quiet

Than what about Tribes 2? It has all the above and mid-game join.

Question - Are you guys locked into an agreement with Microsoft to only use directplay and no other form of server/client connections? Do the dedicated servers merely allow an in-game lobby yet still utilize directplay? Thanks. (Edited by quiet at 4:28 am on Oct. 16, 2001)

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from GiB SunSeeker on 9:54 pm on Oct. 15, 2001 It would be nice though..... sorry Suma, just trying to help, but how does a game like Red Faction manage to do it. GeoMod technology deforms the map and scenery, and still, a player can connect mid-game <span id='postcolor'> Good question... Hrm.. I hope he responds to this.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from Bronco on 8:50 pm on Oct. 15, 2001 How about a smaller Island (death match Island) designed for join in progress games. This could be a small area so less data needs to be transmited to each player as they enter,with or without vehicles. A place where we could jump in and shoot each other. And for a more serious game take the time to setup the game as we do now. The join in progress maps could be included in a patch so everyone has the same map. <span id='postcolor'> Awesome idea. I like it!

Rambo is correct. Despite how great the game is - and it's an amazing game, people will most likely end up playing other games due to the fact they can't simply join mid-mission. Most of us have time constraints, and being able to join up in a game while it's playing adds to the fact it's for entertainment, not an essential part of our lives. Too bad, this game has great potential. =( (Edited by quiet at 4:28 pm on Oct. 15, 2001)

It appears you need to run ZA in medium security to have your own server available to the public. If you are trying to join other games, that's a different story. (Edited by quiet at 4:05 pm on Oct. 15, 2001)

Thank you for the honest response. If that's the case, I suggest one piece of information be transmitted in two different places: Time remaining - for mission - in the in-game lobby. Time remaining transmitted to the master server to show as a ruleset on front ends such as ASE, Gamespy, etc. how long the game has left. Is that possible? Thank you. =)

Suma, Do you see this thread? I believe this simple feature - and expanding more players would make this game what 'world war 2 online' only could hope. Thanks!

I say add the feature and just implement a warning about lag... work on the netcode from that point on.

I apologize for pushing this really hard, but I believe it's a necessity for the game to survive. I've been asking a lot online MP friends if joining mid-game can make or break a game and they basically said if it wasn't for joining mid-game they wouldn't be playing most of their games. I think the dev team here should seriously look into option (joining mid-game) to sustain and encourage (sell more of the game to) a larger base of MP OFP players. Thank you.

Yes, this sure would be nice. Or if it can't be done, at least report to server front end programs the time left in a game so people aren't stuck in the in-game lobby. But in-game joining is the only true answer. Just consider it reinforcements, which is pretty realistic for wartime simulations.

One thing you could do is have it so if someone wants to join mid-game it turns into a vote. Then if teams are unbalanced that person joins that particular team - then another dialogue comes up where the leader of that team decides that person's role. Or to keep the game fair, if it's a non-coop (though I think coop should respawn) you have it so that person who joins mid game is not close to his other comrades - at least that way it appears the person is being deployed from a far off location. Good or bad idea? (Edited by quiet at 11:05 pm on Oct. 14, 2001)

That's very true, especially if you something goes wrong a person needs to be able to reconnect. Also, a suicide feature (even if admin only level) would be nice if there are problems of getting stuck. But mid-game join is a necessity if you want this game to become more popular or keep an audience.

Agreed! It can be made server or vote optional but as you it's the way to go.