Improving online sins , some suggestions.

besides the obvious - unit balance, desyncs..etc

from Sins Forums

Just a few ideas that will improve ICO and the online community. All suggestions are inspired by what goes on in TA spring - A very sustainable community that does not rely on "competitive play" , but on "addictive play". I see sins in the same way. This would be great to come with 1.1 and the summer holidays.

1) Have game-time be a statistic in your player profile. I.e Player - 40 Games , 23 hours 40 mins. This is an important statistic as it will disregard those "restart games" , that still add to your overall games played. Also to mention, those Instawin games people sneakily host.

2) Team Balancing Hosting Feature - base it on game-time and allow it to auto-make teams.  Many newcomers get put off by stacking. In TA Spring , every game online is auto-balanced so that both teams have a mix of expierence . This is how newcomers should be welcomed into the game , because they will be the future regulars.

3) Show by players name ,a rank picture based on game-time. 0-5 hours gametime = Ensign. 6-10 hours = Officer . 200 hours gametime = star-rank. Infact having rank be based on game-time reduces the amount of quitters. In TA Spring... "atleast im getting game-time for my rank" - quote from a player who is losing. In Sins he might otherwise just "quit".

4) Players online but ingame - Greyed out but visable. Psychologically feels like more people online.

5) Games being already played online - Greyed out but visable.

6) Get rid of the win/loss ratio from public viewing (You can still view it yourself) . It might be harder to judge a players skill , but its a sacrifice I would be willing to make, inorder to have a community that doesnt quit to "save their stats". The fact that you can host insta-win games makes win/loss moot anyway.

7) Allow for hosts an option to set a minimum rank bar. However it should not physically stop under-ranked from joining. They will just get the message that they are under rank. Tho controversial this actually is important for newcomer aspiration to play sins to build up their rank. Many in TA spring feel the achievement of gaining the star-rank (100hours+). Also you dont have to be amazingly skilled to get the rank , you just have build up your game-time. The higher ranks are actually simply a testament to being a regular onliner.

7) FIX twin empires starting positions , and have option for random maps to have teams placed together.

Thanks , hope some of these suggestions are helpful.

multiplayer
5,235 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
These are nice suggestions. I haven't played online but I have logged on to the main app. I would suggest if greyed out players/games are going that a timer be added next to the name if they are in a timed game (if timed games are added). That way if you see a friend and he's going to be out in 5 minutes you'll be willing to wait around to chat/play with him.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

I like your ideas, too.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Even though theres pretty much no chance at all. I still wish that the hosting worked like Age of Empires; where anyone can host a game easily.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I think the most important jist is "game-time"

People complain about the game being soo long. Well why not reward game-time. A small rank symbol next to a players name goes a long way.

Logically , rewarding game-time means people are willing to stay in-game even if they are losing.Having no "loss" rating also removes the fear of loss stats. I think keeping the wins record is ok. Just ditch the loss record.

0 Hours : Newbie - Newbie badge
1 Hours : Ensign - 1 strip badge
5 Hours : Officer - 2 strip badge
10 Hours : Luitenant - 3 strip badge
25 Hours : Commander - 4 strip badge
50 Hours : General - Solid Silver Badge
100 Hours : Admiral - Solid Gold Badge
250 Hours : StarPlayer - Silver Star Badge < coveted Star badge
500 Hours : StarPlayer - Gold Star Badge
750 Hours : StarPlayer - Double Gold Star Badge

Auto-Team balance will use the Ranks to balance the game.








Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Even though theres pretty much no chance at all. I still wish that the hosting worked like Age of Empires; where anyone can host a game easily.
End of quote


That's what the upcoming 1.1 patch is all about.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Even though theres pretty much no chance at all. I still wish that the hosting worked like Age of Empires; where anyone can host a game easily.
End of quote


true

as i wrote in another post. the age of empires guys did a very good job. the net code was the best i ever saw in a strategy game. everyone could host, no disconnects, no game crashes, also the ranking system was the best, and no quit button and if you dc u get a loss after game ran 2 min

was just perfect
of course you cant compare ensemble studios with ironclad. that like letting ManU play against some Austrian club

i dont expect sins to have a net code as good as one programmed for microsoft, but things like the ranking system and other stuff could be implemented easily

nicolas