Updated Manual?

Gandalf Parker · #1 December 18th, 2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrelloid

In Game Manual/Documentation:
Actually, the developers are the right people to do it because they wrote the code. They have access to the code. They're the only people who know for sure how everything works.

As to what to document? Everything. Every spell, every unit, every item, every mechanic. The actual algorithms used by the code should be made available, as should full stat displays, and so on. In fact, documentation should happen *as they write the code*. Anything else is sloppy programming.

Games like Civilizations have been doing this since the mid-90s. Its really not an unreasonable expectation.

Ahhh I see. That is definitely different than my idea of a game manual.
And different than the devs of this particular game so even if they felt they could have, it wouldnt have happened. In fact, some of that was specifically left out of the manual we have now.

Squirrelloid · #2 December 18th, 2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandalf Parker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrelloid

In Game Manual/Documentation:
Actually, the developers are the right people to do it because they wrote the code. They have access to the code. They're the only people who know for sure how everything works.

As to what to document? Everything. Every spell, every unit, every item, every mechanic. The actual algorithms used by the code should be made available, as should full stat displays, and so on. In fact, documentation should happen *as they write the code*. Anything else is sloppy programming.

Games like Civilizations have been doing this since the mid-90s. Its really not an unreasonable expectation.

Ahhh I see. That is definitely different than my idea of a game manual.
And different than the devs of this particular game so even if they felt they could have, it wouldnt have happened. In fact, some of that was specifically left out of the manual we have now.

I hate to say it, but the devs are wrong if they think its ok to obscur information in an RTS. If they want to write a non-competitive game, like an RPG, they should do that instead.

During a game where you compete against other players, access to the rules should not be made hard.

Ballbarian · #3 December 19th, 2009, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrelloid

I hate to say it, but the devs are wrong if they think its ok to obscur information in an RTS. If they want to write a non-competitive game, like an RPG, they should do that instead.

During a game where you compete against other players, access to the rules should not be made hard.

I think the devs are right. My own preference is to have a little obscurity. I tend to play more by feel than by spreadsheet. Nothing wrong with playing by spreadsheet, but I find learning what works and what doesn't to be part of the attraction of the game. I absolutely detest games where Unit A has a strength of 3 and Unit B has a strength of 2 and the outcome of every battle is always Unit A beats Unit B. No edge of your seat combat there.