To Multiplayer or Not to Multiplayer...

[KG_Soldier]

I simply don't understand why there are so few multiplayers around. The games we have are a blast. The only problem is that there are too few of us. Honestly, when I first played TC2, I told sspoom that if that game were multiplayer, it would be monsterous. When I first heard about this game, I figured there would be literally thousands of people wanting to play multiplayer.

SOWGB is the most fun online, multiplayer game I've ever played.

I'm perplexed.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

I simply don't understand why there are so few multiplayers around. The games we have are a blast. The only problem is that there are too few of us. Honestly, when I first played TC2, I told sspoom that if that game were multiplayer, it would be monsterous. When I first heard about this game, I figured there would be literally thousands of people wanting to play multiplayer.

SOWGB is the most fun online, multiplayer game I've ever played.

I'm perplexed.

Hi.

Well, one reason is the lack of publicity. At this moment there people who are trying to get the news out there about the game such as Rekka, FLGibsonJr on X-Fire which would expose the game to thousands, but they have called out for help to do this, and no one really has answered, so if they don't get the help they need, kiss the x-fire goodbye.

2. Those who do or have played multiplayer sometimes have had bad experiences due to people talking behind each others back, and some members trying to take total control which in the end just kills off interest for mp (no matter the game).

3. This genre is a niche game. Not everyone will go for it, sure they'll take a peek at it, but some will walk away (this doesn't mean the game isn't any good, they just are not interested). It's not World of Warcraft, so there you go.

4. Time Zone's are a killer as well. Hard to get a game going when there is no one in your time zone.

5. DROP the ego bull crap (not directed at anyone in particular).

6. This one I forgot to mention, there are allot of people who are just too shy to play multiplayer. They really do want to play MP it's just they are afraid (just admit it, your afraid) to be seen as poor players, or come off as being stupid, or whatever in the end it may be.

For me personally I get intimidated at times if I play against or in coop someone who I know to be a talker (person who speaks behind your back, and normally not in a good way), and I don't like being made an example of, and I know it actually has happened with this game, along with other MP games I have played.

All in all this is one of the best games out there for MP, and your totally right KG_Soldier there should be more people playing MP.

Suggestion: Why not eventually create the game to allow what most other games have. In DOD for example, you select internet for mp, and whole slew of servers pop up you can choose from. You create a dedicated server, or just wanting to host a game, and you are listed as a server...

This is only my opinion.

Later!

[Garnier]

Perhaps all we need is some sort of "can't miss, easy to use" assembly point.

That's hopefully what teamspeak is, but of course the only way people can find their way there is if they read the sticky in this forum, or if one of us is in the lobby when they come in. Whenever I hang out in the lobby for a day I get one or two new players to play, but I'm not able to sit there constantly waiting. Unfortunately if someone gets the game and goes into the lobby, they'll see no one there and leave thinking no one plays MP.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Perhaps all we need is some sort of "can't miss, easy to use" assembly point.

That's hopefully what teamspeak is, but of course the only way people can find their way there is if they read the sticky in this forum, or if one of us is in the lobby when they come in. Whenever I hang out in the lobby for a day I get one or two new players to play, but I'm not able to sit there constantly waiting. Unfortunately if someone gets the game and goes into the lobby, they'll see no one there and leave thinking no one plays MP.

Hi Garnier.

This is only my personal opinion.

X-Fire would be the best jump off point for this game. You can also while playing the game have voice (X-Fire supports this), among other cool features.

But like I said, it's my personal opinion only, and I think Rekka, and FLGibsonJr are on the right track.

later.

[McHugh]

Once I become a little more familiar with the game, I'll join a multiplayer game with you guys. I just bought the game this past Sunday, and my friend and I tried one battle multiplayer. I did find it a bit laggy though, certainly slower then single player. As I have a faster computer and faster video card then my friend, would the lag be attributable to his machine?

[KG_Soldier]

There's always a little lag in MP games compared to single player. But once you get used to it, it's hardly noticeable.

But, yes, computer speed is the culprit, most of the time.

[NY Cavalry]

The game is an excellent game, and with the latest patch even better.

I haven't been around lately because my schedule has been very busy. I play when I can.

New players dropping into the lobby find that the lobby is empty. That is not because there are no players it is because the players are on teamspeak. Willard tells me new guys come by the lobby looking for a game cannot at that time and leave. Willard cannot host. Which brings up another problem, and that is hosting. An easier way to host would be preferable if possible.

If the word can get around for this game it would be much more successful.

European players need a place to set up games. They could use teamspeak and the forums. I think we would have a large group of just German players if they could get themselves together.

Our English friends stay up late to play with us here in the USA.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Hi.

First, and foremost I have to apologize if I sounded miffed in my earlier post. I was a bit off center with my reply, and if I offended anyone then please accept my apology (if it's fitting to do so). I sometimes can be a bit mouthy, and very opinionated at times (wife keeps reminding me of that) which can, and has sometimes more often than not got me into trouble.

This is one of the best games for multiplayer on the market, and I would love to see this game get the attention it so rightly deserves, and see the multiplayer ranks grow.

As far as Teamspeak goes, I really don't think that it should be used as a jumping point, I feel that teamspeak would be better suited as it was meant to be, an addition to the multiplayer experience not it's jumping point. I don't think that it should be announced as an official, or unofficial starting point to play multiplayer (just my opinion).

I know at the moment that new owners of the game first select the Multiplayer, then join the MP server, and most often times see no one online. They try this several times, and perhaps think that what have they purchased? A game that no one supports online?


Anyway, thanks for this great game guys...

[SouthernSteel]

But what would be a good fix for that? I can't think of anything suitable offhand. If people don't come read the forums, they will miss out on any extra info those of us who do play MP post to help. I would like to think that many people do come check the forums, but I don't see that being the case.

The fix (if we can call it that) must be something organic to the MP lobby, since that's where players are funneled naturally when seeking out MP for the first time.

TS is mostly just a means to open direct dialogue and offer real-time help. We feel like generally we can talk things out and answer questions and offer advice on whatever more quickly and easily. Plus we have found that once some of us use it, it is absolutely indispensable to good team coordination and cohesion. No offense to Willard or anyone, but we find that if other players (particularly new players) can be on to at least hear us, everything just works better. In all honesty, I am really looking forward to getting back to TS discipline once the Shenandoah MP Campaign gets under way again. Then we will be playing mostly by courier with voice chat used only sparingly.

[Willard]

Gents -

I would be on TS if I could, but that is not possible because of where I am.

The issue is not whether TS is good for playing MP games or not.
That answer is simple, as once you are playing or if you are having problems, TS makes life much easier.

The question posed is why people aren't playing MP and that is an entirely different issue.
When talking about growing the MP community, TS is NOT the answer for initial recruitment.
Most regular MP players now congregate on TS and not in the MP lobby.
The regular MP players only jump into the MP lobby at the last moment before the game starts or some just join direct via IP.
This gives the perception to new players looking for games that the MP lobby is dead as the lobby as empty.

As the majority of MP players don't hang out in the MP lobby - and I do by necessity - I see this alot of the times. New players come in looking for games or game times and I can't help them because I don't know myself and can't host either. The difference is that I know if I log into the MP lobby, sooner or later someone will pop in that is on TS and let me know when the next game is. Because that "blind squirrel find nut" strategy has worked for me, most new players don't know to hang around and wait.

Bottomline is - as things stand right now - that if you are looking to bring more MP players in, than you simply need to hang out in the MP lobby more. That doesn't mean you can't use TS to coordinate with the regular players or in game, it just means that new players don't see all the activity going on behind the scenes.

At one point in time I used to make a concerted effort to post MP game times in the MP forum. I think that worked pretty well to an extent, but since I can't host I am limited with I can do.

Personnally, I think the best way to handle this would be use some sort of Mplayer or GameSpy (which I despise) application where you just log into that vice logging into the actual game to set-up MP games. In the old Mplayer days, setting up Sid Meier's Gettysburg games was very simple as people just logged in to MPlayer and you could see how many players were in the lobby looking for games.

I like the idea of a campaign game, but once again, that has been tried several times and collapsed due to a variety of factors. I can't speak for anyone else, but I would like to play in the campaign game but I am just too frustrated with all the extraneous BS from past iterations to get motivated about it. Plus, since I can't host, can't use TS, incompetent at modding, etc, I can bring no added value other than as one more player.

The other issue is the start times on the games. I am now 2 hours behind EST and most games start at 7:00pm EST. That means I need to get home by 5PM my time to get into that game and that rarely happens. It was the same problem with the campaign game as well. We used to have a late night game - about 10PM EST - when Rich and Harmon could host, but their schedules haven't been able to accomodate that recently.

*S*

Willard