The Declining State of Natural Selection Servers: A Plea

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  • SariselSarisel .::' ( O ) ';:-. .-.:;' ( O ) '::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    <img src="http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8997/steamstats03112007gp0.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
    Headed towards a playercount of 0, that's where NS is headed. I'm waiting for NS2.
  • FirewaterFirewater Balance Expert Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10690Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    True that,

    I recommend playing dystopia on my two that I have set up. You will never have to worry about bullish admins or anything like that, and its actually a great game now.
    <!--quoteo(post=1613621:date=Mar 11 2007, 07:26 PM:name=F4tManMGS2)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F4tManMGS2 @ Mar 11 2007, 07:26 PM) [snapback]1613621[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Okay with it? I can deal with it because I don't think playing video games online is about complete and utter silence never even letting anyone know I might have a shread of personality in me.

    I'm saying that these people that cry NS IS DEAD NS IS DEAD NS IS DEAD because they can't play the way <b><i><u>they</u></i></b> want to really need to, as you put it, SUYF. If they have such a problem with the way other people play on other servers, don't play on these servers. And if it comes to there are no servers left for you to play on, host your own. Sitting on these forums whining and moaning about how the game isn't the way you like it won't solve ANYTHING considering that the people who read this forum typically don't own these pubs and frankly those who do own these pubs couldn't care less about your opinion. If you really wanted to do something about it, you'd go to servers that have banned you and actually post a someone humiliating ban appeal and hope for the best. Otherwise, you'll be outsourced from this "community" due to the fact that you fail to adhere to other people's preferences.

    "Rocked" firewater?

    "rocked"?

    If there aren't enough people who share your beleifs as to create your own server, guess what? Your opinion is worth next to nil. What is "right" and what is "wrong" and what the purpose of this game is and what a server should be like aren't up to a minority of players who couldn't even host their own server. They're up to the masses who set the definitions. While you can sit and whine that your NS is dying, you need to udnerstand that it's just YOUR NS that's dying. Some people like the way it's headed.
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    I don't understand why you mentioned my name.

    Its not up to the masses to setup the definitions, its up to the server operators, if it were up to the masses I would have quit online gaming a long time ago. For example, when NSA was around and thriving, probably every competitive player in the USA had a reserve slot on the veteran's server. This server directly violates your purpose in online gaming, yet thrived for well over a year. Next to the hamptons, its regarded by many as the best NS server that has ever existed.

    If the masses determined what all servers should do, they would have banned all competitive players from their communities, simply because they exhibit superior skills.

    As far as I see, the anti-competitive players (though such a thing non-existent) have won. NS leagues are dwindled down to next to nothing, people are moving on to other games. Server operators will not have to worry about being embarrassed by competitive players anymore.

    Competitive players on average just want to play the game the way they know it best. Casual players want a sense of mastery at a game they are most likely not good at, but want to think so just the same. There are very little competitive players in numbers, as well as it seems 0 competitive friendly servers. The casual players win. Remove all the competitive players from your servers, so you do not have to deal with getting better as a player, low self-efficacy, or feelings of no value. Just remember though, that you are powerless against those who exhibit superior skills, and that its your own fault for whining, not improving <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    Have a good one homie!
  • F4tManMGS2F4tManMGS2 Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27842Members
    So to combat NS' death you want us to.... play dystopia.

    Interesting strategy. If we all play dystopia, we'll eventually get bored of it, and come back to NS. BRILLIANT!
  • IconoclastIconoclast Join Date: 2004-06-23 Member: 29481Members, Constellation
    Firearms: Source or NS2, whichever first. Until then, random pubbing and dota I guess.
  • SEK2000BlackhawkSEK2000Blackhawk Join Date: 2003-04-17 Member: 15602Members
    edited March 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1613619:date=Mar 11 2007, 06:11 PM:name=Firewater)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Firewater @ Mar 11 2007, 06:11 PM) [snapback]1613619[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Straight K:D is a terrible way to do stats.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I have balanced our server around the res unit. Because this game is all about resources and resource usage, this makes your first stop on the way to a balance system. Works well so far <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • SariselSarisel .::&#39; ( O ) &#39;;:-. .-.:;&#39; ( O ) &#39;::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    Nobody is trying to "save NS". It can't be done. The people who like it still play it. Those that are getting "outsourced" wish that their cries would make a difference, but I think they know it doesn't make a difference. They're slowly being banned from the only servers that used to give semi-decent games.

    Before, when NS was more popular, there were scrims and pugs which were a welcome substitute for pubs. That's what CS and DoD still has. One sign of a dying mod is when the competitive community returns to the pub scene.

    As for dystopia... I don't know how popular dystopia will become, but I don't really want to dedicate myself to a[nother] mod without a solid competitive backbone.
  • NSismylifeNSismylife Join Date: 2007-03-11 Member: 60323Members
    Firewater this is totally unrelated, but do you have a guy going around smurfing as you on other servers?
  • F4tManMGS2F4tManMGS2 Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27842Members
    Firewater, your name is mentioend due to you quoting sarisal and saying "rocked".

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Its not up to the masses to setup the definitions, its up to the server operators<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I'd disagree. If I go put up a vanilla combat server right now, I'm willing to bet that my playerbase will float around 3/12, average. The reason? Not much interest in the playerbase of NS for a vanilla combat server. If a server operator wants to make a successful server, he needs to succumb to the will of the masses. THat's why competetive players keep getting banned in the first place.

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If the masses determined what all servers should do, they would have banned all competitive players from their communities, simply because they exhibit superior skills.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Gee whiz, isn't that the problem the starter/supporters of this thread are trying to address? The point I'm trying to make here is that sitting together in a little pow-wow won't solve this problem. Either open up a new server, adapt to other people's wishes, or try to convince the owners of other servers to agree with you. The problem is that these forums comprimise a select few pubbers and a majority of competetive-esque players, at least that's what I've taken in.
  • MiloMilo Join Date: 2007-03-07 Member: 60284Members
    edited March 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=0:date=lol, rofl:name=F4tManMGS2)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F4tManMGS2 @ lol, rofl)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    words
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Listen if you want a social environment, go load up mirc and go in a random chatroom, or better yet go hang out with your real life friends.

    When I want to play NS, I'm going to go play NS. All I want to do is shoot skulks or chomp marines. I have no interest in talking to the guy who keeps shouting "CHUCK NORRIS CHUCK NORRIS LOL" over his mic repeatedly.
  • F4tManMGS2F4tManMGS2 Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27842Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1613645:date=Mar 11 2007, 07:54 PM:name=Milo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Milo @ Mar 11 2007, 07:54 PM) [snapback]1613645[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Listen if you want a social environment, go load up mirc and go in a random chatroom, or better yet go hang out with your real life friends.

    When I want to play NS, I'm going to go play NS. All I want to do is shoot skulks or chomp marines. I have no interest in talking to the guy who keeps shouting "CHUCK NORRIS CHUCK NORRIS LOL" over his mic repeatedly.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Thanks for proving my point.
  • NSismylifeNSismylife Join Date: 2007-03-11 Member: 60323Members
    NS communities = taking NS way, way too seriously.
  • MiloMilo Join Date: 2007-03-07 Member: 60284Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1613648:date=Mar 12 2007, 01:06 AM:name=F4tManMGS2)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F4tManMGS2 @ Mar 12 2007, 01:06 AM) [snapback]1613648[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Thanks for proving my point.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    What? That when I intend to play a game I want to play the game not start a relationship?
  • F4tManMGS2F4tManMGS2 Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27842Members
    Yup. Most pubs don't want people who play that way. That's why competetive players get banned so irrationally without thought of removval.s
  • NSismylifeNSismylife Join Date: 2007-03-11 Member: 60323Members
    Are you saying most pubs would rather you make friends with everyone in the server than just play the game?

    Because this is not IRC. It's a game.
  • TalTal Join Date: 2005-02-23 Member: 42223Members
    there are 2 ns servers i can still play on, get used to it
  • NSismylifeNSismylife Join Date: 2007-03-11 Member: 60323Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1613662:date=Mar 12 2007, 01:42 AM:name=Tal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tal @ Mar 12 2007, 01:42 AM) [snapback]1613662[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    there are 2 ns servers i can still play on, get used to it
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    It's your rate hacks. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • WyzcrakWyzcrak Pot Pie Aficionado Join Date: 2002-12-04 Member: 10447Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    Guys, we're starting to look like ###### in this thread.

    <!--quoteo(post=1613616:date=Mar 11 2007, 06:03 PM:name=Firewater)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Firewater @ Mar 11 2007, 06:03 PM) [snapback]1613616[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Saraph if you have enough players interested, please contact me, perhaps we can work something out.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Saraph, please contact FW. He has ambition for making things work, and you guys making something (anything) work would be best for everyone involved.

    Now, look again at the topic of this thread:

    The Declining State of Natural Selection Servers: A Plea

    Fair to say we're not going to accomplish anything else in this thread? Unless someone can bring something new, it might be time to let this one go.
  • SariselSarisel .::&#39; ( O ) &#39;;:-. .-.:;&#39; ( O ) &#39;::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1613659:date=Mar 11 2007, 09:40 PM:name=NSismylife)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NSismylife @ Mar 11 2007, 09:40 PM) [snapback]1613659[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Are you saying most pubs would rather you make friends with everyone in the server than just play the game?

    Because this is not IRC. It's a game.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    This is EXACTLY what the truth is for pubs where there is a sense of community. People don't really just want to compete against and get beaten by an upper-tier player. It's the sense of community and fun that makes for successful servers.


    <!--quoteo(post=1613667:date=Mar 11 2007, 09:49 PM:name=Wyzcrak)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wyzcrak @ Mar 11 2007, 09:49 PM) [snapback]1613667[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Saraph, please contact FW. He has ambition for making things work, and you guys making something (anything) work would be best for everyone involved.

    Now, look again at the topic of this thread:

    The Declining State of Natural Selection Servers: A Plea

    Fair to say we're not going to accomplish anything else in this thread? Unless someone can bring something new, it might be time to let this one go.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I don't think a server geared towards competitive play will be worth it at this point, especially with 3.2. I don't want to really promote the concept of a server for competitive players to flood, even if it were to get populated, because there will be plenty of teamstacking and the games won't be enjoyable in general - who wants to play in a disorganized alien team against a team of ubermarines? Forcing autoassign is stupid because competitive players get fed up with it.

    What about a pseudo-competitive server? FW tried to bring back NSArmslab classic and that didn't work out. So... no, I don't really want to do anything with pub NS as it is right now. It's anti-pub when it comes to any decent level skilled play because the aliens must work as a team more than the marines (should be the other way around for pubs to work).
  • TalTal Join Date: 2005-02-23 Member: 42223Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1613568:date=Mar 11 2007, 03:15 PM:name=F4tManMGS2)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F4tManMGS2 @ Mar 11 2007, 03:15 PM) [snapback]1613568[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    That’s the point here. Pub NS is a SOCIAL EVENT.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    what a terrible social life
  • NSismylifeNSismylife Join Date: 2007-03-11 Member: 60323Members
    Tal is correct.

    I don't really think it has a whole lot to do with the sense of community. I just think pubs ban good players because they don't like getting owned consistently. It's a frustrating thing to see a guy go 20-1 consistently on your server. People complain, and admins cater to the complaints. Simple.
  • IconoclastIconoclast Join Date: 2004-06-23 Member: 29481Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    At one time I thought NS might be in the CPL. Instead NS went xmenu, ###### PRO. The majority of servers are filled with ######wits who only want to play with people as dumb as they are.

    that's the summary of this thread - please close it.
  • FirewaterFirewater Balance Expert Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10690Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1613632:date=Mar 11 2007, 08:15 PM:name=F4tManMGS2)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F4tManMGS2 @ Mar 11 2007, 08:15 PM) [snapback]1613632[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    So to combat NS' death you want us to.... play dystopia.

    Interesting strategy. If we all play dystopia, we'll eventually get bored of it, and come back to NS. BRILLIANT!
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    All or none rationale/logic are often the most idiotic forms of debate.

    I am catering to the competitive players that want to play a great game with lots of teamwork AND individual skill. I could careless what YOU or the people you regularly game with do.

    <!--quoteo(post=1613670:date=Mar 11 2007, 10:12 PM:name=Tal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tal @ Mar 11 2007, 10:12 PM) [snapback]1613670[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    what a terrible social life
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Uber Rokt.
  • F4tManMGS2F4tManMGS2 Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27842Members
    I'm tired of arguing this considering no one really seems to understand my point here (myself included)

    If you do pub though, just keep these things in mind:

    1. throwing in an "lol" every now and then will give away the illusion of personailty. This alone will score you ethos points if you ever do get banned.
    2. If you're banned, try as hard as possible to either suck up or talk rationally. If they still ban you, well, they're probably tards but w/e.

    If you try the above, you might find that pubbing isn't as you'd think it is
  • SmoodCrooznSmoodCroozn Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22310Members
    Wow admins these days.

    I go aliens. Nobody drops anything after 3 minutes. I suggest SC. I ask if anyone else wants to. One person says MC. 1 vote against another, so I say why not SC, we went MC 5 times before.

    Then after I drop sc, people say MC. Then I'm threatened with a ban the next time I do this. I say check the logs to see that the people responded after I dropped the SC. Then he says he would like to temp ban me for me to talk on the forums.

    If you want something, say it. Don't get angry if something happens that you could have prevented yourself. Some admins rule on rules, others use arbitrary actions.
  • SariselSarisel .::&#39; ( O ) &#39;;:-. .-.:;&#39; ( O ) &#39;::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1613600:date=Mar 11 2007, 06:14 PM:name=TrueVeritas)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TrueVeritas @ Mar 11 2007, 06:14 PM) [snapback]1613600[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    <a href="http://www.online-evolution.org/forum/index.php?topic=865.0" target="_blank">http://www.online-evolution.org/forum/index.php?topic=865.0</a>

    Lets see where this thread goes.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Judging by <a href="http://www.online-evolution.org/forum/index.php?topic=644.0" target="_blank">this thread</a> and <a href="http://www.online-evolution.org/forum/index.php?topic=698.0" target="_blank">this thread</a>, I doubt that you will have any luck. Unless tpyo really is a hacking ######bag with his macro tool, like they say.
  • F4tManMGS2F4tManMGS2 Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27842Members
    edited March 2007
    Lol two wonderful threads Sarisel. That type of behaivor I do not condone in any way shape or form. That is seemingly a ridiculous excuse for a banning process.

    kudos to them though for actually having a ban page. Kinda cool; they show who's banned, by whom, and why. Don Caberllo (sp? too tired to check) was baned for "super lamer - base recycling".

    oh god oh god

    if you read down on their ban list, two players were banned for "quitting during a CO game"

    oh that is so great. I mean, that's wonderful.
  • ZekZek Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 7962Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    This has absolutely nothing to do with NS servers and everything to do with the admins of online FPS servers. This stuff never changes. Very few people are capable of handling that power responsibly.

    <!--quoteo(post=1613685:date=Mar 11 2007, 11:55 PM:name=SmoodCroozn)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SmoodCroozn @ Mar 11 2007, 11:55 PM) [snapback]1613685[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Wow admins these days.

    I go aliens. Nobody drops anything after 3 minutes. I suggest SC. I ask if anyone else wants to. One person says MC. 1 vote against another, so I say why not SC, we went MC 5 times before.

    Then after I drop sc, people say MC. Then I'm threatened with a ban the next time I do this. I say check the logs to see that the people responded after I dropped the SC. Then he says he would like to temp ban me for me to talk on the forums.

    If you want something, say it. Don't get angry if something happens that you could have prevented yourself. Some admins rule on rules, others use arbitrary actions.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    To be fair, I'd say you were in the wrong. In any given server there's always an established "default" chamber order, usually MSD. It's understood that aliens will go that way if nothing else is planned, for simplicity's sake. A tied vote should go to the default. Basically you suggested a chamber, someone shot you down, and then you dropped it anyway. You had no team support for your suggestion. This is especially problematic for SCs, which is generally ineffective if it doesn't have enough team coordination in advance.
  • SariselSarisel .::&#39; ( O ) &#39;;:-. .-.:;&#39; ( O ) &#39;::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
    I am somewhat confused now. Don Caballero is TrueVeritas, is he not? If so, he is banned for recycling base for 28 days. This is quite different than being banned for hacking.
  • NSismylifeNSismylife Join Date: 2007-03-11 Member: 60323Members
    'Recycling base' could mean anything though, like recycling the phase gate in marine start when the marines have no other phase gate on the map and aliens have three hives and are attacking MS as we speak.

    (Yes I have been banned for this before)
  • NadagastNadagast Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6884Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1613695:date=Mar 12 2007, 12:17 AM:name=Zek)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zek @ Mar 12 2007, 12:17 AM) [snapback]1613695[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This has absolutely nothing to do with NS servers and everything to do with the admins of online FPS servers.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's been my experience (although I haven't pubbed for at least 6 months) that this problem exists in other games but it's much much worse in NS.
This discussion has been closed.