A way to pause?

[City Builder]

Okay, I like to stop and look around before deciding what I want to do. I saw that the game auto pauses on certain actions in my game but is there just some way that I can pause it and take a look around before deciding what I want to do?

[kalypso_Lord MK]

You can choose "manual" for pausing in the starting options of each map. You can then pause ingame with space at any time :)

[Bram]

Wow, how about game wide settings? Why not allow us to manually pause AND auto pause?

[jhughes]

Originally posted by Bram:

Wow, how about game wide settings? Why not allow us to manually pause AND auto pause?

Not sure what you mean.. If you set pause to Manual, it lowers your scenario score by multiplying by 0.8..but it does do auto pausing (like the normal setting) and also allows you to press space to pause whenever you want.

[Dray Prescot]

The game normally autopauses (in normal mode and manual mode) when you start doing actions such as track laying and building construction and buying new trains, etc.. If you choose to allow manual pausing (like I do) then you can hit the space bar to pause whenever you like, but at a penalty to your score for that particular game which affects your final score and standing for that game. If you do NOT choose manual pauses, you will get the normal mode with automatic pauses but without being able to pause by hitting the space bar.

Trainiac is a different mode with no pausing but you get a score bonus (I have never tried it).

To be completely clear, even in manual pause mode, the game ALSO autopauses when you are doing various actions without you needing to hit the space bar.

[Pistolero]

I just save and let it run while I study, but in aggregate that can be a time waster. Reloads do take time. But that way I can look at the detail I need to try to figure out things I want to do. I don't really like this lack of a 'pause' function without penalty. At the very least while studying what towns need what, stock trading, and some of these other analytical side functions could and should be paused; like when you are assigning crew members.

[chaney]

I would encourage you to just set the game for Manual Pause and use it. You know how you will enjoy the game the most, and nobody else will really care if your score is reduced ... so be happy!

[Dray Prescot]

The only place it makes a difference is in your Final score for that Scenario or Campaign. So if you do NOT care about your SCORE, you can use Manual Mode Pausing all of the time. (Like I do all of the time). (or you can try to achieve your highest score while in Manual Mode, and not worry about comparisons with those who play Trainiac Mode or Automatc Mode).

added: Chaney posted his message at the same time I was writing mine!

[kalypso_Lord MK]

@chaney @Dray Prescot:
I am also one of those guys alway playing with manual pause, who cares if I am president at the end or not. I much rather take my time with careful planning instead of having to rush management decisions. ;)

[Pistolero]

Good points.

[Dray Prescot]

If I want to play a reflex game I will play an Arcade game, or a first person shoot em up, or a flight simulator, etc. If I am playing a game where strategy and making choices after thinking about them matters, then I want a manual mode pause. Which is why I HATE and do NOT play the so called Real Time Strategy Games (RTS), for example this has kept me away from the whole Anno line of games (1602 AD, etc, up to Anno 2070, etc.). I can/will play the Europa Universalis (Paradox) style of games, where it is possible to pause the game and still give orders and look at things, even though they are not a turn based game. Just like I spent a lot of time playing Kalypso's Patrician 3 and 4, Port Royale 3 and Rise of Venice, because it was possible to pause the game and still look at things and give orders while paused. My only complaints about those games was that I want better AI play of the competeting Merchant Players, although I am Not a big fan of Age of Sail type ship combat.

[Bram]

Originally posted by kalypso_Lord MK:

@chaney @Dray Prescot:
I am also one of those guys alway playing with manual pause, who cares if I am president at the end or not. I much rather take my time with careful planning instead of having to rush management decisions. ;)

Isn't that how everyone wants to play a game? Why develop this game backwards?
This game is developed by punishing players instead of rewarding them.

Default v1 should have had pausing, you then add a mode without it and give bonuses to people that WANT to not pause instead of bullying everyone.

Same with signalling stations (basic functionality) and a train route list etc etc

[Jenska]

I seem to be missing something since every time I reload a saved game (sandbox at least) it goes into normal mode and I can't pause it again.

[rff1]

Originally posted by Dray Prescot:

The game normally autopauses (in normal mode and manual mode) when you start doing actions such as track laying and building construction and buying new trains, etc..

Alas, there is no auto pause when buying new trains. I wish there was, but there isn't.

[Jenska]

MANUAL pause should ALWAYS be an option, no matter the scoring system, you don't HAVE to use it.

[Jenska]

What ever my original problem, the game now stays paused when I reload it. I beleive I'm still on the same free game I started, so I'm not sure what may have happenned to change things.