Johan: Great you're looking into the uploadtime thing. That bug is very annoying
And really, really cool to avoid CPU load when idling. This means that the server can handle nearly the same load as a PBEM could. (Only nearly, because there's still the memory). Have you ever managed to create a game with AI/closed nations from the command line? Can you post a working one here? That would be REALLY helpful
PDF: Just for the record: There's no reason to be Online with the server when taking your turn. Just connect, then disconnect and take your turn, then connect and upload (a message will tell you in some technoslang that this has happened.) Works great!
I have now listened and considered what you all wrote. So here's a rough idea how a matchup phase could be implemented.
1. Everyone wanting to join a multiplayer game registers with an email or similar + a login. When creating his account, the new player tells how many games he has played, and where he is on a scale of 1) often quit when losing to 4) always fight to the bitter end. Also, the profile would contain how many (more) MP games this player is looking for.
2. When creating a game, this can be done in matchup mode. That is, you state how many players, what experience level(s) (0-10, 10-100, 100+ games played) and "quit-likely" the gamers may be. Then the server sits around and await enough eligible players. When enough have gathered, a MP game is starting by sending out a master password to all players. The game is started automatically, and the title is sent along with the password. This should insure againt "people accidently dropping in".
3. After the game, statitics are gathered (who quit before the end etc.) and the profiles updated. That way, the profiles become more realistic. Profiles of a certain age çould also be marked (to avoid constant reregistering to escape a bad reputation)
What do you think? It's rough yet, but could it work? Would anyone register? I can certainly implement most of the above with little trouble
This would of course supplement the current very free form.
P.S: Would Cae be so kind as to make his moves in the games? I suppose I really should have made a fixed "host every 24 hours" rule to supplement the quickhost in the WarsOfGaia
