A little blast from the past for you guys.
Im talking about Sid Mayers Alpha Centauri.
For those who don't know this game was sort`of a sequel to Civ2. Essentially, a Civilization game in space (and one of my favorite games of all times).
The story behind it is that due to war and global ecological catastrophe earth has become pretty much uninhabitable (although the exact details of what happened were never given)
In a desperate attempt to save the humanity a ship was lunched by UN with the best and brightest in order to settle a planet in the Alpha Centauri system and start anew.
However as the ship was getting near the destination a catastrophe happen and ship`s captain and the leader of this human expedition was killed.
Chaos erupted, and people started fighting and blaming each other. Essentially a civil war in outer space.
Amid this chaos new leaders emerged (mostly ex-advisers of the now defunct captain) and each one had his/her own vision on how this new human society should be run.
Somehow ship managed to reach its destination, and its time to board the colony pods. But despite the original plan, where everyone was supposed to stay together and united, each new leader took a pod for him/her self promising to lead the humanity toward a better future for anyone who will follow them.
Now it`s your time to decide. The ship is crumbling around you and you must get into one of the pods, and join one of the new factions............which one will you choose?
(Note: for those who played the game, im not asking you about the favorite faction gameplay-wise.)
Gaians
Led by Lady Deidre Skye, their main focus is ecology. Lady Deidre swore never to repeat the tragedy of Earth. The only way for humanity to survive in the long run is to learn and live in harmony with nature. Nature and balance comes before everything...even human life!
She`s no "tree-hugging hippy" though, and her philosophy is not that of peace but of sacrifice and adaptation. Becoming something more than just aliens on this new planet. An integral part of it! Her main technological focus is that of biology and living things. She wants to understand this new planet....she want to be part of this planet (and btw the planet has an Eco-system of its own).
In the great commons at Gaia's Landing we have a tall and particularly beautiful stand of white pine, planted at the time of the first colonies. It represents our promise to the people, and to Planet itself, never to repeat the tragedy of Earth.
-Lady Deirdre Skye, "Planet Dreams"
Hive
This one is kinda tricky to describe. They are led by Sheng-ji Yang and it`s a mix of Communism and ancient eastern philosophies.
The focus here is on eliminating individuality and reaching a state were humans no longer function as individuals but as cells in a bigger organism (think Borg, but with less technology and more spiritualism).
Like a bee hive, or ant colony, separate individuals are meaningless and weak and only a small part of the bigger picture, each one with it`s own duties.
However this "unification" is not to be reach with mindless tyranny but with discipline and meditation. Humans must learn and realize how insignificant each one is on its own. They must learn to abandon their selfish desires and to separate mind from body.
After all, body is nothing more than chemistry. Neuro-signals coming to our brains, Deceiving us into believing in "us". Giving us false sense of reality.
If we learn to abandon our self's and to "tame" our bodies, we will reach the colectivistic utopia and become something much greater than any individual could!
Or at least that's what their leader believes
What do I care for your suffering? Pain, even agony, is no more than information before the senses, data fed to the computer of the mind. The lesson is simple: you have received the information, now act on it. Take control of the input and you shall become master of the output.
-Chairman Sheng-ji Yang, "Essays on Mind and Matter"
University
Led by academician Prokhor Zakharov. Their main focus is science and knowledge. They believe that the only truly valuable thing humans have is their intellect. Research and scientific breakthrough is most highly valued and put above everything else. They don't hide behind "empty" morals, nor are they much preoccupied with social or economical issues.
They believe in facts and evidence and ridicule the childish need of humans to feel safe and that there is some hidden grand purpose to life.
If it wasn't clear by now, they are fiercely atheistic.
Scientific progress is the only thing that matters....everything else is expendable.
Man's unfailing capacity to believe what he prefers to be true rather than what the evidence shows to be likely and possible has always astounded me. We long for a caring Universe which will save us from our childish mistakes, and in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary we will pin all our hopes on the slimmest of doubts. God has not been proven not to exist, therefore he must exist
-Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "For I Have Tasted the Fruit"
Believers
Pretty much the opposite of University. Led by Sister Miriam Godwinson. She believes that the reason world(Earth) has ended is because humans turned away from God.
However she is not to be mistaken for a "simple" religious zealot. She doesn't hide behind millenia old dogmas, and old fashioned religions but accepts the constantly changing nature of humanity and reminds us that God is watching!
She firmly believes that other factions will fail because they are too concerned about their own needs and wishes, and have forgotten God.
God is everywhere but humanity is too proud to see it.
The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.
-Sister Miriam Godwinson, "A Blessed Struggle"
Spartans
Led by Corazon Santiago. They have a very simple philosophy. Since the beginning of time men fought each other, why should things be any different on this new world.
Military strengths and discipline is the main focus of this faction. However her goal is not so much to conquer and dominate everyone else, but to always be prepared for someone else s invasion.
What the point of having a prosperous society if you don't have the guns to defend it?
Man has killed man from the beginning of time, and each new frontier has brought new ways and new places to die. Why should the future be different?
-Col. Corazon Santiago "Planet: A Survivalist's Guide"
Morgan Industries
Led by Nwabudike Morgan. They are the direct opposite of Gaians.
Where lady Deidre preaches harmony Morgan preaches opportunity. Resources are there to be used and usurped. Industry and economy are the main focus of this faction.
Morgan cares little about ecology or the planet.
What will we do if we cause another end of the world? Simple, change the planet. We are the top predators, the top of the food chain and its our right, no our DUTY to use the resources on our disposal as we please.
The word "greed" has no negative connotation for them. Instead it is recognized for what it really is, part of the human nature.
Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary but competition for limited resources remains a constant. Need as well as greed has followed us to the stars and the rewards of wealth still await those wise enough to recognize this deep thrumming of our common pulse.
-CEO Nwabudike Morgan, "The Centauri Monopoly"
Peacekeepers
Led by Pravin Lal. They are the natural successors of the original mission. Pravin Lal was the second in command of the original ship and has sworn to carry the UN principles to this new world. They stand for human rights and value individuality above all else (the opposite of the Hive).
Despite the fact that many have blamed the "old ways" for the Earths downfall and think that we simply cannot afford the old values or be so naive on this new world, Pravin Lal will never never think of human rights as a luxury, but the base and a building block of every society.
As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last lose their grip on information flow will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master.
-Commissioner Pravin Lal, "U.N. Declaration of Rights"
So, the clock is ticking, the ship is going to fall apart any second....which leader will you follow? Which faction do you choose?
Im talking about Sid Mayers Alpha Centauri.
For those who don't know this game was sort`of a sequel to Civ2. Essentially, a Civilization game in space (and one of my favorite games of all times).
The story behind it is that due to war and global ecological catastrophe earth has become pretty much uninhabitable (although the exact details of what happened were never given)
In a desperate attempt to save the humanity a ship was lunched by UN with the best and brightest in order to settle a planet in the Alpha Centauri system and start anew.
However as the ship was getting near the destination a catastrophe happen and ship`s captain and the leader of this human expedition was killed.
Chaos erupted, and people started fighting and blaming each other. Essentially a civil war in outer space.
Amid this chaos new leaders emerged (mostly ex-advisers of the now defunct captain) and each one had his/her own vision on how this new human society should be run.
Somehow ship managed to reach its destination, and its time to board the colony pods. But despite the original plan, where everyone was supposed to stay together and united, each new leader took a pod for him/her self promising to lead the humanity toward a better future for anyone who will follow them.
Now it`s your time to decide. The ship is crumbling around you and you must get into one of the pods, and join one of the new factions............which one will you choose?
(Note: for those who played the game, im not asking you about the favorite faction gameplay-wise.)
Gaians
Led by Lady Deidre Skye, their main focus is ecology. Lady Deidre swore never to repeat the tragedy of Earth. The only way for humanity to survive in the long run is to learn and live in harmony with nature. Nature and balance comes before everything...even human life!
She`s no "tree-hugging hippy" though, and her philosophy is not that of peace but of sacrifice and adaptation. Becoming something more than just aliens on this new planet. An integral part of it! Her main technological focus is that of biology and living things. She wants to understand this new planet....she want to be part of this planet (and btw the planet has an Eco-system of its own).
In the great commons at Gaia's Landing we have a tall and particularly beautiful stand of white pine, planted at the time of the first colonies. It represents our promise to the people, and to Planet itself, never to repeat the tragedy of Earth.
-Lady Deirdre Skye, "Planet Dreams"
Hive
This one is kinda tricky to describe. They are led by Sheng-ji Yang and it`s a mix of Communism and ancient eastern philosophies.
The focus here is on eliminating individuality and reaching a state were humans no longer function as individuals but as cells in a bigger organism (think Borg, but with less technology and more spiritualism).
Like a bee hive, or ant colony, separate individuals are meaningless and weak and only a small part of the bigger picture, each one with it`s own duties.
However this "unification" is not to be reach with mindless tyranny but with discipline and meditation. Humans must learn and realize how insignificant each one is on its own. They must learn to abandon their selfish desires and to separate mind from body.
After all, body is nothing more than chemistry. Neuro-signals coming to our brains, Deceiving us into believing in "us". Giving us false sense of reality.
If we learn to abandon our self's and to "tame" our bodies, we will reach the colectivistic utopia and become something much greater than any individual could!
Or at least that's what their leader believes
What do I care for your suffering? Pain, even agony, is no more than information before the senses, data fed to the computer of the mind. The lesson is simple: you have received the information, now act on it. Take control of the input and you shall become master of the output.
-Chairman Sheng-ji Yang, "Essays on Mind and Matter"
University
Led by academician Prokhor Zakharov. Their main focus is science and knowledge. They believe that the only truly valuable thing humans have is their intellect. Research and scientific breakthrough is most highly valued and put above everything else. They don't hide behind "empty" morals, nor are they much preoccupied with social or economical issues.
They believe in facts and evidence and ridicule the childish need of humans to feel safe and that there is some hidden grand purpose to life.
If it wasn't clear by now, they are fiercely atheistic.
Scientific progress is the only thing that matters....everything else is expendable.
Man's unfailing capacity to believe what he prefers to be true rather than what the evidence shows to be likely and possible has always astounded me. We long for a caring Universe which will save us from our childish mistakes, and in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary we will pin all our hopes on the slimmest of doubts. God has not been proven not to exist, therefore he must exist
-Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "For I Have Tasted the Fruit"
Believers
Pretty much the opposite of University. Led by Sister Miriam Godwinson. She believes that the reason world(Earth) has ended is because humans turned away from God.
However she is not to be mistaken for a "simple" religious zealot. She doesn't hide behind millenia old dogmas, and old fashioned religions but accepts the constantly changing nature of humanity and reminds us that God is watching!
She firmly believes that other factions will fail because they are too concerned about their own needs and wishes, and have forgotten God.
God is everywhere but humanity is too proud to see it.
The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.
-Sister Miriam Godwinson, "A Blessed Struggle"
Spartans
Led by Corazon Santiago. They have a very simple philosophy. Since the beginning of time men fought each other, why should things be any different on this new world.
Military strengths and discipline is the main focus of this faction. However her goal is not so much to conquer and dominate everyone else, but to always be prepared for someone else s invasion.
What the point of having a prosperous society if you don't have the guns to defend it?
Man has killed man from the beginning of time, and each new frontier has brought new ways and new places to die. Why should the future be different?
-Col. Corazon Santiago "Planet: A Survivalist's Guide"
Morgan Industries
Led by Nwabudike Morgan. They are the direct opposite of Gaians.
Where lady Deidre preaches harmony Morgan preaches opportunity. Resources are there to be used and usurped. Industry and economy are the main focus of this faction.
Morgan cares little about ecology or the planet.
What will we do if we cause another end of the world? Simple, change the planet. We are the top predators, the top of the food chain and its our right, no our DUTY to use the resources on our disposal as we please.
The word "greed" has no negative connotation for them. Instead it is recognized for what it really is, part of the human nature.
Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary but competition for limited resources remains a constant. Need as well as greed has followed us to the stars and the rewards of wealth still await those wise enough to recognize this deep thrumming of our common pulse.
-CEO Nwabudike Morgan, "The Centauri Monopoly"
Peacekeepers
Led by Pravin Lal. They are the natural successors of the original mission. Pravin Lal was the second in command of the original ship and has sworn to carry the UN principles to this new world. They stand for human rights and value individuality above all else (the opposite of the Hive).
Despite the fact that many have blamed the "old ways" for the Earths downfall and think that we simply cannot afford the old values or be so naive on this new world, Pravin Lal will never never think of human rights as a luxury, but the base and a building block of every society.
As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last lose their grip on information flow will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master.
-Commissioner Pravin Lal, "U.N. Declaration of Rights"
So, the clock is ticking, the ship is going to fall apart any second....which leader will you follow? Which faction do you choose?
