Is SP or MP more important for a TBS game?

[Sikander]

Single player is much more popular than multiplayer, but there's really no reason why both cannot be done in the same game. TBS multiplayer is vastly improved with simultaneous turn resolution, which is to say that everyone gives their orders when they are all in the computer resolves the turn and returns results to all of the players. This cuts the amount of time necessary for a PBEM game immensely (at least in half). It also can reduce player mm / powergaming, which in turn can significantly improve the competitiveness of AI.

[Bkeela]

I think with most games bar purely online ones, that single player is the most important, and multiplayer is a bonus.

Real time strategy I would consider the reverse.

Turn based strategy in multiplayer is too much of a hassle.

[Cookie Monster]

SP with great AI is much more importante to me than MP in a TBS game.

I find that most MP opponents are loud mouthed blowhards who give up at the first sign of boredom or a loss of some sort.

The only people you can trust to play MP with is family members and best friends.

MP

SP

[Darsnan]

Re: Is SP or MP more important for a TBS game?

Originally posted by leiavoia
Greetings Apolytonians:

[if i picked the wrong forum for this post, please relocate]

I'm in the very beginning stages of putting together a turn-based space strategy like Master of Orion, et al. Lately, the few TBS games that have come out have tried to push multiplayer as a selling feature. However, designing this kind of game with multiplayer support is going to be a LOT of extra work, possibly not worth the trouble for my project.... In my small design circle, we are all leaning towards "concentrate on single player, flesh out multiplayer afterwards." So my current idea is to leave multiplayer "hooks" in the code but not actually program all the networking (right away). Of course, it would be faster to simply program the game strictly as a single player experience. Personally i would almost never play multiplayer.

My question to you would be is this a labor of love on your part, or are you doing it for the intent of sales? If its the former I'd say go with SP, but if its latter MP would definately be advisable.



D

[Ninot]

SP is the most important for me, because of how little time i have to arrange MP games.

but the game better have MP, or else it doesnt play very long for me. I'm still playing Hearts of Iron 2 because of intense multiplayer games between me and a handful of friends.

[Ming]

No matter how good the AI is, human opponents are still more fun... usually smarter and more unpredictable.

Yeah, the SP experience will be more important to most people... But MP should be designed into the game from the beginning instead of being a poor after thought. There is no reason why both can't be included in a game in a meaningful way.

[:) Smiley]

oh yeah, don't forget moddability.

[pchang]

I have yet to see such a thing as a good AI. I tried to build a neural net based learning algorithm to play a turn based war game. The basis function was incredibly difficult to get right. The AI learned when to attack and when not to in order to win a particular battle, but it was useless for:
deciding what to build in the cities
making strategic decisions such as targetting cities and massing large attacks
making use of transports (the game had jeeps, bombers that could carry 1 infantry, and sea transports)

[Sava]

SP for me

but I'd like the option of MP, even though I have yet to play a single Civ game in MP

[Sava]

hey, where's the poll option for banana?

and I think there should be another option "SP with a poor AI"

[SlowwHand]

The point Dis tried to make about MP being too hard for him or too easy isn't confined to just MP.
Sure, have SP as an option. Civ II did,
Civ 3 didn't and like I said...

[Sava]

Civ 3 is just garbage

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Sir Og
SP.
It is very difficult for most people to find people who are available to play MP with.

I agree.

[Sir Og is from Bulgaria. Apolyton just keeps getting more multinational all the time!]

[Sir Og]

Zkribber I have registered in 2001 but i mostly lurk around here. So Poly is multinational as far as Bulgaria is concerned from a long time ago.
There is also atleast on more poster from Bulgaria who frequents the MOO forum.

[Zkribbler]

Well stop lurking! One of the main reasons I hang around this forum is to get opinions & points-of-view from all over the world. IMHO, Bulgars are most welcome, and so from now on, speak up!