🚀 go-pugleaf

Simon Trowman wrote
    Its good too see what a fine newsgroup alt.games.x-com is becoming....


Okay, Simon a few things to assist, I hope.

Battle.net is the online server for Blizzard games multiplayer games, such
as Diablo and Starcraft, amongst others.  It's free and is a good place to
get a game, if you live in the US.  Here in the UK, we pay for all our
calls - nothing is free when it comes to being online, I'm afraid.  Thanks
to BT [British Telecom] for that one!   Bnet offers a 'chat lounge, but with
mutliple 'rooms' which you can set up, to get rid of the lamers who lurk and
disrupt the server default areas.  Obviously a good idea to implement for
_any_ online gaming.  If anyone from MSP is reading - take note!  In the
meantime, check out Blizzards homepage and follow the Battle.net signs...
all should become apparent.

    As for the games themselves.

Anyone can host a game, preferably, the person with the best connection
would be better, but it would obviously need to cater for all machines, so
would use a setting which suits everyone.  Lag is another factor, which
could, and does cause problems.

For troops, buying and selling, I think squads of six men per player would
be sufficient, and for now four players per game.  18 troops, plus aliens
and assorted other features could prove to be more complicated than viable.
Even three man squads would work, I think.  The three men squad would fall
roughly into the max number carried in a Triton [14 max], or similar for
UFO.
    Diablo has a facility where you can set up a multiplayer character for
online gaming, but one of the benefits, or quirks with it is the fact that
you could go on quests without other players, thus building up your stats
and equipment.  Therefore, it would seem a similar system would be useful
for XCOM.  The setting up of a 'strike team', for those online missions.

As I see it, online games would only involve the mission itself as it would
not require the use of the normal XCOM single player Geoscape.  The issue of
money however, does raise an interesting point.  Perhaps at the start of a
mission, there can be a planning phase, as with TFTD/UFO missions [a part
which I would like be available off line, to prep my squad, but which
allowed for last minute alterations, depending on the mission specifics].

Email games could be hosted by anyone, in theory.  Check out the game called
Stars!  It allows anyone to act as an host machine, whether playing or not,
and players can then send their turns to that host.  As I said before, four
player, three man squads would seem to be ideal, maybe four man squads, come
to think of it.  If the developers are any good, they can come up with a
better or improved system for our comments.

Rules would be as is in the XCOM universe, unless of course an editor was
available.  However, I hope to see the improved version support multiple
mission requirements be met, goals and so forth.  What you have to bear in
mind though, is that online games take time.  The tactical and strategic
value of XCOM would mean a really long game, if played 'live', so to speak -
hence the need for an email equivalent.  These 'live' games would be carried
out over fairly small maps - think of guerilla tactics, in and out, or cause
as much damage as possible.  Prolonged games on huge maps will, I think,
diminish the appeal.  Linked games [campaigns], however, are another matter!


Check out the following website for some information, which is rather old in
some cases, it may be of use:

http://www.mythosgames.com/mythlink.htm

This is from the original designers of XCOM - Mythos games.  If you are not
familiar with them, their pedigree goes way back to RebelStar on the
Spectrum [which I played, many, many years ago - apx 15, so don't ask my age
;-)], through to Laser Squad on the C64? and I think Amiga.  My memory just
ain't what it used to be ;-)

    Well, I hope this has been useful, can't think of anything else to add!

Detonate