EC3 New Idea #3 - DETAILED REPLAY

[raingoon]

"Detailed replay, both visually and in written form (hopefully a natural language play-by-play)." - Yin26

[mzilikazi]

I second this...

[Seeker]

When you say "visual" I hope you just mean the Civ 1 maps and not something like Hasbro's "Axis and Allies" where we see every move...

[yin26]

After playing with AoK for the past few months, I REALLY, REALLY like the record game feature. This is huge in learning how experts play, allows for cool spectator commentary, catches cheaters, etc. And the zipped saves are usually only around 150k. So the same record game feature could be used for your replay.

As for the natural language thing, that could be a much bigger headache for the team, but at the very least a more detailed accomplishments screen would greatly enhance that "I've got to beat this and that score next game" kind of feeling. Lots of graphs and numerical stuff with some natural language mixed in...

I don't like this idea for several reasons. Firstly, it a waste of time and resources on something which doesn't in any big way enhance gameplay. Secondly, and more importantly, I'm very concerned over the size of the saved games that something like this will produce. We're talking 10-15 MiB by the end of the game- an imposibility for PBEM.

[RyanR]

I just want something that is like Civ1.. anything else would prolly be a waste. I don't think this would be to hard if borders were implemented too. It is definitly a must.

Actually, for Civ3 all I want is some very simple things. I don't want governers or any of that crap. I LIKE micromanagement and thats why the civs were such a great game!

[korn469]

Yin26

if asked why out of the five things to put on the new ideas thread why would this idea belong? what are the greatest strength in adding this idea? and what if any weaknesses or exploits does this idea have?

when you say a visual replay you do mean like in SMAC don't you? also could you give me an example of how the natural language play-by play would work?

[Pythagoras]

<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 yin26 on 02-17-2000 07:32 PM</font>
After playing with AoK for the past few months, I REALLY, REALLY like the record game feature. This is huge in learning how experts play, allows for cool spectator commentary, catches cheaters, etc. And the zipped saves are usually only around 150k. So the same record game feature could be used for your replay.

As for the natural language thing, that could be a much bigger headache for the team, but at the very least a more detailed accomplishments screen would greatly enhance that "I've got to beat this and that score next game" kind of feeling. Lots of graphs and numerical stuff with some natural language mixed in...
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

I like this idea, but I can see it being real demanding on some system resources, and we all know how Firaxis sees that...

[yin26]

The importance of a good replay system can be thought of on two fronts:

1. People are naturally interested in seeing an overview of what and how they did. This provides incentive for trying new and better things next game.

2. With the ability to watch OTHER people's games, the opportunities to share and implement new strategies are greatly accelerated. (This also helps catch cheaters). This would require an actual move-by-move replay system while #1 wouldn't necessarily.

As for the natural language thing, I just thought of a great idea: If the ticker-tape were put in and done well, the natural language summary would be little more than a spruced up compilation of all those messages. It might look something like this:

2000 B.C.: Chieftan Yin settles in the lower Danube Valley and calls his village "UberYin."

1750 B.C.: Settlers sent from UberYin encounter a friendly tribe and join together to form the city of "Yaurn" near Mt. Goe.

...

1840 A.D.: President Yin's army, consisting of the 5th Calvary Brigade and the 17th Regiment a-foot, engaged a nomadic tribe, consisting of 100 mounted archers, near New Jersey. President Yin offered a trade alliance, but was refused my Chief Arrow-Breaker. President Yin then ordered his troops to fortify the area.

You know, it doesn't have to be even this detailed, but a sort of natural language record of the entire game would be cool. A great way to "see" the history you made.
<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by yin26 (edited February 29, 2000).]</font>

How about this: an automatic log file with settings for level of detail by category:

• New Cities
• Cities reaching size 8
• Cities reaching size 12
• Cities reaching size 16 (etc)
• Cities captured [and from whom]
• Cities lost [and to whom]
• Cities destroyed [and by whom]
• First unit produced of type
• All trade units produced
• All units produced
• Units destroyed [by whom] or disbanded

Well, you get the idea. If Firaxis provides this, I'd think within a couple months somebody will make a natural language converter.

[yin26]

FINAL DRAFT

The importance of a good replay system can be thought of on two fronts:

1. People are naturally interested in seeing an overview of what and how they did. This provides incentive for trying new and better things next game and comparing with other fans.

2. With the ability to watch your own and OTHER people's games, the opportunities to share and implement new strategies are greatly accelerated. (This also helps catch cheaters). This would require an actual move-by-move replay system while #1 wouldn't necessarily.

If the ticker-tape were put in and done well, the natural language summary would be little more than a spruced up compilation of all those messages. It might look something like this:

2000 B.C.: Chieftan Yin settles in the lower Danube Valley and calls his village "UberYin."

1750 B.C.: Settlers sent from UberYin encounter a friendly tribe and join together to form the city of "Yaurn" near Mt. Goe.

...

1840 A.D.: President Yin's army, consisting of the 5th Calvary Brigade and the 17th Regiment a-foot, engaged a nomadic tribe, consisting of 100 mounted archers, near New Jersey. President Yin offered a trade alliance, but was refused my Chief Arrow-Breaker. President Yin then ordered his troops to fortify the area.

Another idea: An automatic log file with settings for level of detail by category:

New Cities
Cities reaching size 8
Cities reaching size 12
Cities reaching size 16 (etc)
Cities captured [and from whom]
Cities lost [and to whom]
Cities destroyed [and by whom]
First unit produced of type
All trade units produced
All units produced
Units destroyed [by whom] or disbanded

These results could also be converted into natural language format.