Another design flaw: Playing vs. Wants to Play
by Jackal · in General Game Discussion · 06/15/2003 (4:27 pm) · 5 replies
I think you would get a lot more people playing if you didn't have to "be playing" in order to be seen as "wants to play".
By that I mean when you click search you see all the servers with 0 players. What do you don't see are all the other people sitting outside the servers on the Search screen hitting "Refresh" waiting for people come on.
I think you'd have a lot more players if you could chat with people on the Search screen and say something like, "Let's all join HomeLan East 3 now."
I know that would be a lot more work in the client, to be able to support that, but you'd get a lot more people playing I think. Cause right now people hit the Search screen, see 0 players, and just quit. What they don't see are all the other people who want to be playing right now, but haven't joined a server because they are tired of just playing against botz.
Just a suggesetion.
By that I mean when you click search you see all the servers with 0 players. What do you don't see are all the other people sitting outside the servers on the Search screen hitting "Refresh" waiting for people come on.
I think you'd have a lot more players if you could chat with people on the Search screen and say something like, "Let's all join HomeLan East 3 now."
I know that would be a lot more work in the client, to be able to support that, but you'd get a lot more people playing I think. Cause right now people hit the Search screen, see 0 players, and just quit. What they don't see are all the other people who want to be playing right now, but haven't joined a server because they are tired of just playing against botz.
Just a suggesetion.
#2
06/16/2003 (5:33 am)
Sounds like a "lobby" is needed....
#3
Like a web-client for those "I wanna play"-needs.
In case you can create such a thing, it also needs to have some sort of communication-ability - at least an "I'm on my way"-signal 'cause it can take some time for certain computers to stop what their doing and load Orbz. People needs to know when to wait for someone.
06/16/2003 (10:30 am)
This is a VERY good suggestion. Also, it would be really great if you could make such a "I wanna play" thing which can be used outside the game. People may not wanna sit and click "refresh" over and over again, but maybe work with something else, surf the net, or whatever - whilst waiting for people to play against.Like a web-client for those "I wanna play"-needs.
In case you can create such a thing, it also needs to have some sort of communication-ability - at least an "I'm on my way"-signal 'cause it can take some time for certain computers to stop what their doing and load Orbz. People needs to know when to wait for someone.
#4
I rather do other things than playing against bots while I wait for other players to join. A simple little *BLING* would do when someone else is logging on, and not just while in the lobby, but during games too - for those who actually like to play against bots while waiting for other fellow players.
Just a thought to improve our Orbz-orbiting lives...
Regards;
Michael W-lund ( aka "Incoming" )
06/26/2003 (12:53 pm)
While we're still talking about all those hosting games/wanna play notification - issues - I have one which is pretty small and simple to resolve and this has been on my mind for quite some time; It's basically the lack of an audible notification when other people join your private hosted Orbz games/servers. I have been hosting games on my own server more and more regularly (Incoming's Server) and I have felt kind of shackled to my computer until that first player joins - mainly becuase I have to watch the screen every tenth second to see if there's anyone else there. Otherwise I could do other stuff in the meantime, like chores in the kitchen, grab a snack, watch some TV or whatever's appropriate for the moment.I rather do other things than playing against bots while I wait for other players to join. A simple little *BLING* would do when someone else is logging on, and not just while in the lobby, but during games too - for those who actually like to play against bots while waiting for other fellow players.
Just a thought to improve our Orbz-orbiting lives...
Regards;
Michael W-lund ( aka "Incoming" )
#5
Dave
21-6
06/26/2003 (5:56 pm)
That is definitely an interesting idea there Michael. We'll put that one on "the list".Dave
21-6
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