This topic is likely to be closed or moved soon

Ralf · January 19, 2001, 16:41

I have a problem with keeping track of time, then playing Civ-games in particular, and strategy-games in general.

Recognize the problem?

I have searched and searced after a speaking clock, that can tell the time in chosen intervals right through full-screen games with game-sound/music playing load. I have finally found it. It supports several languages, and best of all - Its freeware! Check it out!
http://www.lux-aeterna.com/freeclock/

Boracks · January 19, 2001, 18:41

Does it have an alarm? If so, my wife will enjoy setting it up for me.

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"Treat each day as if it were your last. Eventually, you'll be right."

Ralf · January 19, 2001, 19:00

quote:

Originally posted by Boracks on 01-19-2001 05:41 PM
Does it have an alarm? If so, my wife will enjoy setting it up for me.

Oh, your wife is gonna love this one.

It has both time-specific alarm-sound and verbal time announcements in any possible intervals. There are also an deluxe-variant of it, but then one is obligated to pay 15 US dollar.

yin26 · January 19, 2001, 21:21

Ralf,

Since I also share that problem, I think I might leave this thread open for a while, if that's o.k. with you.

tniem · January 20, 2001, 16:56

There are a number of computer programs that will actually save what you are working on and then boot you off the computer after x amount of time. The problem with them is that if you know the password you will be tempted to turn the system off to let you play one more turn.

Brent · January 21, 2001, 02:57

which is precisely the original problem.

AzNtoccata · January 22, 2001, 02:02

Does it make the sound of a game dissapear when it speaks? I'm thinking of Half-Life cause everytime ICQ goes oh-crap the sound for Half-Life disappears. Does the clock affect sound for game?

UltraSonix · January 22, 2001, 06:40

Actually - why don't Firaxis build that into Civ3?! You can select an option to play for, say, 5 hours, and after the time is up the game automatically stops at the end of turn and won't let you continue playing unless you reboot or you wait an hour...

I get the feeling this would be a very good feature indeed...

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No, in Australia we don't live with kangaroos and koalas in our backyards... Despite any stupid advertisments you may see to the contrary... (And no, koalas don't usually speak!)

Vrank Prins · January 22, 2001, 08:24

My small pricking eyes are telling me right now, after a long session CTP last night that a build-in timer/alarmclock wouldn't be such a luxury, (actually more like a neccesity). In CTP the windowsscreen is suppressed, so it's not possible to see the clock in the rightunder corner of your screen. Sometimes I actually do set my alarmclock beside my monitor to keep track of time.

Adm.Naismith · January 22, 2001, 12:16

UltraSonix, I agree with you 100%!

A person should think that a clock is the more common standard window to have working on a multitasking environment, but I'm losing my sleep for missing that "now stop playing and go to bed!) deadline every night.

Firaxis, this is really a must! Please add an embedded alarm clock, able to automatically save&quit at the end of turn after the time limit (default limit to 01:00 AM for my basic survive sleeping needs, but customizable by my wife

).

BTW this feature will make easy to add a time counter about the real time spent on a whole Civ III game.

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Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant

Grumbold · January 22, 2001, 12:17

The low tech approach is to set your PC utility to do a full disk check at 12:15am every night regardless of what else is running. You certainly notice when that kicks in, even though it doesn't talk to you

Ralf · January 22, 2001, 15:39

quote:

Originally posted by Adm.Naismith on 01-22-2001 11:16 AM
Please add an embedded alarm clock, able to automatically save&quit at the end of turn after the time limit (default limit to 01:00 AM for my basic survive sleeping needs, but customizable by my wife.

I found this in "The List > Player Interface":
1.19) A REAL TIME CLOCK. Possibly with an alarm snooze feature. (Frank Moore)

Not exactly what you asked for, but anyway! Maybe optional automatic save&quit is added. I would like that.

Chronus · January 22, 2001, 21:53

Egads! Now we want an alarm clock built into the game?

Sheesh, I'm not saying we should stop with the ideas but ... if Firaxis were to implement the millions of suggestions we're bombarding them with, we are going to end up with a $50,000.00 game!

Hmmmm, then again, maybe they can arrange Civ III to do my job while I play ... ;-)

UltraSonix · January 23, 2001, 08:47

Well, I think I can savely say that is the built in alarm clock isn't implemented, the economies of many countries will probably ground to a halt when the game is released as people play for "just-one-more-turn"!

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No, in Australia we don't live with kangaroos and koalas in our backyards... Despite any stupid advertisments you may see to the contrary... (And no, koalas don't usually speak!)

Adm.Naismith · January 24, 2001, 11:37

Chronus,

quote:

Now we want an alarm clock built into the game?
Sheesh, I'm not saying we should stop with the ideas but ...

Easy, it's more or less just for kidding

Still UltraSonix has a point with

quote:

if the built in alarm clock isn't implemented, the economies of many countries will probably ground to a halt when the game is released as people play for "just-one-more-turn"

don't you agree? Civ III surely will be added to the list of "banned software" of many companies

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Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant

tniem · January 24, 2001, 16:46

The alarm clock has all of a sudden moved to the top of my "its o.k. if its not included in the game but I will be disappointed" column. It probably will be a necessity to keep me from losing too much sleep.

Ralf · January 24, 2001, 17:28

I think they could turn it into some nice advertising stunt:

The first game ever with an requested built-in alarm-clock/automatic save & quit feature! Its really that thrilling and exciting. Time disappears, and you must be forced to stop playing the game. Just one more turn! Just one...

Adm.Naismith · January 25, 2001, 03:52

[quote]
Time disappears, and you must be forced to stop playing the game. Just one more turn! Just one...
[/b]
ROTFL!

alarm sound loudly
a pre-recorded voice calmy advice you: This game is about to self-terminate in ten seconds... nine, eight, seven...

Ehi, is this still On-Topic Yin26? We are speaking about a game feature, aren't we?

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Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant

Grumbold · January 25, 2001, 11:09

Alternatively they could persuade the marketing guys that a plastic Civ III alarm clock would be a cool freebie to include with every game. It would be more original than the usual T-shirt.

tniem · January 31, 2001, 00:02

Grumbold,

Now your talking. Or at the very least maybe yin or Markg can get some alarm clocks signed by Sid and give them away just before Civ III comes out. It certainly would get me excited for both the game and my continued support of Apolyton!

yin26 · January 31, 2001, 00:52

Well, Markos and Dan get all the free stuff. I just beg like the rest of you.

How about this:

When you register the game, you get to download a really cool Civ3 clock that also keeps track of world times, etc?

Wazell · January 31, 2001, 10:00

Yep, downloadable clock's much better than plastic one which will surely get lost somewhere. And programming an ingame alarm clock is not a very big task. It certainly won't raise the price.

However, before we get the Alarm Clock, and a small game called Civ3 which is shipped with it, more traditional approach is needed. How about playing civ all night, and when the sun rises it starts to shine to the monitor telling you it's time to go to bed. Works

btw "This topic is likely to be closed or moved soon" . Define "soon"...

down th' pub · January 31, 2001, 17:02

Or if you're forced to be an early bird-

-you're an hour late for work!

Henrik · February 3, 2001, 09:43

I like the idea of a built in alarm clock.

Krippled · February 4, 2001, 21:55

Yes, a clock is a must. Even having it as a small window that can be popped up in top left at the press of a TAB or something.

Straybow · February 5, 2001, 02:47

There's this really neat invention some of you may have heard about. Someone cleverly took the workings of a clock, made them very small, and attached them to a strap that can be worn on the wrist. How clever!