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Author Topic:   Feature request for Firaxis

LackOfKnack posted 02-23-99 05:19 AM ET
Hey everyone. I only have the demo but I am planning on getting the full game soon. These features were left out of the demo and if they're not in the full game, I think they should be:
-A discovery queue so I can tell SMAC to get Superstring Theory and it'll go and research all the nessecary techs for that so I don't have to worry.
-A speed up button for while other people are moving. Say someone is just moving their Former in circles and I don't really care, then I could just press 's' or something like that and he'll instantly finish moving so I'm not waiting forever between turns.
So, are these in the full? If not, can they be?
Thanks,
Lack

cousLee posted 02-23-99 05:24 AM ET
not in the full version, but i like the reasearch goal idea.
BenSp posted 02-23-99 05:31 AM ET
well... to know that you woul dlike to discover "superstring theory" you would already have to know it ... in which case you wouldn't have to discover it...
The whole point of the "unspecific" research ist simulating the (realistic) uncertainity of research - you never know exactly what you will find - and if it will work. Otherwise you would't have to research it.
LackOfKnack posted 02-23-99 05:37 AM ET
I know, but I am talking from a gaming perspective here like in Civ II you can set goals and it'll tell you what you need to get it. It does make it less realistic, but it adds to the functionality of the game. Maybe it could only be available if you have "Blind Research" turned off? That way, you get realism if you want it, but with this option your realism is canned anyway, why not go whole hog?
Lack
MikeH II posted 02-23-99 07:41 AM ET
In one player you can speed up computer moves and speed up automated units. It's a preferences setting. It doesn't skip them but they race along.
Titan posted 02-23-99 04:21 PM ET
You can also speed up the movement of computer units by pressing the shift key.
LackOfKnack posted 02-23-99 04:25 PM ET
Yes, I already knew about the prefs setting, I just wanted a one-time spring key type thing. Shift is it? Thanks.
So, Firaxis, are you listening? I think some might agree that a discovery queue would be welcome.
Thanks all.
LackOfKnack posted 02-23-99 04:58 PM ET
I saw this in another thread and I thought I'd post it here so it's all in one place: From CEO Bernard(I think), there should be a startup option for Blind Research where you give two numbers that determine how often blind occurs and how often focus occurs, eg 2 & 3 so I get two blind techs and then 3 focused techs.
This would add to both the realism(sometimes people go looking for things, others are just discoverd by accident) and the playability if you like both option settings and want a variation.
Will this be added?
KGB posted 02-23-99 05:06 PM ET
I would go more for a seeing-impaired tech. You go for a specific tech, and occasionally your researchers get sidetracked, probably by surfing the net, and you get an unintended research instead. It would be a slightly more focused research.
I just think that real research tends to work this way more, you are searching for an improved mouse-trap and most of the time actually get it, but sometimes you stumble into the aroma-therapy benefits of cheese (or somesuch)
Xerxes314 posted 02-23-99 05:13 PM ET
I think that all the complaints about blind research are misdirected. I mean, it's not really blind at all. Every time you go for a new tech, you get to choose which category to research. Since there are usually only 2 techs in that category available at any given time, you get the one you want about 50% of the time.
LackOfKnack posted 02-23-99 05:14 PM ET
Sure, why not both? I'd like that idea too.
CEO Bernard posted 02-23-99 05:17 PM ET
Another idea I had and was going to post in the other thread until I noticed the idea got moved here.
How about focused research costing my research points.
CEO Bernard
"I don't care how many late nights you have to stay up ... build me a habitation complex. NOW!" - Internal Bernard Industries 3DVideo Mail
LackOfKnack posted 02-23-99 05:25 PM ET
I'm not sure which idea is best or all of them as an idea. Firaxis, where are you be eh?
LackOfKnack posted 02-23-99 05:36 PM ET
Hey everyone-- check out the Aquifier thread for another interesting feature.
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Author	Topic: Feature request for Firaxis
LackOfKnack	posted 02-23-99 05:19 AM ET Hey everyone. I only have the demo but I am planning on getting the full game soon. These features were left out of the demo and if they're not in the full game, I think they should be: -A discovery queue so I can tell SMAC to get Superstring Theory and it'll go and research all the nessecary techs for that so I don't have to worry. -A speed up button for while other people are moving. Say someone is just moving their Former in circles and I don't really care, then I could just press 's' or something like that and he'll instantly finish moving so I'm not waiting forever between turns. So, are these in the full? If not, can they be? Thanks, Lack
cousLee	posted 02-23-99 05:24 AM ET not in the full version, but i like the reasearch goal idea.
BenSp	posted 02-23-99 05:31 AM ET well... to know that you woul dlike to discover "superstring theory" you would already have to know it ... in which case you wouldn't have to discover it... The whole point of the "unspecific" research ist simulating the (realistic) uncertainity of research - you never know exactly what you will find - and if it will work. Otherwise you would't have to research it.
LackOfKnack	posted 02-23-99 05:37 AM ET I know, but I am talking from a gaming perspective here like in Civ II you can set goals and it'll tell you what you need to get it. It does make it less realistic, but it adds to the functionality of the game. Maybe it could only be available if you have "Blind Research" turned off? That way, you get realism if you want it, but with this option your realism is canned anyway, why not go whole hog? Lack
MikeH II	posted 02-23-99 07:41 AM ET In one player you can speed up computer moves and speed up automated units. It's a preferences setting. It doesn't skip them but they race along.
Titan	posted 02-23-99 04:21 PM ET You can also speed up the movement of computer units by pressing the shift key.
LackOfKnack	posted 02-23-99 04:25 PM ET Yes, I already knew about the prefs setting, I just wanted a one-time spring key type thing. Shift is it? Thanks. So, Firaxis, are you listening? I think some might agree that a discovery queue would be welcome. Thanks all.
LackOfKnack	posted 02-23-99 04:58 PM ET I saw this in another thread and I thought I'd post it here so it's all in one place: From CEO Bernard(I think), there should be a startup option for Blind Research where you give two numbers that determine how often blind occurs and how often focus occurs, eg 2 & 3 so I get two blind techs and then 3 focused techs. This would add to both the realism(sometimes people go looking for things, others are just discoverd by accident) and the playability if you like both option settings and want a variation. Will this be added?
KGB	posted 02-23-99 05:06 PM ET I would go more for a seeing-impaired tech. You go for a specific tech, and occasionally your researchers get sidetracked, probably by surfing the net, and you get an unintended research instead. It would be a slightly more focused research. I just think that real research tends to work this way more, you are searching for an improved mouse-trap and most of the time actually get it, but sometimes you stumble into the aroma-therapy benefits of cheese (or somesuch)
Xerxes314	posted 02-23-99 05:13 PM ET I think that all the complaints about blind research are misdirected. I mean, it's not really blind at all. Every time you go for a new tech, you get to choose which category to research. Since there are usually only 2 techs in that category available at any given time, you get the one you want about 50% of the time.
LackOfKnack	posted 02-23-99 05:14 PM ET Sure, why not both? I'd like that idea too.
CEO Bernard	posted 02-23-99 05:17 PM ET Another idea I had and was going to post in the other thread until I noticed the idea got moved here. How about focused research costing my research points. CEO Bernard "I don't care how many late nights you have to stay up ... build me a habitation complex. NOW!" - Internal Bernard Industries 3DVideo Mail
LackOfKnack	posted 02-23-99 05:25 PM ET I'm not sure which idea is best or all of them as an idea. Firaxis, where are you be eh?
LackOfKnack	posted 02-23-99 05:36 PM ET Hey everyone-- check out the Aquifier thread for another interesting feature.