Game Setup - Mechanics Window

Description

| This window allows you to configure how this game will be played out. |

Controls

| Play Style | This selection determines whether this will be a "Hotseat" or "Different Machines" game. When playing hotseat, all players play on the same machine. When playing on different machines, each of the players is on a different computer, possibly in a different location. The game files will need to be transferred between these machines as the game progresses.
| Turn Style | This selection determines how each turn will be played out. There are two options for game play, Turn Based Movement and Simultaneous Movement. Turn Based Movement is the most common type of turn based game where each player takes their turn moving their ships. When a player completes their turn, the next player can begin. If players are located on different machines, then when each player completes their turn, the game will be saved. This savegame file will need to be sent to the next player so that they can play their turn, and then send the savegame on again.

Simultaneous Movement games are when all of the players of the game take their turn at the same time. This is most advantageous for multiplayer games so that each player can take their turn without having to wait for the previous player. During a simultaneous movement turn, ships do not move immediately. Players are merely giving their orders to their ships. When all players complete their turn, the Host (the person who created the game and runs it) will then process the turns which is when the orders for the ships are actually executed.

In a game on different machines, players will play their turn and then a player file will be generated. This file will be sent in to the Host, where with all of the others, it will be processed to execute the ship orders. When the Host completes execution, a new savegame file will be generated which is then sent to each of the players for them to begin their next turn.

| Multiplayer Game Filename | If the Play Style for this game is "Different Machines", then a multiplayer game filename will need to be entered. This is basically the filename that you want to use for this game. When a turn is completed, this name will be used to save the game to.
| Save Game Directory Path | This field allows you to enter a location to save games to. This is useful if you are playing a game over a LAN and want to specify a common location on the network for all players to save their games to.
| Autosave Frequency | This option allows you to automatically save the game after so many turns. The save will take place silently in the background after you end your turn. When you want to load an autosave game, look in the Load Game Window for files titled AutoSav0 - AutoSave9.
| Connection Type | This option is only available if the current Play Style selection is "Different Machines" and the Turn Style selection is "Simultaneous Movement". When it is enabled, the three choices are as follows:
|  | "Manual File Moving" - The game that is setup will have the order files moved by the players themselves (much as it is described in Simultaneous Games).
|  | "TCP/IP Host" - This selection indicates that the game will be played via the TCP/IP protocol over the internet (or an intranet). The current machine will be designated as the "Host" of the game and will be responisble for setting the game up. The Host should fill out all of the Game Setup windows as they want the game to be played. The only thing which does not need to be done is that no players need be entered into the Players in GameList on the Game Setup - Players Window. These players will be added automatically when they connect in to the host. When the host is ready, they should press the Begin Game button and the TCP/IP Host window will be displayed.
|  | "TCP/IP Player " - This selection indicates that the game will be played via the TCP/IP protocol over the internet (or an intranet). The current machine will be designated as one of the "Player"'s of the game. The Player does not need to fill out any of the information on the Game Setup windows as only the Host of the game can make these settings. When the Player is ready, they should press the Begin Game button and the TCP/IP Player window will be displayed.

Buttons

| Quadrant | Displays the Game Setup - Quadrant Window.
| Events | Displays the Game Setup - Events Window.
| Technology | Displays the Game Setup - Technology Window.
| Player Settings | Displays the Game Setup - Player Settings Window.
| Players | Displays the Game Setup - Players Window.
| Victory Conditions | Displays the Game Setup - Victory Conditions Window.
| Game Settings | Displays the Game Setup - Game Settings Window.
| Mechanics | Displays the Game Setup - Mechanics Window.
| Begin Game | Starts the game.
| Cancel | Cancels the new game and returns you to the Intro Window.

Special Notes

| None |

Related Areas

| Intro Window , Game Setup - Quadrant Window, Game Setup - Events Window, Game Setup - Technology Window, Game Setup - Player Settings Window, Game Setup - Players Window, Game Setup - Victory Conditions Window, Game Setup - Game Settings Window, Game Setup - Mechanics Window |