This is probobly the worst idea possible for the game. But I'm looking at a different angle than most (unless I missed it. I didn't read every post in this thread),
Lets recap a bit and do a quick look into the crystal ball; 1) The people most responsible for the continuing success of the game are the admins. They are the ones PAYING for the servers, running them, and keeping the game online and active. 2) There are players (and admins) that really are a bad influence on gameplay and people's reaction to the game as a whole. 3) The best servers are where there is aactive administration by the people running the server, and it's members (clan) police the aforementioned players. 4) If Valve forces advertising in the game, THE PEOPLE PAYING THE BILLS will expect that some of that advertising money will flow downstream. Nobody will want to pay money out of their pockes so someone else can make money. 5) Nearly every current server will shutdown unless there is a return to the admins. Some of the servers have been running for over 5 years with no return of any kind to the operators. It is labour of love. Multiply a monthly server cost over 4 years. It's a considerable expendeture that could well have been spent one something tangeble like a new motorcycle or extra mortgage payments. 6) Every opportunist will start a server for possible financial gains if there IS a monitary return. This will include individuals, and corporate entities. Team [EMAIL PROTECTED], team goldencasino.com, team watchmycam, etc., ad. nauseum. 7) Any corporate entity running a server will DEMAND that their ads get priority on their servers. 8) At this point we have the tail wagging the dog. Since corporate servers will dominate the list, and the private server owners abandoning the game for BF42, Quake, or any number of games (yes Valve, you aren't the only game in town), Valve will have to capitulate to maintain whatever cash flow models they have scribbled on the Corporate Washroom walls in their top floor offices. 9) Goodbye and thanks for all the fish. _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
