Just wondering what type of game everyone plays, whether single player or multiplayer. As for myself, I have been player almostly all multiplayer game on Gamespy for the last couple of months. Somehow I don't get the same thrill from winning over an AI (i.e. eliminating the civ) as I would over human opponents. How about you guys? What type of games do you usually play?

im a tokugawa

but ive played on multi

95% of the time for me is Single Player. The other 5% is PBEM games.

I play about half and half 50% single 25% hotseat 25% online

Single, I have nobody to play multi... and I would only play when I create lanparty or something like that ... I wouldn't want to wait a hour when opponent makes a move.

I play single as it's more flexible and I just don't have the several straight hours necessary to play multi. The two multiplayer games I did play I quit as something came up.

I play about 95% single, and only ever play multi over a LAN at home, never online.

About half and half. If I am in the mood for a ( relatively :D ) peaceful game, I play together with my girlfriend. And if I lose, I play alone all night to practice ;) . Rather embarassing, I´ve been playing Civ since it´s first incarnation and still lose most of the games against her and she has started just two years ago :blush: .

Single player only for me. I play video games to relax and get away from people, lol. I have to see people the time in my job. When I socialise I prefer to do it in person. I don't care if the AI isn't as challenging. It means I can be more lazy when I play.

Single player only. It takes me long enough to do a single player game, I don't want to spend forever playing it mulitplayer.

Single player only, and Civ must be the only game I play alone. I like Civ for the building aspect, and multiplayer seems to be all about wars and crushing the opponent. For this I play RTS.

Like almost every other game, I play Civ alone. I think I played two or three PBEMs of Civ III, but that is about it.

Single only. I want to play when I have the time to play, not when other people want to.

I used to play mostly single, with occasional mutli over lan. One day I was bored and decided to check out what gamespy was like, and I've never looked back.

Single player is still fun, but the taunting that comes with multi is great. Heck, I went as far as to join the league even though I don't like how league games are set up to end in a set amount of turns and with score victory.

In any case, for those of you who haven't tried multi due to time constraints, give it a go. Most games are played on quick setting and on small maps. A game typically lasts 1.5 hours or so. Besides, there's nothing like becoming someone's vassal or having someone become yours. It's much more satisfying than having the AI surrender.

I go both ways with Civ. I prefer playing MP as I think it is the truest test of one's Civ skills but time contraints often do not allow me so I end up playing more SP games than MP.

but the taunting that comes with multi is great.
Most games are played on quick setting and on small maps. A game typically lasts 1.5 hours or so.

Three reasons not to play multi, IMHO. Small maps? Games only lasting 1.5 hours? Human interaction? That's not what Civ's about! :p

Three reasons not to play multi, IMHO. Small maps? Games only lasting 1.5 hours? Human interaction? That's not what Civ's about! :p


lol lan games are very different, or games with friends online. Those tend to last forever with the epic speed setting. If you can set up lan party, for Civ it's a lot of fun.

I voted single player but sometimes I feel its an uneven playing field. I know from other games that multiplayer is more of a challenge and a lot more fun.
I would like to play a few multiplayer games but I don't know where to go or how to do it. I've registered with Gamespy already but I've read it can be dodgy sometimes. I usually have limited time on my PC as I am still at school so I don't know if I'd have time either.

With regard to the totality of Civ players, I suspect multiplayers would tend to be overrepresented in this poll since many of the posters in this forum are multiplayers or modders. Those groups would be more likely than single players to find their way to the forum.

Öjevind

mostly single-player, I'm involved in a pbem

I gave up on MP a long time ago. Some humans were worse than Noble AI and the only 1 truly, closely fought and interesting game ended when my opponent left after 2 hours. Finding an opponent in the lobby is quite hard, also.

Mostly single player, but a little multiplyaer with my son. He's younger though & not very sophisticated, gets beat at prince, so it's not really playing, not really true multiplayer.

I would love to play multiplayer; I used to play vgaplanets 10 years ago, and even played origninal civ and Empire hotseat with friends 15-20 years ago. Two things hold me back:

1) I've a busy life with lots of commitments, traveling for work, family etc, I like & need flexibility with my time. I maybe play 3-4 hours one day, then not at all for 3-4 days. Pretty doubtful I'd find anyone to fit that schedule (though maybe I'd make effort to even my time commitments out a little if I did PBEM)

2) I would be afraid and very very disappointed to start a game and play it over a long period, then suddenly have one or more players just drop out. In ohter words, to trust commitmetn of other player. This happend often with VGAPlanets. Even if the game kept going, the winner was often determiend by who was near the locations that had AI taking over playing, not by who was playing best when persons dropped out.

If there were some way to get over those two issues -- and balance them, find commited players who also understand there might be need to suspend game briefly sometimes, a tough balance -- I think I would love to play MP.

I've always prefered Civ multiplayer to SP (been playing since Civ 1), Hotseat vs. friends back in the day was awesome. Now I play with some of those hotseat ppl online (so much nicer having everyone on their own machine!), as well as 'random' gamespy games. I still play the SP a fair amount when I don't have time to commit a solid 2-3 hours for a session (though usually my SP time is playing mods, not Vanilla/Warlords). However, nothing is better than defeating an actual human opponent (Especially when you get to harass them about how badly you whooped them when you see them next!)