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Simul Game Annoyances
OK, I've tried a game of Simultaneous play, and I won't be terribly anxious to play another one. It was interesting, but I have some problems with it. They fall into 3 groups - Warfare/Movement, Between-Turn Time, and Player Expectations...
Warfare/Movement
1. It makes things even harder for dial-up players. Some of the action *is* truly real-time, and I can count to 5 watching a unit move along a road between *each* tile. Watching an enemy unit attack and leave while you are trying to get a single unit to attack in return is not right!
2. Since I am watching other Civs' units move, it means I am sufferring the lag *while* I am trying to move. Simul play appears to make dial-up lag even worse.
Between-Turn Time
1. The game suffers by not having non-play time for negotiations.
2. The game suffers by not allowing much time for micromanaging.
3. It is almost impossible to keep any records. At the very least, I expect to note the techs I earn, and I couldn't even manage that.
4. Bathroom breaks. I miss them! 'Nuff said?
5. Beer breaks. Ditto...
Player Expectations
1. Simul play makes the game move much faster. In spite of that, other players start complaining about game speed. Isn't 2 or 3 times as fast enough?
2. If I could get DSL or cable, I would. But it is not available here yet, so don't get mad at me for the speed I'm stuck with. In Simul play, I think I can only play other dial-up players.
3. I think Simul play appeals more to players who look for either total isolation or total warfare.
That's a start for a discussion, I hope...
Warfare/Movement
1. It makes things even harder for dial-up players. Some of the action *is* truly real-time, and I can count to 5 watching a unit move along a road between *each* tile. Watching an enemy unit attack and leave while you are trying to get a single unit to attack in return is not right!
2. Since I am watching other Civs' units move, it means I am sufferring the lag *while* I am trying to move. Simul play appears to make dial-up lag even worse.
Between-Turn Time
1. The game suffers by not having non-play time for negotiations.
2. The game suffers by not allowing much time for micromanaging.
3. It is almost impossible to keep any records. At the very least, I expect to note the techs I earn, and I couldn't even manage that.
4. Bathroom breaks. I miss them! 'Nuff said?
5. Beer breaks. Ditto...
Player Expectations
1. Simul play makes the game move much faster. In spite of that, other players start complaining about game speed. Isn't 2 or 3 times as fast enough?
2. If I could get DSL or cable, I would. But it is not available here yet, so don't get mad at me for the speed I'm stuck with. In Simul play, I think I can only play other dial-up players.
3. I think Simul play appeals more to players who look for either total isolation or total warfare.
That's a start for a discussion, I hope...
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