What is a Demo game? Please explain!

[peyoan]

hello, i've heard a little about this before, so i'm not totally in the dark (just 90%).

My concept is very rough so i will not attempt to offer my thoughts, i just prefer to hear the pro's explanation.

I am very interested in this sort of thing, but am very new (to this concept, not CIV!)

Thanx in advance.
-Peyoan

[Locutus]

A Democracy Game is a game played by the entire community, either as an SP game with the whole community controlling the a single civ, or as an MP game with the community splitting up in teams which each control one civ. I'm only familiar with the SP variant myself, but I assume it works in same in MP: the community elects a president (who actually physically plays the game) and cabinet of ministers, who are each responsible for making the decisions in their area (e.g. Minister Interior Affairs controls city build queues, Minister of Defence controls the army, Minister of Science research, Minster of Foreign Affairs diplomacy, etc). These ministers consult the community to make their decisions: they organise debates and start polls, though typically any member can start a discussion or poll on their own as well if they want (the community more or less equates parliament and community members MPs). Once enough instructions have been gathered, the ministers pass their orders to the president who then plays a few turns, usually while holding a chat session in the IRC room so people can provide life feedback on issues that come up during play. There's also a Court of Judges which maintains the Constitution (rules of how the government is organised, how decisions are made, etc), resolves conflicts and periodically organises elections. There's often a fair amount of roleplaying involved, though it's not required to participate.

The details may differ per game (e.g. some DGs may not have a Court and/or a Constitution, the balance of power between cabinet and parliament differs per game, the freedom the president has during playsessions varies), but in large outlines that's how it works.

[OPD]

spdg is many people playing the same civ in a sp game.

Team dg is many people formed into different teams playing a PBEM game against each other

[RoboPig]

is it like the CFC demogame?

[OPD]

In some ways yes, in others no.

Well they're similar kind of thing, but it's also about the people playing, they're a bit odd over at CFC......

[sittingsparrow]

Erm have you read the posts in Team banana thread? :P

I thought of joining them, they seem like total loonies just having a good time and will most likely suffer a humiliating defeat. (Oh my, I'm going to get a lot of enemies now, ha ha ha)

[binTravkin]

I thought of joining them, they seem like total loonies just having a good time and will most likely suffer a humiliating defeat.

I expect some non-conventional tactics from them, which might aswell succeed..

[John-SJ]

Originally posted by sittingsparrow
I thought of joining them, they seem like total loonies just having a good time and will most likely suffer a humiliating defeat. (Oh my, I'm going to get a lot of enemies now, ha ha ha)

It is good to know that the personna projected by our team is the one desired.

But seriously, win or lose, I expect we will have a good time doing it.

[conmcb25]

Originally posted by sittingsparrow
Erm have you read the posts in Team banana thread? :P

I thought of joining them, they seem like total loonies just having a good time and will most likely suffer a humiliating defeat. (Oh my, I'm going to get a lot of enemies now, ha ha ha)

FEAR THE POWER OF THE BANANA!!!!!!!!!!

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Locutus
A Democracy Game is a game played by the entire community, either as an SP game with the whole community controlling the a single civ, or as an MP game with the community splitting up in teams which each control one civ. I'm only familiar with the SP variant myself, but I assume it works in same in MP: the community elects a president (who actually physically plays the game) and cabinet of ministers, who are each responsible for making the decisions in their area (e.g. Minister Interior Affairs controls city build queues, Minister of Defence controls the army, Minister of Science research, Minster of Foreign Affairs diplomacy, etc). These ministers consult the community to make their decisions: they organise debates and start polls, though typically any member can start a discussion or poll on their own as well if they want (the community more or less equates parliament and community members MPs). Once enough instructions have been gathered, the ministers pass their orders to the president who then plays a few turns, usually while holding a chat session in the IRC room so people can provide life feedback on issues that come up during play. There's also a Court of Judges which maintains the Constitution (rules of how the government is organised, how decisions are made, etc), resolves conflicts and periodically organises elections. There's often a fair amount of roleplaying involved, though it's not required to participate.

The details may differ per game (e.g. some DGs may not have a Court and/or a Constitution, the balance of power between cabinet and parliament differs per game, the freedom the president has during playsessions varies), but in large outlines that's how it works.

All right...

Translate that to Convention terms. Can we set up Attendee-only demo games? Would it even be possible (sounds like playing one is a lengthy process)? If we did set up some (or one) demo game at the Con, what sort of space requirements would we need - a group of rooms all together? a 24/7 gaming room?

Danke...

[binTravkin]

It is a lengthy process indeed but if fans gather and play it together (but split up in teams) arguing and discussing, might be a fun thing (just watch they don't use their fists to argue)..

[Krill]

It takes a couple of years to play them from start to finish.

That will be one long convention...

[binTravkin]

Don't think so, if it's played real time TCP/IP and turn time is like 5minutes of discussion could turn out some 10-12 hours..
pretty long, yes..

But it depends highly. Some turns will just be 'enter' and all.

[conmcb25]

These guys aren't thinking "out of the box".

It could be done especially with ther new settings in CIV IV. And some sort of a turn timer.

It could be played multi player mode-simulataneous turns. With an unlimited timer. And the gentle mens agreement while everyone is playing would be every 5 to 10 minutes or something like that.

Early game would FLY BY.

I would envision say four teams of "X" amount of players. Each team in a different hotel room. These can be rooms we are staying in. The teams meet in the rooms and discuss the turn real time while playing. We block out times during the convention to play. If not many are interested then we dont HAVE to do it of course, but we may get some interest.

BUT can you play this like we "physically" play demo games here? NO, but one could be certainly played if you think out of the box and realize that the people who are playing are all in one place, at the same time and are there for no other reason then because its a Civ kind of a weekend

We could do a bunch of the planning up front, which CIVs, map seetings, who is going to play and be on which team.

Its do-able.

[binTravkin]

If the time limit is somewhat harsh, you'll need to divide responsibilities - one would plan that, the other that and etc.
It could be really fast and really fun game!