Server division and popularity question

[Hidden_Question]

Hi, I just read the thread entitled "Dark Clouds on the horizon..." and I have some questions to ask.

First of all, what is it with server popularity? What does having a full server do? Does it generate ad revenue? Does it boost your ego? (sorry for bad pun) I always hear people bragging about how popular their server is, but what is the point? I mean doesn't eGO pay for the server out of their own pocket? if so, why would you want more people on your servers? wouldn't that mean more random strangers and higher chance of your server abused? Also, wouldn't that lead to higher server costs?

Secondly, I really can't see how by dividing the servers the "custom" servers will become less popular, which is the main concern I am seeing. sure, the label is a bit misleading, but I for one play on custom server more often than regular servers and will continue to do so. After a month or 2, I think everyone will get tired of the same old "vanilla" maps over and over again, thus switching to new, custom maps. Also, wouldn't anyone who has played tf2 for more than a week already know the 2 tabs are basically the same? Is it just me or are both parties overreacting?


Sorry if these questions are elementary, but I really am in the dark about how PC gaming servers work.

Thanks again to all

 

[Flippy the Squirrel]

In terms of the first question, I can't honestly answer, except that (for myself) it's nice to be able to go into a server and have a bunch of people to play with, in an environment I can trust, on a regular basis.

For the second, put yourself into the place of the first-time TF2 gamer, or the seasoned gamer looking for a stock server or a friendly place to play. Would you search on a tab called "Custom" for that? I would expect "Custom" to be filled with things that are the equivalent of the Gun Game, Surfing, or .. whatever that silly Zombie game was called. I don't believe there is any objection to putting truly custom games on that tab, but the line where these things are divided seems a bit arbitrary. That's the crux of the issue as I see it.

The only "custom" thing we do is track stats and allow 8 more players per team. These are things that are plainly visible on the server browser, and do not (in our estimation) require any other special handling.

On a personal note, I think it's a shame that lazy server admins who don't want to add extra value to the gaming experience they provide are getting rewarded for being lazy ... but that's just my personal stance.

 

[Lafinass]

Easy answer there. I hate custom servers.

Thus I'd have never gone to the custom tab and never found this great eGO community.

I always considered our servers to be 'vanilla' and it would be a shame for other players to miss out on what we have here because they don't want to deal with instant respawn, low gravity, or any of the other truly custom gameplay experiences.

 

[Booster37]

Well, the way I look at it,if we (by that, I mean eGO) are paying for the servers, we're not going to want to see it empty most of the time. What's the point of paying 10 bucks for an empty server when you can play in someone else's for free? As for wanting a popular server, it is part business, part service. For the owner of the server, we'd like to be known to have good servers with good people and good service. That in itself makes us popular. Many people (like me) run into servers like these by accident, yet are proud they did. However, you'll notice the servers will get less populated when most of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and U.K. are asleep. That's where the popularity is really needed for those in the Eurasia area. To simply show that there is purpose for the server at all times, not just when you are on or when you are awake. I was one of those random strangers, and some of them eventually become advisors (and council) of eGO. And that's also why we have admins.

To answer your second question, the real issue is that even though Valve announced that they were making a Custom tab, no one ever really clicked it except for when they were looking for Favorites (The former 2nd tab, now 3rd) and got that by mistake. If no one clicks it, no one will come. Simple as that. Maybe in a week to a month, it may become more popular as members notice it, but many people [in that Steam thread, which has been locked] are basically judging and labeling anyone who doesn't have a 24 slot server with ff off, gravity changed, crits off, etc. as someone who is doctoring their server to deceive them. Personally, If I had a server, my mission in life isn't to trick people to go into a 24/7 Hydro server with ff off and 24 slots to a 24/7 rotation currently on Well with ff on and 32 slots and gravity at 150.

 

[Flippy the Squirrel]

Bøøster37 makes an important distinction. In the previously aforementioned forum, we're all depicted as mustache-twirling villains tying innocent gamers to the tracks and running over them with our Hax0r'd servers, and they're playing the innocent victim. In reality, these are people who throw up a server and do nothing to maintain it. They may have a thriving community, they may have great players, but they do nothing to make their server a worthwhile place to be, and they appear happy that those who work hard are being marginalized.

Granted, I've become quickly convinced that the official Steam forums, like many official and public forums, are a troll magnet and a place for self-aggrandizing jackasses to inflate their own egos (moderators included, sadly) - so what goes on there may not even reflect the true desires of Valve, but ... just as we have to be careful that we don't give a poor impression of eGO to the outside world, they should be careful that they don't represent Valve as a thuggish and uncaring company.

 

[Hidden_Question]

so if i understand correctly, eGO pays a flat rate on their servers? they don't get charged more for more traffic bandwidth? thats cool

 

[Booster37]

And, many of us (not me, as I hardly have any money) donate to the clan, and some of that helps to pay for the servers.

 

[Endiment]

24 slot servers are awful. I can never get into any of them and there have been a lot more issues with people breaking rules (several a day on each server).

 

[Hidden_Question]

also, have the servers stopped runing HLstatsX? because I don't see the messages anymore.

 

[CorpPunishment (UK)]

Having pubs makes our community larger, richer and more brilliant with every new member. Most people here started out as regular pubs, if we hadn't had open servers we'd never have gotten so big.