Community Idea - free public servers

smilodon · July 20, 2009, 06:08:18 PM

Oldie asked for new threads branching from the original debate thread, so here goes

The more I think about the more I think the idea of having open public forums might not be such a bad idea. It's at least worth us chewing over.

If I'm right in my assumption that with the new hardware and generous bandwidth we could run a much higher number of servers then we could have a tiered system. We have a number of branded low or non admin'd servers that anyone can play on as long as they don't actually cheat. They would be branded as dMw public servers (or something) and would be "our gift to the gaming community" (Penfold can work on the word science and make that sound better :wink: ) We clearly offer these on an 'as is' basis. People come and use them and we get more 'action as a result.We're not responsible for the standards of play and they don't reflect our own way of playing.

But we also offer something else. You like this game? You wanna play with quality payers on a well admined server? Want to join the dMw cummunity? Then we offer access to the 'inner sanctum'. Sign up on the forums, read and agree with the community rules and you now get to play on the real dMw servers.

So in effect the publics become a 'honey trap' for the quaility mature players we want. As long as we make it crystal clear that the public servers are exactly that 'public' and 'unrestricted' and that the real dMw servers are here as well, we could keep the two separate and not undermine our standards or reputation.

I'm sure there are problems with this model but it might be worth a discussion.

Obviously I take no credit for this as it was an idea that was evolving in the other thread. It just might be better giving it a home of it's own.

Sn00ks · July 20, 2009, 07:40:24 PM

Quote from: smilodon;283110Want to join the dMw cummunity?

Hmm, not sure what sort of clientelle you are trying to attrack Smilo? :norty:

I think a couple of sandpit servers might be good for drawing in the hoi-poloi, as Smilodon so elequently put it. Maybe we could have periodic sessions on them where we try and guide the players to play our way? That way we could pimp for new blood?

Lameduck · July 20, 2009, 07:54:57 PM

We have tried this on Dead Men Racing for the past few months, with a Live for Speed demo being setup by Oldie on our server. Jamin has kindly looked after the admin during the period.

We expected and got a lot of hotheads, spoilers and lowlife, but did expect to attract a few potential recruits to dMw.

It was closed down last week as it had attracted no new blood and Jamin decided enough was enough and I agreed with him.

Jewelz^ · July 20, 2009, 08:25:28 PM

maybe we could get a gun game for cs? that attracts alot of people, although maybe not serious gamers..
just a suggestion :byebye:

smilodon · July 20, 2009, 09:16:51 PM

I guess the idea is to attract a lot of passing trade and then try to draw in quality people who want somewhere decent to play. If it's been tried with racing without success then maybe it's not such a good idea?

Doorman · July 20, 2009, 09:43:57 PM

Quote from: smilodon;283145I guess the idea is to attract a lot of passing trade and then try to draw in quality people who want somewhere decent to play. If it's been tried with racing without success then maybe it's not such a good idea?

It was, and is, tried with racing with terrific success. What isn't fully understood is that racers are, for the most part, only interesting in racing. Of all the dMr members we have, I can think of only one that has made a transition to other games. Our servers (whoever is running them) are always public except for special events, there is always well, more often than not, an admin present and they take no er...nonsense. Consequently people, that is good people, come back time and again.
:2cents:

Jamin · July 20, 2009, 10:04:41 PM

Quote from: Lameduck;283134We have tried this on Dead Men Racing for the past few months, with a Live for Speed demo

Usually, anyone decent leaves the server if idiots are on, if I wore my tag and went on as admin kicking the idiots, the decent people stuck around but they were few and most nights I was on my own and lonely. It would have been a great effort to try and compete against the established good servers. I concluded that we needed four or five good people on most nights to get people coming back, and we already have a server just like that.

Checking the logs showed we did have some regulars but no one ever came and registered on the forums, even the few I chatted with. I think it was down to the nature of the server being free for all that just attracted people who play on free for all servers.

Quality not quantity is how I believe it should be but just to add that I also play CSS and BF2142, I steer clear of organised servers as I just want to run around shooting anything that moves and generally dick about, so free for all servers are where I go, I don't care who runs them and will never visit their forums.

Blunt · July 20, 2009, 11:31:53 PM

My only experiences of this sort of thing was when we went over to CSS and Boomer was opened to the public, and when BF2 was dish de jour with our public server.
We enforced the rules (with a plentiful supply of new pub admins) and encouraged people to come into the light.
It worked very well, and many good people joined our ranks, some of them are now admins and regulars in different section of the community.

I honestly don't believe that public frag servers (that is what they will be) will serve our cause.
I don't know what the answer is, but I'm sure it's not that.

T-Bag · July 21, 2009, 01:11:57 AM

In it's current form this idea is just giving away a server. There will be little or no reason for them to check out the forum or move to our way of playing.
We need some sort of a lure. For instance mid-way through a popular day a message pops up saying this is now becoming a public TC:S sever and have admins come on for an hour make a song and dance. I don't know. the people will need the kick of seeing mature/tactical play.

FrEnZy · July 22, 2009, 01:36:04 PM

What about a tactical gamming newbie night for any section that wants more players?

Each section could advertise on forums etc. as required, have admins on hand, willing deadmen who are happy to help people out, and do what we can to get people into a teamwork kind of spirit.

GhostMjr · July 22, 2009, 05:34:50 PM

I have asked this question several times...

Here we go again.

How much can our servers cope with and what is their current load/ usage?

From knowing this we can then prioritize.

If we don't know what they can cope with then surely we shouldn't jump in the deep end and provide public servers that could hamper the performance of our private servers.

From what i have gathered we have high performance kit but is it all at full capacity or is it barely breaking a sweat.

Whitey · July 22, 2009, 05:45:47 PM

Quote from: GhostMjr;283357I have asked this question several times...

Here we go again.

How much can our servers cope with and what is their current load/ usage?

From knowing this we can then prioritize.

If we don't know what they can cope with then surely we shouldn't jump in the deep end and provide public servers that could hamper the performance of our private servers.

From what i have gathered we have high performance kit but is it all at full capacity or is it barely breaking a sweat.

You have a way with words GM :flirty:

I don't remember seeing several requests for information on server loading and usage but I'll take your word for it that I've been slacking and not providing the information to you. :devil:

Processor/Network wise the servers will take pretty much whatever we throw at them. We're not so good on memory at the moment but we are already looking to upgrade BA4 to allow us some more head room. We shouldn't see the servers as limiting what we do, so don't worry about the servers, that's what I'm here for.

GhostMjr · July 22, 2009, 05:51:30 PM

Quote from: Whitey;283362You have a way with words GM :flirty:

I don't remember seeing several requests for information on server loading and usage but I'll take your word for it that I've been slacking and not providing the information to you. :devil:

Processor/Network wise the servers will take pretty much whatever we throw at them. We're not so good on memory at the moment but we are already looking to upgrade BA4 to allow us some more head room. We shouldn't see the servers as limiting what we do, so don't worry about the servers, that's what I'm here for.

Great thats awesome

Thanks for the response Whitey and its great to see our servers in good hands

On that basis what games would be good to get cracking with for joe public?

We tried TF2 but due to the lack of community interest this was closed.

Can anyone think of other suggestions for games to spread the dMw name?

Sparko · July 22, 2009, 06:02:39 PM

dont forget we have modern warfare 2 being released soon, i would think that would be popular game....

Suggestions:

Cod2 (old i know but still very popular with Joe Public)
ARMAII
Flight Sim X (not sure on online popularity)
Red Faction Guerrilla (released soon)

actually its very hard to think of any :blink:

*shys away and crawls back under desk*

JonnyAppleSeed · July 22, 2009, 06:39:37 PM

Opening public servers needs thought and a strong admin base. If not its just an open server with joe public doing as they like. I think back to nights on servers where i spent more time doing the admin thing than actualy playing the game (no fun at all)