server auto-populate

[DDS]

I had a thought today while at work. Gave it some more thought tonight and decided to ask any of our developers or those in the know if it is even possible and or probably for developers to accomplish.


Premise:
At any given time there are several servers with small populations in them and others that are full. Recently there are smaller numbers playing PRBF2 as well. For the casual gamer (casual gamer? yeah sounds wierd I know) who just wants a quick game but in a server with more than 30-40 players this would be a good option.

Question:
Is it possible to program an option in PRBF2 to auto launch players into servers (that participated) in order to populate/seed them? Perhaps based on any number of criteria such as servers which had the most players until populated and then begin to populate the next and so forth.

I understand that most servers have the desire to load certain maps for their player base or whatever so there would need to be an option for the administrator to participate in this if it is even feasible. For example, when their server empties out and they want to then seed their server.

This would solve the problem with not finding a server that isn't full yet or not enough players to elevate to a larger map. It could be a great help for servers that are trying to seed their server with mixed results.


Sorry if this has already been asked.

[Raic]

To my understanding its possible to make BF2 auto connect a server by using the 'target'.

+joinServer <string> OR <ip>

Command Line Options - BF2 Technical Information Wiki

Now to have someone spend time doing some programming.

[ShockUnitBlack]

99.99% sure this is possible (I'm pretty sure an autodeploy option is on the vBF2 main menu). It's a really good idea, too.

I know AncientMan's working on a new menu system. He might be able to put this in (if he hasn't already )

[BloodyDeed]

Am I getting you correctly, you are asking for the "Join Now" button from battlefield 2 vanilla?

[Sgt. Mahi]

Am I getting you correctly, you are asking for the "Join Now" button from battlefield 2 vanilla?

I think he is.
And I like the idea. Only problem would be that those servers would be filled up with exactly what he described "gamers that wants a quick game" (nothing wrong with that at all) and the quality of the overall gameplay on the server would drop I think.

[Mouthpiece]

I think the idea is useless in such a game as PR.

[Raic]

Am I getting you correctly, you are asking for the "Join Now" button from battlefield 2 vanilla?

Well, the "idea" behind the button wasn't all that bad. It simply never worked and only fronze the game.

I do doubt anyone would ever use it however, if it has tendecy to put you in almost empty server. Never know, maybe if its integrated and people press it for fun once and notice that it is good.

[ShockUnitBlack]

Only problem would be that those servers would be filled up with exactly what he described "gamers that wants a quick game" (nothing wrong with that at all) and the quality of the overall gameplay on the server would drop I think.

Meh, those players are going to play somewhere whatever happens. Might as well help others seed.

Also, I'd take a full server with a few casual gamers over a server with nobody at all any day.

[illidur]

Meh, those players are going to play somewhere whatever happens. Might as well help others seed.

Also, I'd take a full server with a few casual gamers over a server with nobody at all any day.

and thats why you would never use a "join now" button. because it will put you in an empty server.

[DDS]

Didn't think I'd ever see this thread again...

This idea was not for players to mash the "join now" button while you wait for your pop tarts to hop out of the toaster. The intent was about helping keep servers populated...( if it were possible.) It's not always about you

[Psyko]

Didn't think I'd ever see this thread again...

This idea was not for players to mash the "join now" button while you wait for your pop tarts to hop out of the toaster. The intent was about helping keep servers populated...( if it were possible.) It's not always about you

hahaha i love it. damn straight.

[Pronck]

I don't think you make people happy by putting them on a Russian or Chinese server by the auto-populate thingy, you need to fix that one so that people don't get stuck between people they do not understand.

[Nate.]

I don't think you make people happy by putting them on a Russian or Chinese server by the auto-populate thingy, you need to fix that one so that people don't get stuck between people they do not understand.

^This.

I don't think it's useful, because game settings are more important than in vBF2 - It only works if you really do not give a damn on what and where you want to play.
Filtering is not even necessary because there are so few servers available. The Server list is small enough to see what you like instantly and join.

Not worth working for, in my opinion.

[Vista]

You can also set country filters, for ping related issues.

[Hunt3r]

There should be some way to create a queue or something where people select all the servers they are willing to join, and they can see who else wants to join each server selected.

That way you could join a server without thinking "....will this thing even pop?".

[Cifyra]

^This.

I don't think it's useful, because game settings are more important than in vBF2 - It only works if you really do not give a damn on what and where you want to play.
Filtering is not even necessary because there are so few servers available. The Server list is small enough to see what you like instantly and join.

Not worth working for, in my opinion.

I thought there are only like less than 5 populated servers at any given time?

[Stemplus]

iirc there is 1 chineese, 4 russian, 3-4 european, and 2 american servers that pop on the evening. So it is more than 5.

[DDS]

I don't think you make people happy by putting them on a Russian or Chinese server by the auto-populate thingy, you need to fix that one so that people don't get stuck between people they do not understand.

Again, not about making people happy (pop tarts). It's about keeping servers populated. Solving the 1/2 1/4 full servers that don't get populated to no fault of their own.

Language would be a problem so of course your language setting in BF2 would have to be tied in. Also I think the would have to be controlled by the developers in the same fashion as the server licenses. Have to leave this to the DEV's as this may not even be possible.

[Heavy Death]

Matchmaking works for COD, not PR. I slectively pick the servers ill play on, and people there do that aswell, so i mainly end up with people who kinda play good. I do not want randomers in my games, nor would i use this system. Also, i play on those 2, 3 servers, which have certain set of rules, so your way would be more than useless for me, and probably everybody on this forum.

[Acemantura]

I like the idea. If done properly, it would reduce the fear of joining an empty server as wwell as help to populate little ssrvers, thus helping the mod grow.

I especially like the idea of showing other players preferences to other ppotential players, again takes the fear away.

If done properly this would be a fine addition.