IP Play or NOT to IP Play? That is the question!

[Ursa MAior]

In a big community IMHO real time (ie TCP/IP) gaming could not be a big problem. But I would insstall turn time limitations say 6-8 minutes per turn to keep a reasonable gameplay limit. It could also keep LAN parties fast paced.

Just my 2 cents.

[Froonp]

Finaly, does the Matrix Empire in Arms game have the TCP/IP game feature ?

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Froonp

Finaly, does the Matrix Empire in Arms game have the TCP/IP game feature ?

I'm asking this, because I did not read the whole thread, and having read the "AAR France attacking Austria" I want to buy this game and play it with my friend who lives 1000 km from me and who used to love EiA [:D].

[Joisey]

I'd prefer not to have the release delayed.  I'm not sure how much I would use IP play.  I expect most of my games to be against the AI.

[Marshall Ellis]

Hey guys:
 
You'll propbably find that PBEM is a VERY popular method for EiA players to play when they are thousands of miles away!
 
Thank you

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

Hey guys:

You'll propbably find that PBEM is a VERY popular method for EiA players to play when they are thousands of miles away!

Thank you

Does this means there is no TCP/IP (Internet or LAN) play ?

[YohanTM2]

Not in the initial release from what I recall Patrice.

Rob

[Marshall Ellis]

That is correct. No IP in Version 1.00
I want no more delays as well which this WOULD induce.

The problem with IP play is that when you're a thousand miles (several time zones) away then you tend NOT to be in front of the PC at the same time. This is required in IP play and difficult (not impossible) to achieve. PBEM play facilitates local schedules a little better since it is more of a batch process and not all players MUST be in front of the PC at the same time. In fact they could be days different (and usually are LOL).

Thank you

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

That is correct. No IP in Version 1.00
I want no more delays as well which this WOULD induce.

The problem with IP play is that when you're a thousand miles (several time zones) away then you tend NOT to be in front of the PC at the same time. This is required in IP play and difficult (not impossible) to achieve. PBEM play facilitates local schedules a little better since it is more of a batch process and not all players MUST be in front of the PC at the same time. In fact they could be days different (and usually are LOL).

Thank you

I hope there will be at some time TCP/IP (Lan & Internet) play implemented some time in the future, as European players are less impacted by this time shift problem, at least within the same country, and I'm sure it is a point of interest of people buying wargames, especially people that were in their 20s when EiA was published, and who played it to death, and who are in their 40s now, scattered in the country, but still with the will to play EiA if it becomes possible over TCP/IP.

[jclauder]

I have a LAN at my house and we play most games on the LAN. If IP/LAN play is not available, I will be buying one copy. If LAN is with it, the group I play with will be buying about 4 copies. I hope LAN/IP will be in this product if not on the initial release, then as part of the first patch.

[Marshall Ellis]

Hey guys:
 
Our current plans are to add it at some point in an update.
 
Thank you

[Camile Desmoulins]

Hi

I think that tis is a game with a huge percent in diplomacy. This work is impossible IP. This is not "another wargame", has a fragile balance. If you can join with 7 or 8 gamers at the same time, in 3 or 4 hours you only could make 4 turns. This is not a battle, is the war. Even the smaller scenaries has 36 turns...

If you want a good EiA game you need time, reflection, and the corps movement will be result of this work. PBM is (for me) the only way.

I feel alone in this question, but this is my opinion

Camille

[Monadman]

ORIGINAL: Camile Desmoulins

If you want a good EiA game you need time, reflection, and the corps movement will be result of this work. PBM is (for me) the only way.

I feel alone in this question, but this is my opinion

You’re not alone Camille, you’re not alone.

Richard

[Marshall Ellis]

I'm in total agreement with PBEM assessment. I know a lot of you will want IP play and it's easy to want but at the end of the day I predict that few will be able to use it simply because opf the turn lengths. I've put a small timer at the bottom of the main play screen just to keep track of how long one of these games COULD last and some of my solo games are going 4-6+ hours. Now realize that I'm slower than most but add 6 more humans to this equation and you're talking days. Also keep in mind that of my 4-6 hours the AI typically takes less than 30 seconds a phase so it's not the PC taking up the time.
 
Thank you

[JavaJoe]

ORIGINAL: Monadman

ORIGINAL: Camile Desmoulins

If you want a good EiA game you need time, reflection, and the corps movement will be result of this work. PBM is (for me) the only way.

I feel alone in this question, but this is my opinion

You’re not alone Camille, you’re not alone.

Richard

PBEM is the way to go....although I'm sure the tcp will make it's way in.

[yammahoper]

The LAN option will be able to incoperate a clock that can be set by the players. This will allow each group to decide just howlong they are ready to allow diplomacy and time for each phase before the computer defaults your "ready" box and moves on to the next phase.

yamma

[eg0master]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

I'm in total agreement with PBEM assessment. I know a lot of you will want IP play and it's easy to want but at the end of the day I predict that few will be able to use it simply because opf the turn lengths. I've put a small timer at the bottom of the main play screen just to keep track of how long one of these games COULD last and some of my solo games are going 4-6+ hours. Now realize that I'm slower than most but add 6 more humans to this equation and you're talking days. Also keep in mind that of my 4-6 hours the AI typically takes less than 30 seconds a phase so it's not the PC taking up the time.

Thank you

And since such a game will take days to finish it is important to add a "save/resume IP play option", i.e. the initiator of a game can save it and then the players can connect later at another time to continue their IP game.

[Camile Desmoulins]

Do you think that it's easy rejoin 7 or 8 players at time, to play four hours or more?. I could make only one day in a week, for instance, the same rithm that a PBEM game.

I think it's almost impossible. Perphaps one or two times, impossible to finish a scenary. I'm not talking about the great campaign scenary.

And forget the Diplomacy. It's an art, need time to think, many messages to achieve your objetives.

Onlymy opinion, of course.

Camille

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Camile Desmoulins

Do you think that it's easy rejoin 7 or 8 players at time, to play four hours or more?. I could make only one day in a week, for instance, the same rithm that a PBEM game.

I think it's almost impossible. Perphaps one or two times, impossible to finish a scenary. I'm not talking about the great campaign scenary.

And forget the Diplomacy. It's an art, need time to think, many messages to achieve your objetives.

Onlymy opinion, of course.

Camille

You can also be 2-3 IP players and playing the AI for the rest of the countries. I for one will be in that case.

[Hoche]

ORIGINAL: Camile Desmoulins

Do you think that it's easy rejoin 7 or 8 players at time, to play four hours or more?. I could make only one day in a week, for instance, the same rithm that a PBEM game.

I think it's almost impossible.

How is that different from playing a face-to-face EiA game. I have played several. We meet one night a week and play for about 3-4 hours. It does take months to finish a game but it can and has been done. IP play to me would be about the same except faster (computer calculated battle and sieges would be faster). I have a wireless network at my house if everyone brought a laptop (some could share) we could play it like a FtF game. The only difference would be that instead of staring at a board you would be staring at a monitor.

And forget the Diplomacy. It's an art, need time to think, many messages to achieve your objetives.

Onlymy opinion, of course.

Camille

If everyone is in the same home you can just talk to each other.


Now if you're talking about web IP play where the players don't actually see each other you might have a point. But I think this can be fixed by everyone agreeing to be online at a specific time each week. People who play MMORGPs do this all the time. And while I agree that diplomacy would be difficult during the actual game time, in between games session players could exchange emails.

While I would prefer PBEM (I have experience with it) to web IP play. But I would be willing to give it a try as web IP play would be faster pace. I haven't seen a PBEM game mover faster that a turn a week. Web IP play should get more turning done each week.