Will MOO3 have mulitplayer?

[TCO]

...Or are you "working on some really innovative ideas"?

[Stormhound]

Multiplayer has been a part of the MOO3 design since its inception, and rather moreso than just playing around with a few ideas. I feel quite safe in saying that the game will have multiplayer from the start, since that's another part of the code that got underway very early in the project.

[TCO]

Oh...well there's always the option of deliberately disabling it so you can sell an expansion...

[player1]

Hmm, some people here seem very pessimistic.

[Sencho]

Besides, by shipping MP with Moo3 it leaves lots of room for other stuff in an expansion. :-)

[TCO]

Good point...so much for my attempts to lead them into the dark side (I mean explain modern development strategy).

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Sencho
Besides, by shipping MP with Moo3 it leaves lots of room for other stuff in an expansion. :-)

That's pretty good news!

[Rhuarc]

Is there any way you could provide a few more details on multiplayer? I mean just to give us an inkling of what it will be like to actually sit down and play a multiplayer game. Thanks a lot guys, looking forwards to a great game!!

[Garth Vader]

I hear the Mac version will be released shortly after the PC version, will MP work between versions?

[Stormhound]

re: details on multiplayer, I'm not sure what details you're after. If it's the technical stuff, I can't release that yet.

If you're talking more general terms; all turns are simultaneous, and you have an optional turn timer that you can use to keep the pace going. You'll start your turn by using IFP remaining from last turn (more on that shortly) to make changes to what's going on in your empire (reviewing reports is free, so browse to your heart's content, unless you're on the timer, of course). Once all that's done, including setting up diplomatic meetings, you'll move on to the next phase of the game where you get a fresh new batch of IFP so that you can conduct battles (just remember to save some for next turn!) and go through the diplomatic negotiations. Lather, rinse, repeat.

re:MAC version, we're hoping for as near a simultaneous launch as possible, given that the publisher for the MAC version is Macsoft, not Infogrames. Since the code's in simultaneous development, we're doing our part to make sure it's possible. And yes, PC and MAC players will be able to intermix in multiplayer games without a hitch; that's one benefit of how we're doing development, and it's been a goal all along. Now at last both sides can meet to prove which is best.

[Sencho]

Last we heard, yes, MP between the two is in.

edit: Stormhound, fastest post east of the Pecos...

[Comrade Tribune]

Originally posted by Stormhound
Once all that's done, including setting up diplomatic meetings, you'll move on to the next phase of the game where you get a fresh new batch of IFP so that you can conduct battles (just remember to save some for next turn!) and go through the diplomatic negotiations.

Stormhound, I don´t really understand this: If turns are simultaneous, and there´s a timer, what about a battle between two human players? Who gets to decide when it is resolved? Can somebody interrupt my turn by resolving a battle where my forces are involved?

[Sencho]

Unless I'm misinformed, battles are resolved at the end of the turn, after all orders are submitted. Thus you can't interrupt another's turn by attacking.

[Zealot]

But what if I don't have any IFP's left? Will my fleet be decimated instantly because I didn't take control?
What if I made a mistake, and used an action that used 2 IFP's, when I could only spend one, because I had to save the other to fight an incoming fleet, or a fleet of my own just arriving the target on the next turn?

What if 2 players on MP fight each other, and neither of the two saved any IFP to battle?Or just one of them has IFP's to fight?

[Rhuarc]

Wow! Thanks a lot Stormhound. I wasn't really expecting a reply, but I guess I had gotten used to Firaxis' way of doing things, that is to never respond to waht the fans say. Thanks a lot!!! THat answered all my questions!