Well my maybe and that's final was that I would follow this thread and make my recommendation when more information was available and it was tested, etc.... Therefore, I'm not for or against but I'm all ears with the new prospect.
I was noticing you said it would have to be 7v7...in MW4 there is no way to allow observers and still play 8v8 with like a different server config?
Also, shoutcasters very rarely make a server lag more than it already does, atleast is my experience with tribes and tribes 2. (Alot of people may tell you other wise, but they are just whiny ;P)
7 vs 7 would be ideal.
lets face it, not every server can handle an 8 on 8 match, and even fewer can do it with out killin the guys on 56k with either a higher ping or the "load limbo" screen.
plus, even a team with 50 registered members can have teouble gettin an 8th due to unforseen circumstances
hell, the matches might even take less lobby time
and its a camera, not a 140 kph uller runnin around, so its not like it would run any interference
and reveling tactics? bah, ive benn playin this game long enough to know which teams going to do what on pretty much any map and drop zone.
the only thing thats to sweat over is leaving after the 7 lives is up.
hmm, besides it being low and extremly cheesy, what would keep a clan from listening in on the shout cast during the match and pass on tactical info to the competitors. Lol, maybe a better question would be, what sort of commentary does one get? Overall, the idea sounds cool and would be the next best thing to a demo. (I really wish mw4 had a buit in demo tool like q2 etc.)
I know my opinion doesn't count for much, but I believe this would be a great idea. I get on coms even when I am not in the game just to hear the banter, but there is only so much you can tell about a game from one viewpoint. Go for it! Hunter4Life
I believe it is possible, however very unlikely, that someone playing in the match would be listening to the SHOUTcast at the same time. Usually, players are busy enough with playing and doing voice comms with their 'mates.
Again, my intention is to commentate on things that happen, not information about tactics. For example:
"We're getting ready to drop...this match between clan z and clan y is certain to be a hot one on this map...we're dropped, and both teams are on the move...shots fired by clan z, and the fight is on...WOAH! player 2 from clan Y just took a brutal headshot, flaming severed head...heat must be getting to both teams, or they both ate alot of beans before the drop - green gasses pouring out of mechs on a regular basis..."
I'll give kills, scores, time left, throughout the broadcast, but it's a play by play, not an analysis. Think of me as John Madden - Madden doesn't have access to the actual playbooks of teams, he can only report on and account for what he observes. Likewise with me. I won't say stuff like "Clan Z is positioned 110 degrees from Clan Y, bunkered down behind the ridge with the green and white peaks, just past the lake..." NO WAY. I will say stuff like "both teams are on the move, getting into positions for the engagement." If there's a total camp-out, I'll do my best to not say anything about it. Why? How do you know, if you and your team are camping, that the other team is to, or are they on the move flanking your ass? Right, I've got to be careful about stuff like that. I'll fill the "dead air" with other colorful anecdotes.
Hope this is clearing up any potential misgivings, but on the whole, it sounds positive.
things i woudld listen for are
kills,
slaughters (eg clan z losses 5 men at once)
player slaughters(player w kills 3 y guys)
suicides,
and anything to fill in the time.
my turks would love to see this go as when we have 15-20 guys online and only 8 play, they like to know how we doin ...............................
RESSURECT MW4 CTF! Trap¥
My connection to the Internet is a clean DSL line, 1.5MB down, 384KB up. I'll be using a 56KB connection to Mechwarrior4, and a 40Kbps stream to the SHOUTcast server, so I'm barely making 30% utilization of my upstream bandwidth. This pretty much means that my connection will not induce any latency for packet catch-ups or losses.
Just as a note, most shoutcasts have roughly a 30sec-1 min delay afaik. So I doubt the info being recieved in a shoutcast would be very helpful to the teams. Also a shoutcast would lag them more if they were listening to it, so it would probably do more harm than good.
Just a thought:
Maybe have a test run or two on some BKDD matches? Just to see if the market is there. *shrug*
Let me make plain that I'm not against the idea of SHOUTcasts, specifically of SHOUTcasting MW4 matches, but I am against the thought of having to tell a teammate or two that they've got to sit this match out so an observer can slot in. If a situation came up where a team we were scheduled to play would not be able to field a team of 8, I'd gladly allow a SHOUTcast.
When you negotiate a challenge with another team, if you, at the onset, desire to have the match SHOUTcasted, you can just say up front it will be a 5-vs-5, 6-vs-6, or 7-vs-7, such that expectations are set. If you really want the match SHOUTcast, then you'll accomodate. If playing with 8 players is more important, then you don't opt for the SHOUTcast.
Again, this is an option to any teams out there that want the exposure. Banshee said it well - 8-vs-8 drops in BK lag by default. In past clans that I ran with, we often negotiated 6-vs-6 drops, just to eliminate the lag.
Either way, once I get a thumbs up from TSN, I'll provide more direction with regards to how to solicit for a SHOUTcast. I will continue to look into opportunities to "beta test" the process in the short term.
Can I get you to put up a news article on the main login screen to point to this article? I'd like to ensure that we get the broadest exposure possible for teams to view this thread. I've seen several clans actively posting, but there are a few more I'd like to hear from to ensure this is a go.
What is the deal? Neuro is willing to take his valuable time to try and broaden the MW experience and exposure. This will only benefit all of MW players. We allow him to test it out and if it works, cool, if it does not I believe he would be the first person to admit that.
Did anyone note the possibility of getting paid to play MW or other online games? I did and if I had been getting paid since MW2, MW3 and MW4 came out I would be retired by now, lol.
Actually,
When I grew up in Los Angeles, we would have the baseball game on tv, with the sound down and listen to Vin Scully call the game on radio. "Going back, a-WAY back, it's gone."
I still think the Shoutcasting is a good Idea, the only drawback I see is the loss of a player.
neuro cant be at EVERY match but i'll be glad for any shoutcast. like i said when i got 19 guys on and 7 in a server playin, the other 12 want to know whats goin on with their fat-turkey and cap'ms ...............................
RESSURECT MW4 CTF! Trap¥
ya know
we could do this. set up a few scrims. not for spots on the ladder. and test it that way. if it causes to much lag then we would know and no one would lose a spot due to the the lag. I can't speak for AKA but I'd be interested in a test run. that's for sure
The SHOUTcaster, presumably me, is the only one looking at the video game. I will not be capturing video during the game, but will be broadcasting audio.
I'm all for a test run. Again, add me to your ICQ, and get in touch with me online in the evenings, and we'll see if we can setup a practice run. I'll also tool around open servers with HEL tags on (a rare event) to see if I can drum up some folks to play.
I'm going to do a test run on the TSN servers on October 10th. Any two teams that want to play a 7 vs. 7 or less game for this test, email me directly at webmaster@i-neuromancer.org to setup details. I'd like it to start at 10PM Eastern Time, we'll play a 30 minute game, TWL rules, for the test.
I will also be pursuing smaller scale bandwidth tests on my own SHOUTcast server in between then. My server only supports 10 listeners, but it'll be the same amount of bandwidth on my station as is I was supporting 500 users - the SHOUTcast servers do the work, not the client workstations.
Post edited by HEL Neuromancer at 9/26/2002 11:09:56 PM
Most pubs do not allow Camera ships to drop, so it'd be difficult for me to get a bead on the action. I've thought about running in a Cougar or something, and just staying out of the action so I don't get shot. However, that would prevent me from seeing the stuff that I want to broadcast, too.
Is this live or recorded? I only ask this because if its live then why wouldnt the teams just have someone listening if i understand this correctly. For example if your talking about positions etc. they would be able to capatalize on it. I think its cool and the idea of contracts for playing games well sounds kinda BIZARRE but hey why not LOL.
lol i'd say just talk bout deaths, and suprises, like from each teams views not givin posits, away ...............................
RESSURECT MW4 CTF! Trap¥
You need to re-read my posts, I've clearly explained that it would be live, and that it would NOT be giving away tactical information, so anyone listening would not have an advantage.
Trap:
I'm in Eastern USA time zone.
Post edited by HEL Neuromancer at 9/28/2002 11:01:46 AM
I gave it a test this afternoon, Trap you were in the server, and it worked fine. I had a HEL member connect to my test SHOUTcast server to see how the sound was, he said it was perfect.
I will consider doing some random broadcasts from the Team Banzai servers, since I can get in there in Camera mode. If you all want to hear the test streams when I do them, please add me to your ICQ so that I can let you know when I'm testing. Or, join IRC at:
irc.enterthegame.com
Channel #tsn, I'll usually be hanging out in there.
As far as tonight, I'm on call tonight (data center equipment move), and if I'm not at work, I've got a match to play vs. OF tonight with HEL. That is if my wife doesn't need my attention (oh ya, Saturday night...yeah baby).
FYI, I was just in Team Banzai - Ronin server, and it looks like someone BANNED me from that server while I was SHOUTcasting. TB folks, please pass the word around that I'll be doing test SHOUTcasts on open servers as Camera.
Also, my ICQ is 108953533 - add me!
Thanks.
Post edited by HEL Neuromancer at 9/28/2002 2:38:47 PM
and that it would NOT be giving away tactical information, so anyone listening would not have an advantage.
I just plyed a couple of games in KD server that Neuro was shoutcasting. The delay was between 1.5 and 2.5 mins. He thinks when he's on TSN it'll be a bit faster, but still, thats quite a bit of lag. I guess while everyone is postering or setting up, 1.5 mins could be important, but most of the games we play, if you try and use tactical information thats 1.5 mins old your screwed. I dont think it would be a problem :P
don't know what happened there, Neuro - I'm passing on your info to TPTB and letting them know there's a problem - we've had problems over the past day with our home page and the servers doing an "upgrade". (argh - local networks BUG me!)
The Redhead in The Raven
Morale and Publicity Officer
Banzai Institute Ambassador
i think he did good not gibin away too much info
only thing to improve it would be mabe something like:
and there he goes! hes getting into the brAWL! and OW HES DOWN! the shadow cat is down! now the sunder walkes over and GAUSE flying out of a BK on the ridge just ripped a new hole in him.
lil bit o attitude, but other wise, A+ job ...............................
RESSURECT MW4 CTF! Trap¥