tcp/ip Net Play For Space Empires IV

sogard · #1 May 8th, 2001, 09:18 PM

I and a bunch of gaming friends have been getting together for the past few months to play SPACE EMPIRES IV (SE4) hot seat. We have been have a very good time and everyone enjoyed the games. But, we all say wouldn't it be soooo much better and easier if SE4 would just permit regular tcp/ip net play and enter the real world of multiplayer internet gaming.

I know that there are many here that are perfectly happy to play solo or those who prefer the glacial pace of a pbem game; but, I do not find either of these options that appealing to me. I have to believe that I am not alone in this viewpoint.

Does anyone know what the status of implenting tcp/ip play for SE4 is? I know early on, when SE4 was first released, there was talk about tcp/ip play being implemented in a "few months." Well, a few months have passed and I am hoping that tcp/ip has not been forgotten.

Tcp/ip would once again move SE4 to the forefront of my and many others' gameplay hit list.

Will · #2 May 8th, 2001, 10:59 PM

Right now I believe the status of TCP/IP play is somewhere between three areas:

1) Late patch release/Expansion Pack.

2) SE V.

3) Never.

I would suggest that your friends try out simultaneous turns. Not exactly the same, but it won't move at glacial pace (and if a PbEM game is planned out right, a regular turn based game can move rather quickly).

sogard · #3 May 9th, 2001, 01:39 AM

The way of the world is such that unless you have VERY organized friends; pbem games don't work. It seems to me that IF the producers of SE4 want to expand the current game base (and obviously sales), then the only way to do this is to enable tcp/ip play.

From a gaming standpoint, this means my friends and I play games we can play on the net. It also means that SE4 is just going to get played less and less until it fades out or tcp/ip arrives.

geoschmo · #4 May 9th, 2001, 02:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by sogard:
The way of the world is such that unless you have VERY organized friends; pbem games don't work. It seems to me that IF the producers of SE4 want to expand the current game base (and obviously sales), then the only way to do this is to enable tcp/ip play.

From a gaming standpoint, this means my friends and I play games we can play on the net. It also means that SE4 is just going to get played less and less until it fades out or tcp/ip arrives.

Sogard,

In the past on this forum there have been some "heated" discussions about PBEM vs TCP/IP. I have no desire to turn this into that, but why do you think it takes "VERY organized friends" to do PBEM?

Have you ever actually tried it? I only ask because I felt exactly the way you do now before I tried it and now I see PBEM is not that difficult to do.

No, it's not automatic, although once Play by Web is fully operational it will be very nearly automatic. And it's not as fast as playing a single player game against the ai. but I still maintain that once you have 5 or 6 players a simulatneous PBEM game is just as fast or faster than a hotseat game. Also you don't have tactical combat, but I doubt we will with tcp/ip either.

You might be suprised if you'd give it a try. What would stop you from getting together with some friends Online and playing a PBEM game? If you all stayed Online you could run though the turns very quickly.

Just my two cents.

Geo

sogard · #5 May 10th, 2001, 12:04 AM

Thanks for your posting your experience geoschmoe; but, the ONLY individuals I have every found to be able to make pbem work are those who can only play anthing this way. The terrible fact is that for most of us; unless we can see things move along in some sort of real time sense, the experience is just not worth putting up with the hassle.

That is why my hot seat play has been so instructive. I have found people who love to play SE4 hotseat even though it is a hassle to get everyone together at one location. But no one has any desire to try to convert to pbem games. Now, if I were a scientist in Antartica and this was the ONLY way I could play SE4, I would probably do it. But, I am not and the Antartic scientist does not fit the average computer gamer these days.

The difference between tcp/ip play for SE4 is whether or not SE4 remains a little heard of gem for grognards who only play solo games or the possibility of much wider acceptance in the general gaming community.

The fact that my group actually plays SE4 hotseat is such a small sample of overall SE4 gaming that it underscores the point.

Marty Ward · #6 May 10th, 2001, 01:42 AM

I had no problem convincing some friends to try the game, 3 bought it and now we have a never ending hotseat game going. I think hot seat is the best way to play the game because of the "tactical combat" option. As for Internet play, I have never tried it as I cannot commit to specific times on a regular basis.
I hope the game can be made internet playable but keep the hotseat option as it is please.