Play-By-Web Multiplayer - Built-in? |
I love playing SEIV through Geo's play-by-web java application and his website, so I don't have to mess with opening my e-mail, and then e-mailing the results back to the server (or whoever is running the game). The only thing missing would be to have all of these features built into the game itself.
For example, I'd love to start the game, and automatically have it contact whatever servers are running the multiplayer games I'm currently in, and automatically show me which ones are ready to play, etc., then when I choose, to automatically have it download, let me play, submit, etc., without the need for e-mailing or using a 3rd party application (like the PBW tool).
Will any such features be built-in to the game when it is released with the multiplayer capabilities?
PLEASE!?!?
Sort of...
That's not necessarily true - most of the mechanics are same for SE:V and there are already a couple of partial programs that help with the file handling. But for a full fledged PBW, that'll won't be for a bit like you said.
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What is PBW in a nutshell
What is PBW in a nutshell and how does it work?
PBW is Play by
PBW is Play by Web.
http://seiv.pbw.cc/
What it does is automate Simultanious multiplayer games, so the game host doesn't have to manually run the turn at the end of each turn.
It's a breeze...
Essentially as a player all you need to do is download your turn when it becomes available and upload your player file when you played your turn. Everything else is automated. 
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So, it is just sending your
So, it is just sending your saved game file from one person to the next in line?
PBW games are simultaneous
No. Multiplayer games are in simultaneous mode, so you issue orders to your ships and then the movement/orders for all players are executed concurrently when the turn is run. So when the turn is available to play, then everyone can download/upload their turns at the same time.
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PBW
The best thing about it for me, is not needing to go into my e-mail, manually downloading and unzipping the file, then firing up the game, playing my turn, exiting the game, then going into my e-mail and sending in the turn to the server.
With PBW, I just a) launch PBW and look at my games-in-progress b) if a game is ready for me to play, i just select it - it automatically downloads, unzips, and launches SEIV for me. Then, when my turn is finished, I press the "submit turn" button, and PBW automatically grabs my new turn file and uploads it to the server. In a nutshell, all downloading, launching, and uploading is done automatically. (as it really should be in the game itself, if you as me. 
I'm surprised not everyone uses it.
RT Client
I guess I am still abit in
I guess I am still abit in the dark on this one.
Using the RT Client
yes, I use the real-time client. I'm really surprised more people don't - it automates so much of the process it makes it a no-brainer. It's that type of functionality that I think would be great to be built in to the game.
Of course, even without the RT Client, the PBW website is a fantastic way to help automate everything.
Try it!
The just go to the website at http://www.pbw.cc and read up on it and give it a try for your next SEIV game.
http://se5a.spaceempires.net/
http://se5a.spaceempires.net/PBFTP.py
that's a WIP alpha version of a little Play By FTP cliant I'm working on. it's most usefull for the host.
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an se5a is a ww1 fighter, it is also a car.
AFAIK there won't even *be*
AFAIK there won't even *be* a PBW for SEV for a while. The coders have to catch up with the changed features. :/