PBEM Problems Part II

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> Tech Support >> PBEM Problems Part II

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PBEM Problems Part II - 8/10/2002 9:54:25 PM

Toast Master

Posts: 32
Joined: 5/17/2002
From: Belcamp, Maryland
Status: offline

I'm not sure if this is sufficiently different from another thread dealing with PBEM problems, but . . .

I'm currently playing simultaneous games against Spooky and Little Jack. In both games, I am the Japanese player in scenario 17. I started the game against Spooky first and noticed no problems until I began the game against Little Jack. On two occassions, Spooky received reports of combat that apparently did not occur (airstrikes of mine that had been canceled by weather and attacks against subs that were not reported to me). I chalked this up to the fog of war bug discussed in the other PBEM problem thread.

However, I also noticed a strange problem with some LR CAP assignments. In the game against Spooky, I had assigned a carrier based squadron to cover task force 8 near Lunga. The carrier task force was only two hexes away from the covered task force. When I checked the squadron the next turn, the range to target indicator said 60 hexes! :eek: Out of curiousity, I checked task force 8 in the game against Little Jack and it was between Rabaul and Truk, about 60 hexes away from where the carrier task force was in Spooky's game! Strange coincidence! I tested this again the next turn and the same thing happened (only now the range was only 55 hexes as the task force in the game against Little Jack had been approaching Rabaul).

It appears as though the games are being intermingled. How can this happen? I've been very careful to double check that I am sending the correct files, so I don't think I made a mistake and sent the wrong saved game to a player. I suspect that since the same combat replay file (save001.dat) is sent back to me by both players the problem may lie here.

I plan on playing against just one player at a time to see if the problem ceases. In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions?

Post #: 1

Ehm... - 8/10/2002 10:35:34 PM

Oleg Mastruko

Posts: 4921
Joined: 10/21/2000
Status: offline

Ummm, maybe you'll have one of those silly-me slap on the forehead moments, but here's the most probable explanation...

Combat reports (CR) overwrite one another, as there is only one slot for CRs - slot 001.

So if you play multiple games as Japanese (as I do, and Little Jack is one of my opponents too - it's a small world :) ) and if you play turns with both opponents one after another, you have to take good care to "isolate" (copy to a safe place for sending later) Combat report after first played turn, as it's going to be overwritten by your other game.

If you don't pay attention you're going to send the same replay to both of your Allied opponents (not that those pesky allies deserve anything better - it's a good deceiving move :) )

PBEM interface is really one aspect of the game that Matrix should have done much MUCH **MUCH** better. I mean how hard it is for a modern game to have a decent interface for PBEM? Few buttons here and there, few slots for saving games, perhaps the algorythm for automatic compression of turns... etc. We have games with 3D graphics that look like a million dollars, and mega-complex algorythms etc. but developers seem to be unable to produce a game with decent PBEM interface!

O.

(in reply to Toast Master)

Post #: 2

- 8/11/2002 9:54:45 AM

Toast Master

Posts: 32
Joined: 5/17/2002
From: Belcamp, Maryland
Status: offline

I'm not sure I follow you. Suppose I'm playing against two players, A and B. I send turn 1 to player A and the same turn 1 to player B. Player A sends back his turn 1. I unzip the file and save it in the saved game slot (say slot 15) by dragging it into the "Save" folder in the UV program folder. I open slot 15 from the saved game menu and initiate the orders execution phase. I watch the various phases of the turn cycle and enter my orders for turn 2. I end the orders phase and save the game in slot 15 again. I zip the replay file from slot 1 and the saved game file from slot 15 and send it off to player 1. Player B sends his turn 1 and I repeat the process exactly, but use a different saved game slot (something other than slot 15, say slot 25).

The replay is being generated immediately after the new game turn is received from the Allied player. Then my orders are entered and the turn/replay pair is mailed to the Allied player. Therefore, as long as I complete the process completely with one player before moving on to the other player's still zipped game turn waiting in my email inbox, there shouldn't be a problem. I suppose if I were to unzip both and execute both before mailing my next turns, then the player whose turn was executed first would be getting the other player's replay.

As far as I know, I have not done this. I went from the zipped game file in my opponent's email completely through the process of mailing off my next turn and the combat replay before moving to the emailed turn received from the other player.

I believe the problem is more likely to originate from an Allied player playing multiple games at the same time. If this player is receiving several save001.dat (replay) files from several different players and not saving the proper replay file prior to executing the game turn, then you've got problems! (Joe's replay was associated with Phil's saved game. Oops!). This might not be readily noticed, especially if the player is playing the same scenario and started the games from the same side at about the same time.

I think I'm going to try a little experiment with Little Jack and Spooky (sorry to use you guys as (New) Guinea Pigs :D). I'll try playing against just one at any one time and asking that they try to avoid playing against another player during that time period. Then the games will take place "in isolation" and if the problems are no longer apparent, then we may have identified the source of the problem.

If the problems are still there? :confused:

P.S. In future posts I'll try to avoid the lame puns. :)

(in reply to Toast Master)

Post #: 3

- 8/11/2002 10:31:36 PM

macnab

Posts: 75
Joined: 12/27/2000
From: uk
Status: offline

i to am playing two player`s and the pbem spoil`s the game,essentionally the replay mess up ,i would think like you that they would address this ,as it`s one of the prime bit`s of buying the game ,but according to an earlier thread by one of the developer`s ,i quote that to much time had been put to trying to find this bug ,and it wasnt bieng pursuded any futher , not a very good attitude to take toward you now and future customer`s ? please try to sort it

(in reply to Toast Master)

Post #: 4

hmmm.. - 8/11/2002 10:46:24 PM

Oleg Mastruko

Posts: 4921
Joined: 10/21/2000
Status: offline

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Toast Master
[B]
I believe the problem is more likely to originate from an Allied player playing multiple games at the same time. If this player is receiving several save001.dat (replay) files from several different players and not saving the proper replay file prior to executing the game turn, then you've got problems! (Joe's replay was associated with Phil's saved game. Oops!). This might not be readily noticed, especially if the player is playing the same scenario and started the games from the same side at about the same time. [/B][/QUOTE]

I followed you up to cca half of your post, and everything seemed OK.

But in the above paragraph you say problems originate at allied side. If allied player is doing what you describe (ie. receiving several save001.dat (replay) files from several different players and not saving the proper replay file prior to executing the game turn) then HE (the allied player) is the one with problems, not you. He is having messed up replays, but - aside from him being confused - he cannot really mess up any of his games in REAL play (only in replays, and that's his problem).

Being Jap player in both of your games, I don't see how this can affect you, as Replays are generated at your side anyway?

To clarify further:
1. Regardless of who "messes up" the replays (you, while sending, or allied players while receiving) - it's the ALLIED player who's to be confused, not you.

2. Again - regardless of who messes up, and regardless of who's confused or not, both games thould not have ANY influence on one another.

Hey, maybe the problem is even more trivial than this. Maybe the allied player simply forgot which slot is the one for you and saved his game in different slot, adding to the confusion?

I'd like to reiterate my point from the first post - PBEM interface in this game is APALLING, constantly forcing players to think of trivialities such as described here, and what's even worse is that other games (from other developers) are no better. How hard it is to program a decent PBEM interface anyway?!?

O.

(in reply to Toast Master)

Post #: 5

- 8/12/2002 3:27:48 AM

XPav

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: Northern California
Status: offline

Agreed.

The PBEM and entire save interface needs work. What's with these slots anyway? Who cares? List all the .dat files in the directory, let me name them whatever I want.

Heck, use the standard windows file box, that way someone can have subdirectories.

_____________________________

I love it when a plan comes together.

(in reply to Toast Master)

Post #: 6

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> Tech Support >> PBEM Problems Part II

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