Best game I've ever had of NS was a little over three hours.
I was aliens and we went down to 0 hives then eventually back upto three hives and crushed the human scum like the worthless tins of meat that they truly are.
It totally depends on whats happening. If it's a close battle, I don't mind it lasting for hours. But if one team is the obvious victor and they are just taking their pretty little time finishing up then I'd rather end it quickly.
Yes I agree with those who spoke about games being over but not finished. No one likes playing a game they KNOW they are going to lose. However, we're looking more at 'ideal' situations here, assuming good balance and gameplay.
For me I do enjoy the epic games, but I couldn't handle EVERY game as a 2+ hour epic battle. It's just too draining. I think a good game will be finished in under an hour, but it should last 30 minutes so each team can get 'committed' and drawn into the game.
Anyway, we'll have to see what 1.1 has in store for us.
ByekaName changed from Freak83TorontoJoin Date: 2003-03-13Member: 14484Members, Constellation
I read that the current ns game length is usually around 22 minutes and in 1.1 they plan to make it half that. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> I like 1 hour games! Strange thing is they also said there will be more play time in the 2-3 hive stages, so how's it gonna be shorter but still able to that? Yuk, a 11 minute game norm would suck.
I love my epic 45 minute battles and I do hope that 1.1 will only make them more fair <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Not a fan of the overly long games. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Same, but sometimes a long game can be fun if its an epic battle for control of something... otherwise, its just boring.
One of the best games i had was ages ago now lasted almost 6hrs, my god was that a map marines moved from one hive to another attacking (no sieges involved, probably what made it so good) it was a pure madness map, wed fight em off theyd come back lose a hive retake another we moved around and around till finally we managed to get therye base, rogue onos i believe, those kinda games are priceless the entire teams both fighting for all hell and no one gave up the whole time was brilliant <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
For a properly balanced game I would say between 45 minutes and an hour. Of course, there are also times when I would love to settle for nice long 2 hour game.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> But if the Marines win, they push further into the ship. New map, fewer windows, similar architecture, completely different layout. Maybe different departments of the ship.. Landing, Residential, Engineering, Operations. If you win, you go from Landing to Residential. Lose on Res, go back to Landing. Have pitched battles that would REALLY keep my interest at least... maybe have servers keeping single 'campaign' series going for days at a time. Join in to fight for your side when you can, and leave the fighting to others when you have to go. Would see a CRUSH for the Operations and Self-Destruct maps, as everyone wants to put the campaign to bed, or try to get it back and keep it going (excepting in the case of S-D maps.. campaign ends after those regardless of WHICH side wins, as the ship's blown up). <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Natural Selection + Close Combat = best freakin mod in the world <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I think most peeps are looking at the question wrong. First of all, he said ideal conditions. So, "it can get tedious if..." statements are completely irrevelant. Basically I look at it like this: "In a game like NS, how long would you like the game to last". In this way, the exact mechanics of NS mean nothing, only your expectations on the playing style of NS. Personally I have no problem with 2-3 minute <i>games</i>, but I HATE 2-3 minute NS games. This is because I feel it is the type of game that I really think needs to be played longer to fully explore the possibilities.
I'd say 20-30 mins is a good average. I love the really long games if they're good, but I think I'd get burned out if they were all that long. So, most games lasting around 20-30 minutes, with the occasional 1-2hr game thrown in would be my cup of tea.
Basically imagine a NS game full from top to bottom of what you love about NS. Every second. No matter what. Now, how long would you like that to go on for before you have to start again?
4 hours would be fun <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
We started it as a pug on ns_nancy, and the game began to get longer and longer until eventually both teams were fully teched out. Game swung backwards and forwards for the last 2 hrs between aliens and marines, and the game only finished when the server crashed <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
I'll admit this was a bit long though, my ideal game length would have to be between 2 and 3 hours.
i dont like 1 hour where they have both hives and we lose (we as in aliens) that is just boring.. i like fighting up front... and seeing the tides of battle change <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
I Just hate that they want to short the game. I think its too short allready, thx for techrush, what i really hate even if i am marine and more if im alien. In 1.1 they could throw away <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif'><!--endemo--> , because its for chickens. Average is now 22 min, thats too short and they are going to put it to 11min!!!!!! OMG, its going to be like playing CS, not cs. I hate cs reallly much. I like epics games. Why doesnt flay read this that he could see what people really wants.WE DONT WANT CS, WE WANT NS!!!!
Hmh, Im used to play quite a long games with RPG's there is around (about 6 hours to take down dragon is quite well) so that has left stains in me, so I say "the longer NS match, the better match" When we can suit ourselves with HA's and stroll around the field in patrols of 2 and destroy resource towers and wandering fades and that way little by little squeeze the aliens resources to minimal and take out a hive - thats a good long game of 1-2 hours. Not those ½ hour failures when aliens are on the winning side and comm gives jetpack to some rambo who then goes and destroys hive "Team 1 won the game" And people are disappointed when there wasnt no Big And Massive Onons/Heavy Armor -army but only one man flying freely without fear of webs
3 hours is too long and 15 minutes is too short... Ideal lenght is about 1 hour <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Call me a whiner but marine hive lockdowns are just a way for a commander to gloat at the aliens. Sure if he ends it all swiftly and with some style (ha/hmg team) then fine lockdown if you must but FOR F0RK's SAKE DONT DRAG THE GAME OUT TO 40 minutes in that state. IF the marines are retarded enuff to lose one hive then its ok <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> aliens rampage over hive and munch the turret farm MUHAHAHA... The game is sorted <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->... IF however the commander goes on to get 15000 turrets in each hive, 6 phases etc... generally takes the **** its just stoopid.
A game should last about 40-50 minutes. I played a really long one last night which went on for about 1:10... i was trying to teach a gorge how to play right and there were only 3 a team.. so we kept the pace low - we could have eaten all the marines in no time but we chose not to... tis just annoying because you spend more time in the ready room than playing that way.
An epic can be any length, even 10 mins. Example, marine start building, a wave of skulks rush in and wipe out all but two of the marines who gun down the alien infestation in blazing glory. They decide a relocation would be best. So off to hive (x), halfway though setting up an ip they hear a familier patter patter so run and hide in the dark. It turns out to be gorge, but still, it is too risky to give away their posisiton. So they wait, but the gorge doen't leave.... the marines get tense, has the gorge spotted them and calling for backup? or is he just waiting for res points? Finally the gorge slaps down an rt and one of our marines justs snaps, running out from his posistion guns blazing shouting, "DIE FAT BOY!!!!! EAT LEAD!!!" Seeing that his comrade has given away their posistion our second hero tries to hurredly finish the ip, only for the room to fill to the roof with skulks and our hapless hero's get torn apart in a sea of ichor and teeth.
ShockehIf a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it...Join Date: 2002-11-19Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
edited March 2003
40 mins to just under an hour.
Long enough to tech or get hives, & lose them, and have a decent scrap at the end one way or the other. After that tends to become a stalemate or decline, and smaller than that doesn't get chance for comedy Onos or mass HA mobs.
What? So I LIKE Mass HA mobs.
EDIT: I spent AGES balancing the colour on that avatar to match the forums <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
and to shoot fade bollocks in with HMG <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
45 minutes, with some short games (good rushes), and of course the epic swing-swing battles where you're 'we're doomed! alas!...no wait...we've regained port engy...hurrah!...'
That_Annoying_KidSire of TitlesJoin Date: 2003-03-01Member: 14175Members, Constellation
as long as there are fun epic battles, and changes in who is in control and comebacks and all the things that make NS fun I'm happy no matter the game length
Comments
I was aliens and we went down to 0 hives then eventually back upto three hives and crushed the human scum like the worthless tins of meat that they truly are.
For me I do enjoy the epic games, but I couldn't handle EVERY game as a 2+ hour epic battle. It's just too draining. I think a good game will be finished in under an hour, but it should last 30 minutes so each team can get 'committed' and drawn into the game.
Anyway, we'll have to see what 1.1 has in store for us.
Regards,
Savant
Not a fan of the overly long games. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Same, but sometimes a long game can be fun if its an epic battle for control of something... otherwise, its just boring.
But if the Marines win, they push further into the ship. New map, fewer windows, similar architecture, completely different layout. Maybe different departments of the ship.. Landing, Residential, Engineering, Operations. If you win, you go from Landing to Residential. Lose on Res, go back to Landing. Have pitched battles that would REALLY keep my interest at least... maybe have servers keeping single 'campaign' series going for days at a time. Join in to fight for your side when you can, and leave the fighting to others when you have to go. Would see a CRUSH for the Operations and Self-Destruct maps, as everyone wants to put the campaign to bed, or try to get it back and keep it going (excepting in the case of S-D maps.. campaign ends after those regardless of WHICH side wins, as the ship's blown up).
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Natural Selection + Close Combat = best freakin mod in the world <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I'd say 20-30 mins is a good average. I love the really long games if they're good, but I think I'd get burned out if they were all that long. So, most games lasting around 20-30 minutes, with the occasional 1-2hr game thrown in would be my cup of tea.
Basically imagine a NS game full from top to bottom of what you love about NS. Every second. No matter what. Now, how long would you like that to go on for before you have to start again?
We started it as a pug on ns_nancy, and the game began to get longer and longer until eventually both teams were fully teched out. Game swung backwards and forwards for the last 2 hrs between aliens and marines, and the game only finished when the server crashed <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
I'll admit this was a bit long though, my ideal game length would have to be between 2 and 3 hours.
non-stop Fade vs HMG n GL wif HA
that's fun....
i dont like 1 hour where they have both hives and we lose (we as in aliens) that is just boring.. i like fighting up front... and seeing the tides of battle change <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
When we can suit ourselves with HA's and stroll around the field in patrols of 2 and destroy resource towers and wandering fades and that way little by little squeeze the aliens resources to minimal and take out a hive - thats a good long game of 1-2 hours. Not those ½ hour failures when aliens are on the winning side and comm gives jetpack to some rambo who then goes and destroys hive "Team 1 won the game" And people are disappointed when there wasnt no Big And Massive Onons/Heavy Armor -army but only one man flying freely without fear of webs
Ideal lenght is about 1 hour <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
A game should last about 40-50 minutes. I played a really long one last night which went on for about 1:10... i was trying to teach a gorge how to play right and there were only 3 a team.. so we kept the pace low - we could have eaten all the marines in no time but we chose not to... tis just annoying because you spend more time in the ready room than playing that way.
Example, marine start building, a wave of skulks rush in and wipe out all but two of the marines who gun down the alien infestation in blazing glory. They decide a relocation would be best. So off to hive (x), halfway though setting up an ip they hear a familier patter patter so run and hide in the dark. It turns out to be gorge, but still, it is too risky to give away their posisiton. So they wait, but the gorge doen't leave.... the marines get tense, has the gorge spotted them and calling for backup? or is he just waiting for res points? Finally the gorge slaps down an rt and one of our marines justs snaps, running out from his posistion guns blazing shouting,
"DIE FAT BOY!!!!! EAT LEAD!!!"
Seeing that his comrade has given away their posistion our second hero tries to hurredly finish the ip, only for the room to fill to the roof with skulks and our hapless hero's get torn apart in a sea of ichor and teeth.
My point is, quality not quantity.
Long enough to tech or get hives, & lose them, and have a decent scrap at the end one way or the other. After that tends to become a stalemate or decline, and smaller than that doesn't get chance for comedy Onos or mass HA mobs.
What? So I LIKE Mass HA mobs.
EDIT: I spent AGES balancing the colour on that avatar to match the forums <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Yes, an eloquent arguement for longer games <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
LOL @ Megatoast/Phoenix...