Nobody else posted so I will just give my non-lobby-person observations on other interesting things that happend.
http://zero-k.info/Forum/Thread/6692?page=1#116897
It was a sign of things to come!
It does not seem like non-zK people were involved in designing the completly new protocol and again the infrastructure forum was not used.
...and now zK uses not only its own server version but also a different lobby protocol.
For players that means only the (adjusted) zeroK-lobby can connect. Afaik no other lobby can connect to zK atm.
Anyone still does not see that as a split?
There was some talk about somehow combining the servers but it seems that was given up:
-the github issue is closed (
https://github.com/spring/uberserver/issues/129 )
-several posts, just quoting one:
"I think ZK and Spring should just go our separate ways regarding servers/lobbies/lobby protocols." (
http://zero-k.info/Forum/Thread/6692?page=2#117492 )
-It does not seem like the new protocol was "officially" announced to non-zK for ex. in infrastructure forum.
-I found no docu of the new protocol, which others would probally need.
-How realistic was this complex idea anyway?
Will the split go further?
Will there be further escalation of small things? Random example: will stuff like zk-lobby's failing engine-downloads
(
https://github.com/ZeroK-RTS/Zero-K-Inf ... issues/457 ) eventually cause zK to maybe make their own seperate download-stuff too? Maybe with new un-compatible download-mechanism too?
Appears unlikely, maybe, but some months ago how unlikely did the current events seem?
For players, modders, mappers, game makers these lobby-problems have not so much
technical relevance but "morale questions" will come up. Will they eventually be forced to "take sides"? Some postings seem like that is already happening, that is the opposite of what is good!
What if zero-K really attracts thousands of players (and keeps them)?
It seems likely that
if players enjoys spring-game-A they might be tempted to try spring-game-B.
How will it be handled: Does this mean non-zK hosts will pop up on the zK server?
At start of new server Licho was willing to host those, not sure what happend to the plan: right now there is probally not much interesst, yet.
Should more players appear it will become a more important question.
Will just the same situation as before be re-created? How to prevent selfdestruction due to success, like it happens to many lottery winners who suddendly get rich?
Is it a bit "arrogant" to assume that players only want to play one's own game, never wanting to try out other mods, like maybe BAR? Or even the "old BA", in case they want to play something with lower hardware requirements? With the shared history, is such thinking too selfish?
And other way around:
What will happen should zero-K not be a big success?
Without being too negative, the risk is there. Is it not better for both sides to have some "recovery plan"?
A new zero-K lobby is being made:
http://zero-k.info/Forum/Thread/11584
Will it allow non-zK games to be played decently? Or will it in this aspect be "worse"/more restrictive than old zKl?