PBW, First Impressions.. (Multiplayer discussion)

[geoschmo]

David, I don't diasgree there is room for improvment. However I sumbit the only reason you feel that the PBW mechanics got in the way of the game is that you have never tried to participate in a PBEM game of Se4 without it. You will find it's much superior to the alternative.

Also, if you try the RTC program I think you will find it eliminates a lot things you still take issue with. You can use it for your exsisting game that is still going on. It doesn't have a chat feature, but it totally automates the file handling and launches the executable.

Geoschmo

[David E. Gervais]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
David, I don't diasgree there is room for improvment. However I sumbit the only reason you feel that the PBW mechanics got in the way of the game is that you have never tried to participate in a PBEM game of Se4 without it. You will find it's much superior to the alternative.

Geoschmo

True, I did jump into the 'deep-end' by joining the PBW-Athon for my first venture into SE:Multiplayer.

I totally understand the idea and funcionality of PBEM. It's a more leisurely pace where speed has little or no value. I'm not saying anything bad about PBEM. I'm just saying that personally I think there is much potential in having a faster paced game option available. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the TPC/IP option is more or less for 'networks' and not so much across the internet.

I'm having trouble putting my finger on what exactly is missing to have that kind of option. (faster gameplay in multiplayer) But after yesterday's game, I can tell you there is definately interest and potential if that kind of gameplay was added to SE:4/5.

I think this a worthy and worthwhile topic to discuss. (not how I feel about the PBW experience) But discuss the highs and lows of multiplayer and what can be done to enhance and improve that experience.

...follow the bouncing ball,.. Cheers!

[Fyron]

Originally posted by DavidG:

Edit: IF you find opening and closing the game after each PBW turn a pain try what I do. I have a .bat file on my desktop that will get me right into my turn for the game. Saves a lot of clicking and typing in of passwords.

Or save that trouble and use the Mod Launcher...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the TPC/IP option is more or less for 'networks' and not so much across the internet.

Ok, you are wrong. It is there for both options. It is not very well implemented, but is fine designed for internet play as well as network play.

[ January 18, 2004, 19:04: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[David E. Gervais]

Fyron, I was/am using the ModLauncher. It doesn't prevent the game from closing at the end of every turn.

[TerranC]

Originally posted by David E. Gervais:
Fyron, I was/am using the ModLauncher. It doesn't prevent the game from closing at the end of every turn.

So make a BAT file like DavidG did, or send an e-mail to aaron.

[TerranC]

Originally posted by David E. Gervais:
Thanks for the comments, (so far) to clarify one thing,..

5) It would also be very nice if 'encounters' were handled in real-time.

by this I mean when you 'encounter' other races and get to do the 'treaty thing'. It would be nice if a 'dialogue' opened up between the parties. (not just I propose this,.. accept, refuse?) My thoughts behind this are to make 'first encounters' (especially in PBW or any multiplayer) more dynamic.

Use Trillian.

Or Wait till SE5 comes out.

[Atrocities]

I have only participated in three or four of these multiplayer turn events, and from what I have seen, if well organized and well attended, they run realatively smoothly.

TCI/IP play has some areas for improvement, I sent Aaron an email on that a week or so ago.

PBEM I have done as well, very very slow.

PBW is by far the fastest method of game play for larger Groups of people. PBW processes the turn automatically, and gives everyone a rallying point to get their turns from.

The only limit to PBW are us who are on dial up.

In the first 50 turns of AUK, we averaged about 12 turns an hour once the game got going. The game Last night was a lot of fun and we processed 24 turn in little over 4 hours. That was better than I expected.

The next game will be started much earlier, medium tech start, STANDARD medium midlife map, no thrills and whistles. (To keep the size of the game file down.)

[Fyron]

Originally posted by David E. Gervais:
Fyron, I was/am using the ModLauncher. It doesn't prevent the game from closing at the end of every turn.

That was in response to DavidG, not to you...

Originally posted by TerranC:

quote:

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Originally posted by David E. Gervais:
Fyron, I was/am using the ModLauncher. It doesn't prevent the game from closing at the end of every turn.

So make a BAT file like DavidG did, or send an e-mail to aaron.

---

That doesn't keep the game from closing after ending your turn. Mod Launcher is still the way to go, as no need to make batch files or anything silly like that.

[ January 18, 2004, 19:58: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:

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Originally posted by DavidG:

Edit: IF you find opening and closing the game after each PBW turn a pain try what I do. I have a .bat file on my desktop that will get me right into my turn for the game. Saves a lot of clicking and typing in of passwords.

Or save that trouble and use the Mod Launcher...

---

Bah I got better things to do than waste time with the 2 extra mouse clicks this requires.

[Fyron]

Double click batch file, spend one second moving the mouse cursor between the 2 clicks of selecting the game and hitting Load Saved Game... ok...