Naming Gathers - What should this system be called?
Hugh
CameramanSan Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
CameramanSan Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
G'day everyone,
If, hypothetically, Unknown Worlds was getting close to releasing an organised play system for NS2, what should we call it?
In the NS community, 'gather' is an often used term. However, we can't find evidence of it being used in any other game. It does pop up among some Quake, TF and other harder-core shooter communities, but never as an in game term.
Instead, these systems go by names such as 'Play With Friends' (CS:GO,L4D2). 'Matchmaking' is not an appropriate term, as this hypothetical system does not yet support finding matches based on skill or other variables. Other terms similar to 'gather,' such as PUG ('pick up game'), suffer from some degree of obscurity when used outside harder-core shooter communities.
Names that have been proposed for this hypothetical system include:
Team Play
Gather
Organised Play
PUG
Hangouts
Lobby
Group Play
Queue
Party Mode
Matchmaking
Quick Match
Right now, 'Organised Play' stands out as an appropriate term. It would, hypothetically, sit below 'Play' in the main menu. Play would be renamed 'Browse Servers.'
Hypothetically, of course.
If, hypothetically, Unknown Worlds was getting close to releasing an organised play system for NS2, what should we call it?
In the NS community, 'gather' is an often used term. However, we can't find evidence of it being used in any other game. It does pop up among some Quake, TF and other harder-core shooter communities, but never as an in game term.
Instead, these systems go by names such as 'Play With Friends' (CS:GO,L4D2). 'Matchmaking' is not an appropriate term, as this hypothetical system does not yet support finding matches based on skill or other variables. Other terms similar to 'gather,' such as PUG ('pick up game'), suffer from some degree of obscurity when used outside harder-core shooter communities.
Names that have been proposed for this hypothetical system include:
Team Play
Gather
Organised Play
PUG
Hangouts
Lobby
Group Play
Queue
Party Mode
Matchmaking
Quick Match
Right now, 'Organised Play' stands out as an appropriate term. It would, hypothetically, sit below 'Play' in the main menu. Play would be renamed 'Browse Servers.'
Hypothetically, of course.
Comments
If you like a word, try to explain why. Give examples of other games where it is used, and consider its appeal across the largest possible audience.
It lets players know that they will be entering a queue with other players to start a game.
People inside this community, for the most part, know that a Gather is a place for players to sample competitive-like NS2 play.
People outside the community who try the game will learn that Gather is the place where you go for more organized/advanced play.
Stop stressing about it. You won't find people not buying the game because of some weird "gather" mode.
I can't think of a better word. I think it would be simple for anyone to understand the verbiage of something along the lines of "The Gather system allows players to form a team before joining a game." Then you would need to get into the details on whether everyone still gets dumped in a ready room, or if it puts two Gather groups in a still pre-game UI where they get to choose sides (and rules for swapping each round or whatever).
It is simply grinded deep deep deep into this community.
Looking for Group
Its a rather known term also, but can have a stigma of suck.
That's specifically not what this system would be.
'Gather' gets my vote. It's a simple term that describes getting a group together. Ultimately, it won't really matter what you call it, as long as it gets advertised and works upon release.
Badger.
More seriously: Keep the word competitive out of it. Would scare most people away. Also "gather" is a bit ambiguous. The issue is not about losing sales, the point is that casuals who would be interested in organized matches rather than random public play would not know what gather meant.
Perhaps something like Organized Games would be best.
Be more confident in UWE to lead the way. People will understand soon enough
- Gather with Friends and Foes in a team based 6v6 match - Sub Title.
To come together; convene
To accumulate
To harvest or pick
To gain by a process of gradual increase
To collect into one place; assemble.
To pick up and enfold
Lets Gather
Its cool because it can have different variable meanings, meaning as the system evolves to suit the community, it will always be relevant.
And stop with the hypothetical stuff, being kept in the dark is pissing me off
Also gather fits best to what this hypothetical system is imho. Speaking about any other of the listed terms i think about other kind of system which the hypothetical system is not.
So Gather fits better than any other term i could imagine.
My other vote would be Organized Play.
or
"Premade matches designed to give a balanced experience to all players through the wonders of organised play"
Teasing threads are not helpful either. Just give us our god damn gather button already!
Aaaaaaand /derail;
Power to the Gather!
Her name is Susan, and that's final.
Well gather works for reasons that have been highlighted. i like pug personally simply because i know what it means but gather has a sort of.. general english feel to it. no jargon.
Gather seems like the most fitting and elegant term, however I guess it may a little ambiguous for newbies, but with a description text that might not matter.
Organized Play could easily work. PUG might be a little too technical (but I don't know how well known the word is for an average player)
I am against 'Lobby' (and most variants proposed) as we already have a lobby - The readyroom.
Throwing in a vote for either "Gather" or "Organized Play".