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General Discussion => The Speakeasy: OOG/Off-topic Discussion => Topic started by: Ken on 01 Jan 2012, 13:17

Title: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Ken on 01 Jan 2012, 13:17
Everyone has their own angle in EVE and some of us (myself included) don't even play it right now/any more, but OOG this forum tends to attract gamers with similar qualities: intelligent, RP-focused, patient and challenge-loving/masochistic (EVE players and all...).

So, I've been thinking that this place needs more co-op.  We like many of the same games.  We have a steam group (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/inspiracy) already.  It's natural!

Do we have a combined listing of the various Minecraft/Terraria/L4D/otherstuff servers or groups that Inspiracy regulars run and/or frequent?  If not, we ought to have one.  This seems like as good a place as any.

On that same note, if we don't have Minecraft/Terraria/L4D/otherstuff servers or groups going, we ought to.  Who would be interested?  Who would be interested if I said I had two free Steam copies of Terraria to get people started?

And in a broader sense, what are your thoughts on building a more cohesive gaming group out of the fine gaggle of folks we have here?

(http://chzgifs.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/modernherdingp1.gif)

Games that are being discussed here so far:

Battlefield 3 (http://www.battlefield.com/battlefield3)
Gameplay (http://youtu.be/NDDfPxF3EFE)
Wat is?? military FPS, large server team PvP

Borderlands (http://store.steampowered.com/app/901566/)
Cinematic/Gameplay (http://youtu.be/Ya8j42xU5Ss)
Wat is?? sci-fi FPS, 4-player co-op w/ PvP on the side

Brink (http://store.steampowered.com/app/22350/)
Cinematic (http://youtu.be/1KYHBkXBhTg) Gameplay (http://youtu.be/OphHeNA-kDA)
Wat is?? modern/sci-fi FPS, large server team PvP

Freespace 2 (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/freespace_2)
Modded Cinematic (http://youtu.be/xhAR8rWPluQ)
Wat is?? SP space flight sim, various MP mods

Left 4 Dead 2 (http://store.steampowered.com/app/550/)
Gameplay (http://youtu.be/VVIdHPG0wYI)
Wat is?? zombie horror FPS, 4-player co-op/vs/survival

Magicka (http://store.steampowered.com/app/42910/)
Cinematic (http://youtu.be/ZnqMnuO2crg)
Wat is?? isometric fantasy "RPG", 4-player co-op/PvP

Minecraft (http://www.minecraft.net/)
Gameplay (http://youtu.be/MmB9b5njVbA)
Wat is?? sandbox game/persistent world

Portal 2 (http://store.steampowered.com/app/620/)
Co-op (http://youtu.be/A88YiZdXugA)
Wat is?? puzzle "FPS", 2-player co-op

Project Reality (http://www.realitymod.com/)
Gameplay (http://youtu.be/dI7MBq89IC4)
Wat is?? various military FPS mods

Team Fortress 2 (http://store.steampowered.com/app/440/)
Cinematic/Gameplay (http://youtu.be/eQ8duKs2Plw)
Wat is?? FPS, large server team PvP

Terraria (http://store.steampowered.com/app/105600/)
Gameplay (http://youtu.be/Azq5IOrFtEI)
Wat is?? sandbox game/persistent world

Trine (http://store.steampowered.com/app/35700/)
Gameplay (http://youtu.be/-ZSe0tzGIT4) & Trine 2 (http://store.steampowered.com/app/35720/)
Wat is?? puzzle platformer, 3-player co-op
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Victoria Stecker on 01 Jan 2012, 14:17
What exactly is Terraria? I saw it for sale on steam today and scratched my head a bit. Currently downloading BioShock 2 and L4D2, but have been wasting most of my time lately with Brink, having way to much fun with the silly team shooter.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Desiderya on 01 Jan 2012, 14:25
Terraria is a fun little game, maybe best described as a sidescroller minecraft with more focus on RPG elements than construction. It's 2D and it doesn't feature (at this point) all the mechanical stuff that let's you build those contraptions.
On the other hand you have a (imho) way better crafting system than minecraft - and you can go out on real adventures.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Myrhial Arkenath on 01 Jan 2012, 14:51
I'd like to see a TF2 server, because it's free, and fun.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Ken on 01 Jan 2012, 19:41
Quote from: Desiderya on 01 Jan 2012, 14:25
Terraria is a fun little game, maybe best described as a sidescroller minecraft with more focus on RPG elements than construction. It's 2D and it doesn't feature (at this point) all the mechanical stuff that let's you build those contraptions.
On the other hand you have a (imho) way better crafting system than minecraft - and you can go out on real adventures.

Yea, pretty much a 2D Minecraft with less SandboxTM and more AdventureTM (http://www.terraria.org/faq.html).

Quote from: Victoria Stecker on 01 Jan 2012, 14:17
have been wasting most of my time lately with Brink, having way to much fun with the silly team shooter.

I gave Brink a shot during one of the free play weekends during the summer, but felt rather :meh: about it.  What hooked you?

Quote from: Myrhial Arkenath on 01 Jan 2012, 14:51
I'd like to see a TF2 server, because it's free, and fun.

:D  Team Fortress is a given for this sort of thing.  Let's see, some other fine co-op titles that come to mind are Borderlands, Magicka, Trine (2), and Portal 2...  Not free and not really the sort that would require dedicated servers, but I wonder what the interest level is around here for those games and others like them. 
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Victoria Stecker on 01 Jan 2012, 19:55
Quote from: Ken on 01 Jan 2012, 19:41

Quote from: Victoria Stecker on 01 Jan 2012, 14:17
have been wasting most of my time lately with Brink, having way to much fun with the silly team shooter.

I gave Brink a shot during one of the free play weekends during the summer, but felt rather :meh: about it.  What hooked you?


Team-based play, coordination required for success (particularly as the attacking team given how horridly imbalanced the missions are), frantic action rather than crawling on your belly, mix of realism (recoil mechanics, etc) and non-realism (big guys, little guys, baseball sliding while shooting someone with an smg). It's not mind blowing but it is a ton of fun multiplayer, particularly with friends.

Also quite fond of the story, particularly the fact that both sides of each mission cast themselves as the good guys, and the game never really tells you who is telling the truth.

I've never played TF2 but from what I've seen/heard it'd be lovely for this. And terraria sounds interesting, I think Steam has it on sale, maybe I'll grab it.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Senn Typhos on 01 Jan 2012, 19:58
I woulda been fond of Brink if the finished product was even close to what it was originally supposed to be.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Mizhara on 01 Jan 2012, 22:15
Frankly, TF2 is horribad. Next to no precision, real tactics or skill involved. It's a 'casual' shooter at best.

BF3 has serious potential in the FPS department, providing team-based/squad-based FPS with decently high requirements for skill, teamwork, tactics, communication and diversity. What I'm curious about is whether or not someone here is familiar with NWN RP-campaigns or Freespace 2 multiplayer campaigns?
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Victoria Stecker on 01 Jan 2012, 23:28
Quote from: Senn Typhos on 01 Jan 2012, 19:58
I woulda been fond of Brink if the finished product was even close to what it was originally supposed to be.

Ah. I have no idea what it was supposed to be, I just picked it up cheap when Steam had a holiday sale. So far, it's been worth the $5, though I have noticed that there are not a lot of regular players, I see the same names a lot in online multiplayer.

Out of curiosity, what was it supposed to be?
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Senn Typhos on 01 Jan 2012, 23:52
Quote from: Victoria Stecker on 01 Jan 2012, 23:28
Quote from: Senn Typhos on 01 Jan 2012, 19:58
I woulda been fond of Brink if the finished product was even close to what it was originally supposed to be.

Ah. I have no idea what it was supposed to be, I just picked it up cheap when Steam had a holiday sale. So far, it's been worth the $5, though I have noticed that there are not a lot of regular players, I see the same names a lot in online multiplayer.

Out of curiosity, what was it supposed to be?

I'm gonna turn really bitter for a minute, so, I apologize in advance.

Brink, in its concept stage, was described as a revolutionary FPS that would include the then-famous "free running" system, stuff we saw pioneered to some extent by games like Prototype and Mirror's Edge, moreover the latter. Brink was supposed to combine these and make an FPS that focused less on the "realistic" combat of something like BF3 - human speeds, bursts of action, etc - and instead by a constant stream of fast-paced ridiculousness.

In fact, the alpha footage looked obscene. The system that's currently used is basically what was used there, but what's changed is the depth. I don't really know how to describe it, but... eh.

Look, here's gameplay from 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT0vOEjF-ig

Here's gameplay from the released version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9djC8bFJ4Q

There's a strong chance I'm just seeing things and being a bitter gamer, but, the alpha footage of Brink was amazing. It was a dark, gritty, excellent graphics, a new style of gameplay. What was released is just... it's TF2 with a semi-functioning freerun system.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Ken on 02 Jan 2012, 00:20
Quote from: Mizhara on 01 Jan 2012, 22:15
Frankly, TF2 is horribad.

Not a sentiment I often encounter.  It's got a certain charm to it, or it did at least in 2008.  Haven't played TF2 a whole lot recently.

Quote from: Mizhara on 01 Jan 2012, 22:15
What I'm curious about is whether or not someone here is familiar with NWN RP-campaigns or Freespace 2 multiplayer campaigns?

I don't have said familiarity, but what's this about Freespace 2 co-op?  Old, old title, but I remember Freespace and its sequel as being unparalleled fun at the time.

Quote from: Senn Typhos on 01 Jan 2012, 23:52
There's a strong chance I'm just seeing things and being a bitter gamer, but, the alpha footage of Brink was amazing. It was a dark, gritty, excellent graphics, a new style of gameplay. What was released is just... it's TF2 with a semi-functioning freerun system.

Someday soon maybe we'll see a game that properly combines the freeform movement of Mirror's Edge (and what Brink aimed for) with tight gunplay.  Maybe that sort of thing is just naturally better suited to a single-player or co-op experience than team PvP.  In any case, I know I'd be thrilled to hear about a Mirror's Edge sequel at the very least.

With what's out there right now, what does interest you in the co-op/general multiplayer realm?
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Senn Typhos on 02 Jan 2012, 00:37
Quote from: Ken on 02 Jan 2012, 00:20


Quote from: Senn Typhos on 01 Jan 2012, 23:52
There's a strong chance I'm just seeing things and being a bitter gamer, but, the alpha footage of Brink was amazing. It was a dark, gritty, excellent graphics, a new style of gameplay. What was released is just... it's TF2 with a semi-functioning freerun system.

Someday soon maybe we'll see a game that properly combines the freeform movement of Mirror's Edge (and what Brink aimed for) with tight gunplay.  Maybe that sort of thing is just naturally better suited to a single-player or co-op experience than team PvP.  In any case, I know I'd be thrilled to hear about a Mirror's Edge sequel at the very least.

With what's out there right now, what does interest you in the co-op/general multiplayer realm?

Just, in general terms?

Well, to be perfectly honest, most cooperative systems don't jive with me. I haven't actually played a co-op since I was playing Halo 2 back in the day with an old school buddy. I want to buy Portal 2, but knowing that a lot of work went into a co-op mode I'll never use and wouldn't enjoy, eh, its keeping me from putting the money into it. Left for Dead-style co-op doesn't interest me either, something about insular grouping just turns me off... probably flashbacks to Hunter: The Reckoning, or as I called it at the time, "Frustrating Cameras: The Game."

Multiplayer, I stick to my military FPS's. I get to be the butt of a lot of jokes around my friends, talkin' about it being unoriginal, never changing, etc. I don't see a reason to fix what ain't broke. BC2 was badass, BF3 has improved on the game's mechanics immensely. COD4 was good times, MW2 improved on the game. MOH was badass, multiplayer coulda used a little work I guess.

I dunno, I prefer a depersonalized multiplayer atmosphere. I can run around as an assault class, shoot whatever targets I find, loosely guide my team with my body language and the objective specifications, etc. If someone goes down, I clear the area and try to defib them. If they die, I'm not totally fucked and the team can easily keep moving forward. I mean, I vastly prefer at least being in a clan, because comms turn those games into ferocious experiences, especially once the squad dynamics come into play. Get one of each class who knows what they're doing, you can take every objective on your own. Not to mention, the maps are so damn open and there's so many options for approaches... vehicles and the like.

Thats my bag, anyway. I like to be a soldier with an objective, and I like shooting down other players. I don't like being heavily dependent on others.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Mizhara on 02 Jan 2012, 00:43
I'm not too familiar with Freespace 2's multiplayer/coop stuff myself. I just read an article about how the unofficial patches/graphics upgrades and so on apparently made Freespace 2 fantastic in multiplayer. Back when I actually played it much myself, I was just in it for the singleplayer, but it could be fun multiplayer I suppose.

One thing with co-op games: They'd better be made for multiplayer (Q3A, UT, BF3 and so on). Singleplayer campaigns with coop systems are almost always hatefully bad. Balance, immersion and so on goes straight out the window. Again, it's for casuals just like TF2.

I'm not limiting myself to military FPS games (they're actually nowhere near as good as most of the old-school FPS games) but I do recognize that they're the most prolific of the multiplayer games out there. Personally, I'd love to get some good old Q3A or UT99 going.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Morwen Lagann on 02 Jan 2012, 01:28
I used to follow the fs2_open project, but it's been a while.

I don't recall Freespace 2 (or the original Freespace) having a co-op mode, offhand. Their predecessors did - at least, I know for a fact that Descent 2 did. I think 3 might have, and I'm not sure about the original.

If I could set that stuff up again I'd probably be all for dicking around with it with other people.

Also, the BSG conversion for FS2 (Beyond the Red Line) was p cool even when it was just in alpha/beta. Should check on that too.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Milo Caman on 02 Jan 2012, 05:27
Played a lot of Minecraft, some Freelancer. Less, now the servers I was a regular on for both games have done down.

Backstage Minecraft server anyone?
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Graelyn on 02 Jan 2012, 08:16
I still play the hell out of Project Reality, especially now that the shininess has worn off of BF3, and the good players are coming back.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Desiderya on 02 Jan 2012, 09:55
Reminds me I should play some PR again, too.

@TF2:
I don't share the sentiment that it's  got
Quote from: Mizhara
Next to no precision, real tactics or skill involved.

You will notice one hell of a difference between skilled and unskilled gamers. You will see that a well balanced and cooperating team has an insane impact on how you'll be able to breach defensive positions and score points. About the precision: You're not going to headshot people, deagle style, but there's lots of movement and precise shooting to be had. Sniper comes to mind, Scout is one hell of an effective class if you're able to keep moving and hit your (moving) target point blank.

Since it features classes there's some "balanced unbalance" to be had. While it is not rock, paper, scissors you'll have some advantages or disadvantages regarding the matchup. Also some classes are harder to get into than others.

The main issue that comes around is that you'll have the "public server" effect, which means that team-communication is something that happens not very often. This depends massively on the servers you're playing on. On many servers I'll be able to 'get to the top' on a regular basis, whereas on others ( tje EU lethal zone, for example ) have a much more skilled server community where I'll get my ass handed to me on a regular basis, too.  :D
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: kalaratiri on 02 Jan 2012, 10:15
Quote from: Ken on 01 Jan 2012, 19:41
Let's see, some other fine co-op titles that come to mind are Borderlands, Magicka, Trine (2), and Portal 2...  Not free and not really the sort that would require dedicated servers, but I wonder what the interest level is around here for those games and others like them.

I would totally be up for a Trine co-op thing. Love that game ♥
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Victoria Stecker on 02 Jan 2012, 10:20
Quote from: Senn Typhos on 01 Jan 2012, 23:52
There's a strong chance I'm just seeing things and being a bitter gamer, but, the alpha footage of Brink was amazing. It was a dark, gritty, excellent graphics, a new style of gameplay. What was released is just... it's TF2 with a semi-functioning freerun system.

I don't really see anything from the alpha footage that's not in the final game. The movement system is intact, though it takes more than just looking where you want to go - you've got a jump and a crouch/slide button rather than just looking up and down, which probably puts a bit less strain on the game during multiplayer. The game still looks pretty good with the graphics cranked up, I certainly don't have any complaints there (was playing against a friend and repeatedly picked him out of a crowd to kill because of the red mask he was wearing).

I guess my impression is that they put in the movement system but don't force you to use it. If you want to run around like it's an ordinary shooter, you can. There's just a lot of places you won't be able to get to.


edit: did someone already mention borderlands? Not quite as fun as old D2 lans, but still pretty sweet imo.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Arnulf Ogunkoya on 02 Jan 2012, 11:04
So. Glancing at my currently installed stuff form games that aren't limited to 4 person co-op.

Had Global Agenda for a while. Haven't played it much lately but that's more a time issue than any dislike for it. I am really looking forward to Tribes: Ascend though and have signed up for the beta.

That only leaves Killing Floor for me. It's not a very complex game, but is very tricky once the difficulty is turned up. It's worth it for the howlingly funny Cock-er-nee geezer voice acting though.

Oh and Borderlands on single player is my favoured way to blow off some aggression (on some hapless beasties, bandits & Crimson Lance types).
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Sofia Roseburn on 02 Jan 2012, 11:09
I pre-ordered Global Agenda. Feels bad man.

I'm pretty sure I've got the majority of the games people are talking about bar BF3 (and even then welp nVidia drivers. Video games are fun.

I'd definitely be up for a 4 man Borderlands run through though. I need some Brick.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Myrhial Arkenath on 02 Jan 2012, 13:45
Quote from: Mizhara on 01 Jan 2012, 22:15
Frankly, TF2 is horribad. Next to no precision, real tactics or skill involved. It's a 'casual' shooter at best.

That makes it perfect for something to do on the side when not playing EVE. I actually like how casual it is. I'd like to get into more serious shooters at some point, and I'm taking recommendations, but for now this is well enough a playground for me. Maybe we can have another shooter server hosted for people who like some more serious fun?
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Ken on 02 Jan 2012, 14:32
I adding a tally to the OP with links to most of the titles we've been discussing for anyone who is unfamiliar with them.  What are your thoughts on long-term multiplayer 4X games like Gal Civ (http://www.galciv2.com/index.html) or Sins of a Solar Empire (http://sinsofasolarempire.com/)?  In addition to those two, I believe Armada 2526 (http://www.ntronium.com/Armada2526%20Home.html) has LAN and play-by-email support based around a turn-based simultaneous orders system.  And there's also the exceedingly arcane (but potentially awesome with enough players in a long-term game) Space Empires series (http://www.malfador.com/Se5.html).

Edit: I've tinkered around a bit with Space Empires V for several years, and bearing in mind how moddable it is I think we could put together a pretty slick EVE-esque 4X romp.  I'm imagining an RP-driven customized universe of human factions all vying for galactic dominance.  Shifting alliances, espionage, great wars among the stars.  Hmm...  Not a fast-action sort of thing or really much of a divergence from the general EVE experience, but possibly great fun.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Valdezi on 02 Jan 2012, 15:00
My brother and I play a bunch of Trine 2 co-op atm. If anyone with whom I am friends on steam wants to join, feel free! Otherwise feel free to add me: winterkilled.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Misan on 02 Jan 2012, 20:34
Brink is still a solid FPS, the problem at launch with it was it simply had some stupidly persistent bugs that SD took forever to fix. Combine that with a couple maps that with bad team balance would get the attackers spawn camped in hard there was some serious attrition in player numbers. I literally had to stop playing it because there were maybe 1-2 US servers with decent pings, if even. The DLC that came out fixed most of the issues with balance, but by then it was a little too late.

The movement system worked really well as far as I'm concerned, it opened up a lot of routes to those players who would try to use them. The problem was most people just played it like any other shooter and didn't really take advantage of them.

I don't mind TF2 now, but I'd much prefer playing BF3 with a good 4 man squad. BF3 already has several "EVE" servers that different groups have hosted, FHC, PL, and some Veto/Omerta people have servers up.

I would totally be up for some L4D2 or Borderlands, maybe even Dead Island. Magicka too.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Akrasjel Lanate on 03 Jan 2012, 03:46
Quote from: Sofia Roseburn on 02 Jan 2012, 11:09
I pre-ordered Global Agenda. Feels bad man.

I'm pretty sure I've got the majority of the games people are talking about bar BF3 (and even then welp nVidia drivers. Video games are fun.

I'd definitely be up for a 4 man Borderlands run through though. I need some Brick.

Warning Global Agenda chat(the stuff they talk in it) is bad really bad.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Sofia Roseburn on 03 Jan 2012, 04:22
Quote from: Akrasjel Lanate on 03 Jan 2012, 03:46
Warning Global Agenda chat(the stuff they talk in it) is bad really bad.

Modding FHC gives me a large amount of ignorance to bad.
Title: Re: Gaming Together / Inspiracy Servers
Post by: Graelyn on 03 Jan 2012, 04:39
Ken, that would be too awesome to happen.