The following year, Aspyr Media ported both titles to Mac OS while Loki Software ported them to Linux.Īlpha Centauri features improvements on Civilization II 's game engine, including simultaneous multiplay, social engineering, climate, customizable units, alien native life, additional diplomatic and spy options, additional ways to win, and greater mod-ability. Electronic Arts released both Alpha Centauri and its expansion, Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire, in 1999. Sid Meier, designer of Civilization, and Brian Reynolds, designer of Civilization II, developed Alpha Centauri after they left MicroProse to join the newly created developer Firaxis Games. As the game progresses, Planet's growing sentience becomes a formidable obstacle to the human colonists. Set in a science fiction depiction of the 22nd century, the game begins as seven competing ideological factions land on the planet Chiron ('Planet') in the Alpha Centauri star system. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is a video game in the 4X genre which is considered a spiritual sequel to the Civilization series.