Consider You Had Your Own Gameservers...
Shockeh
If a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
If a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">And quite a few too... (A query)</div> ** N.B I cleared this on IRC to avoid it being miscontrued as spam, just so any of the mods don't jump me **
<!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Hi all,
As most of the IRC community knows, I work currently for a UK ISP known as Zen Internet. What some of them know, is I also (due to me stupidly volunteering to start it) run Zen's gameservers, known as PlayZen. I've currently got around 25 servers running, with various games over various engines.
Now I've set myself one personal goal with PZ, as follows :
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Provide the best friendly gameservers around, with a focus on having fun in a fair environment.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now, I know I couldn't possibly admin those servers alone, so I've approached some of the communities who also view this as their ethic across different games, and made them an offer. I provide them with the servers, absolutely free of charge providing they look after them, and make them fun places to go. We review it every 6 months or so, and if those servers are still in use, they get to keep them.
Hence, groups like NTFM (for NS) AMP/MoM (for AHL) and trickery.net (who have BF1942 & CS) have come together with me to do this.
Here's my problem. A large percentage of the time, those servers sit empty. Not all the time, and some more than others, but more than I'd like, when compared to some of the major players. I'd like to see that redressed.
To solve this, I'm asking 'What would you like to see to do this?' . Whilst the network is ruled out to a lot of people (just due to physical location in the UK) they are grade A hardware with amazing connections, and there's no reason in that regard why they shouldn't be popular. I think it's largely to do with this....
<!--QuoteBegin-Hodge @ IRC+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Hodge @ IRC)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ironically the reason I don't play on it is 'cuz no ones ever on ;p<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have a Chicken & Egg situation.
So, I'd like thoughts, input, ideas, anything. What would you want to see run? How can I improve matters in a general way? Note that I don't sell anything, so please don't take this as a cheap way to get attention. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
And on that, thank you for reading, ideas are appreciated.
Regards,
Shockwave
<!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Hi all,
As most of the IRC community knows, I work currently for a UK ISP known as Zen Internet. What some of them know, is I also (due to me stupidly volunteering to start it) run Zen's gameservers, known as PlayZen. I've currently got around 25 servers running, with various games over various engines.
Now I've set myself one personal goal with PZ, as follows :
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Provide the best friendly gameservers around, with a focus on having fun in a fair environment.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now, I know I couldn't possibly admin those servers alone, so I've approached some of the communities who also view this as their ethic across different games, and made them an offer. I provide them with the servers, absolutely free of charge providing they look after them, and make them fun places to go. We review it every 6 months or so, and if those servers are still in use, they get to keep them.
Hence, groups like NTFM (for NS) AMP/MoM (for AHL) and trickery.net (who have BF1942 & CS) have come together with me to do this.
Here's my problem. A large percentage of the time, those servers sit empty. Not all the time, and some more than others, but more than I'd like, when compared to some of the major players. I'd like to see that redressed.
To solve this, I'm asking 'What would you like to see to do this?' . Whilst the network is ruled out to a lot of people (just due to physical location in the UK) they are grade A hardware with amazing connections, and there's no reason in that regard why they shouldn't be popular. I think it's largely to do with this....
<!--QuoteBegin-Hodge @ IRC+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Hodge @ IRC)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ironically the reason I don't play on it is 'cuz no ones ever on ;p<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have a Chicken & Egg situation.
So, I'd like thoughts, input, ideas, anything. What would you want to see run? How can I improve matters in a general way? Note that I don't sell anything, so please don't take this as a cheap way to get attention. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
And on that, thank you for reading, ideas are appreciated.
Regards,
Shockwave
Comments
Damn that chickenegg.
And from my own experience, people hate bot servers. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If I see a server runnning bots to fill slots and make a server more popular, I'll never visit that server. It's on my blacklist, so to speak.
I just kinda knew they were about but I'd pretty much stopped playing NS by then.
Generally servers get built up in 2 ways... the first is having an extremely good atmosphere; this is often a case of just having the right players around when it first starts up and is more hit and miss than most would like. I tend to avoid servers with clan-tags, though there are some nice clans out there, there's always someone who spoils it.
I used to play on LM a reasonable amount even when it was empty; often single-handedly started games by sitting and waiting for people to join in because it already had 1 player in (me). Got some really good games going that way but it did mean I had to wait, there wasn't really any games I could jump straight into at the times I felt like playing usually =/
As for the other way, a community really helps ^^;
By that I mean having like a forum and IRC room; one with a friendly atmosphere and preferably fun-loving admins/mods.
Oh and the community is usually better off a central one; it lets different gamers mix and try out other stuff plus it makes it easier for them to move to new games because they have servers that belong to something they're 'familiar' to; same mods or whatever they might've brushed shoulders with on the boards/IRC rooms.
With that in mind you should also have a linky to both on your server's welcome message too so people know they exist <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
From there word-of-mouth and general charisma tends to do the rest =3
<b>edit:</b> Having someone who's confident, sincere, nice, helpful, beautiful, social and most of all; humble, managing your PR helps too ~flicks hair and grins~
#playzen.net on Quakenet, if you fancy joining us then.
The main bonus of PZ is, if you ask for a game, it tends to turn up. That's always a bonus.
A question to ask yourself is, 'what will make people want to play on our servers, over somebody elses?'
There are a few reasons people might want to change to a different server, and you need to try and meet as many as possible, as much as possible:
Q1- no lag, constant uptime, very stable and even if the server is full, can handle everything well
Q2- it's got a fun atmosphere and community, and the players feel like they can connect on a personal level with the admins as well. i.e joking around, talking as mates on the servers, listening to the needs/wants of the players
Q3- "my friends player there", or "everybody i know plays there", or simply: "It's the place to be."
Q4- "It offers what i want to play"
Q5- "It's just 'easier' than those other servers"
-------
A1- you say you have good servers. well, get this out to the people. Give out hardware specs for the tech-savvy, and ping statistics and charts for those people who just want to see how low their numbers can go.
A2- Give light-hearted forums, a fair amount of competitions on the servers, fun activities and 'prizes', make sure the admins are already well-known and well-liked in the communities and can get the servers known through word-of-mouth. It doesn't need such a professional look.
A3- This is harder. You say the biggest problem is that it's mostly empty. You can try and help this situation a number of ways, you just have to be creative. Try and satisfy the other conditions [1,2, 4, 5]. Encourage employees and admins to play more, and on these servers if they are empty. Organise for small play-matches, but in unlocked servers and without tags, so people are free to join in. Try and organise for admins with different sleeping patterns as well - if you can get a few people playing in at 4am in the morning, you know you are doing very well. It also gives off a very good impression. Give people benefits for playing on YOUR servers - if a player is particularly helpful, or friendly in the server, or they play a lot, or are active in the community, offer them benefits - elevated status, admin powers, etc.
A4- On your community-based website, try and have as many feedback options and polls etc as possible, so you can find out what everybody wants - which maps they want, what games, what they think about the servers and services, and what they want changed...
A5- Have a website, forums, polls, and contacts that admins/etc can be reached if there are difficulties. Try and resolve issues as fast and as easily as possible, and show that you care. Have your website designed with ease-of-use in mind. If you have custom map servers, offer these downloads on the site, within easy access, and have clear, concise documentation on how to install and use them. Offer [limited] help with other, relevent subjects to the servers - "my steam isn't working", etc etc.
If you try and follow these ideals as best you can, then you'll do well.
Another thing i just want to mention... Don't push the company's logo. Promote the admin and staff, and their friendly attitude. Respect for the company will follow.
I'll probably flit by the IRC place or something later... kinda feeling lazy just now ~stretches~
Honestly, I don't have a solution for the problem, but I hope one will be found because NTFM was a favourite server of mine.
~pokes shockwave~
Having an IRC room isn't worth much if nobody is active in it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Idlers are the devil!
To be honest I'd also blame the name a little. It sound a bit elitist which is why the few times I was browsing through the servers for a decent ping (back when I bothered with NS,) I ignored it =s
5 of the top 10 are admins so there is still a strong admin presence but 2 months ago no-one whould have got on that chart with less than 20 hours.
ebola and bck have their own empty servers for ns and most of our subscribers play NWN, DoD or ET. It has been increasingly depressing since 2.0.
There is some good news though. Visit the webby to figure out what it is
btw, both Playzen.net and ntfm.org have first class websites, forums and communities. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
**btw, as for ntfm 'sounds' elitist - nothing could be further from the truth I promise you. We only ask that people who join the server want to 'play the game' and work with the team. They can be first time no-hopers or top level clanners so long as they are there to play fairly and with good sportsmanship. Although with the effect co_ has had perhaps we should drop the N <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->
you might want to put a variety of random test servers... like, find out which new mods are hot and on the up, then talk to them and set up a server, so they can help advertise <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
that might be something to look into...
Then make a new map rotation following
co_sillv4
co_assaultm
co_italy
co_office
[trow ns_siege007 once in a while]
then you will have insta fill.
On servers that runs other games, take the hard approach, if the moutain wouldnt come to mohammed then mohammed should get his a$$ to the moutain. More specificly convert all MvM maps to the respective games = there we have instal fill again.
Now make some annoucement on teh mirc about OMG playzen has teh leetest maps OLOLOL. Now you gotta give special access to your regs so they can terrorize other players and give them dev icons
NEXT! You gotta be known for an international playzen server that includes different races and a multitude of personalities, I will list some of the more important persons
First we gotta have clanners, lots of clanners or costellation members. no popular server without the harrasment of those no life - holier than thou (olol) constellation members and those sux clanners.
Second, french. You gotta have french people, they are the bane of your server popularity. I mean what would games be with underpowered aliens. and the french are particular effective to make entranchments from the start and hide in them when you have no hives left and make it last.
Next you gotta have a 56k'er you can blame your server speed at. If you play your cards well enough you will probably get a player to start amx_voteban spamming. Dont worry, they are likely not to succeed though if it suceeds you will need another vict - erhm 56k'er But fear not, the general half life population consist of 15 year olds with 300 megahertz machines so it should be likely there will be another player that has 56k. Also note if someone complains about the speed of the server you can always perma ban them and share your ban list in the server forum (guess he should have complained, olololol)
Next we have the screamer, no good games without the proper ambience
Following will probably be the easiest, get a heard of res ****, marines who like to stare into the wall for unhealthy amount of time, a person who ask why "b" doesnt buy new weapons. Atleast 3 persons that are idle while they go post their ideas they just got in the suggestion and ideas forum, a gorge that builds OCs on top of res nodes. 2 lerks that try to spore the HAs. A rambo that repeatable run into a wol while he just picked up the HA and HMG that the comm actually dropped for another.
Well, that is apparently my experience on what makes the server popular <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I will to sleep now, I need.. it.. badly..
Make it so that all the NS.org forum regs get res slots. Then, put in the disclaimer for it the required mods(yes, thats right, MULTIPLE MODS), and let us run amok. Heres my idea:
Mods:
Natural Selection
The Specialists
Counter-Strike
Team Fortress Classic
Half-Life Rally
Sven Co-op
Now, there are a few things we'd have to do:
-Add new Maps
-Convert Maps(aka, take a TFC map and make it into a Specialists map, and the such)
-Add Mods to the mods
-Get a AMX mod/Adminmod plugin or something much like
-(obviously) Get actual admins.
Now see, with this, we could actually continue to switch the game type whenever we felt like it(in which case, only could be done by vote, or by a admin).
Thats what I'd like to see. I'd be happy to play on it and I'm sure the others here would too.
I know ntfm isn't elitist now that I know who runs it but the title makes it sound all stuck up and stuff. It's not the most welcoming of names to someone who has no idea what the server is like and only has the title to go by =3
... open to suggestions for re-logoing, I never realized the name could be taken so seriously...
Now I know who plays there and stuff I know otherwise, but the name is a heck of a risk considering not everyone will read it in a positive light.
It just reminds me of the game where the aliens had finally just about cleared the double res node; the only things left were the siege guns and tfacs (we'd finally removed the wall of sentries and the pg after an almost epic struggle). Now up until this point a new player who'd been nothing but nice and friendly started building a res node... because he was inexperienced and stuff he didn't really know better but that simple action wiped out the whole alien team and turned what had been a potentially crucial turning point right back in our faces. I just laughed, but the rest of the team didn't take it with so much humour and started berating the poor kid. I sat and told them all off for being a bunch of jerks but the damage had been done and the once pleasant player was now angry and angsty. Eventually he left in a fury much to the snide glee of the others and I almost left the game in disgust... so many people complain about 'brats' in MP communities but it's intollerance like that I blame for making them in the first place -.-
um... tangeant aside, that's why I avoided NTFM when I only had the name to go by; I play games for fun and the minute I think for even a second a server looks like it's too serious I'll avoid it out of principle.
These servers your offering too, are most likely new communites just getting off the ground. That might be your first mistake right there.
My Community <a href='http://www.nsarmslab.com' target='_blank'>NSArmslab</a> has 2 variations of why people would be there. The gameserver which we have is
a.) Reliable, and low pings. No stagging, and great for some action without spikes etc.
B.) We have special events, and run different kinds of maps etc.
C.) We grew a following from our customization aspect of the site.
We have both to fall back too. Right now our server has a great reputation for having ALOT of expirienced players at night. So we started NSA Captains Night, which is aimed to run some hardcore ns games that we all miss. If the gameserver fell through we have something to grow back with. Our Custom models over 180+.
The point is, maybe the communites you should be looking at, are the ones with backing, and already a growing community and can handle another server.
I also know from expirience when we changed server ips, it wasnt getting filled (the server) at the same times, and as much at first anymore.
You are very generous to these people to lend out servers. But just do a backround check, and see who all has potential, and ask them what they plan to do if the server is empty around the clock. Personally, when we first started I just got all the people working on the site and server itself to join the game everytime it was empty.
Hardest thing to do is get people to join a 0/24 man server. SOMEONE has to get people because no one wants to wait around on an empty server for people.
Just choose wisely, and think more of adveritisng events and gameplay on the server, then the server itself.
It gets complicated VERY fast.