POLL 21: Windowed mode?

May 3, 2001, 05:51

results on second page

STING · May 3, 2001, 07:25

What about an extra option:

Yes
Yes, but with option to go full screen
No

:-)

Roman · May 3, 2001, 08:05

Yes to windowed mode!

Nikolai · May 3, 2001, 09:49

Windowed is BEST!!B E E E E S T
Well, excuse me. Have to find my handkerchief.....

Gramphos · May 3, 2001, 10:13

quote:

Comment by Sirotnikov
Having an option for both windowed and full screen would be awfully nice. However I don't tihnk they're gonna change it now.

It has been said that they are using a temporary SMAC engine with Civ 3 graphics and rules. As they have animated high resolution units they will probably have a totally new engine for the game. That means that the current view may change drastically.

And an option is always good as long as it works.

Ming · May 3, 2001, 15:26

If you haven't voted yet... please do. The more people that vote will only help make them understand how important this issue really is.

To repeat the comment I made in the poll...
If they don't make it windowed, they are totally ignorant of how people play TB MP games.

Even the SP players gain from a windowed version. I know when I play in SP mode, I'm still checking out other things while I play.

eNo · May 3, 2001, 17:37

Wow..my first post in a long long time. I don't have time to sit in the forums anymore. Just fill in the occasional polls.

Windowed mode is a must. Civ3 requires long hours of play time. Thus the option to have ICQ open and easily available at the same time will alleviate the toll that megagames like this take on your social life.

Granted ICQ isn't exactly replacment for face to face contact but do you really want to be cut off from all communication for 12 hour blocks?

java4me · May 3, 2001, 17:53

After playing some CivII, I have decided that the window mode would be best. When playing the game CTP (full screen), it seemed to go slower. So i fully agree with Roman on that!

I also fully agree with roman that we need more than 7 civs!!!

Cyclotron · May 3, 2001, 18:24

I figure, why not? It's not a huge bonus for me, but it is great for multiplayers and can't hurt.

------------------
- Cyclotron7, "that supplementary resource fanatic"

Shooter · May 3, 2001, 19:28

Given the long hours I tend to play Civ for, the game has to be at least minimizable via the Alt-Tab or Ctrl-Esc keys. It would be nice to be able to switch from a full screen to a window on the fly, that way if an important thing comes up (ICQ, important email, meeting...) you could have it running in the corner of the screen while being able to monitor your other resources. This is less of a big deal for most games, but given the crowd that Civ attracts, I think many people would like a windowed feature. At least I would appreciate it.

-Shooter

Kuciwalker · May 3, 2001, 20:03

If you press the little wavy window button on the keyboard (the one that opens the Start menu) then you can minimize Alpha Centauri. I actually do that all the time (like when I'm supposed to be doing my homework

).

ancient · May 3, 2001, 21:27

or you could just press Tab and Alt.. duh.. umm does it really make ythat much of a difference?

Vrank Prins · May 4, 2001, 00:02

Hopefully Firaxis keeps things in windowed mode.

I've been playing regularl yCTP-I lately. One of the really annoying things of the game is that you don't play it in windowed mode. Activision didn't change things in CTP-II. Sometimes my wife or I have to open an other application in the meanwhile that I'm playing. You always have to safe and close the game.

Please, please WINDOWED MODE

boann · May 4, 2001, 00:13

i won't be buying it if its not in windowed form.

markusf · May 4, 2001, 00:38

Well i am happy with the voting so far, overwhelming support for windowed mode.. IT seems people voting no, are confused about direct X. Direct X allows for windowed mode play, and i even posted the flag and a directx function in the other thread. I am also not suprised to see not a single multiplayer person has voted no. This isn't a RTS game where everyone is constantly moving and thinking. In the comments section someone made a reference to starcraft. Well in star craft like all RTS games you are constantly moving and fighting, you don't have time to do anything else. if you alt tab out your most likely going to die. In civ your spending most of your time just waiting for your turn. I can't think of many people sitting there and waiting 15 min for a turn. Even with sim turns i was recently in a 7 player game where a lot of us would finish in 3 min and a few people would take 30 min to move.
[This message has been edited by markusf (edited May 03, 2001).]

May 4, 2001, 01:02

I'll go for the windowed mode if and only if that will not hamper gameplay in any way. Otherwise full screen with ability to alt-tab out will suffice. Windowed would just be a small nicety

STING · May 4, 2001, 08:01

quote:

Originally posted by boann on 05-03-2001 12:13 PM
i won't be buying it if its not in windowed form.

heh I don't believe you :P

I think Civ 3 just should have the ability to be windowed or to be full screen. Everybody happy

Cyclotron · May 4, 2001, 11:49

quote:

Originally posted by ancient on 05-03-2001 09:27 PM
or you could just press Tab and Alt.. duh.. umm does it really make ythat much of a difference?

This has a slight tendency to crash/freeze programs, Alt-tab is basically to minimizing as force-quitting is to closing a window. In addition, Alt-tab does not enable you to resize a window.

------------------
- Cyclotron7, "that supplementary resource fanatic"

OzzyKP · May 4, 2001, 13:16

If you don't like it (and no one does) then be sure to tell them that. If we flood Firaxis with e-mails they'll listen.

Some email addresses i've found:

askthecivteam@firaxis.com
jmorris@firaxis.com
dmagaha@firaxis.com

Everyone write them an e-mail, make them thoughtful and explain why you don't like full screen. Explain why you want more than 7 players. Do it and do it now. Sooner we get it in, the less likely it'll be set in stone already. A massive response to anything will certainly change their minds, now folks its time to e-mail like mad!!!

Thranduil · May 4, 2001, 17:02

Yeah, windows is nice...

Seeker · May 4, 2001, 18:31

A common sight on my computer: a music playlist, Civ II, a webrowser, and wordperfect, all open.

Couldn't do that with CTP

BeBro · May 4, 2001, 18:49

Windowed mode is also better for scenario building: start the game, make changes in the text files or the graphics, reload and see how it works, then repeat until it is perfect...ok, that worked great with Civ2, don´t know if it is the same with Civ3 - but it should be.

------------------
Civ2000 hosted by CivII Universum

Buck Birdseed · May 4, 2001, 20:16

DirectX practically demands full screen. And I'd be dissapointed if the Scenario Editor was in-game...

Urban Ranger · May 5, 2001, 01:53

No it doesn't.

Ralf · May 5, 2001, 07:59

The Wiceroy commented in above poll: "DirectX it should be !! no need for slow Window modes".

Is DirectX incompatible with Windows-mode? I didnt thought of that, then I voted YES.

Perhaps they loose out to much by excluding DirectX? What do you think? I prioritize a smooth and fluid game-experience first and foremost. And razorsharp colourful graphics with fluid animations. IF they must have DirectX for that, and IF DirectX is incompatible with Windows-mode. Well, then i rather go for fullscreen I think.

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 05, 2001).]

BeBro · May 5, 2001, 08:57

quote:

And I'd be dissapointed if the Scenario Editor was in-game...

Hm, I don´t care about if it´s in-game or not, only its quality counts for me.

Test of Time was in windowed mode - didn´t it run with directX?

I have no idea about it. Perhaps one of the computer experts here can explain us that, and if directX and windowed mode cannot be work together?

------------------
Civ2000 hosted by CivII Universum

Ralf · May 5, 2001, 09:31

quote:

Originally posted by BeBro on 05-05-2001 08:57 AM
Test of Time was in windowed mode - didn´t it run with directX?

I actually re-installed the "Ultimate Civilization II classic collection" 15 minutes ago (definitly Windows-mode), and the setup-program asked me if I also wanted to install required DirectX version 5 as well. Since I already had version 8 installed, I choosed not to.

Anyway, I guess that answers the question. Windows-mode is apparently NOT incompatible with the DirectX technology. Good news!

Wittlich · May 5, 2001, 11:15

quote:

Originally posted by Ralf on 05-05-2001 09:31 AM
I actually re-installed the "Ultimate Civilization II classic collection" 15 minutes ago (definitly Windows-mode), and the setup-program asked me if I also wanted to install required DirectX version 5 as well. Since I already had version 8 installed, I choosed not to.

Anyway, I guess that answers the question. Windows-mode is apparently NOT incompatible with the DirectX technology. Good news!

Umm, by your own words Ralf, you indicate that windows IS compatible with DirectX...

quote:

..."Ultimate Civilization II Classic Collection" is definately windows-mode, and setup asked me if I also wanted to install REQUIRED DirectX as well...

This indicates to me that the windows program is compatible with DirectX technology.

Am I right, or am I just being a little thick here?

[This message has been edited by Wittlich (edited May 05, 2001).]

BeBro · May 5, 2001, 11:32

quote:

This indicates to me that the windows program is compatible with DirectX technology.

Ahem...I think that is exactly what Ralf wanted to say...

------------------
Civ2000 hosted by CivII Universum

Wittlich · May 5, 2001, 11:51

I thought so, I just wanted to make sure I was on the same sheet of music here.

------------------
After all is said and done, usually more is said than done.