Cryptomancer

Reply to No on online? in Sins Multiplayer Sins Forums

In the evening (Eastern USA/Canada time), I have never seen less than 300 people listed in the lobbies. The problem, for me, was more that a lot of them seemed too shy to host new games -- especially games explicitly for newbies. My guess is that since the game has been released less than 2 weeks ago, most people [I]are[/I] newbies -- especially when it comes to on-line MP (which is my case). One type of solution is to try to connect with (apparently) trustworthy forum

Reply to Chinese translation for Sins in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

[B]hell yes[/B]. I [I]do[/I] hope that Ironclad and Stardock will tap the lucrative East-Asian markets : More game units sold >> More profits >> More investments in future [I]Sins[/I] projects. Thus, even us North Americans gamers would benefit from expanded sales in the Asian markets. "Elementary, my dear Watson."

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

Thanks a lot, [B]kryo[/B] ! I am surprised and impressed that you even take the time to read and to reply concerning what is posted on a very minor thread, related to a tiny group of users who are engaged into ICO matchmaking. Your recommendation should be included in our game setup discussions : Do the participants all agree that when a fellow team8 gets disconnected, a return to ICO should be then executed to attempt to reload the saved game ? My reservation

Reply to Request for a speed higher then "High" in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

I don't mind. Even though I am more of a slow-pace, single-player [B]Empire Builder [/B](because of my long past as a 4X/TBS games player -- such as in the [I]MoO[/I] and [I]GalCiv[/I] series), I have no reason to object that other gamers might prefer a fast-pace, multiplayer [B]Wargame [/B]. If they can add a "very fast" and an "ultra-fast" speeds, I don't mind. But perhaps, then, this technical problem might arise : if the on-line MP participants don't all have fast

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

@ [B]El Tea [/B]: 1a. Me too : I'm much better at TBS games (especially [I]Heroes of Might and Magic[/I]). 1b. No problem. Believe me : Pogue and I are not the best of newbie players. (I hope that Pogue does not resent that I put him in the same bag as me.) 2. No Teamspeak. The in-game text-chat (press Enter) is sufficient when playing against comps. 3. According to the excellent host, Pogue Mahone, the game should start some time after 8 pm (Eastern USA time

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

If Bhruic is not in (:( , Pogue, I change my mind on the level of difficulty of the comps : « normal » would then be more suitable. Even then, without Bhruic, it won't be a cake-walk. So, as it is now (Friday morning), we have 2 certain players (Pogue and me). TO ANY WHO WOULD WANT TO JOIN US TONIGHT : 1. You must be aware that the host (Pogue Mahone) and me are real n00bs. We welcome a more skilled team8 (as it was the case with Bhruic), but he will then hav

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

[quote] As far as your suggested setting are concerned, my only difference would be to stick with the 3 star format. 4 human and 4 AI players on just one star would be too crowded I think. Maybe if there is a 2 star option I could go for that. I should be home before 6 on Friday. I'll try for an 8:00 start if it is more convenient, but I'm not making any promises. There is a possibility that real life may intrude upon my plans but I'm not sure yet. [/quote] I would prefer 1 st

Reply to Should I get SINS? in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

[quote] Stop asking stupid questions like "Should I get this game" on the game's forum (like we're an unbiased audience...) and read about the game and make up your own mind. My favourite so far [/quote] NOT my favourite : any post that includes the word "stupid" to qualify ano

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

Well, [I]SeiraBlack[/I], I can declare with emphasis that [B]Pogue Malone[/B], [B]Bhruic[/B], and [B]CyberMage[/B] are extremely trustworthy team8s. We three have recently played one game in three phases : 3½ hours Sunday evening (08:45 pm until 00:15 am) + 3¾ hours Monday evening (08:15 pm until 00:00 am) + 1 hour Tuesday evening (06:30 to 07:30 -- to finish that three-day game). Pogue was the host, and the net connection was lag-free and crash-free. Bhruic was, by fa

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

[quote] That's why I said I'd host my next game on Friday. [/quote] If it's not a FFA, I might be interested. I'll state my game setup preferences, but you may (of course) do whatever you (and other participants) wish : 1. Team of Humans vs. team of "hard" comps (yes : hard -- since we humans can plot and help each other in a more organized way [I prefer to lose with a challenge than to win too easily !]) 2. All players in the same Star System (I did not enjoy, last ga

Reply to Sins Game Review Thread in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

I just found this, and since I did not see it on this thread, I am posting the reference. The OP could integrate it in his own format : Reviewer : James Allen Website : Out of Eight PC Game Reviews DATE : 11 February 2008 SCORE : [B]8 / 8[/B] Link : [link="http://jaguarusf.blogspot.com/2008/02/sins-of-solar-empire-review.html"]Out of Eight[/link]

Reply to Dropping games over and over in Sins Multiplayer Sins Forums

I just wanted to give out, as we say here in Quebec, [I]un autre son de cloche[/I]. Of course, I cannot generalize from my limited experience : my particular home-connection download interaction with SDC (at 750 kb to 825 kb/sec.) remains only a particular case. I have no idea whatsoever what the situation is with other StarDock Central users. In my case, what is fantastic is the consistently fast and stable quality of the SDC downloading process. Mind you, I also get those hi

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

[quote] This happened to me last night, playing my first MP game [...The game] went for around 4 hours [...My girlfriend] said not to make a habit of it. [/quote] All of us who live full-time with wives or girlfriends (and those who [I]must[/I] date their love-interest almost every evening) dispose of very little time to practice at RTS games in any regular and serious fashion. Some part of me would really like to become a competent MP gamer at [I]StarCraft[/I], [I]WarCraft II

Reply to Video Driver Issue causing hangs and bluescreen in Technical Sins Forums

[quote] Actually I experience identical issues not only in Sins of a Solar Empire, but also in Crysis and Call of Duty 4 on my 8600 gt on XP SP2 with the [B]169.21[/B] drivers. [/quote] Like you, I have the XP/SP2 OS. I recently updated my nVidia drivers from 162.18 (June 2007) to [B]169.21[/B](December 2007). Zero problem. I very recently played 8 hours on ICO without any glitch. Since I merely have a 6800 videocard, I turned off AA : all other visual settings are at

Reply to Dropping games over and over in Sins Multiplayer Sins Forums

[quote] I installed my copy from a downloaded version mounted with alcohol because I can download 750k a second as opposed to stardocks really crappy 25-50k a second... (which seriously, if you're going to run a download games online business you need to speed that up.. it's a big reason why I never buy games on there... [/quote] As a loyal customer of Stardock for many years, and as one who has purchased a lot of its games, I feel that I must intervene : I have a very reliable

Reply to The AI is cheating!! in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

[quote] I don't like how the AI continually will band together in 3 or 4 on 1 against me, but never goes after each other. I've yet to see an AI player eliminated by anyone but me. [/quote] Did you try "locked teams" + one A.I. per separate team in the game setup ?

Reply to The AI is cheating!! in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

[quote] [Craig Fraser, Ironclad Games :] « The AI doesn't cheat. We considered cheating, but decided not to go that route. » [/quote] You've just (officially) answered a question I was recently asking on another thread. If you are stating that, I must then conclude that the comps receive no bonuses : no free resources, no free buildings, no free ships, no free upgrades, no free research, etc. On the other thread, people were asking why the after-action-report

Reply to Jerks in Sins Multiplayer Sins Forums

[quote] Another thing is that I play online games with my brother a lot and he's right in the next room so I can just talk to him and not bother anyone else in game. Its also perfect for setting up secret ambushes against other players. At times we'd go into games and act like we're total strangers, then as soon as someone tries to mess with one of us the other would just come in and blow the crap out of them. Gotta love family. lol. [/quote] I was very wary of playing PvP, RTS games on

Reply to For 1.03 - join game in progress in Sins Multiplayer Sins Forums

Eventual patch(es) should allow more flexibility : 1. If an on-going game contains an A.I. player, but only if the host has allowed it (as a game setup option), a human player should be able to take the A.I.'s place ; 2. If a human player voluntarily or involuntarily leaves a game, but only if the host has allowed it (as a game setup option), an A.I. player should take his place. If you combine 2 + 1, what you have suggested could also be possible. I am very much in fa

Reply to Sins of a Solar Empire Technical FAQ in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

To the 2 previous posters : contact [B][email protected][/B]

Reply to Some AI aren't using thier resources in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

EDIT. P.S. > Well, on the "The AI is cheating!!" thread, Craig Fraser of Ironclad, has stated that the A.I. does not cheat. I am very surprised, and sorry to add : skeptical. Reference : [link="https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?forumid=402&aid=177587#1464002"] The AI is cheating!![/link]

Reply to Some AI aren't using thier resources in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

In many games, the A.I. comps (usually beyond the easiest levels) get "cheat" privileges from the game designers : such as free resources, free buildings, free military units. I do not know in what precise measure that is the case with [I]Sins[/I]. Let's suppose, for example, that the comps get free ships at a regular interval. They would not, then, have to spend resources to obtain them, and that would affect the graphs. A stable graph might not necessarily mean that

Reply to 1UP REVIEW SCORE CHANGED?? 8.5 to 8.0 in Sins of a Solar Empire Sins Forums

[quote] [B]asically there's a bunch of users who are tanking the user rating for the game there. [/quote] The same dirty tactic is used on Gamespot : some nasty users post very unfair, very low scores (and sometimes, insulting pseudo-reviews) just to "tank" a game they hate (for very childish motives). When I see that happening, I post a 10 on 10 score to compensate. Patiently reading the intelligent user-reviews, on Gamespot, is more instructive. Patiently re

Reply to Newbie game at 8:30pm eastern time Feb 10, 08 in Multiplayer Organizer Sins Forums

@ [B]Bhruic[/B] > [I] One can easily pass through (or on the periphery of) a gravity well to jump towards a more juicy planet. [/I] (The pirates do that, with no or few losses, when they have to reach their intended bounty-target.) Then : 1a. Won't the A.I. fleet bypass your well defended chokepoint-planet to flank it towards your rears, where your defenses might be weaker ? (For example, with a siege-frigate spam, to go bombard a core planet.) 1b-i. If the A.I. doesn'

Reply to multiplayer crash in Technical Sins Forums

We played a 3 humans vs. 3 comps newbie-game for 3½ hours, Sunday evening, on ICO : no lag, no crash, absolutely no problem. The host saved the game. We continued the game on Monday evening for 3¾ hours : no lag, no crash, absolutely no problem. The host saved the game. We finished the game on Tuesday, early evening, in about 1 hour : no lag, no crash, absolutely no problem. The 3 players owned 3 very different types of computers. You have a certain type of c