We see it all the time: Log in to the lobby, and there's 50 people on one server, 10 servers empty, and when you hit up that server, there's a 10v10 with 30 people in NoaT. In order to get to the point of having multiple games going at once (a huge goal for me personally), here is a suggestion:
1) Reset the game servers to the original MS 32-64 limits (as games with 32+ players tend to crash more due to engine limitations anyway)
2) Reconfigure the lobby to have a lobby chat and the server list take up less of the screen.
In my experience, people tend to congregate in the server with active people just to chat and hang out with their friends, so reducing the server limit would inhibit their ability to do that. A lobby room chat would let the game servers be game servers, and let people who want to chat and set up a game on another server do so more easily.
Thoughts?
Lobby chat
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Terralthra
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Grimmwolf_GB
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It would be nice if this 'lobby chat' could be read by ppl in a server, as well. Perhaps another channel for NOAT?
Usually though, "skill" is used to covertly mean "match the game exactly to my level of competence." Anyone who is at all worse than me should fail utterly (and humorously!) and anyone better is clearly too caught up in the game and their opinions shouldn't count.
Or just link the lobby chat with all noat chats. That would encourage people on servers to use the noat chat more as well.juckto wrote:QUOTE (juckto @ Dec 15 2006, 11:34 PM) It would be nice if this 'lobby chat' could be read by ppl in a server, as well. Perhaps another channel for NOAT?
-- Cort
This is Sparta. Not spa. — Wurf
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Terralthra
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Grimmwolf_GB
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my suggestion - a bit different but really cool
------ move the lobby to the main lobby for available game servers.
------ the game servers will not have a lobby that can chat
------ thats right no lobby - at all
only allow chat from lobby to lobby or active to active players
no chatting or listening between active players and non players.
the chatters can see A chat window at the bottom of the main lobby available game server list
they can see the available games status as they chat.
They hear when games start and complete.
as they wait in the lobby they check out game servers to shop for a place to play.
When they click on a server they get an info screen like the one in the lobby now.
( they will be in the lobby but can't chat ) they will not be visible to the game players
( players waiting to join can not chat. so they will leave to go chat )
they can then pick a team to join.
They will go staight from main lobby to game as a player.
when the game is over they can stay on the team and chat.
but if they leave they go back to main lobby lobby.
... if they join an autobalanced game they will just join the team that can take them and go straight from the lobby to the game.
............................. make "virtual chat rooms" in the main lobby sort of like discussion groups.
simply allow peeps to join others in a "local group chat"
I think you would see lots of little games going on when peeps can see how many servers are open.
an active place to chat - in a game.
radar
------ move the lobby to the main lobby for available game servers.
------ the game servers will not have a lobby that can chat
------ thats right no lobby - at all
only allow chat from lobby to lobby or active to active players
no chatting or listening between active players and non players.
the chatters can see A chat window at the bottom of the main lobby available game server list
they can see the available games status as they chat.
They hear when games start and complete.
as they wait in the lobby they check out game servers to shop for a place to play.
When they click on a server they get an info screen like the one in the lobby now.
( they will be in the lobby but can't chat ) they will not be visible to the game players
( players waiting to join can not chat. so they will leave to go chat )
they can then pick a team to join.
They will go staight from main lobby to game as a player.
when the game is over they can stay on the team and chat.
but if they leave they go back to main lobby lobby.
... if they join an autobalanced game they will just join the team that can take them and go straight from the lobby to the game.
............................. make "virtual chat rooms" in the main lobby sort of like discussion groups.
simply allow peeps to join others in a "local group chat"
I think you would see lots of little games going on when peeps can see how many servers are open.
an active place to chat - in a game.
radar