Armagetron is NOT dead, here's why and how to keep growing

[Word]

To Z-Man/Lucifer/Tank: the server list currently has some hickups which make the game crash after loading 100 servers - it only happens in full screen mode to me, never in windowed mode and other players told me they encountered the same problem.

Solutai: The "official servers"-thread and the related topics are relevant for this now.

[Malachi]

Indeed, we must find ways to contribute to this amazing game.

[Phytotron]

"RTFM you idiot!"

Fun fact: Armagetron used to come with an actual manual. I think it was abandoned with 0.2.8.x, though.

Surely you were bullied just the same as I was when I first started, why did you make it past that phase?

This is a problem with not only Armagetron's community, but online gaming at large. This whole notion of "grow thicker skin, it comes with the territory of being online." If the only, or predominant, people who can last in an online community are those who can suffer or entertain sociopathic or otherwise shitty behavior, then guess what happens to the quality of the community? Who's left? And those same people often turn around and become the dispensers of it as well. It's a vicious cycle that has turned online gaming into a focking toxic cesspool of some of the worst of humanity.

I've made the same point relating to all your damned Fortress rules. People being like, "hey when i was new i didnt grind like i was sposed to and got kicked and called names lol thats how it goes and you learn from punishment and thats how it should be." Now that's who runs this game.

[/dev/null]

To Z-Man/Lucifer/Tank: the server list currently has some hickups which make the game crash after loading 100 servers - it only happens in full screen mode to me, never in windowed mode and other players told me they encountered the same problem.

Solutai: The "official servers"-thread and the related topics are relevant for this now.

I thought I was the only one. Good to see im not, its one of the few things I have yet to bitch about.

As for you Ratchet, and similar flavors. You wont get very good at tron pretending its a ******* etch a sketch. The best way to improve is get your shit stomped till you can stomp back. Its a proven ******* fact.

You wont find anyone good at tron who didnt get thier ass kicked for quite some time.

[Bujeebus]

As someone who played this game like 6 years ago, I reinstalled after reading this thread for a blast from the past. I joined a server called "close dogfight" or something, lost a round, then won a round to be immediately kicked with the notice, "learn the rules of close dogfight or be voted off the island" or something similar. So as my 2 cents as someone who will never play on that server again, and frankly less likely to play again, I completely agree with whoever said earlier that arbitrary rules not enforced by the "physics" of the server are dumb.
No, "hey, you're not supposed to do that thing here." Just kicked from the server. Fun

Edit: It wouldn't have been as bad if there was any sign when joining the server or on map restart: "hey, go here to read the rules" instead of just basically an ad for their clan.

[Durf]

As someone who played this game like 6 years ago, I reinstalled after reading this thread for a blast from the past. I joined a server called "close dogfight" or something, lost a round, then won a round to be immediately kicked with the notice, "learn the rules of close dogfight or be voted off the island" or something similar. So as my 2 cents as someone who will never play on that server again, and frankly less likely to play again, I completely agree with whoever said earlier that arbitrary rules not enforced by the "physics" of the server are dumb.
No, "hey, you're not supposed to do that thing here." Just kicked from the server. Fun

Edit: It wouldn't have been as bad if there was any sign when joining the server or on map restart: "hey, go here to read the rules" instead of just basically an ad for their clan.

I think there is something, but it's just a URL; there are no in-game definitions of the rules as far as I know.
That is a big downside to having arbitrary rules, that aren't forced by the settings; forcing players to take the time (not playing) to read extra conditions for a server. How many users would just skip it anyway as if it wasn't there? I know at least some do because instructions for "Hunt the Wabbit" are in the welcome message, yet I still get asked to explain how it works / what to do.

Not that rules are bad ("play nice" and rules that can fit on a message_of_day setting seem appropriate), but when it comes to the player experience and "how to keep [tron] growing", you really need to take into account what new users go through.
I think it's an important point; servers (official servers) should have clear and easy to understand instructions (what one should do) and limitations (what one is not permitted to do).

Besides that, the server environment should feel welcoming. It is nice to have users remember and greet you for your return. Putting in the little extra effort to give new users a positive experience (perhaps teaching them how to set up their controls if you notice them still on single binds) can ensure a user will WANT to return (even if they don't like the game type - they like the people).

(sidenote: "/help" was fixed is +ap...why doesn't it work in sty+ct? You have to force people to teach themselves, and fiddle with access levels to accomplish that; stupid. "/help" is convenient for new users, it's public access, and if it worked, every server could have available rules, about page / contact info, perhaps settings for players to copy...it doesn't have to be just for "help", but even if it was, it is worth fixing...permanently... IMO)



<edit>

The best way to improve is get your shit stomped till you can stomp back. Its a proven ******* fact.

^ Indeed. Eventually it boils down to "do you want to be better" and "are you willing to improve"; if not, you might as well just be food for those who are more hungry for the victory.
</edit>



@Bujeebus: Hi / welcome back! Sorry that experience was...unfortunate.
The server named ".'`~>>>ULTIMATE FASTTRACK<<<~`'." has no rules for game play
(all that matters is having your name next to "Winner:" at the end - actually getting the most kills, but with one comes the other).
I suggest you give it a try since you can't be kicked for not playing the game a certain way.
But any server is fine, you might prefer something else.
At the very least, don't be too discouraged. We'd like to see you around more, on the grid

[Word]

Sinewav, what happened to the trailer you made?

And I read about loc's site here, which is defunct now; but loc is still around. Was there something we can now learn from?

[Ratchet]

Sinewav, what happened to the trailer you made?

And I read about loc's site here, which is defunct now; but loc is still around. Was there something we can now learn from?

The only thing I learned from reading that was how drastically FPS has changed. haha. Also, how they argued about whether or not 70+ FPS made a visual difference even then, lol

[/dev/null]

As someone who played this game like 6 years ago, I reinstalled after reading this thread for a blast from the past. I joined a server called "close dogfight" or something, lost a round, then won a round to be immediately kicked with the notice, "learn the rules of close dogfight or be voted off the island" or something similar. So as my 2 cents as someone who will never play on that server again, and frankly less likely to play again, I completely agree with whoever said earlier that arbitrary rules not enforced by the "physics" of the server are dumb.
No, "hey, you're not supposed to do that thing here." Just kicked from the server. Fun

Edit: It wouldn't have been as bad if there was any sign when joining the server or on map restart: "hey, go here to read the rules" instead of just basically an ad for their clan.

sadly dogfight is where pussies go to cry, Laugh at thier face, proxy, and kill them again.

**** them.

[Durf]

The only thing I learned from reading that was how drastically FPS has changed. haha. Also, how they argued about whether or not 70+ FPS made a visual difference even then, lol

The human eye can supposedly see about 30 FPS.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't use anything over 30; our eyes are not (ever) perfectly synchronised with the screen's refresh rate.
The refresh rate is the rate the monitor updates each frame (usually 60Hz).
Having a FPS of 30 only means that tron updates it's view (renders the scene) once every 2 times the monitor refreshes; and if those aren't synchronised (VSYNC) you will also get video problems (like horizontal tearing - or a flicker).
"Flicker-free" TVs and monitors are those 120Hz and 240Hz refresh rates; along with their contrast ratios that provide better viewing for your eyes.

IMO - Anything over 70 FPS will appear smoother on most monitors..though I might bring that up to 120 FPS (no syncing required, your eyes will always have a complete frame to see - no tearing, no flicker).
However, FPS is not required to play - I have personally had to (as well as seen other tronners do it) play with < 20 FPS. It takes some getting used to if you're accustomed to high FPS, but once you do, you (your brain) just extrapolates the movements as if you saw fluid movement, and you're still able to play.
Ping and lag will always take away more of your vision than FPS ever could (ping of 100 = 1/10 sec where you're unable to "see" -- fps 20 = 1/20 sec where you're unable to "see", you'd need 10 fps to match that ping's visibility)


There seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to those aspects of video / tron (in game complaints). Perhaps actually knowing this info can help people get less frustrated (or jumping to the conclusion that the game is somehow broken) and continue enjoying the game ("how to keep growing").
But in the end, sometimes, there's just a limit to what their computer is capable of.



also:

sadly dogfight is where pussies go to cry, Laugh at thier face, proxy, and kill them again.

**** them.

lol, I'm beginning to think /dev/null doesn't like any game type xD

[/dev/null]

Trons turning is intrisically linked to the fps. Turn off vsync and see how much more amazing tron becomes.

Also, I like deathmatch, and ctf sometimes. Sumo is ok, but its always laggy as shit so I dont get to enjoy it the way its meant to be used. Fortress is just running.

[Durf]

Trons turning is intrisically linked to the fps.

Isn't that what SWAP MODE is for? In System Setup > Display Settings > Performance Tweaks.
The option mentions something about graphics lagging behind input (or perhaps vice versa) seeming to suggest that there is a option to "turn off" waiting for your frame to render before accepting new input (a turn).
Wouldn't that effectively sever the link?

[/dev/null]

Possibly, I cant say ive ever tried it, but I think that just effects the input buffers, I may be wrong though.

I just force off vsync in the video drivers.

[asdasd]

The game is dead asf

[compguygene]

Hmmm. I have been able to load the server browser and find people playing in servers that I find interesting anytime that I play, for at least the last 2 weeks.

THIS GAME IS NOT DEAD!