Simul Game Annoyances

[cavebear]

OK, I've tried a game of Simultaneous play, and I won't be terribly anxious to play another one. It was interesting, but I have some problems with it. They fall into 3 groups - Warfare/Movement, Between-Turn Time, and Player Expectations...

Warfare/Movement

1. It makes things even harder for dial-up players. Some of the action *is* truly real-time, and I can count to 5 watching a unit move along a road between *each* tile. Watching an enemy unit attack and leave while you are trying to get a single unit to attack in return is not right!

2. Since I am watching other Civs' units move, it means I am sufferring the lag *while* I am trying to move. Simul play appears to make dial-up lag even worse.

Between-Turn Time

1. The game suffers by not having non-play time for negotiations.

2. The game suffers by not allowing much time for micromanaging.

3. It is almost impossible to keep any records. At the very least, I expect to note the techs I earn, and I couldn't even manage that.

4. Bathroom breaks. I miss them! 'Nuff said?

5. Beer breaks. Ditto...

Player Expectations

1. Simul play makes the game move much faster. In spite of that, other players start complaining about game speed. Isn't 2 or 3 times as fast enough?

2. If I could get DSL or cable, I would. But it is not available here yet, so don't get mad at me for the speed I'm stuck with. In Simul play, I think I can only play other dial-up players.

3. I think Simul play appeals more to players who look for either total isolation or total warfare.

That's a start for a discussion, I hope...

[suas333]

At first i thought this would be best at a large 5-7 player game. I was disappointed that when i played nobody had any time for negotiation. The game is incredibly faster but i think its the players that are the problem, not the simultaneuos movement. Players should still take the time to do their thinking and negotiations etc.

[carnide_]

I agree.
You need some time to do your management, your breaks, and your negotiations. However, that can be organized.
But the lag is a major issue. All the players need a good connection. You can do nothing about it, when your connection sucks. (Well, can you change ISP? )
- - -
But simul rocks! Is much better, and faster, to play with a lot of humans than good old turn based. Also, you can do traps, and flank attacks.
- - -
In a nutshell: simul is much better, unless your connection sucks.

[CornMaster]

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by suas333 on 12-27-2000 02:38 AM</font>
At first i thought this would be best at a large 5-7 player game. I was disappointed that when i played nobody had any time for negotiation. The game is incredibly faster but i think its the players that are the problem, not the simultaneuos movement. Players should still take the time to do their thinking and negotiations etc.
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

I agree. It's not the game style but the player style that needs to be adapted. You can take a break every 10 turns or so and make a schedule for talking and negoatioans the same way too. It won't be as bad if you organize it a little.



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[Civ2Veteran]

Carnide, I agree with you - Simultaneous play ROCKS!! It is much faster, particularly if you have a cable/dsl connection. I just played against someone who had the simu upgrade for the first time and now I don't want to go back to turn based - it simply takes way too long.

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[cavebear]

If internet connection speed problems get resolved, and if allowances are made for things like negotiations and bathroom breaks every hour or so, this format could work.

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[Rasputin]

speed isnt everything if host is getting warfare advantages....