Server traffic dropping, etc...

[Triple_6]

I'm not sure why. It could be because a lot of us have been inactive lately. It could be because stats aren't server side anymore so people who come here don't realize we have them. It could be that there are so many other servers out there now, why join one that's never full? Who knows.

The only idea I've got to increase the traffic is to turn friendly fire on and try to spice things up a bit. I've noticed FF servers generally stay pretty crowded. The only downside I see is it's a pain in the ass to moderate them and also I'm not sure how Psycho stats would deal with it. But personally I've always enjoyed the added realism you get with FF.

Really though, I just think this game is getting old. I can't fathom how a game that's been out for so long has not tried to increase the number of different weapons it has or the number of quality maps out. I mean every other terrorist / counter terrorist type game I've played has had a grenade launcher. Look at the guerrilla fighters in Iraq, the RPG is the attack of choice every time. And why have only ONE FREAKIN gun in the machine gun section. When I first started playing this game, I was like wtf? They've only got one gun here? It seemed unpolished to me.

I don't know. I guess for the most popular online action game in history, I expected a little more. To be honest, I think Soldier of Fortune 2 was ten times the game this one is. I played that shit for atleast a year. I see myself playing this one for a while too but more because of the people than the sheer joy of playing it.

[Sammie]

Friendly Fire YES!!

all talk would be nice as well

[Animal]

I hate all talk, I always leave servers when I find out they are all talk.

[Sammie]

i like to taunt my prey :p

[L1veUndead]

All talk is a no-no. Too many players talk amongst each other for objectives to have all talk on. Friendly Fire I dont think would work either. I dont have a problem with it I just think it will bring in the tards that like to TK people and it wont increase the server side. Its just been bunk since the superbowl and now you have Valentines around the corner.

[Hooligan]

Personally I like our small but fairly regular crew but my pings to the server have sucked lately or Id be on alot more often

[Animal]

Another big problem is that no one wants to sit in an empty server and wait for people. Thats what I did for the first 6+ weeks we had the server or so. However, if no one keeps up with it, the server will remain empty most of the time. We dont yet have enough regulars to do this for us. Even some GNG go to another server instead of sticking around in ours and waiting for it to fill up.

[The_Machinist]

Well, I know that Trip and I and phenix have sat in the server waiting. The biggest topic is the map rotation though. I think that everyone was just so used to what we had that when cbble or train comes on, peeps get scared. But I'm still on! FF is a good idea but again, the TKers will be a large problem. They is everywhere.

[Phenix]

I agree with the_machinist, that the problem is the new rotation. I like my rotations to be the same as they were before hard fast and slightlty painful. the new maps are alright but everyone needs to get used to them. it will take time, but gloria gaynor was right i will survive.
Other than that, its jsut got to be a down time for people or something. itll pick up again soon, and we will all be together again, fighting terrorism. from our bedrooms.

[Buddy Lee]

Hello. I am a regular on your server and I wait alone for people to join. I also don't like friendly fire, to many people tk and what not, and I like the addition of new maps, but I don't like the map vote. People seem to vote the same maps all the time. I liked it much better when maps changed after set amount of time/rounds. Anyway I enjoy playing here and the regulars I play against.
Buddy Lee.

[Animal]

I dont think the entire map rotation should have been changed the way it was. I'm sure if we get enough complaints we can do something to change it around a bit. There were too many custom maps thrown in at once. As we all know, custom maps will always cause the server activity to drop. They should be introduced gradually, over time, so that our regulars and non-regulars alike can get used to everything.

[oreX]

Sometimes ill be on kinda early and browse through the various servers on my favorites list, and its almost always empty in the morning and usually picks up during dinner time. Also I dont like the voting thing. Everytime it comes up, people always pic a map that we played like 2 maps before and sometimes the map before. I think i just messes with the rotation n stuff. The friendy fire thing doesnt really bother me at all, Imho i think it improves skill n such and then again saves you from exploding your teammates with that grenade that "accidentally" hit the wall ;)

[Ranma]

You should only put 2 new custom maps on at a time max. The rotation should be three standard, one new, 3 standards one new. The middle standard should be your most popular, IE OFfice and Dust2.. Hate em or love em when those two maps are on the server fills up.. I would now mind something with Standard, Office, Standard, new, Dust2, Office, Standard New.. Repeat...

[Hoplon]

I think we should get rid of the map vote too.

[Animal]

We had map votes enabled for the longest time which no one complained about. Then I was asked to take it off, which I thought was a good idea. The next day I was asked to enable it so I did.

[L1veUndead]

I came to the conclusion that when I asked you to take the map vote off and I had way too many maps in there I asked you to cut it down to two customs and put the mapvote back on. I dont like the mapvote either, but you can cancel the vote or change the map if your playing the same 3. As far as I know the only 2 customs on the server now are Inferno and Train. Inferno and Train have been around for ages so I dont see what the big deal is. What we need to do is make a map pack of all the maps we play on the server and put them in the downloads section for people to snag. Advertise on the server where the map packs are or even put it in the title when you load up Steam to find servers. I had Assault, Nuke, and Vertigo removed from the rotation just to keep it simple.

[Animal]

What's the point of "map packs" anymore? The maps already come down (they should be anyway) super fast from an HTTP source just like they would if you were to download a map pack. And unlike with map packs, you dont have to worry about where the files needs to go. I've already been through this... whats the point of having a map pack?

Inferno and Train may both have been around forever, yes, but people still have to download them as they are not included with Source. It's pretty simple, a lot of people are just plain old noobs and dont want to be bothered with custom maps (even if they are remakes). Then you have whatever new blood has gotten into CS who see these maps in their little server finder thing that they have never heard of and dont even bother to join in.

For you, me and a few others who are in the miniority custom maps are the best thing since sliced bread. For others (the majority of the CS community) they are a hassle that's usually not worth it.

[L1veUndead]

Even though its a direct download people on dial-up takes them awhile to download.

[Phenix]

The group that's been coming to the server since I've been playing ( december 04) has usually beeen the same, with new people coming and going as they please. AS long as the corre group gets the new maps, and just plays on even with a small group, the rest will come. until we're back were we used to be.

[Animal]

Even though its a direct download people on dial-up takes them awhile to download.
You cant be serious... fuckin dial up? Who cares, and if its someone in our group that has dial up, I am more than willing to make special accomodations JUST for them (such as mailing out a CD or enabling a map pack just for them). If I have to put a map pack on the web server for people to download, its going to take up twice the space because I also have the maps on the server so they can be downloaded in-game.

I dont have an unlimited number of space on the server man... with the forums, stats, custom maps, etc that shit starts to add up. We barely have enough money coming to cover the server costs, let alone upgrade our web hosting account for more space.

[BOOM]

I guess i just dont see why people get scared when they see maps they dont know. Even the original maps were new at some point. We all struggled and found out the in and outs about each map over time. I mean how long really does it take to figure out a map?...two rotations maybe....are people afraid of taking a hit on their stats becuase they dont know the new map? Ive noticed that the core of people playing on GNG are veterans and know most of the custom maps, ie: inferno and train. The noobs will realize that the custom maps will become just as familiar as the original maps....as we did. Map vote bad.......the rotation is great as it is. Just my 2 cents....

[oreX]

This just came to me. Some people might not be able to find the stats page, as its kinda hidden in the servers page. Maybe you could make a link on the main page to go right to the stats ?

[Buddy Lee]

Hey gng players, I like the map rotation, perhaps even a few more would be nice. I just don't like map vote because I end up playing the same 2 maps (dust2 and office) 5 times more than the others. As far as new or custom maps go I love a map I don't know, more fun, and challenging. Also lots of gng players were on today, as well as new people I have never played. And I have logged ALOT of time on server so I think people are starting to come back.
Thanks for the time
Buddy Lee

[Thunder]

The past few days I've played the server has had an accetable amount of folks. Usually at least 12, which makes for a good game. As for map vote, is there any way to have options on the vote? Such as you can't choose a map that was played within the last two rounds.

[Phenix]

i like thunders idea. that gives people the choice to still use map vote, without putting us on a map we plyed one or two games before.

[The_Machinist]

Indeed. The map vote is alright but needs to be highly regulated. And the ff idea is still trying to settle with me because of people TKing for no reason other than being a total asshole and taker-awayer-of-fun...and thats a real term in case you were wondering. So I guess the recoccuring topic is regulating things. Regulate or masturbate!!

[Phenix]

i choose masterbate :smash:

[L1veUndead]

I think FF and all talk are both no-no's. Also I dont think there is a mod out yet to let you do the mapvote and pull maps that have been previously played. If so that would be bad ass if there was one out. I remember there being one for older versions.

[Phenix]

I've been looking all over the internet for a mod for the map_vote but nothing yet. i emailed the folks at the official counter strike souce web site, so we'll see if they have any news.

[Ranma]

I like train. hate inferno. Life goes on, we all play maps we hate. I downloaded train in about 55 seconds. It took about 15 seconds longer then it normally takes me to load. If someone is on dialup fuck em, we dont want to play with them anyways...

[Triple_6]

So I guess it's a no-go for FF. Just know that I now have no qualms about heading to other servers to get a game.

[L1veUndead]

If we had a program to control FF then I wouldnt mind so much, but im not fucking around with a bunch of TK'ing Fuktards and spending the whole time im playing reprimanding people for their stupidity.

[Triple_6]

It wouldn't only be your fucking responsibility. We have plenty of members with the ban or kick commands at their disposal and I doubt any of our regulars would act like fucktards. I'm trying to improve server traffic and make the game funner. And YOUR idea for making that happen was what?

[Hoplon]

How about we enable a voting feature for the friendly fire?

I like friendly fire myself. My only beef is that it tends to make people stack the teams because nobody likes being on the team with the newbies that shoot anything that moves.

[L1veUndead]

Dont get all fucking defensive Trip. I have talked to some other members as well about friendly fire. Im not just going lone gunman here. If I have a TK'er im not even going through the bullshit. I dont think friendly fire is a determinent in server traffic. I think having players frequent a server that has people in it is going to bring server traffic. Friendly fire, special prizes, a box of fucking lucky charms, or even some other stupid shit is not going to increase server traffic. PEOPLE IN THE SERVER PLAYING THE GAME WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC.

[Animal]

If you guys are gonna go at it like a bunch of little bitches, take it to closed forums, non of our regulars want to listen to this shit.

And L1ve, I disagree with your statement: "PEOPLE IN THE SERVER PLAYING THE GAME WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC". I see what you're sayind and while this is certainly a major factor in regards to server traffic, its a paradox. No one will join if its empty, right? Well, how do we get people in to begin with to attract others? Thats the question that needs answering (its kind of like what came first? The chicken or the egg? Get the point?).

For the most part, I think we run a pretty damn decent server. More often than not there is an admin on. People like this because it will most likely mean that hackers and assholes are just about non existent. We are all social and like to have a good time, all the regs come to have a good time not for FF, special prizes, or "a box of lucky charms". However, any server can offer a good time. By offering our regulars different things, such as FF, special prizes, and "lucky charms" we are providing more than just about any other server out there.

I know I went off on a slight tangent there. The point is that in order to get people into the server that are willing to wait a while for more people to join and then to fill up is to offer incentives to play on our server. I would be willing to wait in an empty server for it to fill up if I knew it had a map rotation that I liked and all the settings just the way I liked them. And knock the prizes and shit as much as you want, but what other server offers anything like this? I've had a few messages from pubs regarding donations and some people have said they liked the idea of a small tourney or something for a prize of some sort.

As stupid as it may sound the server really needs to be setup for the way that regulars want to play. Without our pubs and regulars, the server will be empty ALL the time. There are not enough GNG on at any one time to fill it up.

[Libbo]

Speaking as one of the people who stumbled on your server many weeks ago and has slowly but surely begun to call it home for my CS:S fix here are my 2 cents ...

When me and my friends get online and are looking for a live server to play on the first one I always suggest is the GNG server. I based this recommendation on the fact that 99% of the time there are always good people playing on it and that the hosting clan members have never acted like a bunch of punks - even if they do keep killing me (and you bastards know who you are).

I can't stress enough the simple fact that most "adult" gamers - which I barely qualify as - play for the fun and thrill of it all and trying to mastermind some nifty ideas to lure traffic onto your server would be a tragic waste of your time. We really don't care about the details, we just want a fast paced game with quality people. Stick with the basics and keep running a tight server and word of mouth will do the job for you.

Whatever options you do decide to run with (Friendly Fire, Custom maps, etc.) I just hope you stick with it. Ambiguity will be the death of your hopes to keep building a player base.

Keep charging hard gang and pray I never learn how to shoot straight ... I won't be your whipping boy forever. :tongue: