Will MOO3 have mulitplayer?

[TCO]

...Or are you "working on some really innovative ideas"? ;)

[Stormhound]

Multiplayer has been a part of the MOO3 design since its inception, and rather moreso than just playing around with a few ideas. I feel quite safe in saying that the game will have multiplayer from the start, since that's another part of the code that got underway very early in the project.

[TCO]

Oh...well there's always the option of deliberately disabling it so you can sell an expansion...;)

[player1]

Hmm, some people here seem very pessimistic.

[Sencho]

Besides, by shipping MP with Moo3 it leaves lots of room for other stuff in an expansion. :-):lol:

[TCO]

Good point...so much for my attempts to lead them into the dark side (I mean explain modern development strategy).

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Sencho
Besides, by shipping MP with Moo3 it leaves lots of room for other stuff in an expansion. :-):lol:

That's pretty good news! :) :b:

[Rhuarc]

Is there any way you could provide a few more details on multiplayer? I mean just to give us an inkling of what it will be like to actually sit down and play a multiplayer game. Thanks a lot guys, looking forwards to a great game!!

[Garth Vader]

I hear the Mac version will be released shortly after the PC version, will MP work between versions?

[Stormhound]

re: details on multiplayer, I'm not sure what details you're after. If it's the technical stuff, I can't release that yet.

If you're talking more general terms; all turns are simultaneous, and you have an optional turn timer that you can use to keep the pace going. You'll start your turn by using IFP remaining from last turn (more on that shortly) to make changes to what's going on in your empire (reviewing reports is free, so browse to your heart's content, unless you're on the timer, of course). Once all that's done, including setting up diplomatic meetings, you'll move on to the next phase of the game where you get a fresh new batch of IFP so that you can conduct battles (just remember to save some for next turn!) and go through the diplomatic negotiations. Lather, rinse, repeat.

re:MAC version, we're hoping for as near a simultaneous launch as possible, given that the publisher for the MAC version is Macsoft, not Infogrames. Since the code's in simultaneous development, we're doing our part to make sure it's possible. And yes, PC and MAC players will be able to intermix in multiplayer games without a hitch; that's one benefit of how we're doing development, and it's been a goal all along. Now at last both sides can meet to prove which is best. :naughty:

[Sencho]

Last we heard, yes, MP between the two is in.

edit: Stormhound, fastest post east of the Pecos...

[Comrade Tribune]

Originally posted by Stormhound
Once all that's done, including setting up diplomatic meetings, you'll move on to the next phase of the game where you get a fresh new batch of IFP so that you can conduct battles (just remember to save some for next turn!) and go through the diplomatic negotiations.

Stormhound, I don´t really understand this: If turns are simultaneous, and there´s a timer, what about a battle between two human players? Who gets to decide when it is resolved? Can somebody interrupt my turn by resolving a battle where my forces are involved?

[Sencho]

Unless I'm misinformed, battles are resolved at the end of the turn, after all orders are submitted. Thus you can't interrupt another's turn by attacking.

[Zealot]

But what if I don't have any IFP's left? Will my fleet be decimated instantly because I didn't take control?
What if I made a mistake, and used an action that used 2 IFP's, when I could only spend one, because I had to save the other to fight an incoming fleet, or a fleet of my own just arriving the target on the next turn?

What if 2 players on MP fight each other, and neither of the two saved any IFP to battle?Or just one of them has IFP's to fight?

[Rhuarc]

Wow! Thanks a lot Stormhound. I wasn't really expecting a reply, but I guess I had gotten used to Firaxis' way of doing things, that is to never respond to waht the fans say. Thanks a lot!!! THat answered all my questions!:D

[Stormhound]

Originally posted by Zealot
But what if I don't have any IFP's left? Will my fleet be decimated instantly because I didn't take control?
What if I made a mistake, and used an action that used 2 IFP's, when I could only spend one, because I had to save the other to fight an incoming fleet, or a fleet of my own just arriving the target on the next turn?

What if 2 players on MP fight each other, and neither of the two saved any IFP to battle?Or just one of them has IFP's to fight?

I assume you missed the part where I said that you got your fresh batch of IFP just before space battles were fought...this was set up this way on purpose.

Also, if you don't control a battle personally, the commander on-site does it for you. (Which might not be so bad, if he's really good at it.)

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Stormhound
I assume you missed the part where I said that you got your fresh batch of IFP just before space battles were fought...this was set up this way on purpose.

Ah, yes, I must have! :D Thanks! Now I get it. So we better not expose ourselves too much on attacking, so that we don't suffer too many counter-strikes, right?


Originally posted by Stormhound
Also, if you don't control a battle personally, the commander on-site does it for you. (Which might not be so bad, if he's really good at it.)

I see... will you then provide some combat tutorial for us to practice, so that we can gain some experience and not sacrificing our on-going games with losses? :cute:
MoO 2 didn't allow this, so it was a little difficult to start combating on tactical combat with useful ships and weaponry, and beat the AI's ships.

[Stormhound]

Depends on how well you trust your admirals, I guess. You'll have to find the balance that suits you, because if you put all your time (and IFP) into the space battles, you won't have any left to manage your empire. :hmmm:

[Garth Vader]

Thanks for the reply. I have played a number of Moo2 MP games with my Mac friend but they always sucked because we had to use both mac or PC which usually meant one computer was dead slow:(

This rocks:b: :b:

[Zealot]

And about that tutorial? How do you think about the idea, Stormhound? :cute:
And a tutorial on ground combat too, please! :expect:

[Stormhound]

I agree that they'd be nice ideas, but unless they were already in the plan somewhere, I rather doubt you'll see them. Adding things to the package isn't happening right now, and I really don't know if anything is planned with regard to tutorials.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Stormhound
I agree that they'd be nice ideas, but unless they were already in the plan somewhere, I rather doubt you'll see them. Adding things to the package isn't happening right now, and I really don't know if anything is planned with regard to tutorials.

Gee, looks like I need an insider (preferably a Designer) in QuickSilver to see if he can pull some strings or grease some hands on the subject... ;)

[LordEd]

Will Master of Orion 3 have a Hotseat mode? Civ2 Gold did, as well as Alpha Centuari. Yet Call to Power 2 had no hotseat yet had other multiplayer (and Civ3 had no multiplayer whatsoever, which is why I do not play it with any regularity).

[Comrade Tribune]

In Multiplayer, while one player battles it out with the AI, what are the others going to do in the meanwhile? I assume they can go on already, and read their info, can´t they?

One tricky thing I don´t quite understand is the order in which battles are resolved, if there is a number of battles involving human players, some involving the same player. Say Both A and B want to start a battle against C, I assume not all the battles can be simultaneous, because C can´t take part in 2 battles at the same time, I wonder how the game resolves this?

[Deimos]

LordEd,

Stormhound has indicated in an other thread that there will not be a hotseat mode.

[Sencho]

Correct. Turns are inputed simultaneously which precludes hotseat. As a further complication combats, should you wish to personally lead them, are in real time. These two factors are the major reasons (that I've been able to find) that ther'll be no hotseat.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Sencho
Correct. Turns are inputed simultaneously which precludes hotseat.

In case you didn't realize, in MoO 2 MP the turns are also inputted and played simultaneously. But in hotseat mode, they (SimTex) made them be played sequentially.
I expected Quicksilver already had played and tested every single step in MoO 2 back and forth, so they could be experts on that game, and make new, exciting, improvements for version 3...


Originally posted by Sencho
As a further complication combats, should you wish to personally lead them, are in real time.

Oh well, about that I guess I really don't have a choice but to accept the fact that MoO 3 won't support any innovation to the real-time combats in hotseat games. Pity. :(

But hey, hotseat could be a way to sell less games, right? :D

[Sencho]

I wasn't aware of how Moo2 handled MP. I only played it hotseat, and assumed it was across the board. :D

Hotseat was a feature desperately wanted by the design staff, iirc. But, some things just couldn't get in. :(

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Sencho
I wasn't aware of how Moo2 handled MP. I only played it hotseat, and assumed it was across the board. :D

Kali is free for the moment! Do you want me to teach you how to play MP?:D:evilgrin:
The same invitation applies to everybody here! Including you, Stormhound! ;)

I would be delighted with such honour. :)

[Zealot]

Well? :(
Sencho don't tell me that you're far too adicted in MoO 3 to go back to MoO 2! :cute:

[Stormhound]

Who's got time for it, these days? The free time I have is devoted to other things...

[Sencho]

Originally posted by Zealot
Well? :(
Sencho don't tell me that you're far too adicted in MoO 3 to go back to MoO 2! :cute:

To be honest, I haven't played Moo2 in ages. With the holidays, school, Moo3 events, and unmangling my syntax, I've just been real busy. Let my school schedule stabilize and I'd love to try Moo2 with you.

[TCO]

So...is MP gone yet? just curious...