Topic: Divided We Fall (Read 2605 times)

Koloth · « **on:** February 25, 2003, 04:10:13 pm »

People need to just stop. Seriously. There are now 3, count em, 1, 2, 3 different versions of Starfleet Command 3 out there: 1.00, first beta patch, and 1.01 beta patch. This is not even counting mods. If we count the two main public ones, Chris's and TNZ, then that's 5. Furthermore, there are 2 main kinds of internet connections, dialup and broadband. Furthermore, there are two main kinds of Direct X, 8.1 and 9. So, I walk into Gamespy and see the following things...

No patch
No dialup
No DX8
No mods
No cheats ... this one cracks me up, some people really have no brains
No game

With all this crap, what are the chances of finding a game?

If you are independant, then I would say there is about a 20% chance to immediately find a game. It should be 100%.
If you are in a fleet, then I would say there is about a 40% chance to immediately find a game. This bonus really depends on the popularity in your fleet. However, it should be 100%.

So, basically, playing SFC3 on GSA blows.

Now, let's turn to dynaverse briefly...

There are 3 types of games so they run under the same limitations. You have to have the right game version to see a certain list. The Activision servers are not administrated so anything goes. People can use whatever means necessary to win or just to wreak havoc. Some people like this. I do not.

Indi server admins get my upmost respect. They spend their money to make dynaverse campaigns for themselves and others. It is a shame there has not been many server admin appreciation threads. In my opinion, server admin generosity is the only bright spot in SFC3 currently.

I would get into more detail about the indi servers, but I am going to keep my big mouth shut. At least, they are trying. Therefore, I do not deserve to criticize someone for work that I would not do myself.

To conclude my rambling post, how many versions of SFC3 are there? There should be one, and we all should be playing it! There are too few of us to have 100+ groups of 2.

Stop fragmentation! Begin reunification! Damn I need a drink!

Ok, so the last shout is not relevant...but let's fix this damn problem, damn, damn, damn

Tulmahk · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2003, 04:38:08 pm »

First beta doesn't count, since it's officially outdated and the new downloadable beta supercedes it.

DirectX 8 doens't count, for the same reasons as above: DiretX 9 supercedes it.

The Chris Jones Mod Server isn't currently open to the public, so for now it doesn't count. It'll count once again when it reopens, however.

That leaves 1.00 and 1.01 and 1.00NZ (Neutral Zone doesn't use the beta patch, I'm 75% certain).

That's 3 'official' versions by my count. And the winner is...

1.00NZ Although NZ should be using the patch, IMHO (and they might be, I'm confused on that point right now. So this could be 1.01NZ)

As a side note, anyone who refuses to upgrade to DirectX 9 is probably a survivalist who's still waiting for the Y2K bug to hit, while sitting in his basement eating nothing but canned pears, and randomly uttering 'Yee Haw!'

P.S. And Koloth, you just now realized Gamespy Aracde is the worst way to play multiplayer in SFC? I could have told you that 2 years ago! Get thee to D3 my friend! You are needed there!

CptCastrin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2003, 04:43:12 pm »

I agree with you (and thanks for the little 'ty', speaking as a server admin) but I think that Taldren (and Acti) do this patch a disservice. This patch really isn't a "beta" patch but more a "gamma" patch. Let me explain by laying out what I undertand of the true "patch level" ranking system:

Alpha = just out of primary testing, full of bugs
Beta = now in advanced testing, bug a plenty but no known show stoppers
Delta, Gamma = also known as stable code, ok for production use but may have issues
Final = 'nuff said, it done, well cooked and ready for all around consumption

No I'm not an expert of any way shape or form but I'd say (coming from the fact that I had a hand in testing it) that this patch is more a Delta / Gamma patch then Beta. Why it's being called "Beta" I can't say and I'm not going to try to read people's minds but IMHO it's not beta, it's much more far along than that. It will still have issues most likely (hell the game more than enough, this patch fixes a crap load of them) but I think people should not be so shy about this patch, it's not the same one that was released by Taldren prior.

CptCastrin · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2003, 04:48:49 pm »

Quote:

That leaves 1.00 and 1.01 and 1.00NZ (Neutral Zone doesn't use the beta patch, I'm 75% certain).

That's 3 'official' versions by my count. And the winner is...

1.00NZ ...

I hate to burst your bubble (and no offence ment to KoraH and others admining the NZ server) but 1.00NZ is not an 'official' version in any sense of the term. It's a mod based on the strait 1.00 CD installed version.

The only 'official' versions are: 1.00 (CD) and 1.01 ('beta' patch). Those and only those, sorry.

Praxis · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2003, 09:43:31 am »

I use DX8. I often fleet with Heruler on the GFL server. He has DX9. No problems.

Belchfire · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:48:05 pm »

Understood, I just did not want people misled that his server was not running the patch. Once again it is highly modified and not a standardized version. Ironic though that official and modified servers both share no support from Activision, in this sense they may have more in common than they realize. I do believe some standardizing may may be needed across the board, for many of these servers are going to be modified in some degree. They may all be listed under one server directory but each will require their own set of patches. Be nice if we could get them all on the same page instead of having multiple "Asset" files to inventory.

Just a thought

Be well

Belch

Koloth · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2003, 04:10:13 pm »

People need to just stop. Seriously. There are now 3, count em, 1, 2, 3 different versions of Starfleet Command 3 out there: 1.00, first beta patch, and 1.01 beta patch. This is not even counting mods. If we count the two main public ones, Chris's and TNZ, then that's 5. Furthermore, there are 2 main kinds of internet connections, dialup and broadband. Furthermore, there are two main kinds of Direct X, 8.1 and 9. So, I walk into Gamespy and see the following things...

No patch
No dialup
No DX8
No mods
No cheats ... this one cracks me up, some people really have no brains
No game

With all this crap, what are the chances of finding a game?

If you are independant, then I would say there is about a 20% chance to immediately find a game. It should be 100%.
If you are in a fleet, then I would say there is about a 40% chance to immediately find a game. This bonus really depends on the popularity in your fleet. However, it should be 100%.

So, basically, playing SFC3 on GSA blows.

Now, let's turn to dynaverse briefly...

There are 3 types of games so they run under the same limitations. You have to have the right game version to see a certain list. The Activision servers are not administrated so anything goes. People can use whatever means necessary to win or just to wreak havoc. Some people like this. I do not.

Indi server admins get my upmost respect. They spend their money to make dynaverse campaigns for themselves and others. It is a shame there has not been many server admin appreciation threads. In my opinion, server admin generosity is the only bright spot in SFC3 currently.

I would get into more detail about the indi servers, but I am going to keep my big mouth shut. At least, they are trying. Therefore, I do not deserve to criticize someone for work that I would not do myself.

To conclude my rambling post, how many versions of SFC3 are there? There should be one, and we all should be playing it! There are too few of us to have 100+ groups of 2.

Stop fragmentation! Begin reunification! Damn I need a drink!

Ok, so the last shout is not relevant...but let's fix this damn problem, damn, damn, damn

Tulmahk · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2003, 04:38:08 pm »

First beta doesn't count, since it's officially outdated and the new downloadable beta supercedes it.

DirectX 8 doens't count, for the same reasons as above: DiretX 9 supercedes it.

The Chris Jones Mod Server isn't currently open to the public, so for now it doesn't count. It'll count once again when it reopens, however.

That leaves 1.00 and 1.01 and 1.00NZ (Neutral Zone doesn't use the beta patch, I'm 75% certain).

That's 3 'official' versions by my count. And the winner is...

1.00NZ Although NZ should be using the patch, IMHO (and they might be, I'm confused on that point right now. So this could be 1.01NZ)

As a side note, anyone who refuses to upgrade to DirectX 9 is probably a survivalist who's still waiting for the Y2K bug to hit, while sitting in his basement eating nothing but canned pears, and randomly uttering 'Yee Haw!'

P.S. And Koloth, you just now realized Gamespy Aracde is the worst way to play multiplayer in SFC? I could have told you that 2 years ago! Get thee to D3 my friend! You are needed there!

CptCastrin · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2003, 04:43:12 pm »

I agree with you (and thanks for the little 'ty', speaking as a server admin) but I think that Taldren (and Acti) do this patch a disservice. This patch really isn't a "beta" patch but more a "gamma" patch. Let me explain by laying out what I undertand of the true "patch level" ranking system:

Alpha = just out of primary testing, full of bugs
Beta = now in advanced testing, bug a plenty but no known show stoppers
Delta, Gamma = also known as stable code, ok for production use but may have issues
Final = 'nuff said, it done, well cooked and ready for all around consumption

No I'm not an expert of any way shape or form but I'd say (coming from the fact that I had a hand in testing it) that this patch is more a Delta / Gamma patch then Beta. Why it's being called "Beta" I can't say and I'm not going to try to read people's minds but IMHO it's not beta, it's much more far along than that. It will still have issues most likely (hell the game more than enough, this patch fixes a crap load of them) but I think people should not be so shy about this patch, it's not the same one that was released by Taldren prior.

Praxis · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2003, 09:43:31 am »

I use DX8. I often fleet with Heruler on the GFL server. He has DX9. No problems.

Belchfire · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:48:05 pm »

Understood, I just did not want people misled that his server was not running the patch. Once again it is highly modified and not a standardized version. Ironic though that official and modified servers both share no support from Activision, in this sense they may have more in common than they realize. I do believe some standardizing may may be needed across the board, for many of these servers are going to be modified in some degree. They may all be listed under one server directory but each will require their own set of patches. Be nice if we could get them all on the same page instead of having multiple "Asset" files to inventory.

Just a thought

Be well

Belch

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Topic: Divided We Fall (Read 2605 times) var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};

Koloth

Tulmahk

CptCastrin

CptCastrin

LongTooth

Belchfire

Komodo

Praxis

CptCastrin

Belchfire

Koloth

Tulmahk

CptCastrin

CptCastrin

LongTooth

Belchfire

Komodo

Praxis

CptCastrin

Belchfire

Topic: Divided We Fall (Read 2605 times)