RISK The Game On Google Maps

axonis writes "ZenChi has created a Google Maps API project based on the popular board game RISK on Google Maps. While Zen is developing a multi-player version, you can play a game right now with others huddled around your computer."

Nice, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

is it news? Im waiting for the day someone makes axis and allies using google maps :)

Re:That's Friggin Brilliant...

[YrWrstNtmr]

...now does anyone remember how to play Risk?

Yes, courtesy of Lux [sillysoft.net].

Re:Talk about google infatuation

[lamasquerade]

You know I really wonder about comments like these. Is there some sort of negative Slashdot commenter's club that you join or are you guys just a bunch of unhappy people? I mean, someone goes out and creates something pretty cool, he/she announces it on a mailinglist for some feedback, and you just give this incredibly negative why-even-bother type comment. Not criticism either, no real points are raised, just a bashing of the effort. I just don't get it - why, in fact, do you bother?

For the record I think it looks pretty cool and no doubt will only get better. Oh and as for making it on an API that 'clearly isn't meant to support such a game' - isn't that the hacking mentality? Go out and create something that wasn't even envisioned... just for fun!

Re:Talk about google infatuation

[Anonymous Coward]

...made on an api that clearly isnt meant to support such a game.

That's exactly why it's cool! Don't you understand hack-value?

Re:remember old school risk players

[hackstraw]

australia

Yeah, that was an easy way. However, you had to get a decent number of armies to shield yourself in Australia and grow that number at a constant rate to defend against attacks and store up for the charge across the World (or just be very patient).

That is definitely the most conservative way to play, but there are many ways of defeating it.

Gratuitous

[CowboyRobot]

Using Google Maps is totally gratuitous here. Zooming in to get more detailed terrain actually inhibits gameplay rather than enhances it. A really good free, online, multiplayer game of this sort is Conqueror! [conquerorgame.com] - which is not Risk, but takes some of the ideas of Risk and Axis & Allies and uses them in the context of Medieval Europe.

Re:remember old school risk players

[rcastro0]

Having played way more games of risk online on the web than Id care to admit I have rationalized the following principles as the usual strategy for playing with/against humans in the "conquer the world" usual rules. I think it describes very well the plot in most games among experienced risk players, and unfortunately for the sake of the fun it also means these games draag until someone loses their patience and either abandons the game right away or does it by breaking principle number 4 below.

1) Pick a continent and signalize it as being yours, by concentrating troop deployment there. You can choose the region as the one where you have proportionally more starting territories, and where your opponents have few. This usually happens in the first (simultaneous) troop deployment cycle. If you are lucky, you will be the sole player claiming a continent. (this works for all continents except Asia).

2) Most of the time prefer defense, and patience, instead of offense. If for instance someone else has a troop stack in the region you want, reinforce around it (except a single way out) and wait. Only make sure you grab a territory and a card every turn. The usual exception for the defense rule is opportunistic: if for instance you trade cards and believe you can grab and defend a territory, attack and definitely do it.

3) When you are attacking (in ealy-mid game), pick one opponent to attack, try not to have two fronts. Do not stop attacking that opponent until he is out of the game, or completely disconnected from you on the map, as he may (being human) hold on only to screw you up at a critical point later. If a second front opens up early, however, consider immediately retreating your forces from your first targets territories, and concentrating all troops in defeding your base-continent.

4) In mid to late game stages, be extremely careful when deciding to attack. It is very usual for end games to be a stale mate, with troops piling up and up and up among (tipically) three remaining players. In that scenario, the only strategy for winning is trying (hoping, waiting) not to be the first one being attacked nor the first one attacking, since those two will burn their troop piles among themselves leaving the third player with full forces to ride to the victory. If, in turn, you *are* attacked, in that stalemate scenario, then either close your border back, reinforce and wait, or go full force and try to hurt your attacker as much as you can (possibly at the same time opening up room for said third player, as having his favor may mean he will let you be the last one surviving before he conquers the world).

5) It is interesting that if you are playing for points (and depending on the scoring system) then you can change from a strategy of domination to a strategy of survival, if you see you are falling behind in strength. That may mean putting all of your reinforcements in a single territory, and moving that pile to (usually) Asia. Then just wait and keep reinforcing. People will tend to avoid attacking you if your pile is large enough until the last thing they do in the game. And while they are not attacking you they may be attacking each other so much that they may get weak and leave you some room to aspire for domination. But be happy as you can almost always guarantee being the last survivor before the winner dominates the board.

That sums it up... How is that for programming an AI Player ?