Spring RTS Engine

Some of the PC-Gamemagazines i have seen, put there Readers Homemade-Shareware- and/or Freeware-Games on ther DVDs. (e.g. Gamestar )

Couldn`t we get Spring, once it is completely TA & Bug free on one of those? One Request - and we reach - for free - maybee hundredthousand readers...
It is not grassrout, but it is a way to boost things...

Don't think Spring is yet ready for a big public.
Try to play spring at a LAN with friends, you have to explain so much...(lan server, camera modes, F4, etc)

Definatly not.

I say yes! We need more noobs!

knorke wrote:Don't think Spring is yet ready for a big public.
Try to play spring at a LAN with friends, you have to explain so much...(lan server, camera modes, F4, etc)

So basically we need a tutorial and a manual?

No, we need a way to implement a flexible tutorial and manual in game. A simple way to implement it would be via a massive group AI that automatically pops up certain messages saying "do this" etc and basically holds the player's hand through some basic tactics (and then some advanced tactics).

The problem is that the AI interface is not as flexible as woudl be needed - the player would still have to select al lthe units, press ctrl-q, select the Tutorial AI, etc. Which obviously is beyond a noob.

No, basically we need to set all the extras as having to be turned on, rather than on by default. It's a lot easier to explain to someone why their camera isn't changing angles when they push a certain combination, than to explain why they're suddenly completely out of control of their camera movement and unable to do squat while their base is blown up and they consider turning emo.

Everything with a checkbox (except for 3D trees) should be off by default on the first install IMO. The sliders don't make THAT much of a difference though, so they can be whatever.

A simple in-game tutorial would be helpful. People who aren't familiar with the TA resource system might be confused at first. I think we've all had to tell a newb to 'place the metal extractor on the green spot' or something else that would seem obvious to us.

when people who have never played OTA join spring, 95% of them drop out after there first 1-2 games because tere is no help and the community just shouts LOL NOOBZ ROFL!!
I doubt many who hadnt played OTA would stick around very long anyway

I think the only people who act like that are kids (or immature adults). Every time I see an obvious newbie I try to give helpful advice. And I've seen lots of other people do the same.

I also try to give advice, but they have to be interested in hearing it.

I once suggested an AI that automaticall is activated if a Noob joins, so his Units would do the nessesary, giving him time to experiment and find out, why and how/whatfor. However it would not be helpfull if this thing is not automatically activated with first Lobbyjoin...

What is really needed is a few single player missions that teach new players how to survive, and let them have some fun at the same time.

Indeed, a few single player missions would really help, a small champaign would be even better, if it is legal that is.

One possibility is a demo that shows off various features and units. Just have the two players be on teamspeak.

Or just videos - gogglebox made some neat informational spring videos already, you could ask him about the process behind those.

Whatever it will be, it needs autostart what ever springfile you firsttime - may it be the lobby or the Exe- you still can close it as a Veteran.