Why there're so little games in the lobby?
- Thread starter MatuX
- Start date
richm
Warlord
The reason for so few games in the lobby is that they never last very long and are never never completed.
If you are interested in MP games hang around in this forum, read the posts and you will find one. Don't give up. Just because you are new must not stop you from signing up for a game, we all had to start somewhere.
Good luck!!
If you are interested in MP games hang around in this forum, read the posts and you will find one. Don't give up. Just because you are new must not stop you from signing up for a game, we all had to start somewhere.
Good luck!!
Great_Scott
aka Cottus Arci
Enigma... i wouldn't call this mostly a single player game at all... you've never played Civ until you've played against human intelligence.
Richm got it right.
I mean, theres absolutely no way i could imagine dedicating a few hours consistently to a game, and i'm sure thats the case for other people. Phones/doorbells ring, spouses/partners/children need attention...
In my opinion, 'real time' multiplayer (ie through gamespy) is for the younger crowd who are still in that honeymoon phase of the Civ series (the ones who're staying up till all hours of the morning!...) I actually played a few, and i think the furthest i got was 2 hours in... but players drop all the time anyway, and all players seem to do is complain about cheating (they just don't understand how one can beat them).
In my opinion, PTBS is the best platform for multiplayer. It's where 1 player acts as a host and players connect when they can to end their turn. M<ost PTBS games have a turn timer of 24 hours... there's plenty out there and always new ones beginning (like The 32 Player Warlords PTBS, the 1st of it's kind).
PBEM's take too long, unless you have a smaller game, for say 2-4 players, and the downfall is 1 player not passing the game on will hold up the game indefinately.
So there you go.
Richm got it right.
I mean, theres absolutely no way i could imagine dedicating a few hours consistently to a game, and i'm sure thats the case for other people. Phones/doorbells ring, spouses/partners/children need attention...
In my opinion, 'real time' multiplayer (ie through gamespy) is for the younger crowd who are still in that honeymoon phase of the Civ series (the ones who're staying up till all hours of the morning!...) I actually played a few, and i think the furthest i got was 2 hours in... but players drop all the time anyway, and all players seem to do is complain about cheating (they just don't understand how one can beat them).
In my opinion, PTBS is the best platform for multiplayer. It's where 1 player acts as a host and players connect when they can to end their turn. M<ost PTBS games have a turn timer of 24 hours... there's plenty out there and always new ones beginning (like The 32 Player Warlords PTBS, the 1st of it's kind).
PBEM's take too long, unless you have a smaller game, for say 2-4 players, and the downfall is 1 player not passing the game on will hold up the game indefinately.
So there you go.
Brailey
Chieftain
MatuX,
These guys are right that typically MP games in the lobby are full of people who quit/complain/suck and as a result games usually do not reach a victory condition.
There is however another option that has completely changed Civ4 multiplayer for me. While u were in the lobby did u notice the games that had 'ladder' in their title? These are games being played by Civ4 ladder members (the ladder is a seperate entity to the Gamespy lobby, see www.myleague.com/civ4players). These games are almost always played until completion, the players are generally knowledgable and skilled in the game, and players generally have good setups (this reduces connectivity/firewall/dropping issues).
Some of the best (if not THE best) Civ4 MP players can be found on the ladder. If you want to really be challenged in Civ4 MP, the ladder is the only way to go.
There are a few popular formats for ladder games, designed so that a game can reach a conclusion in about 2 - 4 hours. At the moment the most popular are ancient CTONs (ffa style, no alliances, always war, no private chat)
and Renaissance teamers (3v3, 4v4 or 5v5) and of course good old 1v1's in any era are popular too. Games like this can be found in the lobby most times of the day (best time is about midnight GMT).
Civ4 SP is great fun and I play it myself often, but there is nothing like taking on a HUMAN intelligence and kicking their butt! If you want to experience top shelf Civ4 MP, but dont want to spend weeks-months to finish a single game (as in PBEM and ptbs) then ladder is the only way to go. The ladder is completely free and open for anyone to join. Ive played around 200 ladder games in the last 3 months (anyone played 200 PBEMS or PTBS in 3 months?? hehe) and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
Check out www.myleague.com/civ4players for more info, all u gotta do is read the rules and sign up (100% free) to get started.
phew - that was longer than i expected...
anyways, look forward to playing you in ladder MatuX (and some of you other CFC'ers)
These guys are right that typically MP games in the lobby are full of people who quit/complain/suck and as a result games usually do not reach a victory condition.
There is however another option that has completely changed Civ4 multiplayer for me. While u were in the lobby did u notice the games that had 'ladder' in their title? These are games being played by Civ4 ladder members (the ladder is a seperate entity to the Gamespy lobby, see www.myleague.com/civ4players). These games are almost always played until completion, the players are generally knowledgable and skilled in the game, and players generally have good setups (this reduces connectivity/firewall/dropping issues).
Some of the best (if not THE best) Civ4 MP players can be found on the ladder. If you want to really be challenged in Civ4 MP, the ladder is the only way to go.
There are a few popular formats for ladder games, designed so that a game can reach a conclusion in about 2 - 4 hours. At the moment the most popular are ancient CTONs (ffa style, no alliances, always war, no private chat)
and Renaissance teamers (3v3, 4v4 or 5v5) and of course good old 1v1's in any era are popular too. Games like this can be found in the lobby most times of the day (best time is about midnight GMT).
Civ4 SP is great fun and I play it myself often, but there is nothing like taking on a HUMAN intelligence and kicking their butt! If you want to experience top shelf Civ4 MP, but dont want to spend weeks-months to finish a single game (as in PBEM and ptbs) then ladder is the only way to go. The ladder is completely free and open for anyone to join. Ive played around 200 ladder games in the last 3 months (anyone played 200 PBEMS or PTBS in 3 months?? hehe) and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
Check out www.myleague.com/civ4players for more info, all u gotta do is read the rules and sign up (100% free) to get started.
phew - that was longer than i expected...
anyways, look forward to playing you in ladder MatuX (and some of you other CFC'ers)
vilemerchant
Prince
As bad as it is over at gamespy with the quitters and rude players I've still had some really fun games there. Usually when I fire up civ I bring up the lobby and if there's a 5-7 player Pangea or Fractal or something starting I'll join that for a bit of fun. If there's no game to join I'll continue a single-player instead.
I also play with a group of mostly Australians every Sunday afternoon which is great fun. This is the best way to enjoy a civ, a small group of people who can committ to show up online every week at a designated time.
I also play with a group of mostly Australians every Sunday afternoon which is great fun. This is the best way to enjoy a civ, a small group of people who can committ to show up online every week at a designated time.
Civ a singleplayer game ?
I have always played civ in MP (lan games) and i think people that play civ only in SP cant measurement with a MP player.
When i have played SP i have always feeled it super easy and no challenge even on the high difficult levels is the KI stupid and i dont see it as challenge that the KI has simple more troops or getting more money.
They will always act stupid and i can beat thier stacks of 40 units without a single unit lose on my side even with lots lesser techs.
If you have never played civ in MP you cant get a good player or at least its very hard.
I have always played civ in MP (lan games) and i think people that play civ only in SP cant measurement with a MP player.
When i have played SP i have always feeled it super easy and no challenge even on the high difficult levels is the KI stupid and i dont see it as challenge that the KI has simple more troops or getting more money.
They will always act stupid and i can beat thier stacks of 40 units without a single unit lose on my side even with lots lesser techs.
If you have never played civ in MP you cant get a good player or at least its very hard.
MookieNJ
Noob
The other problem is that the MP community is currently split between Vanilla Civ4 and Warlords. Except for late at night US time when a lot of Americans are asleep and a lot of Europeans aren't ready to play yet, the Warlords lobby is generally really crowded.
[KC]Bantams
Chieftain
The busiest times for MP games are usually around 2pm EST or 7pm GMT and after these times the games lists tend to get bigger during the day GMT time the lobbys pretty quiet unless its a weekend when most the fun games begin
ForesterSOF
Orbit Arnd. Alpha Centaui
I dont mess with th elobby at all due to all that has been said.
I go to the game forums like here and Apolyton.net to find people.
I go to the game forums like here and Apolyton.net to find people.
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