update [1-1-17] Update - CS:GO Division, OVH, Transparency, Etc.

[Roy 10,832 / 0]

Hello everybody, here’s another update post. In this update post, I will address major concerns in the community along with how we’re taking steps in the right direction.

 

CS:GO Division
Our CS:GO division has been slowly declining for a long time now and we (trusted) have decided it’s finally time to step up. While we had a few candidates to choose from, we’ve decided promoting @HackingPotato and @Deltacommander to CS:GO Division Leaders would be the best choice. The CS:GO division needs somebody to lead it and we feel the new Division Leaders will do well.

We will be going into more details about the CS:GO division in a separate post which should be coming out hopefully soon. The CS:GO division needs a lot of work done and I feel we are taking steps in the right direction to do so.

 

OVH Proposition
As many of you know, I’ve been talking about moving to OVH for a very long time now. However, we’ve ran into a few obstacles which I will list below:

• There are no official locations in the United States (yet) and getting our servers geo-located to somewhere in the US besides New York City has been more difficult than expected.
• We have no Linux back-end made for the OVH machine (e.g. how we would give access to our Server Managers, etc).
• Our monthly income hasn’t been “stable” resulting in purchasing an OVH machine being a risky move.

 

While OVH is currently setting up a new location in the United States (Vint Hill, Virginia), we have no ETA on when the location will be ready. Recently, our European machine from NFO has been highly underloaded. With that said, OVH has a much larger list of default geo-locations available in Europe. Therefore, finding out how to geo-locate our IPs won’t be a problem over there.

 

We are paying $180.00/m for our Europe machine with NFO and we are definitely not getting our money’s worth considering how underloaded it is. 

 

Here’s our machine’s graph recently:
Daily

Monthly

With that said, 12 of those “players” are bots which also take up extra CPU (our European Bunny Hop server and test server). At this point, I feel at least trying to move to OVH would be the better option. We can also use this opportunity to test our back-end which is in development at the moment. We also just paid for our NFO European machine  on the 30th of December. Therefore, we still have time to move servers off our machine and see how they go before the NFO European box is due.

 

Overall, with the current population on our European machine and the fact that we’re paying $180.00/m, attempting to move to OVH would probably be the best choice. OVH, as said before, has better hardware, (D)DoS protection, and much cheaper($80.00/m vs $180.00/m).

 

Transparency
A big topic I wanted to talk about is transparency in GFL. In the past, I’ve heard many say “The BoD doesn’t do anything” or “The Community Advisors don’t do anything”, etc. And I think it’s time to finally put a stop to that. 

 

Honestly, I believe each “higher-up” making an update post (perhaps in the “Updates” sub-forum) of what they’ve been working on recently would highly improve transparency. With that said, having an official “to-do-list” for GFL would also help a lot. For example, the list would show who is assigned to what project and the project members can post updates on the progress, etc.

 

The problem is currently a majority of our community doesn’t know what is going on behind-the-scenes. This has led to many players say the higher-ups aren’t “doing enough” for the community. While I agree there are things that should be left private, there are also a lot of things we should let the community know about. I’ve been doing my best with my updates to let the community know what has been on my mind and what I’ve been trying to do.

 

As for the update posts, personally, I believe there should be at least one made weekly (per higher-up if we decide this is a good idea). However, I haven’t even made “weekly” update posts. Therefore, I don’t believe that should be a “requirement” yet.

 

Overall, transparency in GFL has been a problem from the start and I think it’s time to finally improve. I am also looking into giving the Community Advisors more to do (currently, there isn’t many projects assigned to them). I will be going into more detail with the “to-do-list” system in the next update most likely (could be another project we need to work on).

 

New Future Divisions
Call of Duty 4 (Original)
I’ve been playing Call of Duty 4 a lot recently and as soon as we get an OVH machine, would love to try a server for it. We did try a server in the past, however, it failed due to lack of interest and a couple other things.

 

Normally, I would say there is no point in trying, but in the past couple months I’ve discovered that GFL has many players who play Call of Duty 4 still. Personally, I wouldn’t mind leading this division since it would be easy (from my view) and I am highly interested in playing Call of Duty 4 at the moment. If we do get a server, I would want it to be a HC TDM (HardCore Team DeathMatch) server (this game mode appears to attract the most population). If that server works out, we can expand into more.

 

Overall, many have requested a functioning Call of Duty 4 server in the past for GFL and I hope to grant that request once we purchase an OVH machine. I will go into more detail if and when we decide to get a CoD 4 server.

 

Counter-Strike: Classic Offensive
CS:CO is a CS:GO mod that combines CS 1.6 and CS:S gameplay. You can find a gameplay video here. You can also find out more about the mod along with a download here. @Ariistuujj has shown great interest in the mod and is the one who was suggesting we add servers in it. According to Ariistuujj, there are no “good” servers in the mod at the moment. Therefore, this may be our chance to start adding great servers to the mod.

More information will be released once we look into more details about the mod. Unfortunately, NFO does not support this mod yet.

 

Mini-Divisions
Overwatch
Overwatch is currently our main priority in mini-divisions. @Shuruia and most likely @Dano will be leading this division as well. With that said, getting this division started will be difficult. However, mini-divisions are difficult to start in general.

 

Shuruia will most likely be making update posts with what we’re going to be doing with the division. As far as I am aware, we are waiting for a few individuals to become available before we start the division.

 

Overall, I just wanted to give a small update on the status of our OW mini-division.

 

H1Z1
H1Z1 is the next mini-division on our list once we get Overwatch started. However, unfortunately H1Z1 suffers from the same problem as Overwatch being there is no “clan” system. This makes it even more difficult to expand into. However, I don’t believe that is a reason to not give it a try.

 

H1Z1 still has a lot of potential in my eyes and I believe they’ll eventually add a clan system (I may be wrong).

 

As of right now, that is all the information I know about the mini-division. More details will become available once discussions are made and we get our OW division started.

 

Star Citizen
Around a week or so ago a few individuals requested that we try a Star Citizen mini-division. While looking into it further, I feel this game does have potential for a mini-division. However, I want to first discuss this with our Trusted group. With that said, we still have two other mini-divisions we need to get started.

 

I currently have no ETA on when we’ll discuss this mini-division, but I hope it doesn’t take too long.

 

Big “Personal” Update
Recently, I’ve been going through a lot of mental and physical stress. There were several points where I was on the edge of leaving GFL due to this stress (I even had a resignation post made). However, thankfully, people around me were able to pick me back up and make me realize how special this place really is and why I simply can never abandon it. While in these episodes, I feel I “want” to leave GFL, but this is due to my emotions taking me over. The reality is, I never want to leave GFL, especially in its current state. 

 

I’ve lost a lot of motivation in working on GFL recently as well. For example, it took me nearly three weeks to start this update. The truth is, I’ve been suffering from this stress for a very long time now (perhaps ever since I started GFL) but recently, with starting a new job and personal/IRL issues, this stress has taken a much bigger toll on me than normal and has highly affected my performance with GFL.

 

What I’ve found that helps me is talking to people around me, which I will continue to do. While I do believe this is a turning point, I still believe I may go into these emotional episodes in the future. However, I am starting to get better at handling them to the point where there is nothing to worry about GFL-related (only self-related at this point).

 

I just wanted to apologize for my behavior while in these emotional episodes. I will do my best to ensure I don’t go into these emotional episodes in the future and if I do, I will handle them better. I believe I am starting to find motivation in working on GFL again and it all starts with this update post.

 

Conclusion
Overall, this wasn’t a big update post like I initially planned for it to be. However, I do think I addressed some major concerns in the community. I plan on finding more motivation to work on GFL in the future and perhaps start making weekly (long) update posts again! I believe we are taking steps in the right direction!

 

I will eventually make another 18-page update post

 

Google Doc

 

Thanks for reading!

[Roy 10,832 / 0]

Update made. @Dano and @Shuruia, feel free to correct the grammar mistakes as usual.

 

I'm looking forward to making a much larger update in the near future.

Thanks.

[Pyros 1,793 / 30,401]

I did give a try on COD4 on both my PS3 and pc, on pc I found a lot of populated servers of HCTDM (it feels good dropping 20+ kills using only mp5), on my PS3 unfortunately I found a lot of modded lobbies(HnS,ZM) or lobbies with hacks(just by joining after 2 minutes it would say you unlocked everything, I'm lv6 and unfortunately have everything), about the transparency, making a update post would be a lot, maybe posting a status saying "currently working on x project" could work.

[syrus 1,000 / 15,155]

H1Z1 Team #ready @GLiTCh @kenny

[Moca 59 / 3,853]

God not an overwatch one what has GFL Done???? Oh wait :D

[Skittlez 720 / 11,250]

@Roy you're a strong man to keep going when others would give up. Hopefully, with the new MOTD Ads we can generate enough revenue to create all the mini-divisions!

[Crusty 248 / 5,311]

ARMA 3!

[Roy 10,832 / 0]

9 minutes ago, Crusty said:

ARMA 3!

That's also a high possibility once we get an OVH machine.

 

Thanks.

[Argyros 35 / 2,141]

Oh if you Arma let me know.
I have a lot of experience with Arma especially being somewhat of a known developer and owner in that game.
I just hope it doesn't turn out like what you guys tried to do before with Altis Life.
Altis Life tends to need a big community in order to populate, but it is possible.

The best game type to run is KOTH since it gets the most, but only game hosters offer those, however, Wasteland or Exile is probably the next big thing.

Edited January 1, 2017 by Argyros

[Moca 59 / 3,853]

@Roy you should make a forum where we could put our battlenet ids for overwatch

[Coolest Cat 1,266 / 14,449]

Something I suggested is finally being implemented.

 

It's a miracle.

[Crusty 248 / 5,311]

41 minutes ago, Argyros said:

Oh if you Arma let me know.
I have a lot of experience with Arma especially being somewhat of a known developer and owner in that game.
I just hope it doesn't turn out like what you guys tried to do before with Altis Life.
Altis Life tends to need a big community in order to populate, but it is possible.

The best game type to run is KOTH since it gets the most, but only game hosters offer those, however, Wasteland or Exile is probably the next big thing.

 

KOTH and Exile, BAM! That's it.  Also I would buy InfiSTAR (Admin Tools)

Edited January 1, 2017 by Crusty

[Argyros 35 / 2,141]

15 minutes ago, Crusty said:

 

KOTH and Exile, BAM! That's it.  Also I would buy InfiSTAR (Admin Tools)

 

 

 

 

 

No need, I'm pretty sure if I ask Chris (infistar) he would give it to me for free, plus I already have it.
KOTH you have to buy a game server for that since SA Matra doesn't give it out.
SA Matra does have the best Wasteland as well, but you have to be a big community and be registered on his website with 100+ posts in order to get them.

Edited January 1, 2017 by Argyros

[Crusty 248 / 5,311]

4 minutes ago, Argyros said:

No need, I'm pretty sure if I ask Chris he would give it to me for free, plus I already have it.
Chris = infistar's real name.
KOTH you have to buy a game server for that since SA Matra doesn't give it out.

 

Yeah true, it is still fun though. Exile would be best I think because it is growing at a rapid pace so it would make sense to use that if the ARMA 3 Division ever comes around. Altis Life is alright, if people are into the role playing type, I'm not 100% sure that would work out best.

[Argyros 35 / 2,141]

3 minutes ago, Crusty said:

 

Yeah true, it is still fun though. Exile would be best I think because it is growing at a rapid pace so it would make sense to use that if the ARMA 3 Division ever comes around. Altis Life is alright, if people are into the role playing type, I'm not 100% sure that would work out best.

 

 

Well, didn't really work out the last time GFL tried that, but that might have been because the server never got popular.
Exile is starting to somewhat die since the new updates that the devs keep pushing on Arma causes the developers over at Exile to no longer want to update their mod since almost every Arma update breaks a lot of stuff.

Edited January 1, 2017 by Argyros

[Alucard33rd 1,175 / 15,140]

Dude I love the CS:CO Mod, its amazing and runs smooth and just feels better then the regular CSGO. I really would like to see this happen as well as it is becoming very popular recently.

[Eli 708 / 11,581]

Star citizen plz (;

[Joshy 4,297 / 42,786]

We've talked about the To-Do Lists before although it was in a private thread.  My position on it still stands: I think it should be encouraged, but not required.

 

My feelings on To-Do Lists are wary because I am afraid of the increased expectations they may generate.  Say for instance I am working on a plugin that doesn't pan out, then I feel it will disappoint people who were hopeful or excited for that update (it's like over-hyping a new movie only to find it was "okay", then it seems worse than it was).  I consider myself a person of many ideas, but I know that a lot of them wont pan out.

[Nubz 216 / 4,590]

49 minutes ago, Joshy said:

We've talked about the To-Do Lists before although it was in a private thread.  My position on it still stands: I think it should be encouraged, but not required.

 

My feelings on To-Do Lists are wary because I am afraid of the increased expectations they may generate.  Say for instance I am working on a plugin that doesn't pan out, then I feel it will disappoint people who were hopeful or excited for that update (it's like over-hyping a new movie only to find it was "okay", then it seems worse than it was).  I consider myself a person of many ideas, but I know that a lot of them wont pan out.

I understand your point, but To-do lists at least give the transparency of things being currently worked on, or soon to be worked on.  If transparency is enough of a problem for @Roy to mention it, and admit  that it needs worked on, why not add another tool to help remedy the problem? Roy once mentioned every server should have a changelog, because players need to know what's been changed. Almost every, if not all, servers have this. So. by extension, players should have SOME idea of what is going to be in these updates.

[Bae 2,489 / 41,407]

So many updates and I'm behind but nonetheless cheers to the new updates (I guess).