EDIT: For some reason I saw the last post as still having to do with the MP discussion. I'll leave this here only because I spent so much time typing it
Ignore it at your leisure, though (although I do think it is vitally important).
Razor, just popping into the thread here, but in regards to multiplayer: I suggested to taylor that the coders (or at least the SCP leads) should have a sit down with multi players before the decisions on the "most important" multi fixes are. That way, you guys can finally get some feedback from the people who really need the features. Reading more thoroughly into the thread (it's too late for me to read all of it, 3:37 AM and I'm tired
), it seems that this is really something that's pretty necessary.
I'd like to both disagree and agree with the statement that FS2 has always been and will be a primarily single player game. Yes, FS2 has always been about SP, and yes, that will be a great focus in the future - but the fact of the matter is, multiplayer is
more fun than singleplayer, in many regards. They're two different kinds of fun but neglecting multiplayer for the sake of single player is just ludicrous in today's world (NOTE: I'm not directing this at you or anyone in particular, I'm just stating my beliefs). Many of us want FS2 to get more well known and have more players - the only way that's going to happen is if we have a solid, easy to use and easy to understand multiplayer component. We can still have excellently crafted storylines with FS2 multiplayer - that's the beauty of coop - but we
need a better system than what we have now. I'm sorry, but I think that sticking with an "SP above all else" approach will keep FS2 in the semi-obscurity that it's in.
If you want an example, I can provide one: the BtRL release. That release was a multi-centric release, it's what we said both internally and externally. When we finally got it out, the reaction was absolutely
massive. Most people who played it loved it, and when they could get on multiplayer they thought it was some of the best stuff since sliced bread.
Now, notice I said "could" get on multiplayer. Tell me if this makes sense to you:
To register on multiplayer, players had to...
1) Register on a third party, out-of-game website.
2) Confirm that registration by email.
3) Follow several steps to open up router ports - many of our fans aren't that computer literate, and were completely lost there.
4) Hope that the version you have is the latest version, because running the auto-update isn't mandatory when launching multi.
5) Go back into the game and input your login name and password in a screen that's actually two sub screens away from the ACTUAL multiplayer lobby button.
6) Put in their login info and connect to FS2NetD.
But here's the kicker - that would only work
sometimes. Many times players could see some games but not others, or only one game out of 3, or they would see their friend's game, refresh, and it'd be gone. Basically, the system was broken. How broken? Well, out of a 100,000+ download release, we got, on average, three servers with about 10 people each on them for the first week or so. After that, we were lucky to get one server with 4 people a night. Now, it's pretty much completely dead again.
Compare that registration process with, say, Relic's Dawn of War.
1) Open the game.
2) Click "Multiplayer"
3) Input your account. If you don't have an account, click "Register" and register a new one right there, in-game.
4) Click Go (or whatever, forget the exact name).
5) Game checks for new patches. If one's found, it tells you to download. You click yes, it downloads in game.
6) Get dropped into the lobby. You're good to go.
Much simpler for those players out there who
haven't been playing the same game for ten years - the
same players we need/want to attract.
Yes, SP needs improvement. Yes, it will always be improved - but like was already mentioned -
FS2 is one of the best SP experiences out there. So why are we constantly improving something that's already at the top of it's game? Why don't we move on to the
next big thing, the
next thing that will secure FS2's future, and needs improvement
the most. We don't need another SEXP that only five or so FREDers will use, we need a multiplayer system so that we can actually revive what used to be a thriving community.
