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Author Topic:   Anyone Play IP games???

LordLuther posted 04-28-99 06:31 PM ET
Was noticing that all the talk on this forum seems to be about PBEM games and it got me wondering, does anyone play "live" MP? If so, could you please tell me, is it worth it or is it just an exercise in frustration? I would be willing to play an IP game....it would require many saves and be played over many sesions as I have little time in the evenings. Should I even bother trying?
S_Carton_Esq posted 04-28-99 08:10 PM ET
Yes, Lord Luther, people do play IP games. The problem (as you were quite correct in concluding) is that finishing such a game takes many sessions over the course of several days or weeks, and since scheduling problems often cause there to be as much as a week between sessions, people tend to get involved in other things and lose interest. That's why I am getting together a mixed IP/E-Mail game that will combine the best of both worlds. Here is a reprint of my origional post describing the game:
I would like to start a combined E-mail and IP game with 4-5 players. The idea will be to play as an IP game for several hours at a set time on the weekends and have E-mail play durring the week. The intention is to get the best of both worlds: IP play to speed the game along and to allow for easier trading of technology, and E-mail play to allow time for micromanagement, setting build queues, in depth negotiaton, etc. (as well as to keep the interest level up between IP sessions).
The difficulty level will be transcend for both global and players. Settings will be standard sized random planet, 50-70% water, average native life and all other settings at the default, except for no blind research. These will be the base settings, subject to change by a unannimous vote of the players. We will try for one turn a day durring the E-mail play phase. Repeated instances of saving and reloading (as evidenced by the game message) durring the E-mail play will be consider cheating and will cause the cheater to be droped.
IP play will probably be non-simultaneous for the first session and then simultaneous at all following sessions, if it proves to be reliable. I will host the IP sessions, unless someone else has a faster setup (mine is a LAN connection to a 400 mhz pentium II with 100 mhz bus). Please have at least a 56k modem connection available for use durring the IP play (lan or cable modem prefered). Time limits will range from standard to loose, to be set by majority vote at the begining of each IP sesssion (host breaks ties). I would also be willing toplay with no time controls, providing that all players take a solem vow never to complain about someone taking too long with their turn. When simultaneous turns are used, every 10th turn will be a "diplomacy turn" with no time control for the first 5 minutes, in order to allow for more in depth diplomacy or micromanagement.
E-mail me at [email protected] if you think you might be interested. Please include your preference for a block of time on the weekends in which you will be free for IP play most of time (although I understand that things may come up). I have in mind Sunday from arround noon to about 5:00 or 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, and perhaps from noon to arround 4:00 PM PST Saturday as well. Include a prioritized list of up to 5 factions in which you are interested. Factions will be assigned using a priority-randomized system. Include only factions that you will actually be willing to play, but keep in mind that if your list has less than 5 you may not make it into the game. Also include any setting changes you would like to make. Please be willing to play untill the game is completed (alhtough I understand that unexpected circumstancesdo come up). I hope to start in about a week or two, and think that if we can stick to one turn a day durring the weekdays and 4-5 hours of IP play on the weekends we can probably finish the game in 4-6 weeks.
We still have one or maybe two spots open if you think you might be interested. We are particularly interested in getting players from the US Eastern, European or East Asian time zones, as this would complement our present E-mail schedule nicely.
dr_avalanche posted 04-28-99 08:10 PM ET
Oh, I have played that way, a bit. I think it becomes difficult with many players though, sessions being interrupted by bad modem connections etc.
If you are just a few players on reasonably good connections, I don't see why not. It's fun, and less frustrating than having to just make one move every few days or so as in a pbem...
And yes, you would have to split the game up on several sessions, unless you're true iron men...
Lord Biggun posted 04-28-99 09:43 PM ET
Ip is a great way to play if u have players who will finish. I have had more than a few finished games with 4 players, however all have been with close friends, maybe the fourth being from my icq buddy list. If u find the players who will play and recontinue, u will find alpha centauri a wonderful online game. PS, a four player cable modem game can be finished on small planet as quick as 4.5 hours, i recommend any of u with cable, to seek out other cable players, not only can games be finished on small maps in one sitting, but it is 10 times as fast as having even one 56k modem in a game
tfs99 posted 04-29-99 01:43 AM ET
Sure ... Live MP games are a staple of mine. Even with my "mighty" 56k connection!
Two player games can go quite smoothly even with just the modem connection. But reliability of the connection is key. I switched ISPs because I kept getting dropped when I was playing SMAC online. This because the software didn't see a "major" internet app sending data and thought that I was idle. Frickin' MSN, never again!
Anyway, rant aside, IP games are quite fun and the only downside is rescheduling games that need to be continued. But if you can get a reliable group together, that shouldn't be a problem.
Interhuman diplomacy can be time-consuming as well, but that is part of the fun!
And hey! If you need a cool, custom map or scenario to play with for live IP or PBEM MP games, Slartibartfast Services can provide you with just that. I have constructed three custom standard size maps already, and will probably produce some small ones next.
The key feature with my scenarios is spreading the factions out so that you don't all get scrunched onto the same continent or (worse) get stuck without access to some beneficial terrain feature while The Hive or Gaia or Morgan gets to suck down all the goodies.
Every faction in my custom scenarios is placed within "striking" distance of one or more goody terrain features. And all my maps include the missing Nessus Canyon.
Slartibartfast at your service.
Have fun and ...
SMAC n ... Ted S.
jimmytrick posted 04-30-99 12:07 AM ET
I have never played any game multiplayer over the net. Could someone help me with the basics? What is an acceptable ISP? I just have access to the net via my local phone company, is this okay? Help?
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Author	Topic: Anyone Play IP games???
LordLuther	posted 04-28-99 06:31 PM ET Was noticing that all the talk on this forum seems to be about PBEM games and it got me wondering, does anyone play "live" MP? If so, could you please tell me, is it worth it or is it just an exercise in frustration? I would be willing to play an IP game....it would require many saves and be played over many sesions as I have little time in the evenings. Should I even bother trying?
S_Carton_Esq	posted 04-28-99 08:10 PM ET Yes, Lord Luther, people do play IP games. The problem (as you were quite correct in concluding) is that finishing such a game takes many sessions over the course of several days or weeks, and since scheduling problems often cause there to be as much as a week between sessions, people tend to get involved in other things and lose interest. That's why I am getting together a mixed IP/E-Mail game that will combine the best of both worlds. Here is a reprint of my origional post describing the game: I would like to start a combined E-mail and IP game with 4-5 players. The idea will be to play as an IP game for several hours at a set time on the weekends and have E-mail play durring the week. The intention is to get the best of both worlds: IP play to speed the game along and to allow for easier trading of technology, and E-mail play to allow time for micromanagement, setting build queues, in depth negotiaton, etc. (as well as to keep the interest level up between IP sessions). The difficulty level will be transcend for both global and players. Settings will be standard sized random planet, 50-70% water, average native life and all other settings at the default, except for no blind research. These will be the base settings, subject to change by a unannimous vote of the players. We will try for one turn a day durring the E-mail play phase. Repeated instances of saving and reloading (as evidenced by the game message) durring the E-mail play will be consider cheating and will cause the cheater to be droped. IP play will probably be non-simultaneous for the first session and then simultaneous at all following sessions, if it proves to be reliable. I will host the IP sessions, unless someone else has a faster setup (mine is a LAN connection to a 400 mhz pentium II with 100 mhz bus). Please have at least a 56k modem connection available for use durring the IP play (lan or cable modem prefered). Time limits will range from standard to loose, to be set by majority vote at the begining of each IP sesssion (host breaks ties). I would also be willing toplay with no time controls, providing that all players take a solem vow never to complain about someone taking too long with their turn. When simultaneous turns are used, every 10th turn will be a "diplomacy turn" with no time control for the first 5 minutes, in order to allow for more in depth diplomacy or micromanagement. E-mail me at [email protected] if you think you might be interested. Please include your preference for a block of time on the weekends in which you will be free for IP play most of time (although I understand that things may come up). I have in mind Sunday from arround noon to about 5:00 or 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, and perhaps from noon to arround 4:00 PM PST Saturday as well. Include a prioritized list of up to 5 factions in which you are interested. Factions will be assigned using a priority-randomized system. Include only factions that you will actually be willing to play, but keep in mind that if your list has less than 5 you may not make it into the game. Also include any setting changes you would like to make. Please be willing to play untill the game is completed (alhtough I understand that unexpected circumstancesdo come up). I hope to start in about a week or two, and think that if we can stick to one turn a day durring the weekdays and 4-5 hours of IP play on the weekends we can probably finish the game in 4-6 weeks. We still have one or maybe two spots open if you think you might be interested. We are particularly interested in getting players from the US Eastern, European or East Asian time zones, as this would complement our present E-mail schedule nicely.
dr_avalanche	posted 04-28-99 08:10 PM ET Oh, I have played that way, a bit. I think it becomes difficult with many players though, sessions being interrupted by bad modem connections etc. If you are just a few players on reasonably good connections, I don't see why not. It's fun, and less frustrating than having to just make one move every few days or so as in a pbem... And yes, you would have to split the game up on several sessions, unless you're true iron men...
Lord Biggun	posted 04-28-99 09:43 PM ET Ip is a great way to play if u have players who will finish. I have had more than a few finished games with 4 players, however all have been with close friends, maybe the fourth being from my icq buddy list. If u find the players who will play and recontinue, u will find alpha centauri a wonderful online game. PS, a four player cable modem game can be finished on small planet as quick as 4.5 hours, i recommend any of u with cable, to seek out other cable players, not only can games be finished on small maps in one sitting, but it is 10 times as fast as having even one 56k modem in a game
tfs99	posted 04-29-99 01:43 AM ET Sure ... Live MP games are a staple of mine. Even with my "mighty" 56k connection! Two player games can go quite smoothly even with just the modem connection. But reliability of the connection is key. I switched ISPs because I kept getting dropped when I was playing SMAC online. This because the software didn't see a "major" internet app sending data and thought that I was idle. Frickin' MSN, never again! Anyway, rant aside, IP games are quite fun and the only downside is rescheduling games that need to be continued. But if you can get a reliable group together, that shouldn't be a problem. Interhuman diplomacy can be time-consuming as well, but that is part of the fun! And hey! If you need a cool, custom map or scenario to play with for live IP or PBEM MP games, Slartibartfast Services can provide you with just that. I have constructed three custom standard size maps already, and will probably produce some small ones next. The key feature with my scenarios is spreading the factions out so that you don't all get scrunched onto the same continent or (worse) get stuck without access to some beneficial terrain feature while The Hive or Gaia or Morgan gets to suck down all the goodies. Every faction in my custom scenarios is placed within "striking" distance of one or more goody terrain features. And all my maps include the missing Nessus Canyon. Slartibartfast at your service. Have fun and ... SMAC n ... Ted S.
jimmytrick	posted 04-30-99 12:07 AM ET I have never played any game multiplayer over the net. Could someone help me with the basics? What is an acceptable ISP? I just have access to the net via my local phone company, is this okay? Help?