I'm really looking forward to the implementation of private servers. I know all that's holding a few of my friends back is the fact that they have to play with the unwashed masses
What about private servers and starting my own games?
As most of you know, we currently host only public matches that all players can join. These matches are running on server boxes in various locations throughout the world that are completely controlled by us and our back-end system. There are many benefits to doing things this way - our servers run more efficiently (hosting more people per physical box), our servers are always up to date with the clients, and we can more monitor and prevent cheating, to name only a few. However, we understand that players want to be able to host private games/servers that are configured the way they choose and only accessible to their friends, clan, or others they choose. Our private game/private server integration will be the first major feature added to QUAKE LIVE in the upcoming months.
Traditionally, the process of letting players rent private servers is something that is handed off to various game server providers (GSPs). Each of these GSPs sets their own prices, which are typically anywhere from about $15-$30/month for 16 player slots in a single, fixed location. Each GSP also typically has it's own interface for managing that server that in no way is integrated with the game.
Our plan is to completely integrate the ability to start and manage private games directly through QUAKE LIVE, utilizing all of the friends, awareness and notification features we have available through the site. This ability will be the cornerstone of a QUAKE LIVE Premium Service that will be offered for a small monthly fee (likely less than $5 per month). So, for 1/3 to 1/6 the price that it normally costs to run a private match, we'll be offering players the ability to easily start a private match with these benefits:
--On demand - whenever you want to play privately, you simply set it up, play, and when you're done, those slots go back into our "public pool." This is how we can offer it for a substantially lower cost than is typical.
--Each match you set up can be in a different location. For example, if you're in NY and you want to play a friend in CA, chose a neutral location in Illinois or Texas. If the next time you play, you want to invite a friend also on the east coast, then run the match in Virginia.
--The interface is completely integrated into QUAKE LIVE and uses all of the back-end friends and friend awareness systems that we have at our disposal. So, when setting up a match, you'll be able to select the friends you want to invite and have a pop-up automatically alert them to your invitation - allowing them to join with one click.
--Private matches will also have access to more competitive game features that can not be practically used for public matches - like locked teams, timeouts, etc. (more on this below).
This is a very high-level summary, but we're excited about what we'll be able to offer players. When we get closer to rolling this out, we'll include more details on what additional features will be included in the private match system as well as additional benefits included with the Premium subscription. It is important to note in all of this, that we will not at all be charging for any content - this premium fee is basically for an extended service that includes private "space" on physical hardware.
I'm getting a lot of amusement by viewing this thread as a completely unintentional MUD.
The Thought Police are about to kick your door down. Roll a Reflex Save to jump out the window and a Fort Save to survive the fall, or you sustain 2d6 sidewalk pancake damage.
The best way to do it (aside from the "romaji" solution) would probably be to make those tons of different glyphs.
The best way to do this would be to copy the Japanese input system that is used widely, which basically works like this:
1) Type out the romaji for a kanji.
2) Stop typing when the romaji is complete.
3) Press Space (if desired) to cycle through all other valid kanji for those romaji.
4) When you reach your choice, hit enter.
It's not the best solution, but since most fonts are basically either pictures or vector graphics, it would be way easier to create tons of different symbols rather than try to write up some kind of software solution that would combine letters together without messing things up when you tried to upscale it (increase font size).
Stardock is known for being very open about the piracy issue - even lackadaisical. What I'm wondering is why they even bother distributing games anymore.
No, this isn't a "They should just give up" post. We all know that the physical media isn't all that important considering that it can be ripped and uploaded.
So why bother with distribution at all? Put your game up for free. Let people download it. And sell the serials. Boxed copies come with some sort of physical extra to make it worth it along with the CD-Key.
Example situation: a college student torrents a Stardock game and finds that he's playing it a lot. He decides to buy a license/serial so he can play on the official servers. He pays via CC and gets his serial. That serial is tied to his CC info in a secure database (to allow for recovery in case of theft, much like what Steam permits), and the serials are generated in the "allowed serials" database for servers at the same time they are sold (so keygens wouldn't work).
Some games such as WoW are ridiculously easy to pirate. There's emulated (private) servers floating around where people can get a simulacrum of the official experience, but it's never as good. When a company wraps its head around this fact - that it's the service they provide to the player that will get them the money, and not necessarily the game design - things will work out better for everyone.
The time it would take to switch between the OSes is unacceptable.
The only option I'd be happy with for running Linux would be to have a separate Linux box and use a KVM Switch. That would provide instant switching (although it doubles the points of failure).
I've been to NYC a few times and I find it amazing that people can get lost in Manhattan since its basically one huge grid. Did these people fail 6th grade geometry?
"I have to go two blocks West and then four blocks North! I'M LOST!"
Actually, a lot of "You break it, you buy it" policies are a scam. Customer accidents are often covered under business insurance. Even if you do lose an item in your store, why should you make a profit off of an accident?
Slashdot Mirror
No, but NIN might not distribute their next album on iTunes.
4) <p>
...would by my guess for the missing link. d:
I'm really looking forward to the implementation of private servers. I know all that's holding a few of my friends back is the fact that they have to play with the unwashed masses
...and a monthly fee, of course.
What about private servers and starting my own games?
As most of you know, we currently host only public matches that all players can join. These matches are running on server boxes in various locations throughout the world that are completely controlled by us and our back-end system. There are many benefits to doing things this way - our servers run more efficiently (hosting more people per physical box), our servers are always up to date with the clients, and we can more monitor and prevent cheating, to name only a few. However, we understand that players want to be able to host private games/servers that are configured the way they choose and only accessible to their friends, clan, or others they choose. Our private game/private server integration will be the first major feature added to QUAKE LIVE in the upcoming months.
Traditionally, the process of letting players rent private servers is something that is handed off to various game server providers (GSPs). Each of these GSPs sets their own prices, which are typically anywhere from about $15-$30/month for 16 player slots in a single, fixed location. Each GSP also typically has it's own interface for managing that server that in no way is integrated with the game.
Our plan is to completely integrate the ability to start and manage private games directly through QUAKE LIVE, utilizing all of the friends, awareness and notification features we have available through the site. This ability will be the cornerstone of a QUAKE LIVE Premium Service that will be offered for a small monthly fee (likely less than $5 per month). So, for 1/3 to 1/6 the price that it normally costs to run a private match, we'll be offering players the ability to easily start a private match with these benefits:
--On demand - whenever you want to play privately, you simply set it up, play, and when you're done, those slots go back into our "public pool." This is how we can offer it for a substantially lower cost than is typical.
--Each match you set up can be in a different location. For example, if you're in NY and you want to play a friend in CA, chose a neutral location in Illinois or Texas. If the next time you play, you want to invite a friend also on the east coast, then run the match in Virginia.
--The interface is completely integrated into QUAKE LIVE and uses all of the back-end friends and friend awareness systems that we have at our disposal. So, when setting up a match, you'll be able to select the friends you want to invite and have a pop-up automatically alert them to your invitation - allowing them to join with one click.
--Private matches will also have access to more competitive game features that can not be practically used for public matches - like locked teams, timeouts, etc. (more on this below).
This is a very high-level summary, but we're excited about what we'll be able to offer players. When we get closer to rolling this out, we'll include more details on what additional features will be included in the private match system as well as additional benefits included with the Premium subscription. It is important to note in all of this, that we will not at all be charging for any content - this premium fee is basically for an extended service that includes private "space" on physical hardware.
I'm getting a lot of amusement by viewing this thread as a completely unintentional MUD.
The Thought Police are about to kick your door down. Roll a Reflex Save to jump out the window and a Fort Save to survive the fall, or you sustain 2d6 sidewalk pancake damage.
In Spanish speaking countries, it's spelled #CCCCCC.
How do guns get shipped from one country to another in large bundles? One at a time?
I often multi-task when I game. Alt+tab out to use programs. Browse some sites while the match is warming up, etc.
I don't think WINE could keep up. I might be wrong, but I don't have the spare parts to fuck around and try out Linux anyway so it's a moot point.
...was the best movie ever.
People are already continuing his work. I believe that you've just discovered quantum humor.
You have unlocked the Lawyers Weekly achievement.
The best way to do it (aside from the "romaji" solution) would probably be to make those tons of different glyphs.
The best way to do this would be to copy the Japanese input system that is used widely, which basically works like this:
1) Type out the romaji for a kanji.
2) Stop typing when the romaji is complete.
3) Press Space (if desired) to cycle through all other valid kanji for those romaji.
4) When you reach your choice, hit enter.
It's not the best solution, but since most fonts are basically either pictures or vector graphics, it would be way easier to create tons of different symbols rather than try to write up some kind of software solution that would combine letters together without messing things up when you tried to upscale it (increase font size).
Wouldn't people just start deleting the competition?
"Hey, only this one guy left a resume... also, he apparently installed SELinux and closed the buffer overrun vulnerability..."
Stardock is known for being very open about the piracy issue - even lackadaisical. What I'm wondering is why they even bother distributing games anymore.
No, this isn't a "They should just give up" post. We all know that the physical media isn't all that important considering that it can be ripped and uploaded.
So why bother with distribution at all? Put your game up for free. Let people download it. And sell the serials. Boxed copies come with some sort of physical extra to make it worth it along with the CD-Key.
Example situation: a college student torrents a Stardock game and finds that he's playing it a lot. He decides to buy a license/serial so he can play on the official servers. He pays via CC and gets his serial. That serial is tied to his CC info in a secure database (to allow for recovery in case of theft, much like what Steam permits), and the serials are generated in the "allowed serials" database for servers at the same time they are sold (so keygens wouldn't work).
Some games such as WoW are ridiculously easy to pirate. There's emulated (private) servers floating around where people can get a simulacrum of the official experience, but it's never as good. When a company wraps its head around this fact - that it's the service they provide to the player that will get them the money, and not necessarily the game design - things will work out better for everyone.
The time it would take to switch between the OSes is unacceptable.
The only option I'd be happy with for running Linux would be to have a separate Linux box and use a KVM Switch. That would provide instant switching (although it doubles the points of failure).
Wouldn't this whole thing be interfering with the interstate commerce protections that are part of the foundations of our law?
I choose Windows because something on the order of 95% of computer games work on it.
When Linux can do that as well as Windows can, I'll switch over at breakneck speed.
Feedback loop? Isn't what they use to change the phaser modulation on the Enterprise D?
Well, I know the office is located right next to The Fireworks, Candy, and Puppy Dog Store.
Don't worry, the Linux pub is better. The beer is free, and you can get a copy of the beer's recipe anytime you like!
Mod parent into the stratosphere.
I've been to NYC a few times and I find it amazing that people can get lost in Manhattan since its basically one huge grid. Did these people fail 6th grade geometry?
"I have to go two blocks West and then four blocks North! I'M LOST!"
Twitter? I hardly know her!
What if the cable was cut a bunch of times?
"Okay, so... 20 meters out from this station aaaaand... that cable is replaced. That should fix it. What? Another cut 10 meters further?"
If someone chopped the hell outta a cable, the only thing you'd be able to tell is the nearest cut to the station, yes?
Actually, a lot of "You break it, you buy it" policies are a scam. Customer accidents are often covered under business insurance. Even if you do lose an item in your store, why should you make a profit off of an accident?
And now an appropriate response from a poem of that era, slightly modified to be relevant here.
Whoosh to right of them,
Whoosh to left of them,
Whoosh in front of them
Volley'd and whoosh'd.