So when I started up SMAC for the first time I was greeted with an intro as one might expect... but it was extremely small. Talk about an eye strain. I was wondering if anyone had a fix for me, I've been looking all around and I couldn't find anything on it.

Note: I am running a Windows 7 with an Nvidia GC
also note that this only happens with the videos, the game runs fine in full

Happens for me on Vista Ultimate x64, and I have an nvidia GTX260.

The videos are the same size on screen whether I use the default resolution of 1024x768 or whether I use the DirectDraw=0 in the Alpha Centauri.ini file to force my native resolution of 1680x1050, so they appear to be displayed at a fixed relative size to the screen.

They aren't too small to watch, though, so it isn't a problem for me. I don't know if it is normal or the result of more recent hardware and/or Windows.

Ah, seems the reason the resolution doesn't make a difference to the video size is because whenever a video plays the screen resolution changes to 640x480. I've taken some screenshots of the intro video, an in-game shot (showing my native resolution) and an in-game cinematic (The Longevity Vaccine).

A thought, check your graphics card software settings.

For my nvidia Control Panel I use GPU scaling, maintaining aspect ratio. As such, the 640x480 resolution is scaled up to fill my monitor, though it is pillarboxed as it is a 4:3 resolution on a 16:10 monitor screen. I've attached a screenshot of my nvidia Control Panel settings for scaling.

If you are using no scaling, it would appear as a very small 640x480 image in the middle of the screen. Maybe this is why it is showing too small for you?

I tried to change the scaling option but it didn't have any other option that just to maintain current scaling... I've went through everything and found nothing else relating to scaling... thoughts?

Do you have both the nvidia Control Panel and System Tools installed? The driver only may not be enough.

If you can send some screenshots of your nvidia Control Panel windows then that might help.

Try this (from nvidia manual). It worked for me. I had the scaling option missing too.

setscaling

Description
Set the scaling of the specified display.

Format:
rundll32.exe NvCpl.dll,dtcfg setscaling <display#> [<NV device moniker>] <mode: 0,1, 2, 3, 5>

The scaling modes are defined as follows:
• 0 : Default
• 1: Native
• 2: Scaled
• 3: Centered
• 5: Aspect scaling (for wide panel LCD)

So in your case, you'd need to type:
rundll32.exe NvCpl.dll,dtcfg setscaling 1 DA 5

(assuming you have 1 monitor). You type that from cmd prompt.

Alternatively, I heard this that the setting will appear if (worked for me too):
_In Nvidia control panel go to "Change resolution"
_Change your resolution to a smaller non-native one that appears under "PC" (instead of having one that is under "Custom" or "HD SD" or "TV")
_The scaling option will now appear under "Adjust Desktop size and position" (see korell's screenshot)
_Choose the "Fixed aspect ratio" option.
_Switch back to your native resolution.