Albert, Will you be making any comment on this?
Thanks, Chris Barnett. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Barnett Sent: 10 December 2006 16:29 To: hlds@list.valvesoftware.com Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [hlds] Expand CS:S Beta for all new CS:S updates please. This is a multi-part message in MIME format. -- [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ] Albert, I'm told by a lot of other server admins and mod developers, who have becomed very tired of the situation with updates, not to bother to ask you for a beta program, as it's been asked for hundreds of times before. Well, I suppose I might as well try. I run a 46 slot server which does run Mani and Matties Plugins. I've heard it many times, argued that VAVLe should not yeild to any pressure concerning the support of plugins and that is pretty reasonable. There really isn't anyone asking for Valve to support developer plugins, apart from a few individuals who are shooting from the hip, without thinking enough about what the problems are and how they can be solved. Whether we like it or not, we cannot get away from the fact that plugins are needed for very legitimate admin purposes as well as give a server a bit of character that is different from the rest. With our server, we try to use plugins to add ATMOSPHERE but still stick to the original classic gameplay of Counter-Strike. At the moment, I don't know of another server that provides different player skins on every map. We have over 80 player skins and 40 maps and by this time next year, I hope to have over 250 maps with over 500 player skins. Man months have already gone into all of that and it is soul destroying when it becomes broken when there's an update. When VALVe releases an update, I can't expect you to take into account every single server plugin and configuration. However, I do ask you to understand, that your updates can now not only affect a server depending on the plugins installed, but also it's CONFIGURATION! Also, we can't just blame the plugin devlopers for not conforming to the Valve API. Even if a plugin developer says he does, I, as a server operator, have no way of finding out whether he did or not. Plugin developers never have and never will conform to the Valve API. Server operators are reliant on those plugins - boycotting them is not an option and besides, the plugin community is best at looking after us server operators, we'll let you guys get on with improving the actual gameplay. The time has come, for a pre-release beta for every single update that is released from VALVE - as a separate game called "CS:S BETA" - in a similar manner to what was done with the DWP beta. We are *NOT* asking you to run any feedback program - just a simple release on the beta platform 2 weeks early. The plugin community can test their plugins NOT to circumvent any security measures - I think you will agree the plugin developers have be very responsible on that front. In the meantime, server operators can begin to test the new updates on the beta platform and prep their servers. Remember, these updates don't just affect the plugins - sometimes, the server operators need to change their configs. I understand that the smaller server operators won't take part - but the gaming providers will - with open arms, rather than many a sleepless Thursday night! Albert, it's a crazy situation, when thousands of servers are forced into an upgrade and the server owners don't have a clue as to what will happen - until it's to late. That situation is not acceptable and is costing the gaming companies money - they'll be forced to pass on the costs to the customers in the end... I've heard many people argue (And they all say they *used* to run a server, they hardly ever say they run a server) that there should not be a beta because people will get confused with multiple versions. That is a red herring. The beta pre-release system, while accessable by anyone, should be aimed at the server operator community. Normal players shouldn't be trying to build communities around a beta game! If it works out well, then yes, I think it should be expanded to the other source games, such as HL2DM and DODs. Also, I draw your attention to this thread on the Steam forums: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508450 Best regards, Chris Barnett U75CLAN -- _______________________________________________ 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
