The Future of TT from GG!

[ArtCrazy]

The IA browser TT still has a logn way to go, and I am NOT playing a THREE DIMENSION (3D) game in a browser for a few reasons:

1. The browser and the desktop is a huge system hog. IF anyone of you has compared when you play a game windowed and full-screen, windowed behaves MUCH worse, SPECIALLY if the game requires a good computer. I've got a Geforce 8800GT that can play Very High in Crysis at stable 35-40FPS and I seriously doubt it that a game like TT would behave worse at times... Even if you've got better graphics. But it does behave worse, and why is that? Just think a bit, you'll figure it out.

2. The Screen is TOO small. I like playing the games at full-screen native resolution (1440x900). I've NEVER played a shooter windowed! that's crazy! Specially in a browser... You cut out like 75% of the screen so we have a really smaller Field of View...

3. The Pushed updates. I am one of those "control-freaks". I like to control what happens in my computer, I install an application like a game and I want it to ASK me when it needs to update. It MAY refuse to let me play if I don't, and I'm okay with that, but I should at least get a warning that asks me if I want to update and where I can view the changelog. This is also a MUST if they ever support modding, as so far any script/mod you write is completely wiped clean from TT's folder... (read more about modding in the end of this post) So it would be nice to be able to make a backup when we need to update. And PLEASE, make the "downloading" bar more informative. I'd like to know the percentage and size already downloaded AND if it's already installing or not.

4. The IA system is buggy. Of course you have to iron it out, but In the few games I played, 75% of the times it gave a connection error, didn't load at all or the game simply froze while loading. When it actually works, half of the time people disconnect mid-game or the game crashes. I don't really mind this as it's a beta but if you put this toghether with the other problems it just makes stuff more annoying.

Btw,the game IS modable, I've been able to run a script. With some work we could even bring ACAS in but without Options GUI. Modded maps/gametypes should also be possible. And to the dislike of the developpers, it should also be very easy to make everyone in the server play using one of the tanks you can unlock or play a locked mission without needing to unlock it. (through admin codes for example)
Still, the game has so little support that it's a pain (MUCH more than the current TT) to actually do anything...

If you want ME to play, you MUST fix all things I talked about above and give the users THE OPTION of using a downloadable IA client. What I mean is that I do not want to be browsing a web page, but in an actual application that works like the web page. You also MUST have the option of playing TT FULL SCREEN!!!!!!

Of course fixing what I talked about is optional for you, but if you don't, don't expect my support... And as it seems the support of almost all ThinkTanks veterans. So far I want to stay as far away as possible from Instant Action due to the sheer difficulty of actually playing ANY ONE GAME... With tons of errors, loading problems and whatnot, and seeing that most of these bugs happen BECAUSE of IA being browser-based... You get my point. (If you don't... Well shame on you)

Now, if you read every word I said, I want to congratulate you :P

Art Crazy

[DJ Wings]

Speaking of the ACAS, who's going to be in charge of giving campers/divers/worse the boot (and there will be plenty)? The IA staff? Somehow I doubt it.
PS: I've played some in-browser games before. Doesn't it suck when your mouse leaves the area that the game's running in?

[paisano]

Here's the latest regarding the future of TT. This is the reply from Joe @ GG regarding to the serious complaints about performance that I shared with them from those of you that have tried the new ThinkTanks online.





Pai,

I don't have enough free time to craft a well thought out response. The main jist of some of the conversations is performance, and laggy connections. This comes down to.. dedicated servers will happen, but unless there are people demanding them (and by this, I mean that there are lots of people playing) then they will not get a high priority. Modding.. in the plans, but again, will not happen, and will not happen first in thinktanks if there is no community around them.

fullscreen will happen when we get around to it..legions has it, it is just not done in thinktanks, and is not high priority at the moment.

Mac support is coming.. Linux won't happen. Hate to say it, but we lost money on the linux version.. so.. they can run it in wine.. or not, but supporting linux native is not in the cards.

when it comes down to it, all the things they are complaining about can be added/fixed to the current version, but we are not going to abandon instantaction.. lack of support for the instantaction version is not going to lead to support for the old version. It is just not going to happen.. if the instant action version becomes the 'new' version because the community demands it, and has a hand in shaping what it will be, then cool.. if they reject it outright, then it will just die.

so, a recap.. network performance will improve with dedicated servers.. the 'need' for how soon is dictated on demand. Modding and other 'stuff' is in the plan, but will not be moved to front of the stack unless there is a demand.. Mac version is coming soon..

not being able to play is a bug.. we are in beta still.. if people are experiencing bugs.. report them. Work with us to fix them.

ok, that is it for now. If the community rejects the instant action version of TT, well, it is what it is. If we get some to come over to play the new one, great.. if not, then there will be a new community that springs up (or not) and that is something we are actually ok with..

hope that makes sense.

Joe



It's a serious game of catch 22, fellas. On the one hand, I am in the same boat with the rest of you where we all love the original game of ThinkTanks. On the other hand, GarageGames has made it crystal clear that they will never upgrade the old version because their plan is to evolve the online version at http://www.instantaction.com. Thus, we can keep on playing our beloved old game the way it is on our own servers and hope for new mods/maps from time to time or we can try to support GG with the online version of TT with the hopes that it will not only become as good as the old game but quite possibly even much better!



What do you think? Should we get onboard, beta test the new game and make suggestions and provide feedback and see if they indeed make TT even better? I played a few times and despite occasional lag issues I enjoyed the experience more than I expected to! I like all the new elements they've added. We just need more servers and full-screen mode among other things.

They just need more of us to jump onboard to show them just how strong our community is when it comes to supporting the best game there is.



Pai

[paisano]

Woops. I posted the above message before reading all of your wonderfully insightful responses. Excellet stuff guys and gals.
I am more torn than ever...but I am leaning more towards the concensus right now in sticking with our original game version.
I wish there was a way to convince them to just upgrade TT rather than just go with the online version.
Perhaps someone will buy the code? Who's got big bucks here?

Nap is right. Even when not if they close the master servers we will go on thanks to IPjoiner.

I have to do some serious thinking about this. Is it wise to help promote their online edition if it means certain death for TT the way we know it? Is it worth the risk to hope instantaction.com fails just so they could come back to developing TT1? I don't think they would do that which means the death of TT1 as well. So it looks bleak all ways around.

hmmm

[Three]

Pai, would you please PM me "Joe"'s email address at your leisure? I'd like to discuss business modeling and customer support with him. Thanks.

[get some]

someone please do.

my first thought was "they want a community to build up and demand it?" what the heck are we? chopped liver? anyone ever get the impression that we are not listened to? maybe not appreciated?

you have to put out a quality product to expect your loyal fans to follow. i still havent played the damn thing cause it was too difficult to get on and then found out there's no mac support. everything ive heard so far isnt making me want to try it any more.

[CB]

Look folks, they are still selling our version of the game. Why don't you beta testers of IA like myself, promote our version to players in the IA server as I have been doing. I also spread the word and put links to the Think Tanks demo on many different game forums. I know there has been sales due to this and if we all concentrate on pushing this version, GG will have to continue hosting the master as long as there selling it.

[DJ Wings]

Linux won't happen. Hate to say it, but we lost money on the linux version.. so.. they can run it in wine.. or not, but supporting linux native is not in the cards.

All right, then bye. I'll continue to support the real ThinkTanks, but I am not going back to Windows for it.

[NUTS!]

One thing I have learned about GG/Bravetree is that they are wicked smart when it comes to making games. However, the business decisions leave a lot to be desired. They say they lost of money because of the Linux version. I say they made a lot of money because of it. How many people bought and/or continue to play the game because of a certain Linux servers (roo was also Linux, plus shockwave servers). Not to mention contribution to the TT community by people who choose to use Linux. Plus when you stop and think about the people who are still playing TT now and using linux. Not our fault that TT seemed to be marketed for macs and windows (part of mac games and shockwave). If they were actually part of this community they would know but they are not. How do you create a product and not back it? I am not talking about service more about marketing. Not our faults that GG decided not to upgrade TT with new tanks and bling, etc. Could have been some extra cash and kept the game going with new meat. Crap wth do they care

Geez any idiot can see that Linux is making a come back with a lot of these new cheap computers. I think the whole IA thing would/could be huge with that. Instead they seem to want people to make games that only play on windows and xbox. If I was that caliber of developer and focused on windows games you can bet I would use some other engine. But thats my opinion. Heh, think logically, would the average Window gamer (or Mac for that matter) want to play a browser based game on there quad core computer with a maxed out graphics. Hopefully, they can figure out a way to let the browser based people play with "installed" gamers.

FYI- Look at TT on IA now. Barely any servers compared to about a month ago. Now that Rockitball and Legions are out, not to many people play TT. Wonder if GG will let the browser idea kill Tribes, err I mean Legions.

Enough ranting, time for another beer.

[Feathers McGraw]

Linux won't happen. Hate to say it, but we lost money on the linux version.. so.. they can run it in wine.. or not, but supporting linux native is not in the cards.

WHAT?! Are you shitting me?!!?!

I may not be a Linux used (doomed if I ever become one), but that's just retarded! Linux is one of the big gamer OS's out there, and they won't support it? That's retarded.

my first thought was "they want a community to build up and demand it?" what the heck are we? chopped liver? anyone ever get the impression that we are not listened to? maybe not appreciated?

My thoughts exactly. Maybe they're in a "Schrödinger" browser... the community is both there and not there in the server window. Do we have to get like 100 of us into the IA servers simultaneously all chanting "Listen to US!" before they consider wanting our help?

*edit* I love how the board censored "dam'ned" but not "shitting". what the...?? (<- also w't'f is censored lol)