Thread Tools
Old May 14, 2002, 00:01   #1
Maelhavok
Settler
 
Local Time: 00:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle,Wa. USA
Posts: 28
How long does it take to play a game?
Hello Civ III fans,

I have owned Civ III since Christmas and due to a TON of computer problems (including a worm that fried my hard drive) I was unable to play the game untill recently (ver.1.21 about 3 weeks ago).
After a multitude of ancient defeats on diety/huge I hit the boards and found some excellent info on the How and Why of my problems. Now I am playing a Standard/Raging/Monarch and am #2 in the world circa 1600 ad and I have no doubt I will conquer the world In the fullness of time. Herein lies my problem. Turns are taking to long.
I have turned off animations, and moved to a standard map. I dont like the governers nor auto-workers. My new 850mhz processor and 20gig drive should handle any single cd game but I have played this same game off and on for 12 days and I would prefer not to spend the next 12 mopping up a won game.
I have not seen on the boards how long your games take, Is this normal? How long do your games last? Is it slower on higher lvls? Can I turn off useless screens (AKA screenshots of cities/palace building etc). in the mystical editor?
What do you do to speed up your games? I would prefer to not go to a smaller map, rather the reverse.




Maelhavok
Maelhavok is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 01:43   #2
Jaybe
Mac
Emperor
 
Jaybe's Avatar
 
Local Time: 17:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Henderson, NV USA
Posts: 4,168
Huge map, 12+ civs takes me 6-12 weeks at probably an average of 18 hours/week. But I am a bit meticulous, don't use city governors and control almost all my workers. I don't mind that it takes so long -- it's the journey, not the destination.

I play on a 800Mhz Macintosh and a 1.3GHz Wintel.
__________________
JB
I play BtS (3.19) -- Noble or Prince, Rome, marathon speed, huge hemispheres (2 of them), aggressive AI, no tech brokering. I enjoy the Hephmod Beyond mod. For all non-civ computer uses, including internet, I use a Mac.
Jaybe is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 04:47   #3
Alanus
Warlord
 
Alanus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 01:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: du bon peuple de France (et de Bretagne)
Posts: 137
Civilization games (any of the series) are adictive but really too much time consuming, especially when you have a full time (and more) job + a family + others things to do.

I've played Civ3 with a PIII 700Mhz / 128 Mb RAM, with all animations on, and didn't notice any problem with the computed part of the game. Now, I play with a brand new Athlon 1900+ / 512 Mb RAM / ATI Radeon 8500, so performance is not an issue

Some gave an good tip on another thread of this forum : when the computer is playing, moving your auto-workers and the other nations, press SHIFT to accelerate.

Other than that, I have now tasted auto-workers and find it very convenient. So I have a hord of auto-workers that are not doing too bad, plus a very few that I manage manually. It really saves time, because micro-management is really boring when you start to have a large empire . I don't use governors either, but I use the saved typical queue any time I have a new city.

The domestic advisor and city queue interfaces would require improvement (sorting by type of production, easy insert in the middle of queue) to speed up periodic city reviews. The corresponding interface of CtP2 was quite well done in that respect.

Anyway, I don't anticipate that a full game will last less than 20 hours of play.
Alanus is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 06:27   #4
Mannamagnus
Prince
 
Mannamagnus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 01:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Prime Headbonker, The Netherlands
Posts: 322
I used to play only on huge maps.
With civ3 I favour small maps; I can play one game in a sunday afternoon.
__________________
Somebody told me I should get a signature.
Mannamagnus is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 06:40   #5
Inverse Icarus
Emperor
 
Inverse Icarus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 19:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: May 2001
Location: flying too low to the ground
Posts: 4,625
i usually play large maps, because huge (or marla's GIGA) run too damn slow on a 1.2 athlon with a gig of ram. i play my games for an hour or two a day, and they usually take a week or so.

so figure, 20 hours tops.
__________________
"I've lived too long with pain. I won't know who I am without it. We have to leave this place, I am almost happy here."
- Ender, from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Inverse Icarus is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 07:14   #6
Jethro83
Prince
 
Jethro83's Avatar
 
Local Time: 10:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 834
Since I only play on standard maps, I can get a game finished in about two to three days. Of course, I do get out after a few hours, when there is a major turning point.
Jethro83 is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 07:15   #7
redstar1
Civilization III PBEMCivilization III MultiplayerPtWDG LegolandCivilization III Democracy GameTrade Wars / BlackNova TradersInterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamNationStates
Prince
 
redstar1's Avatar
 
Local Time: 01:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Posts: 753
I think it depends a lot on how you play the game. Most of the time I play for the peaceful victory so I tend not to have to move a lot of units around. This leads to a shorter game. Times when I have to go to war (or just want to cos I hate the Romans!) the game takes much longer.

TBH I don't see much slowdown from the AI moving excpet for those times when its moving about 40 units into your territory.

running an Athlon XP 1800 with 512 PC2100 DDR ram so I guess its running about as fast as its going to.
redstar1 is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 08:05   #8
Dr. Stiby
Chieftain
 
Dr. Stiby's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Currently studying in Cape Town
Posts: 55
Playing on a huge map with all the civs, I don't finish a game within one months time. But I only play this game in weekends, alas. Calculating the hours it takes me to play a full game, maybe about 80? I have to say I'm quite the control freak and never automate workers!
Dr. Stiby is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 09:16   #9
dojoboy
Mac
Prince
 
dojoboy's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tansi (USA)
Posts: 519
Quote:
Originally posted by Alanus


Some gave an good tip on another thread of this forum : when the computer is playing, moving your auto-workers and the other nations, press SHIFT to accelerate.
Hey, I'll have to try that. I play on a Mac 8.6 w/ 288 RAM (333 hz processor) using standard maps or smaller. My current game is taking about 2.5 minutes per AI's turn in the year 2015. Sure, I'd like it to be faster but I spend that time considering all that may happen the next turn. I would like to play larger maps but it is too slow even in the ancient era.
__________________
"What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
I learned our government must be strong. It's always right and never wrong,.....that's what I learned in school."
--- Tom Paxton song ('63)
dojoboy is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 10:40   #10
Jawa Jocky
Prince
 
Jawa Jocky's Avatar
 
Local Time: 16:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Seattle
Posts: 555
Auto-workers will cut your game time in half. I'm playing with a PII-450 with 256ram so you know that I've done everything possible to speed up games. Victory types also make a big difference. Wars so the game down a lot so conquer/domination take longer than diplomatic/space race. When I reach the modern era I usually go for a space race victory, fortify all units, and grab a good book. I'm reading "The Runaway Jury" and hitting the enter key every 30 seconds." I should win by Chapter 6.
Jawa Jocky is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 11:18   #11
BillChin
Warlord
 
Local Time: 16:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 163
I estimate 60 hours of actual playing time, for relatively new players on standard size maps. After a few completed games, this can be cut in half or more.

Automating 80% of the workers with Shift-A (will not tear up mines or irrigation or cut forests) will save a bunch of time. Save the other 20% of workers for high priority projects such as a road to a new city or connecting a key resource.

Using governors in outlying cities cuts down on time. Only the core cities near the capital and the Forbidden Palace produce much, so especially in war time, use the governors to help with happiness and civil unrest.

Another useful tip for the early game is to have units auto explore using the "E" key. Again, save a few units for manual, but having the bulk on auto saves a large percentage of time during the early game.

Fortifying units with "Y" (or is it shift-Y?) puts units on sentry duty, activating if they spot an enemy, saves a lot of time.
BillChin is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 12:42   #12
Moonsinger
Warlord
 
Local Time: 18:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 298
It usually take me about a month to finish a game, since I can play only about an hour or less every day. So far I have always played on random generated large or huge maps with at least 12 or more civs.
Moonsinger is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 12:53   #13
Akka
Prince
 
Akka's Avatar
 
Local Time: 01:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: In front of my computer.
Posts: 512
I play always on large map, 16 civs, I never use governors but I do automate slave workers after my core cities are upgraded.
A game take me 2-3 days usually, for a grand total of 20-25 hours a game.
__________________
Science without conscience is the doom of the soul.
Akka is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 14:07   #14
zulu9812
King
 
zulu9812's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: of Scotland
Posts: 1,383
I usually play intensively for a few hours a day on Huge map 16 Players. Only ever takes me 3 or 4 days at most.

btw, here's a health warning in the readme:

"Some people may experience fatigue or discomfort after playing for a long time. Regardless of how you feel, you should ALWAYS take a 10- to 15-minute break every hour while playing. If your hands or arms become tired or uncomfortable while playing, stop and rest."

Rest??? During Civ3???

__________________
Up the Irons!
Rogue CivIII FAQ!
Odysseus and the March of Time
I think holding hands can be more erotic than 'slamming it in the ass' - Pekka, thinking that he's messed up
zulu9812 is offline  
Old May 14, 2002, 16:02   #15
Akka
Prince
 
Akka's Avatar
 
Local Time: 01:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: In front of my computer.
Posts: 512
Quote:
Regardless of how you feel, you should ALWAYS take a 10- to 15-minute break every hour while playing.
God, if I had to follow these advices...

I can't count the times where I spent 15-20 hours in a row playing a game
__________________
Science without conscience is the doom of the soul.
Akka is offline  
Old May 15, 2002, 21:45   #16
Maelhavok
Settler
 
Local Time: 00:39
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle,Wa. USA
Posts: 28
Thank you Civers,

This is exactly what I was looking for. So it is not my computer (whew) From the posts I see my gametime is in (slow) step with responses. I was mainly woried my new processor/motherboard was not liking my bioelectrics again. I will try the speed up suggestions. I guess I'll have to automate for speed. It would be convienient to have a road and mine everything button or at least a dissallow irrigation button.

Maelhavok

PS I would like to know how long it takes some of the designers to play a game. I tried looking at the chat but no one seems to have asked.


PPS I take about a 10-15 minute break (as advised) an hour just waiting for my turn
Maelhavok is offline  
Old May 15, 2002, 22:27   #17
Jon Shafer
PtWDG RoleplayPtWDG Gathering StormPtWDG Neu DemogypticaInterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG LegolandPtWDG Vox ControliPtWDG Glory of WarPtWDG2 SunshineApolyton UniversityC3CDG Desolation RowApolytoners Hall of FameCivilization IV CreatorsC4DG SarantiumApolyCon 06 ParticipantsPtWDG Lux Invicta
Firaxis Games Programmer/Designer
 
Local Time: 20:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 9,567
Quote:
Originally posted by Maelhavok
PPS I take about a 10-15 minute break (as advised) an hour just waiting for my turn
*Snickers*
Perhaps the turn length is part of a massive government conspiracy.
Jon Shafer is offline  
Old May 15, 2002, 23:53   #18
Theseus
PtWDG Gathering StormApolyton UniversityApolytoners Hall of FameBtS Tri-LeagueC4DG Gathering StormApolyCon 06 Participants
Emperor
 
Theseus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:39
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
What bugs me is not the time period between turns, but the big lag in the middle of your turn when all of the automated and in transit units process.

I keep a book or magazine around during the late game.

I've only completed one game... it took probably 50-60 hours.
__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.

Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
Theseus is offline  
 

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 20:39.


Design by Vjacheslav Trushkin, color scheme by ColorizeIt!.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Apolyton Civilization Site | Copyright © The Apolyton Team