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treespider -> RE: Taking a break... (9/30/2005 11:31:41 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Feinder
Tell you what...
As a software developer myself (14 years, BS CIS), I'm stongly considering going back to school, and getting a Masters in something completely differnt.
I don't think folks realize just how complex software has become. The myrrid number of OS (un)compatabilities, driver issues, internet considerations...
It's NOT easy. I would be the first to complain that a "stand alone" game, without 2 player or internet should be bug-free. But it's not that easy (for the reasons listed above). Your code can be rock-solid on one system, then have some quirk of memory addressing on a driver somebody's video card, and wham, you get flooded with complaints that the software is crap (when it fact it's a driver compatability issue, something you have no control over).
Don't get me wrong. I get frustrated as much the rest of everyone. And as a developer myself, I can see some glaring errors where I can see what was done, and I just wonder why.
But I am saying that there a LOT of things that can contribute to something like the sync isssue. It's one of those things where reach half way to the goal (of fixing it) every time. With each patch, you get closer, but you never quash all of problems.
If you can't get -any- games to sync up, then yes, you're screwed. But for the occasional "speed bump" of 2 - 3 turns where they're similar but not the same, the best thing you can do is to have the Japanese player send the combat.txt file with the 001.
And by the way, an "un-sync'd" turn does have some advantages. In case you haven't noticed, all of the events are -potentially- real. As in, if your ASW group finds and kills a sub that is not on the actual replay, that sub REALLY IS in that location. Consider it useful Sigint info, and payback for not seeing the critical hits and ground odds from the combat.txt that your Japanese opponent (should) send you.
-F-
FYI...it wasn't the sync issue that killed my enthusiasm. The sync issue can be gotten around IRC just by turning off the animations...it just started the downward spiral...Take the sync issue...
Couple that with the Cargo Task Force I create in Saigon on turn one with orders to load Resources and travel to Sasebo.. turn 2 still loading, turn 3 unloading, reset orders, turn 4 loading, turn 5 unloading, reset orders turn 6 loading , turn 7 unloading, disband the task force and form a new one that finally loads and starts on its way ....
Couple that with the 55th division who had four days head start on the 3rd Mountain Artillery out of Bangkok and ended up 12 miles behind the artillery on the trail to Moulmein because its movement got reset because of an airstrike...
But what really killed the game for me was the vanishing 65th Bde. Not just the first time but the second time. I could even accept the fact that the main unit being highly fatigued just gave up the ghost and melted away...what I could not accept was when the fragment which had become the parent also disappeared two turns later.
As I stated earlier I think I'm going to give up computer games altogether. My neighbor has already done so for the same reason. I have yet to come across a computer game without serious bugs. I understand your concerns about compatibility issues between computers, its that very issue that has probably driven me back to paper and cardboard although who I'll find that has the time escapes me...
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