Gameranger support?

posted on March 24th, 2013, 9:21 pm

I was wondering if you could contact the folks at Gameranger about including FleetOps support. They already support STA1 and STA2 (with the demo).

Gameranger doesn't create simulated LANs and rooms are completely under your control (e.g. you can pass-protect them or only allow friends to enter them). It's very easy to use and, once launched, it already torpedoes you into the multiplayer menu on its own, so you just need to pick a side and map.

I've already played a few older games with Gameranger, including STA1, it's just awesome, and many other people use it. This is just a suggestion, so no imperatives intended here. More info can be found here - http://www.gameranger.com/about/

posted on March 24th, 2013, 9:54 pm

Gameranger is also limited to 50 friends and requires you to use something external to chat to the community - it's similar to Wippien, which was a big frustration. It's also a very closed off program, requiring you to install even before viewing the forums and not displaying requirements or functionalities on the webpage. It also has had some strange business tactics, such as blocking some voice over IP software.

I've also yet to see any direct honest comparison between VPNs, other than personal preference. At the end of the day, without some thorough load testing, there doesn't appear to be a difference other than the aforementioned problems.

posted on March 25th, 2013, 9:50 am

Gameranger is also limited to 50 friends

I don't see how that would pose a problem, honestly. Realistically speaking, you can't even get to such high a number of friends (especially those that play FO). And if you do, then you're better off opening the room to everyone.

and requires you to use something external to chat to the community - it's similar to Wippien, which was a big frustration.

Don't Armada games have an in-built chat system that's called up when you hit Enter?

It's also a very closed off program, requiring you to install even before viewing the forums and not displaying requirements or functionalities on the webpage. It also has had some strange business tactics, such as blocking some voice over IP software.

Don't tell me that includes TeamSpeak

I've also yet to see any direct honest comparison between VPNs, other than personal preference. At the end of the day, without some thorough load testing, there doesn't appear to be a difference other than the aforementioned problems.

Save that this isn't a VPN, so it makes less of a mess in the registry.

posted on March 25th, 2013, 2:59 pm

Back when we were releasing frequent patches a year+ ago there were about 200 active players. That doesn't mean you will have 200 players on at once, but it does mean that each day or hour a significant amount of the player base is different.

The built in chat system for Armada is extremely sub-par (limited to only a few characters, does not allow copy or paste, etc), which is why Tunngle's lobby was such a big thing.

I think Teamspeak works - otherwise there would be a lot more complaints

I've seen Gameranger marketed by its developer as "not a VPN", but since Gameranger creates a virtual LAN, and since I haven't yet found an answer to questions of what Gameranger is, if not a VPN, it still seems to be a VPN. Unlike other VPNs, which are generally well documented, Gameranger's features seem to spread mainly through word of mouth and its developer, both of which make it extremely hard to get a neutral idea about the benefits of the program.

posted on March 25th, 2013, 3:16 pm

Back when we were releasing frequent patches a year+ ago there were about 200 active players. That doesn't mean you will have 200 players on at once, but it does mean that each day or hour a significant amount of the player base is different.

Nevertheless, I doubt people will have all of them in the friends list. Else they'd be completely opening the room.

The built in chat system for Armada is extremely sub-par (limited to only a few characters, does not allow copy or paste, etc), which is why Tunngle's lobby was such a big thing.

I haven't actually had a functional Tunngle game so far, so forgive me for asking: does Tunngle have its own chatroom that interfaces with the game when launched, then?

I've seen Gameranger marketed by its developer as "not a VPN", but since Gameranger creates a virtual LAN, and since I haven't yet found an answer to questions of what Gameranger is, if not a VPN, it still seems to be a VPN. Unlike other VPNs, which are generally well documented, Gameranger's features seem to spread mainly through word of mouth and its developer, both of which make it extremely hard to get a neutral idea about the benefits of the program.

Well, for one thing, it does precisely what you tell it to and when you tell it to, without turning its back on you for no apparent reason, which makes it pwn Hamachi (at least in my eyes).

posted on March 25th, 2013, 11:18 pm

My questions is why? Why fix what isnt broken in the first place? Tunngle works fine, and it works with many MANY other games, allows me to play older games that no longer have official support. I really dont see any good reason to change that. And as you pointed out, the community doesnt have a huge amount on at any given time so why split the already smallish player base further by introducing another VPN service. I really dont see a reason for it.

posted on March 26th, 2013, 2:53 am

Back when we were releasing frequent patches a year+ ago there
I haven't actually had a functional Tunngle game so far, so forgive me for asking: does Tunngle have its own chatroom that interfaces with the game when launched, then? [...] Well, for one thing, it does precisely what you tell it to and when you tell it to, without turning its back on you for no apparent reason, which makes it pwn Hamachi (at least in my eyes).

That's something you should take to the Tunngle forums, or ask for advice here in that case. Like all external programs, there can be problems. I've certainly seen my fair share of "Gameraner/Wippien/Tunngle/Hamachi/OpenVPN doesn't work!".

Indeed, that's Gameranger's claim to fame - that it has its own lobby without needing to touch the game. However, comparing it to Hamachi I wouldn't say is the most wonderful praise... Hamachi was pretty terrible for gaming in the past - Fleet Ops and Armada II actually lag out in games larger than 2v2 there, not to mention Hamachi limits you to 16 contacts . That sort of thing would need to be tested a fair amount on Gameranger before even considering a switch.

Point of the matter is, without some big improvement from Tunngle, there's no reason to change. If we need to switch, we need to move everybody over at once. Gameranger as near as I can tell doesn't offer any improvements over Tunngle, with the possible exception of the in-built lobby - which is then undermined by the other problems and closed-off nature. All external programs will never be 100% compatible with all players - there's a certain amount of fiddling that has to happen for some unfortunate folks to be able to play.

posted on March 26th, 2013, 9:27 am

That sort of thing would need to be tested a fair amount on Gameranger before even considering a switch. (...) Point of the matter is, without some big improvement from Tunngle, there's no reason to change. If we need to switch, we need to move everybody over at once.

I never proposed a full switch to Gameranger, just the ability to connect with it.

so why split the already smallish player base further by introducing another VPN service.

It isn't a VPN. It's a service.

Also, I've just found out that Gameranger actually has a built-in voice feature (go to the Options menu to see it).

posted on March 26th, 2013, 2:50 pm

I never proposed a full switch to Gameranger, just the ability to connect with it.

If you use Gameranger, you've already got more access than me - I'm sure the developer has a section on his forum for game requests where you could place your request .

It isn't a VPN. It's a service

Difference being? I've yet to see anything that shows why it isn't a VPN.

Also, I've just found out that Gameranger actually has a built-in voice feature (go to the Options menu to see it).

According to the Gameranger website, that feature is only available for paying customers.

posted on March 26th, 2013, 3:13 pm

If you use Gameranger, you've already got more access than me - I'm sure the developer has a section on his forum for game requests where you could place your request .

Actually, yes, they have that on the website, but I didn't want to even consider touching that unless the FO team agrees. I wouldn't like to do something like that behind your back

I've yet to see anything that shows why it isn't a VPN.

It only supports a number of games, meaning that computers do not actually connect in a way that they can access each others' network files like, say, Hamachi is attempting to do - instead, the computers' connections start and end in the particular selected game.

According to the Gameranger website, that feature is only available for paying customers.

Whoops. My bad