Well I'd like to bring some issues that stick out in my mind that we should
all consider before we make a decision on this topic.
I've voiced this a couple of times, and I'm very hesitant about adding in a
compeditive element to the multiplayer side of wesnoth. From my experiences
with other multiplayer games, rankings can have a seriously detrimental
effect on a community, and I'd really like to avoid that. Yes there are
advantages that we would have more players who take the game very seriously.
However this must be weighed with the negatives. Along with these hardcore
gamers you will also get a very large increase of individuals who will act
immaturely, and anti socially, which will decrease the standing and the
enjoyment of the MP game for most of the players.
In its current form, people just play the game and don't take it too
seriously, we've developed a pretty good and loyal following. If a person
doesn't like it, then they can leave. However if we add in a ranked
compeditive element and we will change the dynamic completely. People will
take things far more seriously, and change the board dynamics. Some people
(usually younger and less understanding) will undoubtedly will cry foul spam
the boards. We already have a problem with the MP lobby becoming too crowded
and full of people talking at once. The level of maturity has decreased a
bit, and people are noticing. Many devs refuse to play in the MP system.
Throwing in a compeditive system like a ladder would be like throwing in a
grenade into the room. I even suspect that there would be an increase of
people who would try to subvert the game by some means. We don't have a
problem with hacking now, but if people take the game seriously enough, I
can see people trying to.
There is the question of how would we organize it? What are the settings? I
mean I play generally 2v2s, would those get ranked? Would games at 30%
experience and 5 gpv be ranked? If that is the case would the ranking be
indicative of anything then?
We also have to ask, who would be interested in policing the lobby? How much
time and energy are we prepared to devote to this? Its easy for a company
like blizzard to do this, because they have the money to do so, but can we?
I'm not trying to lay out a doomsday scenario, but these are issues that I
think we should be very aware of. Just creating it, and throwing it out
there for people to use without deep forethought would be an irresponsible
move.
I also think that its an issue that is difficult to find a compromise. I
think these problems will emerge if we tried to make it optional if one
wanted to be ranked or not, within the wesnoth client. My personal belief is
that a full integration, or an official ladder in wesnoth would not be a
positive development. I think though that there are positive features that
could be had, like a private statistics counter for players that isn't
publically viewable.
Now on to FGS specifically. Contrary to what you might think I don't have
much of a problem with it in its current "limited integration" form. I think
to some degree its actually a positive move. Why so? Because we already have
an un-official ladder thats done by a simple webpage and and players
reporting their scores system. Its mostly played by experienced players, and
its fine. From what I can gather, this would be quite similar (I may be
wrong). By having the scores and ladders reported somewhere other than in
the wesnoth client, and needed to download a separate program, you remove
that immediate compeditive element that could be hurtful, and promoting
better gameplay among serious players. If it works this way, I think that is
a good compromise.
I think there should be other priorities over this as well. I think a user
registration system for all users should be a priority far before we look
into adding a ladder system.We need more instruments to control the lobby,
its a mess now, It could get far worse if we add a compeditive system to the
game.
Thats about it. I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade here, but this is
a very serious development, and I think it should be considered deeply
before we move forward in this.
Thanks for hearing me out.
Noy.
From: David White <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: David Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Wesnoth-dev] Introducing the Free Gaming System
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:22:05 -0600
Hi David,
Your project sounds interesting. I think that if you get a userbase that
thinks your project is interesting, we will probably be interested in
integrating it better and better with Wesnoth. It is quite an honor that we
are one of the first two games you picked to get working. :)
What you basically have to do is convince the Wesnoth developers that your
project is useful enough for us to actually want to use it. If we do, then
you are sure to start seeing features to better support it in future
releases of the Wesnoth client. :)
I certainly think your approach is a good one -- one small step at a time,
rather than trying to do everything at once.
Best wishes,
David
David Anderson wrote:
Hi all,
I'm sending this mail following some discussions on IRC
(#wesnoth-dev), in which I talked a little about a project I'm part
of, and which seems to interest those wesnoth devs I came into contact
with. So, for the benefit of the larger crowd, I'm now going through
it all again :)
[snip]
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