(	O
"	O
Planet	O
"	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
expansion	O
pack	O
,	O
players	O
learn	O
that	O
alien	O
experiments	O
led	O
to	O
disastrous	O
consequences	O
at	O
Tau	B-Application
Ceti	I-Application
,	O
creating	O
a	O
hundred-million-year	O
evolutionary	O
cycle	O
that	O
ended	O
with	O
the	O
eradication	O
of	O
most	O
complex	O
animal	O
life	O
in	O
several	O
neighboring	O
inhabited	O
star	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
disaster	O
(	O
referred	O
to	O
by	O
Progenitors	O
as	O
"	O
Tau	B-Application
Ceti	I-Application
Flowering	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
Progenitors	O
split	O
into	O
two	O
factions	O
:	O
Manifold	O
Caretakers	O
,	O
opposed	O
to	O
further	O
experimentation	O
and	O
dedicated	O
to	O
preventing	O
another	O
Flowering	O
;	O
and	O
Manifold	O
Usurpers	O
,	O
favoring	O
further	O
experimentation	O
and	O
intending	O
to	O
induce	O
a	O
controlled	O
Flowering	O
in	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauris	I-Application
Planet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
,	O
these	O
factions	O
compete	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
human	O
factions	O
for	O
control	O
over	O
the	O
destiny	O
of	O
Planet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
focuses	O
on	O
the	O
leaders	O
of	O
seven	O
factions	O
,	O
chosen	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
from	O
the	O
14	O
possible	O
leaders	O
in	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
and	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Planet	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Alena	O
Kanka	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
leaders	O
in	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
comprise	O
:	O
Lady	O
Deirdre	O
Skye	O
,	O
a	O
Scottish	O
activist	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Carolyn	O
Dahl	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
Gaia	O
's	O
Stepdaughters	O
;	O
Chairman	O
Sheng-Ji	O
Yang	O
,	O
a	O
Chinese	O
Legalist	O
official	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Lu	O
Yu	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
Human	O
Hive	O
;	O
Academician	O
Prokhor	O
Zakharov	O
,	O
a	O
Russian	O
academic	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Yuri	O
Nesteroff	O
)	O
of	O
the	O
University	O
of	O
Planet	O
;	O
CEO	O
Nwabudike	O
Morgan	O
,	O
a	O
Namibian	O
businessman	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Regi	O
Davis	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
Morgan	O
Industries	O
;	O
Colonel	O
Corazon	O
Santiago	O
,	O
an	O
American	O
militiawoman	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Wanda	O
Niño	O
)	O
of	O
the	O
Spartan	O
Federation	O
;	O
Sister	O
Miriam	O
Godwinson	O
,	O
an	O
American	O
minister	O
and	O
social	O
psychologist	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Gretchen	O
Weigel	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
Lord	O
's	O
Believers	O
;	O
and	O
Commissioner	O
Pravin	O
Lal	O
,	O
an	O
Indian	O
surgeon	O
and	O
diplomat	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Hesh	O
Gordon	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
Peacekeeping	O
Forces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
seven	O
additional	O
faction	O
leaders	O
in	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
are	O
Prime	O
Function	O
Aki	O
Zeta-Five	O
,	O
a	O
Norwegian	O
research	O
assistant-turned-cyborg	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Allie	O
Rivenbark	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
The	O
Cybernetic	O
Consciousness	O
;	O
Captain	O
Ulrik	O
Svensgaard	O
,	O
an	O
American	O
fisherman	O
and	O
naval	O
officer	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
James	O
Liebman	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
The	O
Nautilus	O
Pirates	O
;	O
Foreman	O
Domai	O
,	O
an	O
Australian	O
labor	O
leader	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Frederick	O
Serafin	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
The	O
Free	O
Drones	O
;	O
Datajack	O
Sinder	O
Roze	O
,	O
a	O
Trinidadian	O
hacker	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Christine	O
Melton	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
The	O
Data	O
Angels	O
;	O
Prophet	O
Cha	O
Dawn	O
,	O
a	O
human	O
born	O
on	O
Planet	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Stacy	O
Spenser	O
)	O
of	O
The	O
Cult	O
of	O
Planet	O
;	O
Guardian	O
Lular	O
H'minee	O
,	O
a	O
Progenitor	O
leader	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Jeff	O
Gordon	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
The	O
Manifold	O
Caretakers	O
;	O
and	O
Conqueror	O
Judaa	O
Maar	O
,	O
a	O
Progenitor	O
leader	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Jeff	O
Gordon	O
)	O
,	O
of	O
The	O
Manifold	O
Usurpers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mindworms	O
can	O
eventually	O
be	O
captured	O
and	O
bred	O
in	O
captivity	O
and	O
used	O
as	O
terroristic	O
bioweapons	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
eventually	O
discovers	O
that	O
the	O
fungus	O
and	O
mindworms	O
can	O
think	B-General_Concept
collectively	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
counter	O
this	O
threat	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
or	O
a	O
computer	O
faction	O
builds	O
"	O
The	O
Voice	O
of	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
"	O
secret	O
project	O
,	O
which	O
artificially	O
links	O
Planet	O
's	O
distributed	O
nervous	O
system	O
into	O
the	O
human	O
Datalinks	O
,	O
delaying	O
Planet	O
's	O
metamorphosis	O
into	O
full	O
self-awareness	O
but	O
incidentally	O
increasing	O
its	O
ultimate	O
intelligence	O
substantially	O
by	O
giving	O
it	O
access	O
to	O
all	O
of	O
humanity	O
's	O
accumulated	O
knowledge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thus	O
,	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
closes	O
"	O
with	O
a	O
swell	O
of	O
hope	O
and	O
wonder	O
in	O
place	O
of	O
the	O
expected	O
triumphalism	O
"	O
,	O
reassuring	O
"	O
that	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
n’t	O
the	O
entirety	O
of	O
mankind	O
’s	O
future	O
,	O
but	O
just	O
another	O
step.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
,	O
a	O
turn-based	O
strategy	O
game	O
with	O
a	O
science	O
fiction	O
setting	O
,	O
is	O
played	O
from	O
an	O
isometric	B-Application
perspective	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
game	O
features	O
from	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
are	O
present	O
,	O
but	O
renamed	O
or	O
slightly	O
tweaked	O
:	O
players	O
establish	O
bases	O
(	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
's	O
cities	O
)	O
,	O
build	O
facilities	O
(	O
buildings	O
)	O
and	O
secret	O
projects	O
(	O
Wonders	O
of	O
the	O
World	O
)	O
,	O
explore	O
territory	O
,	O
research	O
technology	O
,	O
and	O
conquer	O
other	O
factions	O
(	O
civilizations	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
conquering	O
all	O
non-allied	O
factions	O
,	O
players	O
may	O
also	O
win	O
by	O
obtaining	O
votes	O
from	O
three	O
quarters	O
of	O
the	O
total	O
population	O
(	O
similar	O
to	O
Civilization	B-Application
IVs	I-Application
Diplomatic	O
victory	O
)	O
,	O
"	O
cornering	O
the	O
Global	O
Energy	O
Market	O
"	O
,	O
completing	O
the	O
Ascent	O
to	O
Transcendence	O
secret	O
project	O
,	O
or	O
for	O
alien	O
factions	O
,	O
constructing	O
six	O
Subspace	O
Generators	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
new	O
technology	O
grants	O
access	O
to	O
additional	O
unit	O
components	O
rather	O
than	O
pre-designed	O
units	O
,	O
allowing	O
players	O
to	O
design	O
and	O
re-design	O
units	O
as	O
their	O
factions	O
 '	O
priorities	O
shift	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Xenofungus	B-Application
"	O
and	O
"	O
sea	O
fungus	O
"	O
provide	O
movement	O
,	O
combat	O
,	O
and	O
resource	O
penalties	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
concealment	O
for	O
"	O
mind	O
worms	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
spore	O
launchers	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Monoliths	O
repair	O
units	O
and	O
provide	O
resources	O
;	O
artifacts	O
yield	O
new	O
technology	O
and	O
hasten	O
secret	O
projects	O
;	O
landmarks	B-Protocol
provide	O
resource	O
bonuses	O
;	O
and	O
random	O
events	O
add	O
danger	O
and	O
opportunity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
provides	O
a	O
single	O
player	O
mode	O
and	O
supports	O
customization	B-Device
and	O
multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
may	O
customize	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
choosing	O
options	O
at	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
using	O
the	O
built-in	O
scenario	O
and	O
map	O
editors	O
,	O
and	O
modifying	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauris	I-Application
game	O
files	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
a	O
choice	O
of	O
seven	O
(	O
or	O
14	O
in	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
)	O
factions	O
,	O
pre-game	O
options	O
include	O
scenario	O
game	O
,	O
customized	O
random	O
map	O
,	O
difficulty	O
level	O
,	O
and	O
game	O
rules	O
that	O
include	O
victory	O
conditions	O
,	O
research	O
control	O
,	O
and	O
initial	O
map	O
knowledge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
supports	O
play	O
by	O
email	O
(	O
"	O
PBEM	O
"	O
)	O
and	O
TCP/IP	O
mode	O
featuring	O
simultaneous	O
movement	O
,	O
and	O
introduces	O
direct	O
player-to-player	O
negotiation	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
unconstrained	O
trade	O
of	O
technology	O
,	O
energy	O
,	O
maps	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1996	O
,	O
MicroProse	O
released	O
the	O
lauded	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
designed	O
by	O
Brian	O
Reynolds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Disagreements	O
between	O
the	O
new	O
management	O
and	O
its	O
employees	O
prompted	O
Reynolds	O
,	O
Jeff	O
Briggs	O
,	O
and	O
Sid	O
Meier	O
(	O
designer	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Civilization	B-Application
)	O
to	O
leave	O
MicroProse	O
and	O
found	O
Firaxis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
unable	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
same	O
intellectual	O
property	O
as	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
the	O
new	O
company	O
felt	O
that	O
players	O
wanted	O
"	O
a	O
new	O
sweeping	O
epic	O
of	O
a	O
turn-based	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
set	O
out	O
to	O
capture	O
the	O
whole	O
sweep	O
of	O
humanity	O
's	O
future	O
,	O
including	O
technology	O
,	O
futuristic	O
warfare	O
,	O
social	O
and	O
economic	O
development	O
,	O
the	O
future	O
of	O
the	O
human	O
condition	O
,	O
spirituality	O
,	O
and	O
philosophy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alien	O
ecologies	O
and	O
mysterious	O
intelligences	O
were	O
incorporated	O
into	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
as	O
external	O
"	O
natural	O
forces	O
"	O
intended	O
to	O
serve	O
as	O
flywheels	O
for	O
the	O
backstory	O
and	O
a	O
catalyst	O
for	O
many	O
player	O
intelligences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
commented	O
that	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauris	I-Application
fictional	O
nature	O
allowed	O
them	O
to	O
draw	O
their	O
characters	O
"	O
a	O
lot	O
more	O
sharply	O
and	O
distinctly	O
than	O
the	O
natural	O
blurring	O
and	O
greyness	O
of	O
history	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Chiron	O
has	O
two	O
moons	O
,	O
named	O
after	O
the	O
centaurs	O
Nessus	O
and	O
Pholus	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
combined	O
tidal	O
force	O
of	O
Earth	O
's	O
Moon	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
the	O
second	O
planet	O
out	O
from	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
A	O
,	O
the	O
innermost	O
planet	O
being	O
the	O
Mercury-like	O
planet	O
named	O
after	O
the	O
centaur	O
Eurytion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
B	O
is	O
also	O
dubbed	O
Hercules	B-Device
,	O
a	O
reference	O
to	O
him	O
killing	O
several	O
centaurs	O
in	O
mythology	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
second	O
star	O
preventing	O
the	O
formation	O
of	O
larger	O
planets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
arrival	O
on	O
Chiron	O
is	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
Planetfall	B-Application
"	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
a	O
term	O
used	O
in	O
many	O
science	O
fiction	O
novels	O
,	O
including	O
Robert	O
A	O
.	O
Heinlein	O
's	O
Future	O
History	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
Infocom	O
's	O
celebrated	O
comic	O
interactive	O
fiction	O
adventure	O
Planetfall	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
July	O
1996	O
,	O
Firaxis	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
,	O
with	O
Reynolds	O
heading	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meier	O
and	O
Reynolds	O
wrote	O
playable	O
prototype	O
code	O
and	O
Jason	O
Coleman	O
wrote	O
the	O
first	O
lines	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
libraries	B-Library
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reynolds	O
felt	O
that	O
smart	O
computer	B-Application
opponents	I-Application
are	O
an	O
integral	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
classic	O
computer	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
considered	O
it	O
a	O
challenge	O
to	O
make	O
them	O
so	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reynolds	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
most	O
important	O
principle	O
of	O
game	O
design	O
is	O
for	O
the	O
designer	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
it	O
is	O
developed	O
;	O
Reynolds	O
claimed	O
that	O
this	O
was	O
how	O
a	O
good	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
(	O
AI	O
)	O
was	O
built	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
designer	O
also	O
watched	O
what	O
the	O
computer	B-Application
players	I-Application
did	O
,	O
noting	O
"	O
dumb	O
"	O
actions	O
and	O
trying	O
to	O
discover	O
why	O
the	O
computer	O
made	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Doug	O
Kaufman	O
,	O
a	O
co-designer	O
of	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
was	O
invited	O
to	O
join	O
development	O
as	O
a	O
game	O
balancer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reynolds	O
cited	O
the	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauris	I-Application
balance	O
for	O
the	O
greater	O
sense	O
of	O
urgency	O
and	O
the	O
more	O
pressing	O
pacing	O
than	O
in	O
his	O
earlier	O
game	O
,	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Colonization	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
late	O
1997	O
,	O
Bing	O
Gordon	O
—	O
then	O
Chief	O
Creative	O
Officer	O
of	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
—	O
joined	O
the	O
team	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
responsible	O
for	O
the	O
Planetary	O
Council	O
,	O
extensive	O
diplomacy	O
,	O
and	O
landmarks	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
Firaxis	O
game	O
with	O
public	O
beta	O
testers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
months	O
leading	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
,	O
multimedia	O
producer	O
Michael	O
Ely	O
wrote	O
the	O
35	O
weekly	O
episodes	O
of	O
Journey	O
to	O
Centauri	O
detailing	O
the	O
splintering	O
of	O
the	O
U.N.	O
mission	O
to	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
month	O
after	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauris	I-Application
February	O
1999	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
Firaxis	O
team	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
expansion	O
pack	O
,	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Alien	I-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
features	O
seven	O
new	O
factions	O
(	O
two	O
that	O
are	O
non-human	O
)	O
,	O
new	O
technologies	O
,	O
new	O
facilities	O
,	O
new	O
secret	O
projects	O
,	O
new	O
alien	O
life	O
forms	O
,	O
new	O
unit	O
special	O
abilities	O
,	O
new	O
victory	O
conditions	O
(	O
including	O
the	O
new	O
"	O
Progenitor	O
Victory	O
"	O
)	O
and	O
several	O
additional	O
concepts	O
and	O
strategies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
considered	O
several	O
ideas	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
a	O
post-apocalyptic	O
earth	O
and	O
the	O
conquest	O
of	O
another	O
planet	O
in	O
the	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
system	O
,	O
before	O
deciding	O
to	O
keep	O
the	O
new	O
title	O
on	O
Planet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
believed	O
the	O
"	O
coolness	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
Progenitor	O
aliens	O
would	O
determine	O
the	O
success	O
or	O
failure	O
of	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
completion	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
felt	O
that	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
was	O
somewhere	O
between	O
an	O
expansion	O
and	O
a	O
full-blown	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
months	O
leading	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
,	O
multimedia	O
producer	O
Michael	O
Ely	O
wrote	O
the	O
9episodes	O
of	O
Centauri	O
:	O
Arrival	O
,	O
introducing	O
the	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
factions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Arts	O
bundled	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
and	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
in	O
the	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
Planetary	O
Pack	O
in	O
2000	O
and	O
included	O
both	O
games	O
in	O
The	O
Laptop	O
Collection	O
in	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2000	O
,	O
both	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
and	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
were	O
ported	O
to	O
Classic	B-Application
Mac	I-Application
OS	I-Application
by	O
Aspyr	O
Media	O
and	O
to	O
Linux	B-Application
by	O
Loki	O
Software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
received	O
wide	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
upon	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
with	O
reviewers	O
voicing	O
respect	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
pedigree	O
,	O
especially	O
that	O
of	O
Reynolds	O
and	O
Meier	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
favorably	O
compared	O
to	O
Reynold	O
's	O
previous	O
title	O
,	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Rawn	O
Shah	O
of	O
IT	O
World	O
Canada	O
praised	O
the	O
expansion	O
for	O
a	O
"	O
believable	O
"	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
despite	O
its	O
critical	O
reception	O
,	O
it	O
sold	O
the	O
fewest	O
copies	O
of	O
all	O
the	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
Civilization	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
was	O
the	O
tenth-best-selling	O
computer	O
game	O
of	O
1999	O
's	O
first	O
half	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Walter	O
Morbeck	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
said	O
that	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
was	O
"	O
more	O
than	O
hi-tech	O
physics	O
and	O
new	O
ways	O
to	O
blow	O
each	O
other	O
up	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
feature	O
realistic	O
aliens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Terry	O
Coleman	O
of	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
predicted	O
that	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
would	O
be	O
"	O
another	O
huge	O
hit	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
vote	O
of	O
27journalists	O
from	O
22gaming	O
magazine	O
,	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
won	O
"	O
Best	O
Turn	O
Based	O
Strategy	O
"	O
of	O
E3	O
Show	O
Award	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
's	O
science	O
fiction	O
storyline	O
received	O
high	O
praise	O
;	O
IGN	O
considered	O
the	O
game	O
an	O
exception	O
to	O
PC	O
sci-fi	O
cliches	O
,	O
and	O
GamePro	O
compared	O
the	O
plot	O
to	O
the	O
works	O
of	O
writers	O
Stanley	O
Kubrick	O
and	O
Isaac	O
Asimov	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
J.C.	O
Herz	O
of	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
suggested	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
a	O
marriage	O
of	O
SimCity	B-Application
and	O
Frank	O
Herbert	O
's	O
Dune	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamePros	O
Dan	O
Morris	O
said	O
"	O
As	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
builds	O
to	O
its	O
final	O
showdown	O
,	O
the	O
ramifications	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
theoretical	O
discoveries	O
elevate	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
from	O
great	O
strategy	O
game	O
to	O
science-fiction	O
epic.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
reviewer	O
Denny	O
Atkin	O
called	O
the	O
factions	O
and	O
their	O
abilities	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauris	I-Application
"	O
most	O
impressive	O
aspect	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
's	O
turn-based	O
gameplay	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
technology	O
trees	O
and	O
factional	O
warfare	O
,	O
was	O
commonly	O
compared	O
to	O
Civilization	B-Application
and	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Adrenaline	O
Vault	O
's	O
Pete	O
Hines	O
said	O
,	O
"	O
While	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
is	O
the	O
evolutionary	O
off-spring	O
to	O
 [ Civilization ] 	O
and	O
[	O
Civilization	B-Application
II ]	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
not	O
[	O
Civilization	B-Application
II ]	O
in	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Edge	O
in	O
2006	O
praised	O
"	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
's	O
greater	O
sophistications	O
as	O
a	O
strategy	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
said	O
"	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
is	O
a	O
better	O
game	O
than	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
;	O
it	O
's	O
deep	O
,	O
rich	O
,	O
rewarding	O
,	O
thought-provoking	O
in	O
almost	O
every	O
way.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Revolution	O
's	O
reviewer	O
was	O
less	O
magnanimous	O
,	O
saying	O
"	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
is	O
at	O
least	O
as	O
good	O
a	O
game	O
as	O
Civilization	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
simply	O
does	O
not	O
do	O
enough	O
that	O
is	O
new	O
;	O
it	O
just	O
does	O
n't	O
innovate	O
enough	O
to	O
earn	O
a	O
higher	O
grade.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
of	O
computer-controlled	O
factions	O
,	O
which	O
featured	O
adaptability	O
and	O
behavioral	O
subtlety	O
,	O
was	O
given	O
mixed	O
comments	O
;	O
some	O
reviewers	O
thought	O
it	O
was	O
efficient	O
and	O
logical	O
,	O
while	O
others	O
found	O
it	O
confusing	O
or	O
erratic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
in-game	O
cutscenes	O
,	O
particularly	O
the	O
full	B-Application
motion	I-Application
video	I-Application
that	O
accompanied	O
technological	O
advances	O
,	O
were	O
praised	O
for	O
their	O
quality	O
and	O
innovation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
's	O
sound	O
and	O
music	O
received	O
similar	O
comments	O
;	O
FiringSquad	O
said	O
"	O
[	O
The	O
sound	O
effect	O
quality ]	O
sort	O
of	O
follows	O
the	O
same	O
line	O
as	O
the	O
unit	O
graphics	O
–	O
not	O
too	O
splashy	O
but	O
enough	O
to	O
get	O
the	O
job	O
done.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
has	O
won	O
several	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
awards	O
,	O
including	O
those	O
from	O
the	O
Denver	O
Post	O
and	O
the	O
Toronto	O
Sun	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
named	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
the	O
"	O
Computer	O
Strategy	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
(	O
along	O
with	O
nominations	O
for	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Outstanding	O
Achievement	O
in	O
Interactive	O
Design	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
won	O
the	O
Origins	O
Award	O
for	O
Best	O
Strategy	O
Computer	O
Game	O
of	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
editors	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
US	O
named	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
their	O
"	O
Best	O
Turn-Based	O
Strategy	O
Game	O
"	O
of	O
1999	O
,	O
and	O
wrote	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
set	O
a	O
new	O
standard	O
for	O
this	O
venerable	O
genre.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
has	O
the	O
distinction	O
of	O
receiving	O
gaming	O
magazine	O
PC	O
Gamers	O
highest	O
score	O
to	O
date	O
as	O
of	O
2019	O
(	O
98%	O
)	O
,	O
alongside	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Crysis	B-Application
,	O
surpassing	O
Civilization	B-Application
IIs	I-Application
score	O
(	O
97%	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
was	O
a	O
runner-up	O
for	O
Computer	O
Games	O
Strategy	O
Pluss	O
1999	O
"	O
Add-on	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
which	O
ultimately	O
went	O
to	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Might	I-Application
and	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Armageddon	I-Application
's	I-Application
Blade	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
have	O
been	O
no	O
direct	O
sequels	O
beyond	O
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
,	O
something	O
that	O
writer	O
Greg	O
Tito	O
attributed	O
to	O
Reynolds	O
leaving	O
Firaxis	O
in	O
2000	O
to	O
form	O
Big	O
Huge	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alien	B-Application
Crossfire	I-Application
producer	O
and	O
lead	O
designer	O
Timothy	O
Train	O
also	O
left	O
Firaxis	O
with	O
Reynolds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
a	O
spiritual	O
sequel	O
,	O
Civilization	B-Application
:	I-Application
Beyond	I-Application
Earth	I-Application
,	O
was	O
announced	O
by	O
Firaxis	O
in	O
April	O
2014	O
and	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
24	O
,	O
2014	O
;	O
several	O
of	O
those	O
that	O
worked	O
on	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
helped	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
new	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
in	O
Endgadget	B-Application
noted	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Alpha	I-Application
Centauri	I-Application
,	O
however	O
,	O
it	O
's	O
a	O
cut-rate	O
disappointment	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
features	O
introduced	O
in	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
were	O
carried	O
over	O
into	O
subsequent	O
Civilization	B-Application
titles	O
;	O
upon	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Civilization	B-Application
III	O
was	O
compared	O
negatively	O
to	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
,	O
whose	O
Civilization	B-Application
characteristics	O
were	O
reminiscent	O
of	O
faction	O
bonuses	O
and	O
penalties	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
government	O
system	O
in	O
Civilization	B-Application
IV	I-Application
closely	O
resembles	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauris	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Civilization	B-Application
V	I-Application
includes	O
a	O
new	O
victory	O
condition	O
:	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
the	O
'	O
Utopia	O
project	O
 '	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
reminiscent	O
of	O
the	O
Ascent	O
to	O
Transcendence	O
secret	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Edge	O
magazine	O
,	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
remained	O
"	O
highly	O
regarded	O
"	O
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Escapist	O
Magazine	O
reviewed	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
2014	O
,	O
noting	O
that	O
"	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
is	O
still	O
playable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writer	O
Steve	O
Darnall	O
and	O
illustrator	O
Rafael	O
Kayanan	O
also	O
made	O
a	O
graphic	O
novel	O
entitled	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
:	O
Power	O
of	O
the	O
Mindworms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Steve	O
Jackson	O
Games	O
published	O
GURPS	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
,	O
a	O
sourcebook	O
for	O
the	O
GURPS	O
role-playing	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Alpha	B-Application
Centauri	I-Application
universe	O
.	O
</s>
