server browser / lobby

[LennardF1989]

No one even took into consideration my client-side server idea? :(

Could you remind me of it please :P?

Alright... I think this could work: In each verson of PS is the script for hosting the main lobby chat. Of all the players in the (main) lobby, two or three would be appointed as hosts, administering the chat messages etc. Probably based on average ping. The reason why it is two or three is for backup and ensured accuracy. When one of the hosts quits the main lobby, another player would be hosting. It may take some coding, but it'll give a free, reliable chat room if everything works :)

Edit: The biggest flaw I can see is getting new players into the network. This can easily be solved by getting ten or so guys from here with static IPs who have their PC on all the time to run a little program that would give out the information to connecting players. It would require almost no bandwidth or resources at all.

Unfortunatly, it sounds simpler than it is and it isn't really reliable.
Like, have you ever thought about how a player would get the IP of the current host? It can't be shared.

What we could do is what I said above, frvge's server runs a blank map 24/7, but the map is optimized for lobby/serverlist/globalchat. But it would require a server thats online 24/7, would take a lot of bandwidth and what if the server ever goes down (eg. frvge's stops paying for hes servers in Amsterdam?).

On the other hand, if we use the GameSpy service, 1. you wont have a global chat but 2. will always be online, GameSpy is known for not canceling any licensee services (in our case UT3).

Where do you need global chat for anyway when you have XFire :D

A third option is that users of ps setup a special server where users can connect too to chat. (eg. The blank map idea, only for users, you set it up like server, only aroudn 100 people can join :P).

[Cyntrox]

No one even took into consideration my client-side server idea? :(

Could you remind me of it please :P?

Alright... I think this could work: In each verson of PS is the script for hosting the main lobby chat. Of all the players in the (main) lobby, two or three would be appointed as hosts, administering the chat messages etc. Probably based on average ping. The reason why it is two or three is for backup and ensured accuracy. When one of the hosts quits the main lobby, another player would be hosting. It may take some coding, but it'll give a free, reliable chat room if everything works :)

Edit: The biggest flaw I can see is getting new players into the network. This can easily be solved by getting ten or so guys from here with static IPs who have their PC on all the time to run a little program that would give out the information to connecting players. It would require almost no bandwidth or resources at all.

Like, have you ever thought about how a player would get the IP of the current host? It can't be shared.

Yes, that is what I addressed in my edit x.x

So, if you're connecting to the network, you dig up the 10 IPs and send the same querry to all of them, asking for the IPs to the current hosts. Chance is that at least one of the 10 will answer.

Another solution could be to for example have the hosts of game sessions hand out the IPs to the hosts of the global chat.


I think it's doable, we just have to see the solutions :)

[Overstatement]

It's a mod. Doesn't anyone see the danger of allowing mods to communicate with external custom servers?

It's a mod. Stick to thinking of the moments after joining a server...

[Gawain]

Where do you need global chat for anyway when you have XFire :D

it makes organizing matchups faster (takes some time to add and ask every player on xfire) and helps new players to connect with the community. it would work like "hey cool player X and player Y are on, how about some games, any1 want to team up with me?" or "hey folks i'm new to this mod can anybody teach me club2008?" etc
one of the special things of pt/ct is the small community where everyone knows everyone and some more emphasis on the social aspect wouldn't do damage...

[goodkebab]

as overstatement said,

this is a mod,  so if UT doesnt support it....we cant do it.


also,  Xfire will not work ingame either....unless xfire works for mods.

[frvge]

I think xfire's detection might be possible tho. I'll need to take a look at the SDK.

[LennardF1989]

as overstatement said,

this is a mod,  so if UT doesnt support it....we cant do it.


also,  Xfire will not work ingame either....unless xfire works for mods.

I/You can make any game work with XFire (as long as it runs on DirectX, OpenGL or DirecDraw and such). So, to make it work for PS, we just take the section created for Unreal Tournament 3:

Code Select Expand

[5208]
LongName=Unreal Tournament 3
ShortName=unreal3
LauncherDirKey=HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{BFA90209-7AFF-4DB6-8E4B-E57305751AD7}\InstallLocation
LauncherDirAppend=\Binaries
LauncherExe=UT3.exe
Launch=%UA_LAUNCHER_EXE_PATH% %UA_LAUNCHER_EXTRA_ARGS% %UA_LAUNCHER_NETWORK_ARGS%
InGameRenderer=D3D9
InGameFlags=USE_PRESENT|DISABLE_RELEASE|ENABLE_MOUSE|USE_DINPUT_MOUSE

and make this of it:

Code Select Expand

[99999]
LongName=Project Stealth
ShortName=unreal3
LauncherDirKey=HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Project Stealth\InstallLocation
LauncherDirAppend=\Binaries
LauncherExe=PS.exe
Launch=%UA_LAUNCHER_EXE_PATH% %UA_LAUNCHER_EXTRA_ARGS% %UA_LAUNCHER_NETWORK_ARGS%
InGameRenderer=D3D9
InGameFlags=USE_PRESENT|DISABLE_RELEASE|ENABLE_MOUSE|USE_DINPUT_MOUSE

It will simply change the name to Project Stealth (instead of Unreal Tournament 3) when playing, but it will still be tracked as UT3. Though, this little mod isn't even needed if we just play PS from the original directory (same executable).

Or you can change the ShortName to rct2 and XFire will track PS as RollerCoaster Tycoon 2.

[goodkebab]

lol....we all know how much roller coaster tycoon is played

[frvge]

Hey, I loved that game. And 2 was also ok. When it turned 3D, it sucked.

[neth]

I loved RCT and Theme Hospital, good old times.