I've recently been contemplating how to maximize my enjoyment of TT and PTT. Most of all I enjoy the 3D mental excercise that is TT. I can enjoy zipping around on maps while I wait for other players to join in. Playing against others is, however, a whole dimension of enjoyment beyond that. There are times when the simplicity of indy scrum is as much as my sometimes feeble brain can handle. At other times I crave the complex awareness and sheer mental effort that team scrum requires.

Thankfully there are those in the TT community that recognize the value that a variety of maps brings. Even though we haven't seen anything new from the developers, we have managed to squeeze out some extra enjoyment beyond what we started with. In that vein I have identified some potential room for improvement in the hosting department. Wouldn't it be great to have a multitude of online maps to choose from? I've figured out a good way to do that and I'm working toward that end.

While researching different hosting options I discovered some things about TT/PTT. Most online gaming seems to be very localized due to the advantages short distances bring. Our player base is so thin that we have to be national and even international just to populate our games. Although we suffer lag as a result, it does bring an interesting element to the experience. This carries over into PTT especially. When you mix in the range of ages this game appeals to you have a result that is unique in the gaming world.

It seems TT can be an enduring source of enjoyment. It'll be interesting to see how long it remains so. Thank you to everyone who has brought it thus far and to those who are continuing to contribute to TT/PTT.

To borrow a quote from Bolo, "GG fellow addicts!"

-BC

Only trying to make it better.

We continue to push forward.......

Yeah I agree. Playing with and against other cool and talented players makes this game super fun. The simplicity of the controls, the "realism" of the physics and the complexities of team scrum are what keep me coming back for more. Nothing more fun than jumping into an intense game with a full crew of my friends! Yeehaw!

It used to be that I would be attracted to the newest games with the most killer and complex graphics. But with TT that desire stopped when I came to see that the gameplay itself and the online community is far more important for my enjoyment and satisfaction.

I do worry that our player base is shrinking. Not sure what we can do to continue to attract players to the game, but it is clear that it is us who have kept the game alive these past months. There is no doubt that without PTT and without all the energy people put into this game it would have died off already. I for one plan to keep pushing forward. I also thank others who have made this such a fun game!

I recently had a small TT lan party with some people that never tried it before or have only tried it on my pc. I set up my server to run a game of each mode with a password. It was only with 8 people but it was very fun and even convinced 2 others to buy it!

I thought at one point about a "Try ThinkTanks Tour" and how it could be used to promote the game, the developers and the indi dev community. Rent/Buy a tour bus and get some standard Dells or Mac G4's and the required network stuff and have people come to spots around the country to try the game against others on the same network. That would be sweet!

Last edited: Sunday, October 09, 2005 at 6:26:29 PM

This game is great for all the reasons mentioned above- it deserves to be a classic of computer gaming

@ Reag- I was thinking about how to grow the player base a little and came up with an idea yesterday. Christmas is coming, and Thinktanks is so easy to give. Buy a licence, send it to your chosen person, and up goes the player base...

I'm thinking of sending it to my dad and brother for Christmas... $40 and I'm done...

This game may not be as flashy as others, but the replay value on this game is GOLD, it keeps me coming back for more time after time.

You do all know that I'm a young addict. We just spent $1300 on my dream PC... But the only game it has installed is ThinkTanks!

I am well aware of this community issue and I think that it is the mods. Now I don't blame the modders but new people don't want to wait for the mods or don't know that they have to wait for them, don't know how to install them, or some don't even know about PTT and the predownloads.

Last edited: Sunday, October 09, 2005 at 6:40:59 PM

Woot =]

Good points BC and all. I have always like the simplicity of TT and yet how intense it can be. I liken it to motorcyle racing, an engine and two wheels, best driver wins.

I to have always disliked the lag monster but still love to play with my laggy friends. Wonder if we all got Xbox's if that would help?

I have looked at other games that use Torque and it seems like they have more bells and whistles in setting up servers and ingame functionality. Seems like the Torque game engine keeps getting updates or things added to it all the time. Wonder if any of those updates would help out TT. Doesn't matter I will continue to be a TT addict.

I was just hoping a minor update would come out that would allow the game to take advantage of some of the TGE functionality. The interiors, environmental effects, and animated skies would really kick this game into a nice realm. Most of the content pack by Timothy Aste would propel this game into entirely new dimensions. All the castle objects, docks, sandstorms. There's just a ton that we would be able to use. Also speeding up the download of elements can change peoples view of waiting for games too. I don't understand why I can download 6oMb in a minute but 3 mb in the game takes 25 minutes. You could have all the mods you want and never have to wait more than 3 minutes if it downloaded at proper speeds.

In my opinion one of two things will happen. BT will either mimic the next release to the Xbox version and the pc community may migrate to it, they may not. Or they can make a few small advancements and add the TGE functionality and show the TT community that they are indeed listening. Too many changes, or changes to extreme can turn off the already loyal fan base.

They can also give me a job creating levels and environments! LOL

I have been hooked on this game for all most 2 years now. I still love it to this day !
In fact I have become very close with a few of you, even to the point of talking on the phone at least 1 or 2 a week if not more ! I will leave TT & PTT only when I die or TT2 for PC comes out and even then I am sure I will travel back to the old days once in a while !

@ Rooster
Speaking of last comment, I do believe it's your turn to call ! %)

Last edited: Monday, October 10, 2005 at 1:07:28 AM

A sequel that basically mocks an updated console version would be death bells.

I agree.

I like the ability to play against other people consistently. My play is more about performance than fun; for me they are hard to separate. The one drives the other...if it's fun, I want to get better at it. But if performance is poor, I don't have nearly as much fun. This is why you find me handing out the occasional tongue lashing against my better judgement.

The banter helps keep it fun...if you take away that aspect the game would not be nearly as addictive. I LOVE new maps, although for me it's not the most important thing. I like that the game requires finesse and force...sometimes you have to be a ballerina, then immediately switch to linebacker.

I for one am reducing my play. I feel I've learned a lot here, and much about myself as well. However, I feel the amount I can continue to learn from the game is very small. I don't think I can play much better than I already do. The occasional bursts of rage don't hinder my game. I need something that requires me to adapt and use new skill sets, or fix outstanding weaknesses. I see poker as that next step for several reasons, for while I believe I have the fundamental to skills to make it a PROFitable hobby in the long run, I know I will have to learn and change to make it. It's also a journey of many years.

But I'll still be here to beat everyone down :P

I'm here for one reason and one reason alone. I like to be around other folks that have the same affliction as me. Roughly ninety percent of us here suffer from Catchers Mit Syndrome. Let's face it, there aren't many places for those with CMS to go without persecution. It's either here or Wal-Mart. I choose here.

Don't get lippy or we'll run you ten percenters out of town.

Ugly people rule!

Last edited: Monday, October 10, 2005 at 10:25:49 PM

Here here!

My baby picture

I will never look at you the same...

I suppose the only thing that's changed is the torso, eh Nappy?

:P

Last edited: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 5:09:01 AM

TT is OM. :)