Tidying up multiplayer information
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 1:58 pm
The multiplayer needs some improvements. For starters we need some facility to clear dud games off the playing list. This includes ones where technical problems have meant play has been halted (probably permanently, in the absence of a fix), others where the opponent has lost interest. There are also some games which have finished but are still showing as active.
It would greatly help if the game list showed the opponent (not just to indicate their turn) because after a while you lose track of who you were playing in a particular game. The game ending also needs to be more clearly stated. A victory screen does appear in the history graphs section but it would be much better if that appeared on screen when the game ended showing clearly whether you had won, lost or drawn - with the reason stated. Even better if the screen stated the names of the two players for future reference. When you return to the multiplayer screen it should show the correct ending ie victory/draw/defeat to reflect that result. A end date would be a nice touch too.
The messaging facility is welcome but does need to be made more user friendly so that you can send a message immediately in response to one received that turn. At present any continuing exchange is hindered by the fact that any sent message has to be written before you click on that turn ie before you get to see if your opponent has sent any message. Or you have to remember what message was received when you last played a turn. Of course it would be even better if a screen could be accessed to show the full exchange of messages over the course of a game. Other games using the server eg Pike and Shot, Field of Glory do this so presumably it could be introduced, at some stage, for BAB.
It would greatly help if the game list showed the opponent (not just to indicate their turn) because after a while you lose track of who you were playing in a particular game. The game ending also needs to be more clearly stated. A victory screen does appear in the history graphs section but it would be much better if that appeared on screen when the game ended showing clearly whether you had won, lost or drawn - with the reason stated. Even better if the screen stated the names of the two players for future reference. When you return to the multiplayer screen it should show the correct ending ie victory/draw/defeat to reflect that result. A end date would be a nice touch too.
The messaging facility is welcome but does need to be made more user friendly so that you can send a message immediately in response to one received that turn. At present any continuing exchange is hindered by the fact that any sent message has to be written before you click on that turn ie before you get to see if your opponent has sent any message. Or you have to remember what message was received when you last played a turn. Of course it would be even better if a screen could be accessed to show the full exchange of messages over the course of a game. Other games using the server eg Pike and Shot, Field of Glory do this so presumably it could be introduced, at some stage, for BAB.