Re: Add a server browser

83 Replies

0_Katsui
4 years ago
Only big changes and content drops through season updates cause players to return. Minor changes don't bring players back, however without them, players quickly depart again.
Unless people enjoy paying $50-100 for AAA games to sit in empty matchmaking lobbies, of course.
Making servers persistent may be a little more time consuming, but the server browser list should actually be very easy - because it is only a UI.
1) Link server / experience ID's to a UI slot; gathering the player-count and map data from that ID is already functional (it displays & names the map we're about to play on, and it knows the player-count when referencing whether to join an existing match or start a new lobby)
2) Connect the "JOIN" button - other functionally exists as-is through MM. Can implement it as if it queues MM, but insert that server's ID in the joining field as a "found match".
3) Queues - they already exist when you join off others, so nothing needs reprogramming there either.
Nothing they haven't done multiple times prior though. MM is essentially a server browser without the UI, it goes through the options and picks for us.
I truly believe they can easily implement this for substantial player benefit and enjoyment, so I'll keep pushing 😉. Even if we're back to lobby after each round, at least we see what is going on and choose things ourselves.
Mackstan71
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
Adding a Server Browser is just one of many many...many things they need to do to recover from this. Then it might..and i say might bring people back.
RMEChief
Legend
4 years ago
Every time I get Hourglass it reminds me of how bad I miss a Server Browser, Persistent Servers, with map rotations.
ATFGunr
Legend
4 years ago
@Mackstan71 I know some who would… and some who just want it to burn to the ground. It’s really been the worst decision, and it’s cost them. It’ll continue to cost them. I won’t buy the next one without it.
samboleary
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@Mackstan71 I think with the reworked maps and new maps it will keep pulling psople back in to check out what its like. I think improvements like server browser and squad gameplay would be extreamly benificial to the game and playerbase. For me, whats worse than anything else is not being able to MM to play the game in the first place. So many people would have left because of that frustration when they could have more enjoyment playing something else. I can live with specialists for this release, particularly if they can stop making their uniforms look as colourful and tacky as a 1980's shell tracksuit. It is what it is now at this stage, but I want classes and real gritty soldiers for the next BF title and 100% a server browser. I want to feel like I'm in a war. But if we can't MM that wont ever happen.

They should be at the very minimum, be improving MM oportunities so you get to play what game mode you want and arnt stuck in a lobby waiting for 16 players to join. To me, thats killing this game more than anything else.

#BringBackTheServerBrowser
0_Katsui
4 years ago
What if there was a regional player count per mode displaying in the AOW section?
"67 Currently Playing" showing under "Exodus Conquest" for example.
Then at least we would have an idea of what is going on.
Surely implementing a simple number is not beyond EA's capacity?
Likewise, totals would be nice too in the main screen.
I'm no artist, use your artists to deliver concepts 🤔
Seriously, that'd be the easiest thing this game could do for the biggest impact.
It's a step. There's also menu fan art for browser.
Why does EA think the best course of action is to ignore what the players want?
Have they forgotten what the business model of their own industry looks like, and how profitable sales are achieved?
Why did the launch fail so badly and reap such negativity in reviews again? Oh right, because the communities interests were ignored in favor of ideas within EA...
I can't see how they intend to suck any more players into matchmaking, who are used to the menu above and a browser.
Mackstan71
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@ATFGunr Let us hope that people come back when this game is ..lets call it " Finished", so we can play and enjoy it. You are right, this cost them big time...not only money...but also trust..now and in the future. I'm very sceptic atm buying the next bf title, lots have to be changed for me to decide to go for it.
samboleary
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@0_Katsui That server browser image looks awesome! I clicked on it but nothing happened! lol :D

If something like that came out on Twitter from Battlefield Direct Communication, I would be extremely excited and happy right now!
Zhukov211
4 years ago
Proper map rotations and server browsers are a must. Not to mention a FUNCTIONAL squad UI panel that shows all the squads and that allows us to join the squad of our choice, invite friends to squad, join friend’s squad, etc. These are features basic to every BF game released the last decade. Features included at launch.

The absolute silence from DICE on these missing features is stunning, to say the least.

Seems like all DICE’s talk about new management and feedback loop was more empty promises.

Let’s not forget the Rental Server Program, the clan system, clan tags, reactive camo for vehicles, duck diving while swimming, the respawn cam that shows our current chosen spawn point, custom emblems. Who would ever thought or known back in 2012 that we’d NEVER have it as good as it was in BF4 a decade later? How far DICE has fallen.
Mackstan71
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@samboleary I agree, reworking and adding more maps with the same vibe as Exposure can make people curious again. If it was up to me, i say ditch the Hourglass map....make room for better designed one. A server browser...well..you know my view on that..it's high on my list..same as the much needed fixes. Like you i also can live with the specialist...the fancy dandy skins and sort is not my thing..i go for the somewhat more soldier look. Like i said...alot have to be done...it's up to DICE/EA to make it so.
Ironhead841
Hero
4 years ago
@Mackstan71
This thread is entering its 7th month with no "official" word yet on if we are even getting one or not, I know the CM's said they have "nothing to share" on this yet but the silence from EA/Dice development team is deafening......
Mackstan71
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@Ironhead841

Almost 7 months already....hmmm..I realy don't understand why the silence on this one. I think they already need a miracle to save this game...again...why the hold up.
0_Katsui
4 years ago
@Mackstan71 wrote:
@Ironhead841

Almost 7 months already....hmmm..I realy don't understand why the silence on this one. I think they already need a miracle to save this game...again...why the hold up.
And I would really appreciate shoving a "# of people playing" under each gamemode in the meanwhile; that gives a great indication to whether we're wasting our time queued or if patience will be rewarded.
Mackstan71
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@0_Katsui wrote:
@Mackstan71 wrote:
@Ironhead841

Almost 7 months already....hmmm..I realy don't understand why the silence on this one. I think they already need a miracle to save this game...again...why the hold up.
And I would really appreciate shoving a "# of people playing" under each gamemode in the meanwhile; that gives a great indication to whether we're wasting our time queued or if patience will be rewarded.
To be honest...patience is a bit gone for me.
RMEChief
Legend
4 years ago
@Ironhead841in the dev world, if you are not even thinking about it, planning it, etc, it is not happening. We are halfway through the lifetime of the game, if we don't have it by now, I doubt we see one ever.
Also, having 3 Conquest modes with overlapping maps is literally "not smart". You are splitting player counts that could potentially be on the same map.
RayD_O1
Hero
4 years ago
@ATFGunr wrote:
@Mackstan71I know some who would… and some who just want it to burn to the ground. It’s really been the worst decision, and it’s cost them. It’ll continue to cost them. I won’t buy the next one without it.
Yeah you and me both mate that's for sure, it will be the first thing I look for before purchasing any game going forward.
RMEChief
Legend
4 years ago
@RayD_O1 wrote:
@ATFGunr wrote:
@Mackstan71I know some who would… and some who just want it to burn to the ground. It’s really been the worst decision, and it’s cost them. It’ll continue to cost them. I won’t buy the next one without it.
Yeah you and me both mate that's for sure, it will be the first thing I look for before purchasing any game going forward.
Welcome back @RayD_O1 !!!
We are still here fighting the good fight.
samboleary
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@Adamonic 100% agree. No wonder I cant MM in Breakthrough. The last two nights I have tried I have actuakly seen two people join me in trying to play Breakthrough, but they left after about 30 seconds.

I can only MM in Exodus Conquest until the players leave.

I also think they are not bothering with the server browser, or squad play as previous titles. I think all they are doing is fixing the previous maps and bringing out 4 x new maps and specialists and 8 guns. Thats it.

Its a shame, because a lot of the issues in the game could be solved by the server browser by being able to bring more players and less AI into the games
GrizzGolf
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
8 guns is a rip off. Man the more this goes on the more im worried about the next BF.
RMEChief
Legend
4 years ago
@GrizzGolf the next title will do worse than this one. No one is going to buy it with all the other games coming out.
RayD_O1
Hero
4 years ago
@Adamonic wrote:
@RayD_O1 wrote:
@ATFGunr wrote:
@Mackstan71I know some who would… and some who just want it to burn to the ground. It’s really been the worst decision, and it’s cost them. It’ll continue to cost them. I won’t buy the next one without it.
Yeah you and me both mate that's for sure, it will be the first thing I look for before purchasing any game going forward.
Welcome back @RayD_O1 !!!
We are still here fighting the good fight.
@Ironhead841 Welcome back @RayD_O1 now behave yourself, lol.
Thanks guys I appreciate that 🙂
Mackstan71
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
@Adamonic

Before i even think of buying the next game ( if it's interesting enough ) , i first need some answer from them to my questions. If those answers doesn't satisfy me, my money goes somewhere else. a few of those question are: Is this game finished( no hitreg problems or all those connection crap, no cheap designed maps, more weapon choices etc etc) , does this game have a campaign, does this game have a server browser, what will the price be for this game( Because 2042 already costed us alot of money for a skinny/ unfinished game). It might seem that i have high demands, but that's their fault. You want my money?... give me a true BF game.
RMEChief
Legend
4 years ago
So from what I have gathered, it seems that we don't have a Server Browser because this game was built for console first. Essentially for PC players, it is a console port. Due to the rushed launch, we didn't get a Server Browser because that is traditionally a PC UI. That is also why there is no M&K for console players. Quick Match and MM is mainly a console method for joining games and Server Browser is a PC method.

This also explains some of the other missing functionality and design decisions within the game. Since consoles only have some many buttons, they had to limit functionality to match the button count whereas PCs have basically an unlimited number of input options for key and mouse binding.

This sucks.......
RMEChief
Legend
4 years ago
@Mackstan71 I agree, and that is why posting $20 skins is a slap in the face.
RayD_O1
Hero
4 years ago
@Adamonic wrote:
So from what I have gathered, it seems that we don't have a Server Browser because this game was built for console first. Essentially for PC players, it is a console port. Due to the rushed launch, we didn't get a Server Browser because that is traditionally a PC UI. That is also why there is no M&K for console players. Quick Match and MM is mainly a console method for joining games and Server Browser is a PC method.

This also explains some of the other missing functionality and design decisions within the game. Since consoles only have some many buttons, they had to limit functionality to match the button count whereas PCs have basically an unlimited number of input options for key and mouse binding.

This sucks.......
Yeah it certainly does, was there some sort of announcement to this affect. ?