Re: Ranked Server? Frank Discussion.

**Beatnik** · 08-03-2006, 03:23 AM

I don't see the server as being able to convert to ranked. Having a low population isn't in my opinion an effect of having an unranked server, but more and exaggerated effect of 1) having a predictable decline in interest in the game after 13 months of continuous play, 2) x% of people not buying booster packs and not being consistently on the server anymore, and 3) x amount of people (like myself, which I'm going to change) who only hop on after 20 or 30 or 40 people are on the server.

Each of those is a significant factor in low server population lately, and each has its own solution. But I think ranked status, despite other ranked servers being full a lot of the time (and all the smacktardery you see there, whose absence we easily take for granted here), is really an insignificant variable in the overall reason why server 1 has had less players recently.

**Snail88** · 08-03-2006, 05:39 AM

maybe its just me, but ive seen a lot less smacktardy play on pubs than back in the early to mid bf2 days. I think if you havent been on a pub in a while should hop on one that we all pub raid on for a while. You may be surprised. Of course theres always going to be some smackie or two but imo, its gotten a lot better, especially the better admined server. Then again, it could be just me.

**JMJ** · 08-03-2006, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by xTYBALTx

I really think we should look into having a themed Ranked Night and then see how it goes. I don't see any harm in it. The difference in cost is, from what I can tell, not giant - especially when one considers how many servers we have sitting idle. I hate to be 'that guy' telling another person how to spend their money, but that's how it appears.

You could PM Apophis, but I believe the cost of our servers is bandwidth based. That means server 2 and the private server aren't costing all that much. We can't make server 1 ranked, we have to rent the servers from EA. The cost of doing that is double what server 1 is costing. That makes it a pretty expensive theme night.

I don't know all the details, but I'm sure Apophis could clue you in if you ask him.

**icky** · 08-03-2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by xTYBALTx

I really think we should look into having a themed Ranked Night and then see how it goes. I don't see any harm in it. The difference in cost is, from what I can tell, not giant - especially when one considers how many servers we have sitting idle. I hate to be 'that guy' telling another person how to spend their money, but that's how it appears.

By all means, look into the cost of renting a ranked server. I'm sure nobody has priced it in a long time, and it would give everyone a better understanding.

As for idle servers, that's just free software running on servers that are already there for other reasons. I have an idle server running on my computer right now, and it doesn't cost me anything.

**Faultline** · 08-03-2006, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by icky

By all means, look into the cost of renting a ranked server. I'm sure nobody has priced it in a long time, and it would give everyone a better understanding.

As for idle servers, that's just free software running on servers that are already there for other reasons. I have an idle server running on my computer right now, and it doesn't cost me anything.

I used to pay for and admin a ranked server. I was actually renting the entire server box, so I could host a multitude of games simultaneously (something I imagine Apo and Co. are already doing). I was paying $160-$170 for the box per month and it was a dual processor with 1 gig RAM. I could run as many ranked servers as I wanted, provided the box could handle the traffic bandwidth wise & CPU wise. I think I ended up with 2 40-man servers running at once and comfortably when full. But when I decided to go ranked I lost alot of control over the box. Couldn't access it remotely except though a control panel with the hosting company and that just allowed me to change the configs, start/restart games, and add/remove new servers.

Anyways, I'm not suggesting we go ranked, just passing along some first hand info. You could get a ranked server and probably not pay any extra per month, as long as you consolidated some of TG's other games to that box and didn't need to do any special configs or something.

**BigGaayAl** · 08-03-2006, 12:36 PM

Personall I don't see why this discussion isn't about a private ranking system. I've seen them work on mods (allied intent and battleracer I think) and they work fine, without having to install anything.
This system I believ also allows for admins to set the points needed for ranks and unlocks, so 1000 points could mean you get the first rank + all the unlocks.

Off course that would still not attract the true pubbies. But face it you don't want those here.

**UnDeaD** · 08-03-2006, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by BigGaayAl

Personall I don't see why this discussion isn't about a private ranking system. I've seen them work on mods (allied intent and battleracer I think) and they work fine, without having to install anything.
This system I believ also allows for admins to set the points needed for ranks and unlocks, so 1000 points could mean you get the first rank + all the unlocks.

Off course that would still not attract the true pubbies. But face it you don't want those here.

I agree.

**CingularDuality** · 08-03-2006, 01:11 PM

Reposted here:

I never had it fully explained to me why it was not ranked in the first place.
I play on TG exclusivly, i think i've pub raided all of twice in my BF2 lifetime. The only reason I play BF 2 at all is to play with the 33rd and it is disapointing to only have 20 people on the server. Don't get me wrong, 2 or 3 of the 33rd rocks, but the game just isn't fun for me unless there are 63-64 people online.
My supporting membership is up next month, and I will not be renewing it (so don't have any Experiment fund raisers, I don't need them ) I originally got the supporting membership to be able to play on TG server without getting booted by all the SMs. I had fun and it was money well spent, but it does not make finacial sense for me to fund another year when I play maybe 2 hours a week, and I never have any problem getting in on prime time Friday's...hell I do not remember the last time we even had a full server! If the 33rd feels(or admin, like in DV's case) that I need to be a supporting member to still be in the 33rd, I understand and will relinquish my position. I would like to continue with you guys as you are the sole enjoyment I have playing CIV 4 and BF2 with! (The wife is just not a challenge anymore LOL, I need Bane to give me a run for my money).
Now, if 2142 is even half as good as I think it will be, and TG can work out the whole weapons unlock ranked server issue...I will most likely be back as a supporting member. But i cannot justify to the wife and family paying for another year for something that I agree is on it's last legs. There's my 2 cents.

Lots of great discussion here, but I wanted to comment on this post.

When everyone was coming here for BF2 and signing up to become SMs, we told you all that you're not paying to play BF2, you're paying to support this community. Evidently that didn't sink in with everyone, as I see a few people talking about letting their membership expire. Well, TG isn't a money making machine. Running all of the servers that we do costs a LOT. If too many people let their memberships slip because they are no longer happy with the server population during the summer, well, we won't have a BF2142 server because we won't be able to afford it. We won't have Quake Wars or any other up and coming game.

You may not be able to justify $8 a month to play on BF2, but you're lying to yourself if that's what you use as an excuse. That membership is for the entire community. The 33rd and every other squad here wouldn't exist without supporting memberships, don't forget that, either. Teamspeak. Game servers that are set up due to initial interest, but that don't catch on. Game servers that do catch on and are insanely popular. These forums that let us all talk to each other. All of these things are REALLY why you became an SM.

That said, budgets are a bitch and I've been in situations where I couldn't afford to help pay the bills at TG. Marine's don't make very good money... Take care of your family first, we'll be here. Others will step up in your place. I'm not saying that nobody should drop their membership, I'm saying that if you do, don't kid yourself about the reason.

**icky** · 08-03-2006, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by BigGaayAl

Personall I don't see why this discussion isn't about a private ranking system.

Because the point of discussing this at all is to gain the possible population increase benfits of being ranked. A private ranking system will do nothing for population, so it is essentially the worst of both worlds.

**NorCalRoach** · 08-03-2006, 01:39 PM

Cingular your point is well taken. Also along the subject of costs, I'll bet money that new supporting members will crop up to offset any cost increase if TG continues its success in maintaining it’s mantra of teamplay and squad based tactics while adapting to a ranked environment.

A couple of final thoughts from me on this issue, most people think the BF2 server will die anyway once TG'rs switch to 2142 in a couple of months. If it's true about 2142's game mechanics being focused primarily on the ranking system, then going ranked now could be a good opportunity for us to work out any kinks a ranked server might cause (i.e. how admining tasks will need to evolve, possible cost increase in supporting member status, whatever else comes to mind).

Having tried to go ranked and failing has more credibility for me personally than to continue saying that the gameplay and teamwork will suffer simply because of rank status. There's no basis for that argument until we actually try it despite past experiences on other ranked servers. There's good ranked servers and bad ranked servers, ours has the potential to be the best ranked server, I daresay the best in the WORLD. Proper admin’ing and continued support from the community could make this work. If not, the worst that can happen is having to revert back to an unranked server with an extra $75 to $100 deficit in the TG account for renting a ranked server for a month and a slap on the wrist from EA (although unlikely- in fact we will more than likely be pioneers and will encourage EA to have better support for communities like TG).

**CingularDuality** · 08-03-2006, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by NorCalRoach

If not, the worst that can happen is having to revert back to an unranked server with an extra $75 to $100 deficit in the TG account for renting a ranked server for a month and a slap on the wrist from EA (although unlikely- in fact we will more than likely be pioneers and will encourage EA to have better support for communities like TG).

Ummm, have you checked on the prices for ranked servers?

Try $532 for one month...

http://battlefieldhosting.ea.com/www/

It seems to me that much of this discussion is based on ignorance of how things work. If we were to go with a ranked server, it would cost us multiples of what TG is paying now. We couldn't have any custom content. All of the hard work that TG Administration has done to make our servers the oasis of teamwork that they are would go down the drain in the form of scripts no longer working. We'd be starting over, basically. If we're going to do that, then let's wait for a new game to come out before starting over...

**NorCalRoach** · 08-03-2006, 02:12 PM

Ouch...that is enlightening. I didn't realize the tremendous cost associated w/ ranked servers. It boggles my mind why and how those smacktard pub servers can maintain a rank status with costs so high.

**experiment626** · 08-03-2006, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by NorCalRoach

Ouch...that is enlightening. I didn't realize the tremendous cost associated w/ ranked servers. It boggles my mind why and how those smacktard pub servers can maintain a rank status with costs so high.

WOW! How can they afford that?

**NorCalRoach** · 08-03-2006, 02:33 PM

Maybe Undead could provide insight on how FCW does this.

**sordavie** · 08-03-2006, 02:39 PM

It's $512 per month with a $20 one time set up fee.

Thread Tools

Display