Question about how to play "World in Flames"

[Strategyfan]

Hi!
I am a big fan of turn-based strategy-games and I am about to buy "World in Flames" but I have a question first.

How does the game works? In the description, there is information that PBEM-play is not possible. Does that mean that I must play online with an opponent elsewhere in the world, or is it possible to do a turn (whenever I can) and then send the turn turn to an opponent who can play his (or her) turn whenever he or she have the time?

This is an important question for me, If I must play the game in real time (online), then I can´t buy it.
Otherwise I will buy it as fast as I can.
With best regards

[bo]

ORIGINAL: Strategyfan

Hi!
I am a big fan of turn-based strategy-games and I am about to buy "World in Flames" but I have a question first.

How does the game works? In the description, there is information that PBEM-play is not possible. Does that mean that I must play online with an opponent elsewhere in the world, or is it possible to do a turn (whenever I can) and then send the turn turn to an opponent who can play his (or her) turn whenever he or she have the time?

This is an important question for me, If I must play the game in real time (online), then I can´t buy it.
Otherwise I will buy it as fast as I can.
With best regards

Hi Strat

I am just a beta tester here [ not a programmer] but I feel I know whats going on. We are in the process of getting net play [online gaming] up to speed. PBEM in my opinion is going to be a tough nut to crack with all the back and forth impulses, but thats just my opinion. The AI will be implemented during next year which will then afford all players who do not like PBEM or net play the ability to play the computer.

With that said I feel the best way to learn this game right now is solo [play alone] in this game it works well, I am not trying to induce you to buy this game, it does not matter to me, but if you dont you are missing out on the finest computer war game ever made. If you have a friend nearby who also likes computer war games you can play hotseat [taking turns on the same computer.]

If I were you I would read the solo mode AAR's under the the wording [After Action Reports] They are all under the solo mode by MWIF beta testers. I had to bite my tongue when I said for years no game could be played solo. This game can be.

Just an after thought Strat read the label about complexity: "Advanced", "expert". we have been very honest about this in all the forums, this is not A BEER AND PRETZEL GAME. What that means is that you wont finish this game in one night, it is a game where every rule actually makes common sense and each move a little thought is involved. But if you are a true WW2 computer game player you will never put this up on that shelf over your computer under the "boring, no replay value sign!"

Bo

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Strategyfan

Hi!
I am a big fan of turn-based strategy-games and I am about to buy "World in Flames" but I have a question first.

How does the game works? In the description, there is information that PBEM-play is not possible. Does that mean that I must play online with an opponent elsewhere in the world, or is it possible to do a turn (whenever I can) and then send the turn turn to an opponent who can play his (or her) turn whenever he or she have the time?

This is an important question for me, If I must play the game in real time (online), then I can´t buy it.
Otherwise I will buy it as fast as I can.
With best regards

The game now plays in Solitaire mode (one person playing both sides), Head-to-head (also known as Hotseat), and NetPlay with two players.

I am working on getting NetPlay up to support 6 players as my next task vis-a-vis modes of play. Then I'll work on AI Opponent and lastly PBEM.

The trouble with just simply sending a saved game to your opponent is that World in Flames has dozens of places in the sequence of play where interactions between the two players take place. The decision maker switches back and forth again and again. The requisite number of emails is simply prohibitive. I'm sorry, but that is the nature of the game design. It was intended to be played face-to-face and so the designers wanted to keep both the players heavily engaged in the game, rather than falling asleep while their opponent ponders a move.

My intention to overcome this difficulty for PBEM is twofold:

1 - Create Standing Orders where a player enters how he wants to respond to a situation where he needs to make a decision in the middle of the other player's 'turn'. These would be hidden from his opponent. The computer would act on behalf of the other player (AI Assistant) following the standing orders. Furthermore the computer would immediately send out emails about the opponent's decisions and the execution of standing orders to prevent cheating.

2 - Enable switching between NetPlay and PBEM. The idea here is to enable the more intense interactions (e.g., combat situations) to be handled in NetPlay. Then land moves and production decisions that are typically done in batches could be handled as emails.

That's the status as of today. It is unlikely to change anytime soon.

[Strategyfan]

Hi!
Thanks for the information. Its very valuble [:)]
Two more questions though:
Is it possible to save the game (when you playing a netgame) at any moment and then load the game later and continue as before?

Is there a chat-function so you can say to your opponent: "time to go, lets save the game"?

With best regards

PS The possibilities with PBEM as you described sounds very interesting. DS

[Strategyfan]

ORIGINAL: bo

ORIGINAL: Strategyfan

Hi!
I am a big fan of turn-based strategy-games and I am about to buy "World in Flames" but I have a question first.

How does the game works? In the description, there is information that PBEM-play is not possible. Does that mean that I must play online with an opponent elsewhere in the world, or is it possible to do a turn (whenever I can) and then send the turn turn to an opponent who can play his (or her) turn whenever he or she have the time?

This is an important question for me, If I must play the game in real time (online), then I can´t buy it.
Otherwise I will buy it as fast as I can.
With best regards

Hi Strat

I am just a beta tester here [ not a programmer] but I feel I know whats going on. We are in the process of getting net play [online gaming] up to speed. PBEM in my opinion is going to be a tough nut to crack with all the back and forth impulses, but thats just my opinion. The AI will be implemented during next year which will then afford all players who do not like PBEM or net play the ability to play the computer.

With that said I feel the best way to learn this game right now is solo [play alone] in this game it works well, I am not trying to induce you to buy this game, it does not matter to me, but if you dont you are missing out on the finest computer war game ever made. If you have a friend nearby who also likes computer war games you can play hotseat [taking turns on the same computer.]

If I were you I would read the solo mode AAR's under the the wording [After Action Reports] They are all under the solo mode by MWIF beta testers. I had to bite my tongue when I said for years no game could be played solo. This game can be.

Just an after thought Strat read the label about complexity: "Advanced", "expert". we have been very honest about this in all the forums, this is not A BEER AND PRETZEL GAME. What that means is that you wont finish this game in one night, it is a game where every rule actually makes common sense and each move a little thought is involved. But if you are a true WW2 computer game player you will never put this up on that shelf over your computer under the "boring, no replay value sign!"

Bo

Hi!
Thanks for the information. I appreciate it [:)] I do also like to play a strategy-game over a long period of time.
With best regards

[paulderynck]

ORIGINAL: Strategyfan

Hi!
Thanks for the information. Its very valuble [:)]
Two more questions though:
Is it possible to save the game (when you playing a netgame) at any moment and then load the game later and continue as before?

Is there a chat-function so you can say to your opponent: "time to go, lets save the game"?

With best regards

PS The possibilities with PBEM as you described sounds very interesting. DS

There are a few places where you cannot save but the vast majority of the time you can save. There is a chat function. Many players also use a program like Skype so they can talk directly to their opponent during play.

[keyser soze]

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets


The game now plays in Solitaire mode (one person playing both sides), Head-to-head (also known as Hotseat), and NetPlay with two players.

I am working on getting NetPlay up to support 6 players as my next task vis-a-vis modes of play. Then I'll work on AI Opponent and lastly PBEM.

The trouble with just simply sending a saved game to your opponent is that World in Flames has dozens of places in the sequence of play where interactions between the two players take place. The decision maker switches back and forth again and again. The requisite number of emails is simply prohibitive. I'm sorry, but that is the nature of the game design. It was intended to be played face-to-face and so the designers wanted to keep both the players heavily engaged in the game, rather than falling asleep while their opponent ponders a move.

My intention to overcome this difficulty for PBEM is twofold:

1 - Create Standing Orders where a player enters how he wants to respond to a situation where he needs to make a decision in the middle of the other player's 'turn'. These would be hidden from his opponent. The computer would act on behalf of the other player (AI Assistant) following the standing orders. Furthermore the computer would immediately send out emails about the opponent's decisions and the execution of standing orders to prevent cheating.

2 - Enable switching between NetPlay and PBEM. The idea here is to enable the more intense interactions (e.g., combat situations) to be handled in NetPlay. Then land moves and production decisions that are typically done in batches could be handled as emails.

That's the status as of today. It is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Maybe PBEM++ system can help you with this switches back and forth problem? In this system there is no sending files in e-mail. Players are playing game online on dedicated servers. As I remember you have told me in other post that PBEM++ will be supported so if you will have PBEM++ then your job priority should be changed. To my opinion, it should be on first place, AI should be on second place but only for tutorial play and then the rest features that you mentioned.

As for AI, I always saying – “There is no AI like human AI”. I have never played any game with good AI (humans are always smarter) so don’t waste your precious time on it.

[Strategyfan]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

ORIGINAL: Strategyfan

Hi!
Thanks for the information. Its very valuble [:)]
Two more questions though:
Is it possible to save the game (when you playing a netgame) at any moment and then load the game later and continue as before?

Is there a chat-function so you can say to your opponent: "time to go, lets save the game"?

With best regards

PS The possibilities with PBEM as you described sounds very interesting. DS

There are a few places where you cannot save but the vast majority of the time you can save. There is a chat function. Many players also use a program like Skype so they can talk directly to their opponent during play.

Many thanks for the info [:)]
With best regards