12 replies to this topic

[KingCobra]

I would like to see how many players in MWO would like to see PGI build a true Live Chat Lobby Launcher System for MWO?

The only way for those to understand how the old PC MechWarrior games worked with a lobby system is to show you in a live game-lobby setup. So here are the links for you and your friends to test out MechWarrior4 Demo and the GameRanger lobby system.GameRanger is a simpler version of the old MSN Gamming Zone.

The first link is to the MechWarrior4 Mercenaries Demo. http://www.fileplane...ercenaries-Demo

The second link is to download the GameRanger lobby system. www.gameranger.com

The first step is to download and setup the demo just follow the instructions be sure to setup the video sound and joystick if you have one and accept the Eula. Once the game has started up to the menu make a pilot name and unit choice then your all ready.

The second step is install GameRanger follow the instructions once installed go to where it says (all games) hit the tab scroll down to new group once selected make a new group called MechWarrior go down the list of games and pick all MechWarrior games for your group add them in.

Now you will see all the MechWarrior games just on your GameRanger UI.You can host or play games with anyone that has the Mecharrior4 Mercenaries Demo installed or talk to other MechWarrior4 Mercenaries players in other rooms.

If you have any questions about installation please post on this topic.

If you wondering why im trying to get players to install the Mecharrior4 Demo and play on GameRanger is because I want MWO players to understand and experience PC MechWarrior and the old lobby systems so we can approach Russ-Brian & PGI on the idea of building a new
Live-Chat-Lobby Launcher System for MWO to replace the Private Group MM system

You can also build and save multiple mech configurations in the mechlab and see how its UI design worked and play them in games.

P.S Russ-Brian & PGI staff I would like to ask you to Please join in by downloading and playing a few games if you have never experienced the PC MechWarrior games or a live lobby system.

Edited by KingCobra, 23 September 2014 - 10:45 AM.

[Jon Phoenix]

It would be enormously helpful if you or someone else would maybe do a video capture of how it works and put it on YouTube. (Or find someone else's video.) I'm absolutely a proponent of running public lobbies in lieu of a match maker system and I started discussing it here and here.

We desperately need a public lobby system for this game. The MM can't provide the experience that all types of players are looking for. The best solution, imo, is to put the control over that experience into the players' hands.

I understand that PGI wants to limit certain options in order to provide a premium experience for paying subscribers (they don't like to call them that, but that's what premium time people are, really). There has to be some way that premium players can get additional functionality (setting up their own lobbies) for which non-premium players won't have access but the limitation won't ruin the basic functionality of the public lobby system.

I really hope PGI looks into this, as I think it is the only practical and viable solution for all types of players.

Edited by Jon Phoenix, 23 September 2014 - 10:41 AM.

[Kassatsu]

Jon Phoenix, on 23 September 2014 - 10:39 AM, said:

It would be enormously helpful if you or someone else would maybe do a video capture of how it works and put it on YouTube. (Or find someone else's video.) I'm absolutely a proponent of running public lobbies in lieu of a match maker system and I started discussing it here and here.

We desperately need a public lobby system for this game. The MM can't provide the experience that all types of players are looking for. The best solution, imo, is to put the control over that experience into the players' hands.

I understand that PGI wants to limit certain options in order to provide a premium experience for paying subscribers (they don't like to call them that, but that's what premium time people are, really). There has to be some way that premium players can get additional functionality (setting up their own lobbies) for which non-premium players won't have access but the limitation won't ruin the basic functionality of the public lobby system.

I really hope PGI looks into this, as I think it is the only practical and viable solution for all types of players.

Just do the exact same thing they did with private matches: Offer extremely limited functionality for free players, and open it up completely for premium players. One premium player making a lobby is all it should need, while anyone is free to join or accept an invite.

Heck, take it a step further: Free users can only create "public" lobbies with no restrictions or limitations whatsoever, and while they can invite people to the lobby, are unable to change slots or remove players. Premium players can set a password, set friend/unit only slots, kick players from the lobby etc.

Although I have a feeling this would just turn into private matches 2.0, and not give out any rewards.

Edited by Kassatsu, 23 September 2014 - 10:43 AM.

[Jon Phoenix]

Kassatsu, on 23 September 2014 - 10:42 AM, said:

Just do the exact same thing they did with private matches: Offer extremely limited functionality for free players, and open it up completely for premium players. One premium player making a lobby is all it should need, while anyone is free to join or accept an invite.

Heck, take it a step further: Free users can only create "public" lobbies with no restrictions or limitations whatsoever, and while they can invite people to the lobby, are unable to change slots or remove players. Premium players can set a password, set friend/unit only slots, kick players from the lobby etc.

I'm just concerned that the limitations will go too far. The public lobbies should at least offer the free players the choice of lobby and choice of team. Perhaps the premium players can pick the map and game mode. The free lobbies can have preset game modes and maps, so long as the players are made aware of both before the match starts.

[Almond Brown]

KingCobra, on 23 September 2014 - 09:56 AM, said:

I would like to see how many players in MWO would like to see PGI build a true Live Chat Lobby Launcher System for MWO?

The only way for those to understand how the old PC MechWarrior games worked with a lobby system is to show you in a live game-lobby setup. So here are the links for you and your friends to test out MechWarrior4 Demo and the GameRanger lobby system.GameRanger is a simpler version of the old MSN Gamming Zone.

The first link is to the MechWarrior4 Mercenaries Demo. http://www.fileplane...ercenaries-Demo

The second link is to download the GameRanger lobby system. www.gameranger.com

The first step is to download and setup the demo just follow the instructions be sure to setup the video sound and joystick if you have one and accept the Eula. Once the game has started up to the menu make a pilot name and unit choice then your all ready.

The second step is install GameRanger follow the instructions once installed go to where it says (all games) hit the tab scroll down to new group once selected make a new group called MechWarrior go down the list of games and pick all MechWarrior games for your group add them in.

Now you will see all the MechWarrior games just on your GameRanger UI.You can host or play games with anyone that has the Mecharrior4 Mercenaries Demo installed or talk to other MechWarrior4 Mercenaries players in other rooms.

If you have any questions about installation please post on this topic.

If you wondering why im trying to get players to install the Mecharrior4 Demo and play on GameRanger is because I want MWO players to understand and experience PC MechWarrior and the old lobby systems so we can approach Russ-Brian & PGI on the idea of building a new
Live-Chat-Lobby Launcher System for MWO to replace the Private Group MM system

You can also build and save multiple mech configurations in the mechlab and see how its UI design worked and play them in games.

P.S Russ-Brian & PGI staff I would like to ask you to Please join in by downloading and playing a few games if you have never experienced the PC MechWarrior games or a live lobby system.

Hate to break it to you dawg. There are many, many, many, many, many, who will not even dnld and install a small and FREE Comm software and you expect them to do ALL THAT?

Do the video thing mentioned. Then hope they will Open YouTube and watch. That can be hard too.

[KingCobra]

To jon and Kassatsu and anyone else. A live chat lobby launcher system should be provided free for anyone that wants to play MWO in a group. PGI would gain revenue alone by a lobby system that promoted community growth league's and player retention.

There would not be a need for charging premium time to play on the lobby system and premium time is one reason the current private group system fails to be popular.

[elengil]

I would love to see this picked up by PGI. I think it would solve the money pit of tweaking Match Maker evermore. Make the lobbies public and allow all players able to shop for which game lobbie they wish to join.

I don't think that finding a way to keep Premium time or MC cost tied to private match setup should prohibit a good public lobby design. I.E. Keep the current private match system if you must. ADD public lobbies for everyone.

[Jon Phoenix]

KingCobra, on 23 September 2014 - 10:50 AM, said:

To jon and Kassatsu and anyone else. A live chat lobby launcher system should be provided free for anyone that wants to play MWO in a group. PGI would gain revenue alone by a lobby system that promoted community growth league's and player retention.

There would not be a need for charging premium time to play on the lobby system and premium time is one reason the current private group system fails to be popular.

Well, I do agree with you. The lobbies have to be available for all players. I'm just trying to think with a PGI hat on. They do want premium people to get something for their money. The bonus XP and c-bills are something. I thought there might be something extra that premium players could have with the lobbies but wouldn't take away the lobby system from the free players.

Edit-

Kassatsu's suggestions above make sense. I wouldn't even allow free users to create lobbies. PGI should just have their own public lobbies that show the number of players playing, the game mode, and the map on the pick-the-lobby menu. Players can choose the lobby they wish to enter. Premium players would be able to create their own private matches as they can now and they can adjust the same parameters that they are allowed to adjust now. Perhaps, they can have additional options in the public lobbies, too, but that might not be necessary.

Edited by Jon Phoenix, 23 September 2014 - 11:02 AM.

[Xtrekker]

https://mwolobby.com/

It's a Zone clone, which worked wonderfully for us back in the day.

[KingCobra]

Xtrekker

It's a Zone clone, which worked wonderfully for us back in the day. )

Yes im truly impressed that TEN Mwolobbys designer was able to recreate the MSN gamming zone and I have visited it and a user the problem is MWO has no way to launch private games out of the lobby rooms at this point.So I put up this topic with a live MW4 game and a lobby system that does work so MWO players can Download use and understand lobby systems by playing live games.

Edited by KingCobra, 23 September 2014 - 11:14 AM.

[Xtrekker]

Ah, I was just noting it as an example. MWO seriously needs something to better manage matches. A proper system of organizing drops should have been one of their top priorities. I have to assume something will come with CW, otherwise I don't know how they will do it.

But I support your cause.

[Sadist Cain]

Almond Brown, on 23 September 2014 - 10:48 AM, said:

Hate to break it to you dawg. There are many, many, many, many, many, who will not even dnld and install a small and FREE Comm software and you expect them to do ALL THAT?

Do the video thing mentioned. Then hope they will Open YouTube and watch. That can be hard too.

Gotta be honest if I was given the choice between going through all this or touching C3 with a bargepole again I'd take this

Gawd that system was awful...

As for the lobby system, I think folk understand how lobbys work without dling an mw4 demo it's getting them in game in a way that works with rewards and whatnot that's the issue

[KingCobra]

If I forgot to mention GameRanger has a VOIP system already in the software to use if not I would be honored to chat with anyone on TS3 or the GameRanger VOIP about MWO MechWarrior or GameRanger I have a room up in the GameRanger MechWarrior lobby.The name is MWO player test MW4 Demo.