NS2 Ventrilo Server
Xerond
Undefined Join Date: 2004-07-09 Member: 29817Members, Constellation
Undefined Join Date: 2004-07-09 Member: 29817Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">During Alpha & Beta And Why</div>I'd like to explain why I think UWE should host a large private ventrilo server during testing. The reason being is that I've participated in a pretty good amount of betas. More than I can remember in the past 8 years. I'm currently testing Section 8(beta ends tonight) and League of Legends.
<a href="http://www.leagueoflegends.com/" target="_blank">http://www.leagueoflegends.com/</a>
<a href="http://www.joinsection8.com/" target="_blank">http://www.joinsection8.com/</a>
And this is also the first time I've participated in a large hosted ventrilo server during testing. Riot Games (studio for League of Legends) is hosting this server strictly for testers. I'm not sure what the capacity is for it but I've seen 100+ people in it so far. Why is this advantageous? The social factor. Rather than letting certain testers host their own vent servers and talk on their own; all your testers are congregating in one place. Here people are constantly pulling teams together and sorting themselves out in channels as they play. Not only that but last night they had a feedback session with some 30 people in one channel (notably the big players talking about a patch). The type of conversations that I've been picking up on and paying attention to really help engage the testers. After spending so much time in this environment, I would seriously hope UWE considers doing the same. Obviously I can't talk about the game, but I will applaud Riot Games in the way they're handling their development process. Not to mention, its an independent studio going for their first title after a successful free mod. =)
<a href="http://www.leagueoflegends.com/" target="_blank">http://www.leagueoflegends.com/</a>
<a href="http://www.joinsection8.com/" target="_blank">http://www.joinsection8.com/</a>
And this is also the first time I've participated in a large hosted ventrilo server during testing. Riot Games (studio for League of Legends) is hosting this server strictly for testers. I'm not sure what the capacity is for it but I've seen 100+ people in it so far. Why is this advantageous? The social factor. Rather than letting certain testers host their own vent servers and talk on their own; all your testers are congregating in one place. Here people are constantly pulling teams together and sorting themselves out in channels as they play. Not only that but last night they had a feedback session with some 30 people in one channel (notably the big players talking about a patch). The type of conversations that I've been picking up on and paying attention to really help engage the testers. After spending so much time in this environment, I would seriously hope UWE considers doing the same. Obviously I can't talk about the game, but I will applaud Riot Games in the way they're handling their development process. Not to mention, its an independent studio going for their first title after a successful free mod. =)
Comments
Edit: as for your suggestion I mean, I guess... it could be nice? Being able to discuss the game with other people who are there for the same reason is probably a good idea. For the GAME, though, you should talk INGAME to your TEAM though. If you're thinking about alpha/beta private matches (if these will even be possible) then I mean, they wont use a public ventrilo anyway because that'd just be a hassle.
<!--coloro:grey--><span style="color:grey"><!--/coloro-->Balance, sure. Bugs? "Hey I think I found something, someone come here and help me check it out." "NOOB I SAID GET TO THE HIVE GOGOGO!" Not to mention that if you are too competitive, you might avoid doing a lot of "dumb" things that could have bugs.<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
~~Sickle~~
If you want to host something for free use your own dedicated box and use Mumble/Murmur. I don't think UWE should host this, asking this is simply absurd. If you want something like this organise it yourself.
However, I personally don't just hang out in Vent servers. Sry, just not my thing.
If you want to host something for free use your own dedicated box and use Mumble/Murmur. I don't think UWE should host this, asking this is simply absurd. If you want something like this organize it yourself.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
On one hand I think it is useful and not "absurd" at all.
On the other, the devs are going to be hosting the servers themselves so communication within a server shouldn't be a problem.
Back on the fist hand, this would be good for organizing players to join a server since NS2 won't be integrated with steam right away.
If they have the available bandwidth or a dedicated box spare by all means mumble is a free chat client they can use which is simple to set up and uses less bandwidth than most other chat clients.
The expense is the main problem, a 400 user ventrilo for example costs $120-130 per month to run. I know that's pretty much massive however if there are a lot of testers involved then this may be required. That's pretty much not what you want when things such as IRC and the forums already exist for feedback and are just as accessible if not easier and free.
The 'free' alternative I suggested being mumble/murmur does take time to set up granted even if it is simple. Although you then have the overheads of running and maintenance for the dedicated box for it to run on, electricity etc. Which again, costs more money.
I did not say that it was not useful.
mIRC and the a dedicated forum group are just as good alternatives for finding and sharing experience. If someone wants to host their own chat client sure it's a good idea, I wouldn't ask a small company already in charge of making a game to organise it for you nor pay the expense.
$130 a Month is NOT massive for a company, even a small one. If the idea actually offers some benefit for them, then that cost will not pose a barrier.
It's probably a good idea so have a live chat server (be it text or voice) host (or at least endorsed) by UWE so that testers have a centralized place to meet, socialize, and organize.
Best thing about that....
<!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->They do<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<a href="http://unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums" target="_blank">here</a>
and
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/irc/" target="_blank">here</a>
I don't think an "official" vent/ts/mumble/whatevervoiceapp server is needed.
If you want to host something for free use your own dedicated box and use Mumble/Murmur. I don't think UWE should host this, asking this is simply absurd. If you want something like this organise it yourself.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Aye, a murmur server is no big deal to set up. It's rather simple actually both on windows and on Linux and running it is not that hard. This community could probably set it up and organize it itself if they are willing to.
Just like in the Movie Contest recently, I convinced dracka to join me on ventrilo and we're able to discuss things a lot faster than we did via IRC and get an agreement a lot more easily.
Speaking of hosting, ENSL can provide a mumble server. We already have one, and have the bandwidth to host it for lots of users.
That would mean exposing all those nice shiny NS2 newbies to embittered ENSL people Jikiri. ;) We don't need them tarnished quite yet.
It would not really be the end of the world if we did not have such a function though but i can only see benefits to it if used responsibly to co-ordinate testing.
I remember a quote from a developer of another game i alpha tested once... "In alpha testing, anything can happen... and usually it does!" so 3rd party communications could be usefull.