its alive and well and more fun than ever (except for when compared to ns...ns is still more fun-go figure)
also, it's regularly growing both in development and audience.
have no fear...just give UWE your money.
Well, first time playing in about 3 months, and over the course of 5 hours, regardless of server, I experienced nothing but team stacking, extremely rude players with poor sportsmanship (lots of insult-slinging over voice/text, alien teams killing all the marines but leaving a comm chair and an IP alive so that they could farm kills for NS2stats, people brazenly coordinating team stacking via text), and skulks feeling more fragile than ever before.
The experience, universally, was that one team was stacked to the gills with people wearing clantags, sometimes with badges (Are those new? Are they from a mod? Most servers seemed to have them) next to their names, and another team with inexperienced, unskilled, or rookie players (and myself, as I always join whichever team is down) who not only wouldn't take strategic advice over voice, but would go so far as to recycle all the buildings as commander if they didn't get their way.
It's sort of tragic. I felt a bit ashamed at the recommendation I posted to my friends on the store page after that experience. There really needs to be a way to report players for terrible conduct, because it was just... awful. My experience with the community used to be largely positive, so it was especially jarring.
Not dead. Not growing but there's enough people to fill servers.
Hopefully, UWE can get their sabot system out for gathers in time to capitalize on the steam Holiday sales.
Even if Sabot isn't ready I would just like a "funnel" system so if there isn't an easily joinable server I can seed a server and be fairly confident that players will be joining quickly.
Also a bit of warning as to when the NS2 sales hit would be nice so the community can rally and maybe help retain some new players!
Well, first time playing in about 3 months, and over the course of 5 hours, regardless of server, I experienced nothing but team stacking, extremely rude players with poor sportsmanship (lots of insult-slinging over voice/text, alien teams killing all the marines but leaving a comm chair and an IP alive so that they could farm kills for NS2stats, people brazenly coordinating team stacking via text), and skulks feeling more fragile than ever before.
The experience, universally, was that one team was stacked to the gills with people wearing clantags, sometimes with badges (Are those new? Are they from a mod? Most servers seemed to have them) next to their names, and another team with inexperienced, unskilled, or rookie players (and myself, as I always join whichever team is down) who not only wouldn't take strategic advice over voice, but would go so far as to recycle all the buildings as commander if they didn't get their way.
It's sort of tragic. I felt a bit ashamed at the recommendation I posted to my friends on the store page after that experience. There really needs to be a way to report players for terrible conduct, because it was just... awful. My experience with the community used to be largely positive, so it was especially jarring.
I think there is a sale going on? At least there were lots of green players yesterday. Usually the quality of the game lowers during a sale...
@Kei-chan What kind of server are you playing on? Except for teamstacking sometimes I don't experience what you do. And UWE is working on Sabot matchmaking. Also its 75% off halloween sale.
Edit: Hard to address Kei-chan when there is a Kei.
Wow Kei-Chan, that sounds really bad where ever you played. I encounter teamstacking often and rudeness every now and then, but mostly it is quite pleasant to play. Use more mute -option
The experience, universally, was that one team was stacked to the gills with people wearing clantags, sometimes with badges (Are those new? Are they from a mod? Most servers seemed to have them) next to their names, and another team with inexperienced, unskilled, or rookie players (and myself, as I always join whichever team is down) who not only wouldn't take strategic advice over voice, but would go so far as to recycle all the buildings as commander if they didn't get their way.
It's sort of tragic. I felt a bit ashamed at the recommendation I posted to my friends on the store page after that experience. There really needs to be a way to report players for terrible conduct, because it was just... awful. My experience with the community used to be largely positive, so it was especially jarring.
Its how NS2 is played now. Badges vs Rookies.
In all seriousness though I have found my experience much better lately as I avoid "rookie friendly" servers. I know it is un-intuitive as the green tag is supposed to be a place to learn but my experience is that green servers just attract "rookie server all stars" and pub-stompers.
Try a few different regular servers and I bet you will find someplace more welcoming (that has been my experience at least).
Some servers have no real community. You find idiots there more often. Play on the right servers (like HBZ for Europe) and you will have a much better experience.
And to the question if the game is dead:
The last free weekend was on Sept.1. Naturally after the weekend the player counts dropped again. But even until today, they were steady around 750-1000 simultaneous players peak per day. And despite seeing more greens on the servers since the Halloween Sale started, it didn't start to grow yet.
People insist on playing big games (16 and up), and I just get a really bad feel with that many players. NS2 needs a proper pre game lobby system where people all join at the same time and play a whole round. It just doesn't work with drop in drop out players. At least not for me.
People insist on playing big games (16 and up), and I just get a really bad feel with that many players. NS2 needs a proper pre game lobby system where people all join at the same time and play a whole round. It just doesn't work with drop in drop out players. At least not for me.
It may not be dead but I certainly won't be playing again until there's some kind of competent team balancing or matchmaking system in place.
NS2 is an amazing game but I see no reason why any player would want to subject themselves to the horrible and constantly acknowledged team stacking that's been happening since basically launch. Even if you're on the "winning" (stacked) team, I don't see how pub stomps are fun.
It may not be dead but I certainly won't be playing again until there's some kind of competent team balancing or matchmaking system in place.
NS2 is an amazing game but I see no reason why any player would want to subject themselves to the horrible and constantly acknowledged team stacking that's been happening since basically launch. Even if you're on the "winning" (stacked) team, I don't see how pub stomps are fun.
Check out the /r/ns2 pick up games, they happen every night and are usually fairly balanced. 2 people will volunteer to command, then they alternate picking players from best to worst. If you're new you might be last pick, but it's definitely a much better experience than pub ns2.
Depends on what time of the day in your location you are playing.
In Australia after work hours, can't even get on the servers they are all full
During work hours, nudda.
It may not be dead but I certainly won't be playing again until there's some kind of competent team balancing or matchmaking system in place.
NS2 is an amazing game but I see no reason why any player would want to subject themselves to the horrible and constantly acknowledged team stacking that's been happening since basically launch. Even if you're on the "winning" (stacked) team, I don't see how pub stomps are fun.
Check out the /r/ns2 pick up games, they happen every night and are usually fairly balanced. 2 people will volunteer to command, then they alternate picking players from best to worst. If you're new you might be last pick, but it's definitely a much better experience than pub ns2.
As I said, I love NS2, as far as ingenuity and design goes, it beats basically any other FPS out there right now by a large margin. However, I just can't bring myself to play it when I'm guaranteed to get stuck in a shitty pub stomp.
I downloaded the patch as soon as it was up, and kept waiting for servers to update... cause i couldnt join any servers! Took too long!! (yes it was 5am for me but w/e, i rarely sleep during the night! :P)
Comments
also, it's regularly growing both in development and audience.
have no fear...just give UWE your money.
more servers r poppin up
funny coincodence it happened right after i decided to play again
Well, first time playing in about 3 months, and over the course of 5 hours, regardless of server, I experienced nothing but team stacking, extremely rude players with poor sportsmanship (lots of insult-slinging over voice/text, alien teams killing all the marines but leaving a comm chair and an IP alive so that they could farm kills for NS2stats, people brazenly coordinating team stacking via text), and skulks feeling more fragile than ever before.
The experience, universally, was that one team was stacked to the gills with people wearing clantags, sometimes with badges (Are those new? Are they from a mod? Most servers seemed to have them) next to their names, and another team with inexperienced, unskilled, or rookie players (and myself, as I always join whichever team is down) who not only wouldn't take strategic advice over voice, but would go so far as to recycle all the buildings as commander if they didn't get their way.
It's sort of tragic. I felt a bit ashamed at the recommendation I posted to my friends on the store page after that experience. There really needs to be a way to report players for terrible conduct, because it was just... awful. My experience with the community used to be largely positive, so it was especially jarring.
Hopefully, UWE can get their sabot system out for gathers in time to capitalize on the steam Holiday sales.
Even if Sabot isn't ready I would just like a "funnel" system so if there isn't an easily joinable server I can seed a server and be fairly confident that players will be joining quickly.
Also a bit of warning as to when the NS2 sales hit would be nice so the community can rally and maybe help retain some new players!
I think there is a sale going on? At least there were lots of green players yesterday. Usually the quality of the game lowers during a sale...
Edit: Hard to address Kei-chan when there is a Kei.
Its how NS2 is played now. Badges vs Rookies.
In all seriousness though I have found my experience much better lately as I avoid "rookie friendly" servers. I know it is un-intuitive as the green tag is supposed to be a place to learn but my experience is that green servers just attract "rookie server all stars" and pub-stompers.
Try a few different regular servers and I bet you will find someplace more welcoming (that has been my experience at least).
And to the question if the game is dead:
The last free weekend was on Sept.1. Naturally after the weekend the player counts dropped again. But even until today, they were steady around 750-1000 simultaneous players peak per day. And despite seeing more greens on the servers since the Halloween Sale started, it didn't start to grow yet.
http://steamcharts.com/app/4920#1m
You think 16 and up is bad?
No
NS2 is an amazing game but I see no reason why any player would want to subject themselves to the horrible and constantly acknowledged team stacking that's been happening since basically launch. Even if you're on the "winning" (stacked) team, I don't see how pub stomps are fun.
Check out the /r/ns2 pick up games, they happen every night and are usually fairly balanced. 2 people will volunteer to command, then they alternate picking players from best to worst. If you're new you might be last pick, but it's definitely a much better experience than pub ns2.
I GET IT, LOL!
In Australia after work hours, can't even get on the servers they are all full
During work hours, nudda.
As I said, I love NS2, as far as ingenuity and design goes, it beats basically any other FPS out there right now by a large margin. However, I just can't bring myself to play it when I'm guaranteed to get stuck in a shitty pub stomp.
this game seriously has more hackusations than i've ever seen in fps