Why no Save game Feature

Archonsod · #1 January 11th, 2007, 07:55 AM

I wouldn't say it's a concious decision, or necessarily a bad one. After all, the functionality is there (as in, moving and renaming files yourself), it's more a matter of polish (as in, it's not automated or presented within the game).
It's not the only rough edge the game has either. Much as I love additional content and similar fun stuff, I do wonder if perhaps the actual presentation is being over ignored.

Edi · #2 January 11th, 2007, 08:21 AM

Implementing a save game option would not be difficult. A subdirectory or three or five in each savegame subdir that store the turn files for e.g. 1 to 5 turns previous and then start overwriting them in order of oldest first would be about as much anybody could ask for. Whether we get it is another matter entriely.

Personally I don't need it in Dominions, never have. In some other types of strat games like the HoMM series and the old Warlords series I like it. In Dominons, I like the ironman approach. For me, it's no problem starting over if things get screwed up. Typically if I do have to start over, it'll be at a point early enough that it doesn't really matter and later I've generally managed a position strong enough that a few setbacks won't be eeough to stop me. Hurt, yes, but not stop. That's a part of the game for me. I don't like the "Take overly big risks and go back to a saved game if it fails" approach that many people like to use. The solution is to take smaller risks.

Edi

PDF · #3 January 11th, 2007, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Archonsod said:
I wouldn't say it's a concious decision, or necessarily a bad one. After all, the functionality is there (as in, moving and renaming files yourself), it's more a matter of polish (as in, it's not automated or presented within the game).
It's not the only rough edge the game has either. Much as I love additional content and similar fun stuff, I do wonder if perhaps the actual presentation is being over ignored.

I do think likewise. I don't think IW "didn't want" to do it, rather that either they didn't have the idea or felt there was something more interesting/important to do.
Also note that Dom2 worked exactly the same and yet I don't remember much (any) rumbling about the lack of save feature..
Maybe the game is getting more popular so there's more demand for a "standard" feature that is missing.

Personally I'd be glad to have it but can live without.

Also note that if Dom doesn't have a real save feature like "all" other strat games have, it has *lots* of features that *no other* strat game has

Caduceus · #4 January 11th, 2007, 11:31 AM

I know I learn from my mistakes without a save game feature. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like one, but we've been spoiled by the save feature in games for years.

Now, confirming an end-turn click would be nice.

Archonsod · #5 January 11th, 2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

PDF said:
Also note that Dom2 worked exactly the same and yet I don't remember much (any) rumbling about the lack of save
feature..

One of the key improvements in Doms 3 is the overhaul of the in-game graphical interface to a clearer, more user friendly design. Perhaps the out of game interface is overdue for the same treatment.
Like you I can take or leave the save feature itself, however it would be nice to see a little time spent on increasing the utility and general polish of the pre-game menu. While it's probably not important to most people, it's worth remembering that this is the first thing a new player will see, and first impressions are always important.
Personally, I can see the need for some kind of game manager replacement for the load interface. Not necessarily fancy, but it would be nice to perhaps see the current turn number alongside the game name at least. Perhaps even identifying whether the game was created as single or multiplayer, the map used and the player's nation.

PhilD · #6 January 13th, 2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

PDF said:
Personally I'd be glad to have it but can live without.

Agree here. Something else I'd live without, is the superior attitude of so many Dom players when it comes to this kind of feature. "It's not how the game is supposed to be played and enjoyed, you cheater, so stop asking for it. Or just copy the files by hand"

(If you're not supposed to make saved games, how come simply copying the turn files works?)

Quote:

Also note that if Dom doesn't have a real save feature like "all" other strat games have, it has *lots* of features that *no other* strat game has

Again, true.

HoneyBadger · #7 January 13th, 2007, 08:48 PM

I'm a fan of the game, so why shouldn't I feel "superior" for having bought and enjoyed a game, and participated in it's forum, without needing to
have something added to it that the Devs don't want to add?

I'm not saying I'm superior because "I'm a white (more or less) male who has enough money to afford the game", I'm not saying that I'm superior because "I've played this game from the beginning, and I know how it's supposed to be played".

I'm saying that I can enjoy something without it being just like everything else in it's genre, and I can work with or around the differences, and understand that where the game is limited, it's limited for reasons.

I also have no problem arguing for change I feel would be valuable, or for a saved-game feature that would add-rather than detract from-my personal gaming experience.

I really don't care for the modern concepts of "pride" as a wrong state to be in and "shame" as the correct and natural state, so-CONSIDERING that I strongly believe that everyone here is a complete and valuable human being worthy of respect to the extent that they allow it by their actions, totally regardless of gender, age, religion, number of limbs/eyes/ears/fingers, skin-tone, what have you, I have no problem with feeling superior when I act in a way I consider to be "superior".

PhilD · #8 January 14th, 2007, 05:52 AM

Quote:

HoneyBadger said:
I'm a fan of the game, so why shouldn't I feel "superior" for having bought and enjoyed a game, and participated in it's forum, without needing to
have something added to it that the Devs don't want to add?

Err, I don't know... because a simple reality check should tell you that there is nothing to feel "superior" about in being a fan of a video game?

HoneyBadger · #9 January 14th, 2007, 01:41 PM

Then you shouldn't be complaining about others feeling that way, because obviously, we're not acting in a valid way, according to your own, private, reality.

I wonder how many football fans think their's no reason to feel superior when their team wins a game?

PhilD · #10 January 14th, 2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

HoneyBadger said:
Then you shouldn't be complaining about others feeling that way, because obviously, we're not acting in a valid way, according to your own, private, reality.

I don't quite understand what you're trying to say here, sorry. It looks like you're implying that not taking video games too seriously is, in a way, denying reality. If so, yeah, we don't exactly live in the same world.

Quote:

I wonder how many football fans think their's no reason to feel superior when their team wins a game?

That I couldn't say; but unless you're a member of the team, I'd say it's pretty ridiculous to feel superior when the team you're supporting wins; after all, they did so through absolutely no achievement of yours.

(And yes, I realize there are probably thousands or millions of football/basket/whatever fans who tend to react in the way you describe. That doesn't make them right, though)