Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!att!cbnewsl!conty
From: conty@cbnewsl.att.com (The Conty)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Looking for Comments/Suggestions for Spaceward Ho! Version 2.0
Message-ID: <1991May31.143519.14309@cbnewsl.att.com>
Date: 31 May 91 14:35:19 GMT
References: <1991May30.185345.10261@neon.Stanford.EDU>
Organization: The Event Horizon
Lines: 58

In article <1991May30.185345.10261@neon.Stanford.EDU>, commons@Sunburn.Stanford.EDU (Peter Commons) writes:
> I am about to begin work on a new version of Spaceward Ho! (version 2.0 or
> something like that). Goals include (1) speeding up net play, (2) decreasing
> galaxy file sizes, (3) improving computer intelligence (especially end play),
> and (4) making battle reports more interesting and helpful, among others.

I especially like item 2.  As I don't have access to a network, I can only play
a multiuser game by the disk-swapping method.  Related item:  did anyone
volunteer to write the modem play code?  :-)

> First, before you hit that "R": read on. 
> 1. Be brief. 
> 2. Don't reply to me; post to the newsgroup.
> 3. Before you send a suggestion, read all the remaining articles to make sure
>    your suggestion hasn't already been made. I'm looking for ideas and am not
>    asking for votes.

Sorta like a user brainstorming session?  I like it!!!

> Things I'm curious to hear about (but please don't limit yourself to these):
> 
> 2. Message Passing. Do you want to send messages to other players? If so,
>    what do you want to send? And how would you do it?

Someone already made the perfect suggestion.  Select a destination, and type
the message in a dialog box.  Messages are sent at the end of the turn.

> 3. Battles. Does it make sense that every battle is fought to the death?

No.  Unless it is one of those "you were destroyed before you could gather
any info" kind of events.  The poor chumps were so surprised they never knew
what hit them.

>	 Would
>    you like to retreat, fuel remaining?

YES!!!  If you want, you can add some penalty to the "emergency retreat"
option (possible navigation errors, ships lost, or extra fuel expended, take
your pick).

>    What would you like in a battle 
>    summary?

I don't use them.  I watch the battles for the info.
You could include a list of the ships encountered (not an enumeration, just
type and quantity).  For example, say you found two 12/10 sats, four 5/4
fighters, and one 2/2 colony ship.

>    What would make a battle more fun to watch?

Fun?  Ship animations when firing weapons.  Or show reduced icons of all
the ships in the battles, with icons dissapearing as ships go up in flames.

More ideas later...
-- 
			    E n r i q u e  C o n t y
			  The Amazing Man-With-No-Life
			      jester@ihlpl.att.com