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Author Topic:   Feature Survey

Thomas A Stobie posted 06-16-98 11:32 AM ET
There have been many features discussed in this board that while they may not be implemented in SMAC, may be useful for future games. An on-line survey to find how desirable each of them are, may be useful in helping Firaxis determine which ones are worth their time to implement for future games.
GPC posted 06-17-98 10:46 PM ET
I have a suggestion for a feature....
I would like the AC equivalent of the Settler/Engineer to be directed to build a road/rail/??? FROM a base TO another base.
This is a modification of the auto-settler idea and could also accomodate more than one unit working on the job and even working from both ends of the highway.
Cromwell posted 06-18-98 05:00 AM ET
GPC has an excellent idea. I'm sure it's a problem: make a settler (or 'former) AI good enough to automate some tasks, but not so good that you could say "go terraform" and go to bed for a few hours. I don't understand why the game companies have never pursued this as much, but it would seem to me to require pathing algorithms less sophisticated as that on some of the better RTS games.
Which reminds me of something I read about Mechcommander (coming out on my birthday, next Tues!)...they claimed that they had the AI so sophisticated that the player only had to click on an objective and the autopilot would acheive that objective better than the player could! They said they had to tone down the player unit AI to allow the player to have a role in the game! I'm not a programmer, but with AI's this (supposedly) capable, what would Firaxis be capable of in SMAC? I realize the variables are greater, the gameplay more open as far as decisions, etc., but is it feasible to send out a 'former and expect it to develop an area in the order and time that a player would require? Or better? Nutrients for thought.
C
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Author	Topic: Feature Survey
Thomas A Stobie	posted 06-16-98 11:32 AM ET There have been many features discussed in this board that while they may not be implemented in SMAC, may be useful for future games. An on-line survey to find how desirable each of them are, may be useful in helping Firaxis determine which ones are worth their time to implement for future games.
GPC	posted 06-17-98 10:46 PM ET I have a suggestion for a feature.... I would like the AC equivalent of the Settler/Engineer to be directed to build a road/rail/??? FROM a base TO another base. This is a modification of the auto-settler idea and could also accomodate more than one unit working on the job and even working from both ends of the highway.
Cromwell	posted 06-18-98 05:00 AM ET GPC has an excellent idea. I'm sure it's a problem: make a settler (or 'former) AI good enough to automate some tasks, but not so good that you could say "go terraform" and go to bed for a few hours. I don't understand why the game companies have never pursued this as much, but it would seem to me to require pathing algorithms less sophisticated as that on some of the better RTS games. Which reminds me of something I read about Mechcommander (coming out on my birthday, next Tues!)...they claimed that they had the AI so sophisticated that the player only had to click on an objective and the autopilot would acheive that objective better than the player could! They said they had to tone down the player unit AI to allow the player to have a role in the game! I'm not a programmer, but with AI's this (supposedly) capable, what would Firaxis be capable of in SMAC? I realize the variables are greater, the gameplay more open as far as decisions, etc., but is it feasible to send out a 'former and expect it to develop an area in the order and time that a player would require? Or better? Nutrients for thought. C