Admin demo training

[WiredWrong]

Incorporate the use of Medal App clipping software into Basic Admin training.

Admins should have a basic understanding and knowledge to operate this clipping software, so that they may have an easier way to collect evidence pertaining to server disruptions.

When certain problems arise, the admin may go into spectate mode and start recording a demo through console. There they watch for a reoccurrence or for further proof of a server offence.
They may spend much time watching and not get the critical proof they need for the punishment to fit the crime. Then there is the issue of not being able to hear voice communications from either team. You must be on their team, alive when they're alive, or dead when they are dead.
This can be frustrating to handle if you are trying to deal with a server issue quickly and can't seem to line up the timing well with the alleged offender offending!

Medal App or another clipping software allows you to hit a hotkey and save a section of what you witnessed - as it happened. It pre records from your perspective.
I believe this lends itself to the "play first, admin second" perspective, while also making it easier to gather and provide evidence of server issues to others when needed.

This should be part of the Basic Admin training because it will help all admins gather evidence, save time, and make it easier to share clips with others for discussion, etc.

 

[Buster]

Clipping software > in game demos

 

[sopheyy]

W

 

[jii]

Medal is ass, bloated recording framework that often lags your PC, the best solution for clipping is OBS going to a video service of your choice (the forums video limit has gone up drastically btw!!!!!)

 

[Ric]

shadow replay

 

[Spock]

used to have shadow replay but since i swapped to AMD i have to use Medal since its closer to shadow replay now

 

[Xandertron]

obs best program and all clips are stored and processed offline

like if you aint gonna use obs at least use the built in 30 second clip recorder thats in windows 11 (win + g)

 

[That One Dino]

I cannot see requiring this being incorporated into trainings being helpful for our admins. The only type of recording I can agree with being part of the training is with using the methods that our games already have available. Requiring training on a program that many may not want or feel comfortable with using when there are already plenty of other outside sources that can be used could only cause issues for those who prefer using other programs, with OBS and ShadowPlay being some prime examples. When it comes to having to record instances of rule breaking on our servers, the trainings should only include what to look for, how long a demo should be, and how to do so with the in-game recording feature. The trainings should not try to imply that we should be using a specific program to do so, as this suggestion is appearing to imply, even if it was made in good faith.

 

[jii]

I cannot see requiring this being incorporated into trainings being helpful for our admins. The only type of recording I can agree with being part of the training is with using the methods that our games already have available. Requiring training on a program that many may not want or feel comfortable with using when there are already plenty of other outside sources that can be used could only cause issues for those who prefer using other programs, with OBS and ShadowPlay being some prime examples. When it comes to having to record instances of rule breaking on our servers, the trainings should only include what to look for, how long a demo should be, and how to do so with the in-game recording feature. The trainings should not try to imply that we should be using a specific program to do so, as this suggestion is appearing to imply, even if it was made in good faith.

I disagree heavily, GTA you can record just fine using standard clipping software, but this differs wildly once you get into the older source games that still rely on the Source demo playback system, newgens won't have a clue about it (I didn't when I started working on CSS and Cascsiany enlightened me) - so we need to have it in the advanced trainings so that when they see what they're looking for, they know how to properly capture it given their game/infraction context - Luna : would appreciate input since this is more your neck of the woods

 

[Luna]

so we need to have it in the advanced trainings so that when they see what they're looking for, they know how to properly capture it given their game/infraction context - Luna : would appreciate input since this is more your neck of the woods

We don't, and as far as I know have never, required recordings for anything other than cheating bans (demos work better for those anyways imho).

If individual leadership teams / AT managers want to add that kind of training to their advanced training, they are welcome to. I would likely just review and approve. We just aren't going to start requiring it of admins because we have plenty of people on toasters and requiring admins to have rolling buffer recording software is not ideal for getting our members to try other games.

This is one of those things I'll leave up to each team to decide if it's worth including in their training, I just won't accept it being required.

"Yeah sorry I can't play CS because they require admins to record their gameplay at all times" would be insane.

 

[BeastTheNinja]

admin training for how to use a demo, we had once it just explained how to use demo, i think we still have it somewhere.... but its not necessary to get trained in, they can get recommend recording softwares or clipping softwares, most of the times we only use it for cheating and voice recorded for racism and other stuff.

 

[WiredWrong]

My intent was to find a way to help the admins as it pertains to gathering evidence and administering action pursuant to server rules. Not all admins were trained with in game console recording - or lied about their knowledge of it, or forgot their training. I know this because I've been the one to help at times when it became apparent they did know how to make a basic demo. In some cases, they did not get any records of a problem because they did not know how to collect any evidence. After a very brief instruction, they are informed on how to the next time a problem occurs. This often resulted in lengthy and tedious records to go through for review or discussion. I had Medal recommended to me from others who use it, and found it very simple to use and noticed how effective it is pertaining to its prerecording feature and the ability to make short, precise clips of evidence.

I should say, my mindset comes specifically from a CS: Source perspective. My post is less about the specific software, but more about focusing on how we can provide admins with the knowledge and tools to better serve the players and the server.

 

[WiredWrong]

admin training for how to use a demo, we had once it just explained how to use demo, i think we still have it somewhere.... but its not necessary to get trained in, they can get recommend recording softwares or clipping softwares, most of the times we only use it for cheating and voice recorded for racism and other stuff.

This hits it on the spot.

If we have admin training on explaining how to use a demo - we should! Not everyone knows.
It should be necessary, how else do we gather evidence?
Yes, anyone can get clipping software - but not all admins are even aware such a thing exists - remember not all of them even know how to record a basic console demo.
Cheating, voice recordings for racism... Pretty much wraps up the majority of bans we have on the CS:S server.

I rest my case.

 

[Cascsiany]

For really obvious cheats, medal is fine. For less obvious cheating, demos are better as we're able to review with more details.
I went years without medal and only recording demos.

 

[Cascsiany]

This hits it on the spot.

If we have admin training on explaining how to use a demo - we should! Not everyone knows.
It should be necessary, how else do we gather evidence?
Yes, anyone can get clipping software - but not all admins are even aware such a thing exists - remember not all of them even know how to record a basic console demo.
Cheating, voice recordings for racism... Pretty much wraps up the majority of bans we have on the CS:S server.

I rest my case.

Recording and stopping demos is included in the CS Admin Guide.

 

[That One Dino]

I disagree heavily, GTA you can record just fine using standard clipping software, but this differs wildly once you get into the older source games that still rely on the Source demo playback system, newgens won't have a clue about it (I didn't when I started working on CSS and Cascsiany enlightened me) - so we need to have it in the advanced trainings so that when they see what they're looking for, they know how to properly capture it given their game/infraction context - Luna : would appreciate input since this is more your neck of the woods

I believe there might have been a misunderstanding with my response.

I don't think that there should be any implications in the training that we should be using third-party programs over the in-game recording systems. The trainings should cover how to use the in-game systems, but can still clarify afterwards that our admins are able to use third-party programs if they choose to.

 

[-Luke-]

I don't think that WiredWrong (OP) implied to make it a requirement, which I agree is undue burden on admins volunteering their time, but at least making trainees aware that the tool is available could be helpful, if they so choose to incorporate it. I personally find it extremely helpful for behavioral conduct enforcement, I don't have to wait for a re-offence in order to capture evidence, I can just record the evidence and keep playing. I was also told recently in admin discord that video evidence is required for any bans: "
mostly all bans need a physical evidence such as a screenshot or video tapes of what was happening on the server" so I think there is some miscommunication, going off Luna's message above.

Cheers,

 

[WiredWrong]

With the new addition of Steam's very own 'Game Recording' feature, I amend this request for Admin trainers to learn/teach any number of clipping software to new admins. Rather, I suggest AT or LE mention or inform admins in training of Steam's recording feature during basic training. I stand firm on the usefulness and utility of clipping software as it pertains to CS:S server issues. Thank you all for your input.

 

[Hero]

Third Party Game Recordings such as Medal are really helpful and convenient and every admin should know how to use them. I think however in certain cases (primarily cheating), source demos can be beneficial. What I'd say is a good suggestion is to incorporate things such as Medal into training but also have demos specifically for cases such as cheating or exploiting where in depth analysis of certain clips is required.

The unfortunate reality is without demos, you can't really investigate in depth into a player however demos are historically known for being a broken system which often gets things wrong (especially in TF2).

As a wise man once said...
"Shadowplay or it didn't happen"
- Ghosting Godzilla

 

[MS]

Steam has a new native game recording feature, would be cool if from here on out we trained admins to use that.