Activity indicator

miyo · Post by **miyo** » October 29th, 2003, 9:20 pm

There could be item on-screen/panel colored with player color which blinks/alters color/rotates/anything when player in turn is moving mouse (or alternatively: moving unit, selecting unit, viewing enemy unit or any non-mutation "action"). At least in multiplayer it would tell other players that there is activity.

Maybe we could have items on-screen/panel for all players... so you could see activity for all not just the active player.

Indicators for AI also?

- Miyo

jzaun · Post by **jzaun** » October 29th, 2003, 11:02 pm

in game I think that would be an overkill, the AI is quite speedy, in multi-player I think it would be great to have just an icon with the current players username under it. The icon would be either a mouse, keyboard, or game pice to indicate what they are doing.

Post by **Dave** » October 29th, 2003, 11:33 pm

Do keep in mind that showing indicators like this would take up more bandwidth.

Showing username is fine. In RC4, the "Turn: x/x" display is the colour of the player whose move it is currently, but something more obvious than this could be good.

David

jzaun · Post by **jzaun** » October 29th, 2003, 11:38 pm

True it would take bandwith, and I havent really looked at the protocol, but it would just be:
type=on/off
mouse=on/off
move=on/off
right?

Post by **Dave** » October 30th, 2003, 9:23 am

Yes...how much bandwidth would depend on how often the messages are sent

I suggest maybe just sending a single message, when the user either clicks off 'it is now your turn dialog', or when they make their first mouse click or key press(if 'it is now your turn dialog' is disabled). Once this message goes through, a little icon will show they have actually started doing their turn.

Perhaps if they are idle (no mouse motion or click or keypress events) for a certain amount of time (3 minutes?) another message should be sent saying they are idling, and the icon would disappear.

Also, it might be nice to have an option to put a time limit on turns.

David

Sithrandel · Post by **Sithrandel** » October 30th, 2003, 10:09 am

For what it is worth my vote is for Dave's latest version. I do believe that a turn-based strategy shouldn't eat unnecessary bandwith. Still, it is useful to tell if someone else hasn't started their turn or is concentrating furiously

Needing to know their every move or click is a little overkill and (as someone still on a 56k modem when at home) I like to keep bandwith small.

Post by **Dave** » October 30th, 2003, 10:12 am

Just for interest, Microsoft has a patent on the instant messenger equivalent of this feature. See http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/0,3902 ... 985,00.htm

David

BrassJ · Post by **BrassJ** » October 30th, 2003, 2:31 pm

Dave wrote:Just for interest, Microsoft has a patent on the instant messenger equivalent of this feature. See http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/0,3902 ... 985,00.htm

David

ugh!