Multiplayer Setup Screens

[Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS]

Hey folks. I'd be interested in seeing a discussion on multiplayer setup screens. By that I mean the screen that you use to configure, join, and get information on a multiplayer game. This can include in-game lobbies (like with SMAC) or external ones (like IGZ and MPlayer) or anything in-between. Any comments on what you think is necessary or unwanted would be useful. Please cite your examples to specific games if possible, but don't limit your comments to existing systems. Thanks for the help.

jkm
firaxis games

[Hugo Rune]

Features I like to see on a good setup screen:

• Regions. Each server fills in it's location (By country or US State, say) and I can decide to take a server near me.
  
• Good, graphical ping representation. (Half-Life was pretty good for this. Three dots- fast connection and so on)
  
• Server-set minimum connection speeds. On the server, you should be able to set the maximum ping time allowed for connection to that server.
  
• Filters. Most crucially, when selecting from a list of games I want a good boolean filter. If I want a local server, AND good ping types, AND a certain type of game, I should get it.
  
• AI "Fillout" players. To allow "drop-in" and "drop-out" of players, the Server can set a minimum player number with the slots needed to make up this number taken up by AI players until real people join. (Like in UT)
  
• Instant Sharing of Mods and Maps. The game automatically downloads anything you need to play this particular multiplayer game.
  
• A "handicap" system to allow poorer players to play on equal terms. Multilevelled AI.

[Atahualpa]

When I start a new game using a mod, all other players that join, will automatically download the mod.
Nothing Web-based! Something like Battle.net would be much better.
Handicap is great idea too! Maybe there could be even a ladder for players with a handicap lower than a certain number.

ATa

[sammyboy7]

I really like the ctp multiplayer setup screen, definetely don't make it browser-based. I think there should be something like gameleague exclusively for dino where you can setup games, except not browser-based either. You should be able to set up games using the given multiplayer screens.

[Pythagoras]

It would be cool (I know I'm dreaming) if all Civ games from all companys could be supported through a battle.net type setup. But I doubt Activision and Microprose (maybe Microprose) would join in. Still, something like AlphaHQ.net (but not web based) except publicized all over the place. Maybe make it like battlenet where the choice to log on is in the multiplayer option of the screen. If thats not posible using something like gamespy would be awesome. I hate web based multiplayer places, games there just never seem to work out. Either way when you join a game, I'd like to see an in game lobby with a chat room where the host can choose game styles, maps, etc. then if the game is up and running the host could turn on an option where players joining can jump into the game either as a fresh dino pack, or with a certain number of evolutions to choose from.

[Glak]

For the overall service make it like battle.net, I do not want a system where people aren't allowed to make their own channels. Being able to make channels is pretty essential. Make it so that public channels appear on the list and private don't. Basically make it like bnet, make sure to include text commands too, like /whois, etc..

Then for the actual game make sure it is actually a multiplayer game. No game descended from civ2 can ever be a multiplayer game whether it supports the "feature" or not. Don't make that mistake with dinos, or if you do decide to focus on single player then don't make it look like you're making a multiplayer game. I don't want to be tricked into buying something I'll never play (I will not play vs AI no matter how good it is, simply on principle)
[This message has been edited by Glak (edited March 22, 2000).]

[ChrisShaffer]

Support PBEM or asynchronous order submission for simultaneous turn adjudication.

[MikeH]

Good to see you asking about this type of thing. IMO the future of RTS is multi player. The last 3 RTS games I've bought (Red Alert, Tiberian sun, Age of Kings) I've only played in the multi player and skirmish (practice multi player) modes.

The game selection screens methods I've used most are the Half-Life (internal) server browser, AoK internal browser, X-wing vs Tie fighter on the Zone and Gamespy (which I think qualifies)

Features that I think are important for a MP set up screen in a RTS game.

Ability to set up your own game (something that tells you your own IP is necessary) as in Age of Kings, also connect to a game you know the IP address of. This needs to be one of the easiest options to find.

Server/game browser, I think I prefer an external web based game browser 'cause then you can look at that and chat on ICQ or whatever instant messenger you use as you look for a server/game. Should also have a chat room in the game browser so you can talk to people before you play them.

I tend only to use IP/Internet connections, I've never used a direct modem link so I don't have any comments on what's needed there.

All in all AoK is a pretty good example of what the functionality should be BUT the menus in that game seem slightly randomly scattered and on a messy background image which makes it a little hard to see what's going on. It could be more intuitive what things mean.

[tniem]

Multiplayer setup should be like battle.net. That is a very good system and Blizzard spent a lot of time on it. Please, though, if you make a Alpha.hq or dino.bc or whatever, make sure to make one click acess off of the game. SMAC should have had access right from the multiplayer menu.

Make sure to include good support for network games. And something I would like to see would be a network/internet game. I am not a programmer so I don't know how it would work but I would like to be able to play on my network with my brother and connect with people across the Internet. That way you could have teams that are on a network in computers next to each other battling other teams.