If I add any mod except for the ones Brad tossed up on the website the meta-universe doesn't accept the game correct? Even if it's something simple like changing some text or swaping a graphic?
       
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A yes or no answer would do it. 
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I dont know I jsut submitted my first game and I have some mods I made on it. (even if they dont work)
      
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#3
by Senator CariElf - 4/17/2003 1:32:15 PM
For now it works.
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This is just my opinion, not confirmed officially by Stardock, but from what I've gleaned from various sources, I don't think the Metaverse cares if you modified the game or not.
It appears that Stardock's design goal is not to disallow modded games, but rather that if you do modify the starting conditions, the AI is smart enough to make use of your modification as well, thus levelling the playing field between the player and the AI.
And as AIs get the same events you do, if you create a super duper colonization event that gives you PQ +100%, rest assured you've opened the door for the AI getting that event as well.
I think it's the better way to go. What's the point in putting so much of the game data in easy to read text files and then trying to stuff the genie back in the bottle by outlawing certain modding activities? No, Stardock has it right, provide the information, and then provide an AI which can fully take advantage of whatever *cheat* the player can come up with.
   
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Ahh, and there's a post by CariElf confirming that modded games do upload.
But, CariElf, are there plans to disallow modded games? It's your game, of course, and you can do with it as you will, but I'd disagree with that move.
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thanks for the confrmation all.. Now what shall i mod first?
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#7
by Citizen Ellestar - 4/17/2003 2:49:45 PM
Well i think you don't understand one thing. You are talking about submitting metaverse score. Computer can't send a metaverse score, so it's don't matter that he has same advantages as a player. So you can add all things like +to PQ, morale (population), ship speed (time need to win) etc. By the way it think AI priority is based on settings in data files. Most imbalanced are wonders and trade goods because you can just rush research to them and then buy it. It can easily increase your metaverse score so i think that they must be denied.
But a better solution is to just deny it so they don't increase player score (=don't count at all) if this modded game will increase player score to say 20%+ of the maximum metaverse score.
So players playing just for fun can play modded games and still post their scores to metaverse. This is a best solution IMHO.
 
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#8
by Citizen Ellestar - 4/17/2003 3:04:21 PM
I mean say player on 1sp place has 10000 score.
Player using mods this time has 1600 score. So he can send to metaverse a game worth 100 or 400 points, but he can't send a game worth 1000 points.
I am a clear 'Munchkin'(or you can say 'PowerGamer', well it's RPG term but it's not really important), so as a real munckin i:
1) Never break rules - because most fun for me is to gain as much advantage as possible staying in rules. You always can gain infinite advantages breaking the rules, so it's not fun.
2) Easily see most imbalances - so i can tell you that this thing is REALLY bad.
I vote for abovementioned variant because it's best for me because
1) Someone who want to play a game for fun can use any mods he want to use - they rarely think about gaining a high score (well maybe they think about it but they don't need it to have fun).
2) I want to play a fair competition, and it's not fun for me if someone using this 'cheating' (from my view) to gain a high score.
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well mods have a big debate. Some say since the computer can use them its not cheating others say its cheating because the computer doesnt use it all the time. I personally just make mods because it amuses me and I dont really play for score. Like my new mod for political parties was the 'Capitalists' with 10% economy and 15% trade boost.
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Ellestar: You raise a good and valid point. How are the scores generated is the key.
If the scoring is based on absolutes, like point on the tech tree reached, population figures, and time to complete game, then absolutely modding will destroy the balance of the "Metaverse".
However, if scoring is based on relatives, like the ratio of your population to the AIs population WITHIN JUST THE GAME YOU PLAYED, then modding will not destroy the balance of the "Metaverse", as (in theory) the modification is self-balancing (the AI can use just as well if not better than you).
It comes down to how Stardock set up the scoring. I have no idea, do you know?
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#11
by Citizen Ellestar - 4/17/2003 3:38:31 PM
I mean that it may or may not be cheating because AI using/not using etc. But this doesn't matter at all.
Because it can be cheating in gaining metaverse score. If i have say +50 Planet quality bonus tech etc. and comp has it, it doesn't really matter because i can gain huge metaverse score because of population, production, research. And i can win this game faster than someone w/o this mod. So it's clearly cheating then you are talking about metaverse.
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It only matters if it affects your score.
If your score is based on a huge population, high production, and high research then your point is valid.
However, if your score is based on the ratio of your population versus the AIs over time, your production versus the AIs over time, and your research versus the AIs over time, then your point is not valid.
IOW, maybe your score is not based on absolute numbers, but relative ones.
OR you could be totally right and that's how the scores work. I don't know, do you?
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#13
by Citizen Ellestar - 4/17/2003 3:53:09 PM
To HawaiiFive-O
Because you gain higher scores on gigantic galaxies, it is clear that you gaining points both for absolutes and for relative numbers.
About using advantages... I'm pretty sure that i can use most of advantages better than comp because i just experienced in using advantages. I don't know if i more experienced than game developers, but they clearly can't make AI that will be better in using random (for AI) advantages that i can make in game. Just because i will be better anyway at min/maxing, and can make changes best suited to my strats. And i dont even saying about processor time or AI development time.
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OK, if you are right about the absolute numbers then you are right about modifications breaking the integrity of the Metaverse system.
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