Solo or MP?

[Jack Nastyface]

As Toonces The Wise alluded to...MP-ing works best when the game format, the on-line or MP opponent, and mutually recognized goals all fall into alignment.

SOME FPS games absolutely beg to be played in MP format - Red Orchestra and mods, America's Army, and the "old" Day of Defeat are some titles that immediately come to mind.  The trick here is to find a game / server where most (if not all) gamers are "like minded".  I've played some amazing games where everyone is "mission focused", but I've also played some games where just 1 or 2 TK-ing fookers or 2 or 3 campers can wreck the whole game.

But not all FPS games work that way.  The run-and-gun-and-power-up-and-bunny-hop genre never held my attention, and I never cared for Mechwarrrior "capture the flag" games where everyone loaded up with the biggest mechs they could and just blasted away at everything that moved.  In fact, of the many CTF games I played of MW, I recall MAYBE one or two games where someone won by actually "capturing the flag".

Similarily, I've played RTS MP games where there was excellent gameplay and camaraderie, and others where it was much less so.  Back in the Close Combat 3 days, I had some great head-to-head games where good tactics were mutually applauded.  On the other hand, I've played a few CMAK games where my opponent's idea of a great game was to load up on German armor and wait in defense.  It was okay for one or two games, but after that, it was deja vu, all over again.

My best MP experiences have been via PBEM, so long as you set the expectation early and continue communication throughout.  If I'm taking off for the weekend then I'm taking off for the weekend and please don't expect a "move" on Sat and Sun.  A little polite chatter via the game or email is nice, too...but trash talk is really not necessary.

As for flight-sims?  I loved playing IL-2 on-line, but I was always out-classed by the guys who a) had really good joystick, etc hardware and b) spent hours on-line playing.  It's a tough line to walk because I have no time for arcade sims (which is what I am expecting from World of Planes) but I also don't have the mojo for the hi-fi sims, either.

Yours in mostly solo gaming,

Jack Nastyface

[Father Ted]

As for flight-sims?  I loved playing IL-2 on-line, but I was always out-classed by the guys who a) had really good joystick, etc hardware and b) spent hours on-line playing.  It's a tough line to walk because I have no time for arcade sims (which is what I am expecting from World of Planes) but I also don't have the mojo for the hi-fi sims, either.

Jack Nastyface

I think flightsims are a special casein video gaming.  I think there is a real discrepancy (over and above hardware ownership) between those who can play and the rest.  I've played a few sports IRL and I've found that there are those who just have it and those that don't.  Those that don't can work to get up to the level of the talented few, but it'll be a hard road.

What interests me with combat flightsims is that there are people who seem to have it, which makes it a skill-based "sport" as opposed to just a video game.

[Rekim]

Playing wargames face to face, especially with friends, would easily rank as my all time favorite hobby. Unfortunately, for all my passion, and not too shabby of a wargame collection, I have a heck of a time ever making it happen. I'd have to say that the lengthy play time of your average wargame is the biggest stumbling block. Personally, I have no issues with starting a game with the expectation of it taking more than one session to complete. Most of my opponents are not as keen to start something that can't be finished in a single sitting. And even when they are open to a multi session game it isn't always convenient. Just last weekend for example I started a game on Axis & Allies 1940 Europe (technically only half of the A&A 1940 game...and a Milton Bradley title at that!) and after a full day of play we were about half way into it. While we were both interested in finishing it another day there just isn't enough brownie points in the world for me to rent the dining room table for week+, so we had to resort to taking a dozen or so pictures of the board setup before we packed up...which I'm almost certain will not have caught enough details for us to be able to reconstruct.

I love MP...but fly solo most of the time out of necessity. Guess I should think more seriously about PBEM or Vassal as I'm sure I'd get better results.

[MarkShot]

Good flight simming can be taught. I've done it.

[GJK]

My dreams came true when I recently was awarded primary custodial care of my 13yr old son who enjoys wargaming!  We moved into a townhome together and half of the livingroom is taken up with a couple of game tables.  Up Front, ASL, Co-op Ambush, Ukraine'44 were the most recently played.  We also have LAN'd our computers so we've gotten in some Combat Mission but expect to play others if we tire of boardgaming (never!).  What's even better is that he beats me almost every time in Up Front, so that encourages me to play better; yet I've owned him in ASL thus far (I can see that changing someday soon).  We hope to get Day of Heroes on the table if I can ever figure out those rules that throw me for a loop for some reason.

[Trooperc7]

When playing computer games solo, you may think the game is just ok. But when playing against people, the same game truly shines and you realize that this is what was intended to get  the full spectrum of the game... I play both ways, but find multi player a lot more fun....

[Father Ted]

Good flight simming can be taught. I've done it.

Yes, but could you always do it? My point is that there is a degree of hand-eye coordination and spatial-awareness required in these games which exceeds all others.  I'm a better "pilot" now than I was when I started, but I can see that that I won't ever be able to match the guys who can really do it.  To my mind this is a positive thing as it marks the game out as something genuine.

[Staggerwing]

My dreams came true when I recently was awarded primary custodial care of my 13yr old son who enjoys wargaming! 

Congratulations, Gary! Two years ago I was fortunate enough to have my two sons come into my full time care as well. I know how happy you must be right now!

[jomni]

I like PBEM because it does not interfere with my regular gaming. 
Another solution is to have several PBEM games going on at the same time.  You will soon realize that it get's quite busy at times and won't be boring.
Finally, pick an opponent who can at least reply once a day.  The Blitz.org community has pretty consistent PBEMers.

[MarkShot]

Good flight simming can be taught. I've done it.

Yes, but could you always do it? My point is that there is a degree of hand-eye coordination and spatial-awareness required in these games which exceeds all others.  I'm a better "pilot" now than I was when I started, but I can see that that I won't ever be able to match the guys who can really do it.  To my mind this is a positive thing as it marks the game out as something genuine.

There was a lot of concepts that went into good air combat. I was older and didn't have the reflexes of the younger guys. But I never put on good air shows. But I understood energy fighting. Every maneuver I made was about efficiency and gaining E while my opponent lost it relative to me. Finally, when the time was right I would cash in E for the kill.

So, I taught E fighting. Also, I taught the psychology of dog fighting how to vulnerable when you weren't really, while given you opponent rope to hang themselves.

Finally, I taught progressive techniques. Meaning one slick move was not needed. Instead repeated moves executed slightly better would accumulate an advantage. A large number of my students went on to the top of competition ladders.

It wasn't about being a natural. I am very analytical and I believe reviewing one's performance, breaking down the process of what worked, tweaking it, and testing it in the cauldron of combat.

This approach can be applied to all human competition which isn't purely luck based. It's our brains that make us winner. Only Olympic athletes and pro sports players are dependent on perfect bodies and conditioning. Not PC war gamers.

[MetalDog]

That's fascinating, MarkShot.  Have you taught any other games?

[W8taminute]

I love what you're saying Markshot.  Energy is key in dogfighting.  I found this air guide playing Battlefield Heroes to be especially good.  Read his first 4 posts, good stuff!

http://www.battlefieldheroes.com/en/forum/showthread.php?tid=30176

[Nefaro]

Energy is key in dogfighting.

That's the heart of it.

And not screwing up. 

It definitely takes training & practice but most people can learn that stuff given time.  The biggest problem practicing it in video games is primarily the spatial awareness part.  That's why so many dedicated simmers get TrackIR so they can (somewhat) keep their head on a swivel and easily keep an eye on everything going on about them.  Having to rely on key/button commands to move your view around, in a sim dogfight situation, is the biggest hurdle to deal with and the spatial awareness that provides is essential. 

Most cut the spacial awareness-interface corner by having a 'Snap view' key where you can quickly snap your view to your selected target and some basic directional views linked to the Numpad on the keyboard and the Joystick Hat.  The Snap view is the biggest help, but it only lets you look at one selected aircraft.  The JoyHat/Num views are a big pain in the ass because it doesn't feel natural in combination with your joystick handling and your flight maneuvering suffers while you're looking around (although the snap-to-target view isn't so bad since it's typically more orientation friendly when stick-pulling).

I haven't invested in a TrackIR system as I don't play flight sims too terribly often anymore, and the same money can buy MOAR GAMES instead.  :)  Another annoying limitation is nice smooth rudder controls, but I'll save that bitchin' for another day.  ;)  I'm not a pro and I don't flight sim all that often, but I do enjoy learning the ins & outs.

[JudgeDredd]

I've bought 2 TrackIR 4s. The first time I just couldn't get used to it and sold it on eBay.

Second time I convinced myself I hadn't given it a fair chance...so many people raved about it...and so bought another one. Ended up selling that cheap too.

I just could not get it setup so it was sensitive enough to movement to make it useful but be less sensitive when activating buttons in the cockpit.

If I could look around with ease without moving my head too much, I could never keep it still enough to activate cockpit buttons and if I made it stable enough to activate cockpit buttons, it required too much in the way of real head movement when looking about.

Both times I wasted my money.

[Huw the Poo]

Yeah, I can't imagine I'd ever like the TrackIR either.  I've never been tempted to get one.

I'd love to have one of the more expensive stick/throttle setups though.