Persistent massively multiplayer?

[Kwang]

I'm totally new to Freeciv, but has there been any thoughts about a persistent massively multiplayer version? Kind of like browser-based games like Utopia.

The concept of persistence and massively multiplayer is also fleshed out in EverQuest, where the world continues to change whether you're currently playing or not. It's massively multiplayer in that a huge number of players are playing in the same world at once.

It seems theoretically possible for civ-type games. If a regular civ game took place over Earth, just imagine the MM (massively multiplayer) version taking place over a huge planet. Of course, the concept of persistence will be incompatible with turns since the world is supposed to continue with or without your presence.

Anyway, there's lots to discuss about the concept, but I'm just wondering if this has been tried before.

[CapTVK]

What curious timing Kwang, we're just about to try out that very idea!

We're planning to play a MP game of longturn Freeciv. The basis is simple, after the first session we simply set the timeout to 24 hours. The server will be permanently online. So everyone can play their moves any time of the day and check the results next day.

Something like an Everquest version of Civ is a bit off however. Due to turn based game system that forms the basis of Freeciv, any Civ based game for that matter, a persistent multiplayer version seems kind of elusive. The main problem: " while you're away time doesn't stop..."

So if you're busy for a few days you could find your carefully planned cities overrun by someone who has way too much time on his hands. If you're away you should somehow let the AI manage your civ in a reasonable way. That's an illusion in Civ2MP. But in Freeciv it's agressive and smart enough to keep your civ running. AI diplomacy still is a no-no but that seems destined to change as well in the next release. More user configured agents like the CMA for managing your city tiles could provide the answer.

[Per]

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: Massive multiplayer games must allow for players that come and go on a completely irregular basis. Freeciv does not and can not.

[lethe]

Kwang: The human players don't change the world at all in EverQuest. The only thing that is a permanent change on the world is waking the Sleeper.

Everything else just respawns. Almost all faction changes are reversible. If you screw up and die it's just a short cr, or a trip to the graveyard if you are in PoP. Solving quests only changes your character, gives him some reward, exp or faction. It doesn't change the world. Pretty much the same for GM events. (Ok, the Karana residents got well, after two years of flour runs.)

Asheron's Call was way more persistent, but I never got hooked on it. (A major city got nuked because no one solved a certain GM event.)

And Utopia isn't really persistent, it's just a series of long games. I only played it a little, but plowed down a few years in it's sci fi counterpart Earth.

The world is reset at times in both games.

[samboy]

The CVS code has an "away" setting

Well, the CVS code does have a "away" setting which allows the AI to make basic decisions for human players if they have to go to the john and the game is set up to start a new turn every minute or what not. May also be usable for people who play once a day, but are going on a one-week vacation where they will not have internet access with a computer that can play freeciv.

- Sam

[arbocenc]

Originally posted by CapTVK


We're planning to play a MP game of longturn Freeciv. The basis is simple, after the first session we simply set the timeout to 24 hours. The server will be permanently online. So everyone can play their moves any time of the day and check the results next day.

Hi,

I'm new in Freeciv and I wonder where can I find this cain of games (longturn). I'm interested in a 2/week turns game. Is there any game like it?

I've connected to the servers list and I find only a dozen of games. Is it normal?

Thanks

arbocenc

[CapTVK]

Originally posted by arbocenc


Hi,

I'm new in Freeciv and I wonder where can I find this cain of games (longturn). I'm interested in a 2/week turns game. Is there any game like it?

I've connected to the servers list and I find only a dozen of games. Is it normal?

Thanks

arbocenc

Not all servers are listed on the metaserver. This is where you'll find the regular games taking place. Some players also host their games from their own machine. Like longturn for instance. The longturn concept is new and we're currently playing the first proper one right now.


Check here to sign up

http://forums.civ.org.pl/viewboard.php?BoardID=14

P.S
You may also sub in the current game if one of the players drops out or needs a replacement.

[CapTVK]

Originally posted by arbocenc


I'm interested in a 2/week turns game. Is there any game like it?



arbocenc

Yes, 3,5 days is possible, you could set the timeout to 84 hours. Although at 2 turns/week that would mean a regular game of Freeciv would take ridiculously long (we're talking years!). In a setting like a WW2 scenario it could probably work.