I still maintain that "gather" or "swarm" or "hive" just means nothing to anyone who hasn't already played a gather or someone who just recently bought NS2. "Organized Games" or "Organized Play" for the win.
In all honesty, it seems a little early to ask the community to name a system that is still under heavy nda. Would be a lot easier if people had a better idea of how it actually works rather than basing it on assumptions.
I still maintain that "gather" or "swarm" or "hive" just means nothing to anyone who hasn't already played a gather or someone who just recently bought NS2. "Organized Games" or "Organized Play" for the win.
no need for pointless verbosity. if people who recently bought NS2 enjoy it enough, chances are they will soon figure out what that button sitting below 'Play' in the main menu does.
If it's a system for players to meet other players of the same skill level and play, I'd call it "Organized Play" (or similar). That term wouldn't scare one that much like "Competetive gatherpug stay out n00bz".
If it's designed especially for high-skilled players, though, I see no reason to not use the term gather.
Anyway, probably the "Play" button should then be changed into something more fitting, like "Server browser".
Also, give it decent toolips.
About Hugh's ideas:
Team Play - unclear/nondescriptive (shouldn't you always play in your team?)
Gather - see above
Organised Play - see above
PUG - alternative to gather, needs a tooltip; fine
Matchmaking - if it's not matchmaking, don't call it so
Group Play - don't know why but don't like it; similar to team play
Lobby - "what? a lobby? for what is it a lobby for?" *confusion*
Queue - completely and utterly nondescriptive ("what am i standing in queue for?")
And the following buttons I'd never, ever, press in any game whatsoever:
Hangouts
Party Mode
Quick Match
Sounds like a quick join option, and seriously, who uses a quickjoin option?
I still maintain that "gather" or "swarm" or "hive" just means nothing to anyone who hasn't already played a gather or someone who just recently bought NS2. "Organized Games" or "Organized Play" for the win.
no need for pointless verbosity. if people who recently bought NS2 enjoy it enough, chances are they will soon figure out what that button sitting below 'Play' in the main menu does.
Riiiiight. Because 2 words instead of 1 word is "pointless verbosity." This sort of warped input is what caused NS2 to be such a flop in terms of player retention in the first place: a chronic community of addicts giving bad feedback to dedicated developers.
Hugh himself suggested Organized Play, and if there's now a 1-word limit on the button, then let's stick to this: "Organize". Plus "Play" is going to be changed to "Browse Servers" or something anyway.
Is it skill based? If so I bet @Golden would have a great answer.
'Matchmaking' is not an appropriate term, as this hypothetical system does not yet support finding matches based on skill or other variables.
First off matchmaking = making a match not necessarily RANKED. The word is self explanatory.
Hugh why is this so vague? Hey guys/gals we are working on a system for matchmaking that isn't matchmaking. So what is it that you are exactly implementing? Is UWE just simply asking for a rename of the play button that takes you to the server browser?
Is this system automatically finding you a match with people? If so only on UWE servers, what are the player counts, will it have separate selections between ranked and normal play? Will I get to preselect aliens/marine or comm for either?
Or is this just simple a room I join with a list of people waiting to play a match and dependent on those individuals to put the group together like old school LFG ( looking for group) for MMO's (massive multiplayer online games).
The name of the tab you select should be self-explanatory and simple. Such as queue or once more information is put out on what this system is I could provide a better name.
Gather is too vague of a term, and doesn't feel good as a button on the menu because it's not informative as to what it does, instead sounding like some kind of advanced option that newbies won't touch.
I'd go with either an informative name like: "Organised Play", "Team Play", "Group Play", "Team Finder", "Quick Game", "Find a game"
or an awesome name that people won't help but click: "War Room", "Join The War", "War Lobby", "War War War is Peace" etc.
A new person or even regular pubber would not recognize gather as much as Organized Play. Organized Play would be my choice as it is in line with the advancement from Play.
Just because 'gather' isn't a commonly used term in other games, doesn't mean we shouldn't use the term that we've been using for 10+ years now
Also many, many subcultures have 'gatherings' or use a similar term to refer to organised get-togethers.
Having the word 'GATHER' up on the main menu would possibly provide a bit of unique intrigue and flavour for people to further identify the NS brand in game
Asking ppl to name something they have no real idea about what it is exactly is kinda strange.
^ this. For this reason, I can't say what term would be "best".
Regarding "Gather" - If I had no idea what it meant, I would assume that this is a way to team up with friends, and then join a game together. As opposed to looking for a server with just the right number of free slots, and trying to all get in. Still, this sounds like the best suggestion so far.
Thumbs down for "Organized Play", however - this name could give the impression that matches joined via the server browser aren't meant to be organized (ie, having teamplay). There's plenty of unorganized action on pubs already, no need to reinforce that idea.
Because the system is not complete, is not rigidly defined, may not work, and may not be released.
I appreciate everyone's arguments, there have been some very helpful answers! I'm sorry I can't provide more concrete details of the system at this time. I would like to distribute a beta version of the system for testing as soon as possible, to see if it is viable. Stay tuned for details!
It'd be better to understand what it does by quickly glancing at the option instead of hovering the mouse over. Saves mental energy and would flow seamlessly with the simplicity of 'Browse Servers.'
Once a team has been made, that team would be in a 'Ready' state in a separate lobby, allowing an opposing team to invite them to play.
A coin-toss GUI could allow the winner to pick a server from a dedicated list of potential Gather servers.
Becausw the system is not complete, is not rigidly defined, may not work, and may not be released.
.... Why go asking for a name for the system now then.
If this is not released then you can consider your self the biggest community wind up since wasabi and his big announcement.
Comments
Cuz it's supar secr4t!!!111
So:
Snailgame
Saunagame
Godargame
or
Titusgame
It doesnt matter that it isnt recognised immediatly. The huge learningcurve in NS2 wont get much steeper with or without a familiar button name.
Edit: or call it 'Hive' since that the source of the system anyway, right?
If it's a system for players to meet other players of the same skill level and play, I'd call it "Organized Play" (or similar). That term wouldn't scare one that much like "Competetive gatherpug stay out n00bz".
If it's designed especially for high-skilled players, though, I see no reason to not use the term gather.
Anyway, probably the "Play" button should then be changed into something more fitting, like "Server browser".
Also, give it decent toolips.
About Hugh's ideas:
Team Play - unclear/nondescriptive (shouldn't you always play in your team?)
Gather - see above
Organised Play - see above
PUG - alternative to gather, needs a tooltip; fine
Matchmaking - if it's not matchmaking, don't call it so
Group Play - don't know why but don't like it; similar to team play
Lobby - "what? a lobby? for what is it a lobby for?" *confusion*
Queue - completely and utterly nondescriptive ("what am i standing in queue for?")
And the following buttons I'd never, ever, press in any game whatsoever:
Hangouts
Party Mode
Quick Match
Sounds like a quick join option, and seriously, who uses a quickjoin option?
Organized play is fine.
Riiiiight. Because 2 words instead of 1 word is "pointless verbosity." This sort of warped input is what caused NS2 to be such a flop in terms of player retention in the first place: a chronic community of addicts giving bad feedback to dedicated developers.
Hugh himself suggested Organized Play, and if there's now a 1-word limit on the button, then let's stick to this: "Organize". Plus "Play" is going to be changed to "Browse Servers" or something anyway.
First off matchmaking = making a match not necessarily RANKED. The word is self explanatory.
Hugh why is this so vague? Hey guys/gals we are working on a system for matchmaking that isn't matchmaking. So what is it that you are exactly implementing? Is UWE just simply asking for a rename of the play button that takes you to the server browser?
Is this system automatically finding you a match with people? If so only on UWE servers, what are the player counts, will it have separate selections between ranked and normal play? Will I get to preselect aliens/marine or comm for either?
Or is this just simple a room I join with a list of people waiting to play a match and dependent on those individuals to put the group together like old school LFG ( looking for group) for MMO's (massive multiplayer online games).
The name of the tab you select should be self-explanatory and simple. Such as queue or once more information is put out on what this system is I could provide a better name.
Browse Servers? popup: "choose your own game from a list of servers"
Gather: "organized play with friends"
I'd go with either an informative name like: "Organised Play", "Team Play", "Group Play", "Team Finder", "Quick Game", "Find a game"
or an awesome name that people won't help but click: "War Room", "Join The War", "War Lobby", "War War War is Peace" etc.
Also many, many subcultures have 'gatherings' or use a similar term to refer to organised get-togethers.
Having the word 'GATHER' up on the main menu would possibly provide a bit of unique intrigue and flavour for people to further identify the NS brand in game
Organized Play
l2poll
Sounds more innocent than Organized play and is used in many games. (newest example i can think of, loadout)
The main menu Play button puts you in the Lobby System screen thing, for the server browser etc. you switch tab in the top navigation.
*i assume :P
^ this. For this reason, I can't say what term would be "best".
Regarding "Gather" - If I had no idea what it meant, I would assume that this is a way to team up with friends, and then join a game together. As opposed to looking for a server with just the right number of free slots, and trying to all get in. Still, this sounds like the best suggestion so far.
Thumbs down for "Organized Play", however - this name could give the impression that matches joined via the server browser aren't meant to be organized (ie, having teamplay). There's plenty of unorganized action on pubs already, no need to reinforce that idea.
Because the system is not complete, is not rigidly defined, may not work, and may not be released.
I appreciate everyone's arguments, there have been some very helpful answers! I'm sorry I can't provide more concrete details of the system at this time. I would like to distribute a beta version of the system for testing as soon as possible, to see if it is viable. Stay tuned for details!
You bet we will. The whole community will.
It'd be better to understand what it does by quickly glancing at the option instead of hovering the mouse over. Saves mental energy and would flow seamlessly with the simplicity of 'Browse Servers.'
Once a team has been made, that team would be in a 'Ready' state in a separate lobby, allowing an opposing team to invite them to play.
A coin-toss GUI could allow the winner to pick a server from a dedicated list of potential Gather servers.
.... Why go asking for a name for the system now then.
If this is not released then you can consider your self the biggest community wind up since wasabi and his big announcement.