I totally agree. But I'll also express my community's concern. We run 13 HL2 based servers and wanted to add a few l4d servers to our cluster, but I hardly see the point if the community has any issue whatsoever playing on them with ease. I really hope there's a way to bookmark servers you like.
On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 4:23 AM, Andrew Armstrong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > While I agree that these concerns are valid and of importance (to GSPs, > rental customers and players alike); I think it it's also important we see > how the entire system plays out in the context of the game before > condemning > it too quickly. > > As a player, I would prefer to be able to indicate a preference for a > server > to play on (such as one ran by my ISP) as opposed to being placed on > someone > else's server. > > As I know the servers provided by my ISP are of high quality and that they > allow me to play on them without incurring bandwidth charges (if I were to > exceed my internet usage quota), I would prefer to be using their servers > as > opposed to anyone else's. This also allows me to control my gaming > experience by knowing that I won't be suffering any lag, or if there are > problems, I can get them fixed. > > I totally agree with your points about communities being formed around > servers (I only ever have the desire to play on game servers provided by my > ISP, regardless of game), I look for people I know there, and know that > when > a new game comes out, my ISP can have a few servers up and I know my gaming > experience will be lag and issue free (assuming the players are good, of > course :)). > > Hopefully though as Eric pointed out in his initial e-mail, Valve will be > taking feedback on board from the server community as this is a new avenue > for them (and everyone else?) in how multiplayer games will be formed, and > these sorts of issues should definitely be addressed in a reasonable > manner. > > I think it is important to consider for a moment that Valve won't have done > anything with the intention of destroying server rentals or gaming > communities (GSPs included), but rather decided this may a better way to > get > a game going and a faster way to play with friends. > > Recalling for a moment the Custom server tab drama, I think that could have > been handled a bit better by both parties. Valve went pretty quiet about > the > issue after it was introduced, but that probably wasn't helped by the > drilling they immediately took from quite a lot of people - communication > should have been a bit more constructive and open in this regard. > > Hopefully both parties can work through any big issues regarding the new > Left 4 Dead matchmaking system to both keep any new cool features the Valve > team have in place for Left 4 Dead, but also respond to important issues > concerning GSPs, the communities that surround them, and the fact a lot of > gamers like to buy/rent servers in order to call a place as home (for clan > matches, practice play, etc). > > I personally think Valve is one of only a few game companies that interact > with their customers and do listen to their feedback, while still taking > initiative in trying new things such as the new matchmaking system - a > constructive discussion about any issues that arise from this system I > think > would be beneficial for both sides. > > Cheers, > Andrew > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steven Hartland > Sent: Thursday, 6 November 2008 10:40 PM > To: hlds@list.valvesoftware.com > Subject: [hlds] L4D No Server Browser = No Server Support > > Following the announcement last night that there will be no > server browser for the highly anticipated Left 4 Dead, we > have been thinking long and hard about the impact this has > on the hosting of the game. > > With no server browser how are people supposed to join a > server they have rented? Will there at least be a direct > to join IP feature? > > Without these there is no incentive for either the purchase > of servers by customers or the provision of free-to-play > publics by gaming communities, as people have no choice over > what server they join. > > This kills the rental, hosting and community market for the > game outright. Do Valve really intend to host all the servers > themselves for the game or has the importance of these features > and their impact been overlooked? > > As it stands right now we (Multiplay) see no benefit in > supporting this game at all and unless this situation changes > we do not intend to host any servers for it. > > We hope other GSP's will support us in this action. The MOTD > ad block is of minor significance in comparison to the building > a community around servers. This is the start of a slippery > slope which once started down it will be hard to turn back. > The community goodwill and hard work must not be taken for > granted and pushed too far. > > Valve's success is in no small part due to the widespread > availability of servers for it's games, the majority of which > are funded and run by the community at large. To take away the > community's ability to continue to run servers that they can > build solid regular player bases around, will simply destroy > the communities around the game and also significantly dent > faith and goodwill in Valve as a company. > > While we wish Valve success with this game; their decision > leaves us with no choice but to take this action in the hope > that it will highlight how strongly we feel about the removal > of direct join options from any game. > > Regards > Steve > > ================================================ > This e.mail is private and confidential between Multiplay (UK) Ltd. and the > person or entity to whom it is addressed. In the event of misdirection, the > recipient is prohibited from using, copying, printing or otherwise > disseminating it or any information contained in it. > > In the event of misdirection, illegible or incomplete transmission please > telephone +44 845 868 1337 > or return the E.mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
