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markusf
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Want to make a poll about windowed vs non windowed mode in civ3? I think everyone will be suprised by the results, can you ask the following questions in the poll?
1. I Would like windowed mode/I play single player
2. I Don't want windowed mode/I play single player
3. I Would like windowed mode/I play multiplayer
4. I Don't want windowed mode/I play multiplayer
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sounds good. any comments on the above options?
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Zylka
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Markus' options should be more than enough to make a pretty clear statement.
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actually, does signle player/multi player makes any big difference here?
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I think it does. Multiplayers are the only ones who use windowed mode anyway.
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markusf
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You got to understand that in north America pretty much everyone has Cable modems etc. Civ2 is great because i can check my email reply to icq etc etc. When a game is playing fulling screen i am cut off from everything else. Now i suppose a lot of single players aren't connected to the net so they wouldn't really care if it was windowed or full screen. But more of the world is being connected 24/7 to the net through a constant connection, it gets to be a pain in the ass to be cut off from everything. Especially when playing multiplayer and you have to sit and wait 15 min for your turn.. I would rather spend that time surfing.
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Fierz
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Winterthur, Zurich, Switzerland
Dec 2000
time: 05:12
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I would like to see a windowed mode at least in multyplayer mode because then you can do something else while your're waiting for your turn.
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DrFell
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I agree, windowed mode would be nice. Long turns bore the hell out of me.
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The Viceroy
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tu mumbai se, mai Bombay se
Nov 2000
time: 05:12
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What your missing here, is that most modern games run using DirectX .. this is not a "WINDOW" environment .. you are given a screen, and direct access to it . TOT/SMAC/CTP1&2 are all DirectX products.
Even so, the Desktop is still there, sitting in the background .. you can usually ALT-TAB to it (as I do with NAPSTER & SMAC) .. unless its been disabled ... (always recommend you load the game last, so there is something to ALT TAB to), just hit the Windows key, if it doesn't 
As for Chat, ICQ etc .. These would run so much smoother if only the main loop has a small, but appreciated SLEEP!! so we don't get 100% Process hog from the game, slowing every damn thing in the background. This is much more apparent in slower systems.
DirectX is much much faster than using a Windows "Window" .. and much more popular with games programmers, as it gives them control over the entire graphical display .. I would be suprised if CIV3 is not using DirectX.
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Adm.Naismith
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Milano - Italy
Oct 1999
time: 06:12
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Good point about DirectX, but sometime ALT+Tab doesn't work on some system (may be because of short of memory, may be for others dark reasons... I don't know, but it's a problem I've seen quite often around here and others forum (at least, it was a problem with SMAC).
In another thread about the same argument, someone (sorry, I forget his/her nickname) suggested to build a game as "system polite" as possible, to manage audio and screen (and any other PC resource) without hogging all for itself.
I hope someone at Firaxis care about it, as for Win2000 (and probably XP) compatibility: Microsoft is forcing us to these OS, better the game developers will take it into account, no more "Win 9x only" label on the game box/site support! 
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Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant
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markusf
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ok then, how does ULTIMA manage to do it? I am pretty sure they are using direct x as well, and it runs in windowed mode.
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The Viceroy
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tu mumbai se, mai Bombay se
Nov 2000
time: 05:12
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HI Markusf,
It certainly did not run in a Window provided by Windows (if it was dx).. as Direct X uses its own set of libraries for direct access to the screen .. which is why its far faster that the Window provided by Windows
However, it would theoretically be possible to provide a screen which is smaller than the desktop, which has its own set of programmed controls, so the user can move it about etc .. But basically, the software house would have to re-write all the functions you have on a standard window .. to make it look like it was one ..
So maybe it is theoretically possible, but I really can't see any software house spending there time writing code to do this, when the only perceivable benefit is, you can run ICQ & chat at the same time .. especially more so, as you can ALT-TAB Anyway (if you run the programs in the correct sequence, and use the windows key if its naughty and doesn't work).
Francis
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"Wherever wood floats, you will find the British" . Napoleon
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markusf
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quote:
Originally posted by The Viceroy on 05-02-2001 10:32 AM
HI Markusf,
It certainly did not run in a Window provided by Windows (if it was dx).. as Direct X uses its own set of libraries for direct access to the screen .. which is why its far faster that the Window provided by Windows
However, it would theoretically be possible to provide a screen which is smaller than the desktop, which has its own set of programmed controls, so the user can move it about etc .. But basically, the software house would have to re-write all the functions you have on a standard window .. to make it look like it was one ..
So maybe it is theoretically possible, but I really can't see any software house spending there time writing code to do this, when the only perceivable benefit is, you can run ICQ & chat at the same time .. especially more so, as you can ALT-TAB Anyway (if you run the programs in the correct sequence, and use the windows key if its naughty and doesn't work).
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I am not talking about running a game using the Windows API. Ultima online runs as a "window". Also i really don't see many people alt tabbing out of games every 5 min to see if they have new mail etc, or while they are waiting for thier turn. its just a pain and often times the act of tabbing in and out crashes games. NOw as far as i know direct x supports running in windowed mode. Just look for DDSCL_NORMAL which is the flag, and SetCooperativeLevel which is the function... So instead of passing it DDSCL_FULLSCREEN they should use DDSCL_NORMAL ....
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01-05-2001 02:48
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