🚀 go-pugleaf

In <403vlh$l...@CUBoulder.Colorado.EDU>, jord...@benji.Colorado.EDU (JORDAN  SPENSER AARON) writes:
>>The big difference would be for heavy-duty strategy/tactics games, such as
>>wargames, historically accurate or not, galactic conmquest games...   Also 
>>any other game with a fancy computer opponent (air combat simulators).  These
>>games all need a pretty good computer opponent if the games are to be 
>>replayable.  In a single-threaded OS, the computer only starts playing when
>>-you- are done, and you get to stare at the screen.  The better AI's, of
>>course, take the most time.
>>
>>In a multitasking OS, the computer opponent can busy himself thinking his 
>>next move while the human player is still staring at information screens
>>and clicking left and right.  So, when the human is done, the AI is almost 
>>done, too...   Resulting in faster, less frustrating play and potentially
>>'better' AI's (they have more time to 'think').
>>
>>--
>
>Heres a scenario:
>
>OS/2 zealot #1: Hey friend, lets computer play a game together?
>
>OS/2 zealot #2: OK, what should we play? 
>
>zealot #1: Well, lets see.  The only game thats OS/2 native is Galactic 
>           Civilizations.  But you know, it takes advantage of that cool 
>           multithreading technology that we love so much about our 
>           beloved operating system.
>
>zealot #2: Yeah, BC has great technology under the engine.  Man that AI 
>           really screams.  But in't it a solitaire game?
>
>#1: Oh yeah, right.
>
>#2: So much for that cool multithreading thing.  We can't do anything 
>    usefull with it against each other.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Heres another scenario:
>
>DOS/Windows 95 gamer #1: Hey friend let play a computer game together?
>
>DOS/Windows 95 gamer #2: OK, what should we play?
>
>gamer #1: Well, theres so much to choose from.  How about that new 
>          Mech Warrior 2 network demo?
>
>gamer #2: Oh, yeah.  Can't wait for the Windows 95 specific version due 
>          out soon.
>-- 
>_____________________________________________________________________________
>                    __________    No matter where you go,
>                   /  ______  \       there you are.
>                  |  |      |  |        

It would be best if you stuck to a subject you know something about.  If you claim
that GalCiv is the only game for OS/2, then you obviously have never used OS/2
or keep up with OS/2 gaming at all.  If you care, I am beta testing (as are many
others) some revolutionary games that currently ONLY run in OS/2.  First, there is
Avarice, which will kick the pants off any Windows or DOS adventure/RPG game
that is or will exist.  It is the first game to use true color (24-bit) color at any
resolution supported by your video card.  Also, in case you care, this would have
been impossible without OS/2.  To keep it simple, Avarice loads the graphics while
you are looking at other stuff, and when you change views, the graphics appear
as fast as your video card can display them.  In addition, the NPCs are going to
be very cool, with complex personalities and real interaction with you, the player.
Of course, I am also beta testing Entrepreneur (a economic world domination game),
Overthrow (battle strategy (Panzer General like) game) and Vantage (program robots
to kill each other).  All these games are OS/2 only and take advantage of threading
and also take advantage of the fact that OS/2 has no resource limit.  By christmas,
these games along with Star Emperor ("Warlords in Space") and Masters of the
Empire will be released for OS/2.  Thus, here are the list of games that I know
about that are OS/2 born games (not DOS ports) that will be released (or that
are already released) by xmas:
1) Avarice (RPG, Myst Killer)
2) Entrepreneur (Economic World Domination)
3) Vantage (Robot Action Game with Programmable Robots)
4) Overthrow (Panzer General like Game)
5) Star Emperor ("Warlords in Space")
6) Masters of the Empire (World Domination)
7) and of course, GalCiv

As far as network play, I know of a couple of shareware OS/2 games that take
advantage of the built in TCPIP (Assault and Death from Above), and the Doom/2
port will have network play.  For all I know the games above might have
networking support - it is not that difficult to implement.

Finally, before you ask, yes I have used Windows 95.  I have the latest build.  I
even have looked into developing for it.  I'll pass.  OS/2 is a much more capable
gaming platform (especially with the new DIVE and MMOS2) for two reasons:1
1) Better thread handling
2) No Resource Limit - Don't give me that crap about the resource limit being too
high to matter - try programming a threaded game with high resolution graphics
for it.  It is just one thing I don't want to have to worry about.  A game like
Avarice or Galciv that has hundreds of threads will bring Win95 to its knees,
because threading eats resources alive.  Even if they fix that, the things you can
do with threading (like better graphics and more complex situations) will end up
eating the resources anyway.  Trust me, I've looked into it thoroughly.  
3) OS/2 game toolkit coming out in a month or two will have an OO game
library, with high level objects like NPC and Weapon.  Makes game programming
a little less complicated.
4) DIVE beats the pants off WING in speed

Finally, I AM NOT AN OS/2 ZEALOT!!!!  I WOULD USE WINDOWS 95, AND CAN USE IT;
IT IS ON MY MACHINE!!; IT IS JUST NOT AS GOOD AS OS/2!!!  I DON'T CARE IF
MICROSOFT IS A CRAPPY COMPANY, IF THEY MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT I WILL USE
IT!!  UNTIL THEN I WILL USE OS/2!!  I JUST LOOK AT FACTS!!

By the way, that makes the score:
OS/2 Born Commercial Games - 7
Win95 Born Commercial Games - 0