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As far as I know there is an actual hardware problem with the new nVidia chipsets (for Alleg and many other older games), and not just the drivers. ImmZ is the expert here, so I'll defer to him in the details.

Makida wrote:QUOTE (Makida @ Oct 29 2008, 10:41 PM) Anyway, I, too, noticed that there is NO-ONE on the newbie server 99% of the time. And yeah, it's a bad sign.

Dropping rank limit on newb servers meant cutting in half the number of people who are allowed to play there. And now people wonder why newb servers are empty.

I have very rarely seen the newbie servers populated, or even have a game running. I would hardly call it a bad sign

When I joined a year ago, there was a 3 vs 3 game on the Newbie server almost every other day. I would say that the Newbie server is part of the problem. The first time I was on main, it was a big game with a huge map and I had no clue what was happening. The only thing I did was get repeatedly podded and get more and more frustrated. The newbie servers were small, everyone else was new too, and we wouldn't be disturbed.

We should find a way to revive the Newbie Server.
Allow the voobs again to go back and whore teach the newbies how to play.

From my newbie experience i can remember that there were always some vets on the server that were building the cons and organizing the game a bit. And that makes it much easier. I'm sure that most of the newbie commanders don't know how to accept new players. They are trying to find the mouse button for shooting a missile. Don't expect them to build cons.

If we make something like @alleg that will allow people to go on newbie servers to run instructional games that would be useful.

It would have to be people who won't get competetive about it, won't mindlessly w**re on the new players or try to dominate the other side too much with their 133t command skills.

With a bit of instruction the newbie servers could hopefully help:

1) get basic piloting skills learnt & keybindings done
2) learn a bit about probes, turreting, nanning
3) how to help stop bombers (kill the nans) at least a little bit.

Makida I loved your post. So true. So true.

Also adept good idea with the @alleg tag to help new players in newbie server.
The newbie servers shouldn't be totally empty all the time. From personal experience when I started playing it was either main or nothing and that was 6 months ago. Only on weekends and every once in a blue moon late at night are their any people on the newbie server. Simultaneously if some newbs do start a game and forget to make it Nov. only there is about a 75% chance that they will end up getting owned by someone looking to make themselves feel better by totally dominating a totally clueless
commander and team.

I think newbs don't use the newbie server for different reasons but the main one is that it takes at least a little familiarity
with comming or you just end up dm'ing all the time or getting capships. So a bunch of clueless people is not going to get you anywhere. This is where adept's idea is good. Someone who has knowledge to impart and can provide a little structure to the game for new players. They don't even have to be on the newbie server just a moderated game to keep it reasonably fair so they can learn something except how to fly their pod really well.

It would have to be flexible and not scheduled, with designated people who are down with playing with some newbs so if and when some newbs are present they could throw out the invite to join a 'new player' game and the tag keeps the vampires at bay while the younglings learn something.



In closing, most of you are good about it or just don't play in that situation, but some of you are frickin pathetic and need to stop dominating newb games. You are not earning anyone's respect and screwing one of the coolest games ever for a quick emotional fix.

In regards to marketing the game to attract new players, are there any kind of legal issues?

Adept wrote:QUOTE (Adept @ Nov 3 2008, 07:54 AM) If we make something like @alleg that will allow people to go on newbie servers to run instructional games that would be useful.

It would have to be people who won't get competetive about it, won't mindlessly w**re on the new players or try to dominate the other side too much with their 133t command skills.

With a bit of instruction the newbie servers could hopefully help:

1) get basic piloting skills learnt & keybindings done
2) learn a bit about probes, turreting, nanning
3) how to help stop bombers (kill the nans) at least a little bit.

It would also be an opportunity to direct them to the @cdt program, which is what we would like to see them do, anyway....right? Many times when I log into the main server and see (0)'s on, I send a pm to welcome them to the game, and see if they have any questions. I usually rap it up wit "we have a great training program called Cadet that you can sign up for that really helped me......". This, of course is after I direct them to f1, which I hear is outdated.

I may get something thrown at me for saying this, but we have several @cdt instructors who, if allowed may not mind accessing the Newbie Server to assist. Surely our instructors wouldn't whore them, and give them some pointers....and direct them to the main (after the basics), and the cdt program. I would be willing.

I am pretty sure a couple of months ago we were bitching about how keeping newbies in that alternative reality called 'newbie games' was not a Good Thing™.

Badp wrote:QUOTE (Badp @ Nov 3 2008, 07:36 PM) I am pretty sure a couple of months ago we were bitching about how keeping newbies in that alternative reality called 'newbie games' was not a Good Thing™.

It wouldn't be, but getting them prepped up a little before dropping them into the real mess would be nice.