Overly Chatty Penguins

The Ready Room => General => Topic started by: scooter-blue on November 19, 2004, 08:22:46 PM

Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: scooter-blue on November 19, 2004, 08:22:46 PM
Flayra just did something that I consider to be very, very strange.  He made a post saying that they've redone the NS site and that the new one will be put in place soon.  Okay, cool.  But here's the thing:  On the new site, your forum name will only be allowed to consist of upper case letters, lower case letters, and spaces.  According to his calculations, this will affect 34% of the names.  He's also encouraging people to use the same name on the forum, in IRC, and in game.

This just strikes me as very peculiar.  I have never heard of any other game community doing anything like this.  There's just no clear reason I can think of to not allow numbers, clan tags, more than 4 capital letters, underscores, hyphens, or whatever else in a name.  What gives?  Is this stage one of the B.U.S.?  :lol:

Anyway, if you have a name on the NS.org forums that violates the new naming codes, you can check what your new one will be set to here:
http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html (http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html)

And here's Flayra's post:
http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/in...showtopic=85585 (http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=85585)
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: holy_devil on November 19, 2004, 08:30:46 PM
perhaps its a step towards trying to make the names appear more mature or acceptable, since he IS starting a company after all. just a random thought, tho.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Malevolent on November 19, 2004, 10:44:00 PM
Yeah, it probably has to do with the BUS or just starting the new company. If it has to do with the BUS, it's probably so everyone will know who you are no matter where you are (IRC, etc.). And it might have something to do with stat tracking, too.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: rad4Christ on November 20, 2004, 06:21:22 AM
Well, my forum name on NS is .tim., so I lose periods, but no prob. the thing is... that's REALLY general. and radFORChrist just leaves something to be deisred...
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Mr.Bill on November 20, 2004, 09:57:52 AM
It's pretty obvious lfayra is just getting us ready for his futuristic army for wwhen the kharaa find earth, I mean come on, first he trains us, now he's almost labling us, so we have specific names, then e'll make squads (consties?) and bam he'll have an elite army of commando ninja's ready to do his bidding....
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Niteowl on November 20, 2004, 11:55:13 AM
i think NS, more than the other games i've played, kinda demand you to have a name that's pronouncable (yes, i know, i know [OldF]Niteowl-TSA is a mouthful), but the zillioins of variations of leet speak names and gobbly gook that make it HELL on a commander to give orders, really is painful. Likewise it makes it hard to ask so and so to get to double, or please drop another DC, or just go fade already.

in short, his restrictions make names that are usually easier to see at first sight.  

but, uh, i'm not sure why he's setting that restrictions for the site.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TheMunch8 on November 20, 2004, 12:01:55 PM
Nightowl is just fine, Or Owl

He takes off the clan tags because they change so often for most people.  He Will insert clans elsewhere, and have 'official ns clans' which you register on the site etc.  
His new game might also have to register on the site, and then your name shows up in game, who knows.  He is consolidating the community to get ready for a move to a new game.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Guspaz on November 20, 2004, 12:17:39 PM
Quote
i think NS, more than the other games i've played, kinda demand you to have a name that's pronouncable (yes, i know, i know [OldF]Niteowl-TSA is a mouthful), but the zillioins of variations of leet speak names and gobbly gook that make it HELL on a commander to give orders, really is painful. Likewise it makes it hard to ask so and so to get to double, or please drop another DC, or just go fade already.

in short, his restrictions make names that are usually easier to see at first sight. 

but, uh, i'm not sure why he's setting that restrictions for the site.
[snapback]33685[/snapback]
I think your name would become "OldFNiteowl TSA" or maybe "Niteowl TSA" or "NiteowlTSA" or something.

But Flayra said he'd definitely allow people to change their name after the corrections are made, so you'd be able to change it to "Niteowl". Or "Niteowl TSA" since spaces are allowed.

Many of us are unaffected though. Like "Guspaz". Nothing changes. Cheez loses his !, but I don't think his forum name had that either.

And yeah, somehow I suspect this ties into the BUS, and somehow these names will be used in-game.

I listened to that interview the other day (the one from the 15th), at this point 3.0b6 is expected to have phase one of the BUS implemented in code (But disabled and hidden), and at that point Flayra said they'd let slip a bit more info since the BUS will be closer to completion.

Flayra was also saying pretty grand things about the game though, saying that no other game has done it before, and it will change the way that ALL games are played. He said it may not be as unique or different as the FPS/RTS hybrid genre he helped define, but still pretty big.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Necrosis on November 20, 2004, 12:20:06 PM
Well if its forum/irc/game integration then it would be pretty big.

In pure gamer terms tho I think its handy for communication between people you know on a forum and people you know in the game. Perhaps means popular or well known players can be spotted, as well as spotting griefers.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: LowCrawler on November 20, 2004, 02:30:20 PM
He probably just wants the whole thing to sound more professional and mature. Flayra mentioned on the interview what NS forum is like vs a CS forum or steampowered forum, and hes absolutely right. the other places are nothing but a buch of snobby geeks with their numberspeak and all that crap...

as for the BUS i havent the slightest idea what a BUS even means. Only kinda BUS ive ever heard of is on NS_ayumi and it has cool music.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Niteowl on November 20, 2004, 03:21:42 PM
my name on both forums is the same, plain old niteowl. he of the paunch with the glasses and neato flying owl vehicle (btw, the name of that vehicle is.. ARCHIE!! OMGWTFBBQHAX!!)
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Reasa on November 20, 2004, 04:51:55 PM
Can't seem to get in the forums at all now, but these changes sound interesting, wonder what he has up his sleeve.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: confused! on November 20, 2004, 05:05:12 PM
i have tragically lost my exclaimation point, which makes me sad. now i am merl confused its so much less emphatic:(
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TheMunch8 on November 20, 2004, 05:20:38 PM
The forums and site is down right now :(
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Reasa on November 20, 2004, 09:22:47 PM
Does anyone else get the thing asking for a password when they try and get onto the site?
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TheMunch8 on November 20, 2004, 10:04:32 PM
Flayra is switching to the news ite, so only people with the password can see it till it is ready.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: X-S-Z on November 20, 2004, 10:21:28 PM
Great, im X S Z now.  :(
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: SwiftSpear on November 21, 2004, 03:38:38 AM
I didn't agree with the removal of numbers or the -

Athough I agree compleatly that clan tags have no place in a forum and also with the excessive capitols being really annoying.

We'll see how everything turns out.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Necrosis on November 21, 2004, 09:42:53 AM
People might respect others more if there's no prejudice created by the presence or absence of gobbledegook before and after your name.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Malevolent on November 21, 2004, 10:20:52 AM
You know, that is why plain old regular words capitalized at the beginning make so much sense.

/me points at my name.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: fatty on November 21, 2004, 11:43:24 AM
capitalization is the tool of the devil.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: ANeM on November 21, 2004, 01:10:50 PM
I have no problems with this new naming system, but thats probably because it doesn't have any effect on me at all  :lol:
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Doobie Dan on November 21, 2004, 01:36:08 PM
I win!  ^_^
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Grimm on November 21, 2004, 02:46:07 PM
I'm right there with Doobie and ANeM, no worries at all.  :D
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: A Boojum Snark on November 21, 2004, 03:06:36 PM
Doesn't effect me, but I still hate it as I can see the problems in it <_<
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: SgtFury on November 22, 2004, 07:11:30 AM
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The forums and site is down right now :(
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Quote
Does anyone else get the thing asking for a password when they try and get onto the site?
[snapback]33724[/snapback]


Quote
Flayra is switching to the news ite, so only people with the password can see it till it is ready.
[snapback]33727[/snapback]


Was there any prior warning for the forums going down and/or anyone know for how long?

Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TheMunch8 on November 22, 2004, 12:17:28 PM
I don't know about the warning, since i never look at the front page.  someone said that it was only supposed to be for the weekend...and you know the NS dev team.  Release dates mean nothing! it seems like they are taking after valve ;)
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Grimm on November 22, 2004, 02:40:10 PM
The game is released, can you stop bitching about it all now?

 :angry:
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TheMunch8 on November 22, 2004, 05:09:48 PM
Quote
The game is released, can you stop bitching about it all now?

 :angry:
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released?  NS v3 non-beta is released?  V6 is released?
Oh, you speak of HL2.  It was suppose to be a joke...can't you take humor?
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: DiscoZombie on November 22, 2004, 10:12:10 PM
the change doesn't affect me any, but my condolences to those of you whom it does affect.  I've always steered away from using any semblance of 'l33t' in my pseudonyms.  it stems from AIM, where I thought anyone who couldn't think of an interesting screen name that wasn't taken without using numbers was just terminally uncreative.  

as for the NS.org forums, what worries me is, are all the old posts lost forever?  the off-topic history was a treasure trove of useless but fun information :o
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TheMunch8 on November 22, 2004, 10:34:54 PM
it wont' be lost.  everything will still be there.  SO they claim
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: A Boojum Snark on November 22, 2004, 10:50:44 PM
Nem zero made a post in the annoucement forums.... friday I think, warning people.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Mr.Bill on November 23, 2004, 02:57:19 PM
OH NOES!! MY .!! NOW IM JUST A LOWLY MR WITH NO DOT! What ever shall I do!? I cant bear to live any longer!


...come to think of it.. I dont think I use the .  all the time... meh :-D

Maybe if people had pronoucable names in the first plce we wouldnt need the change!
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: SheenaYanai on November 23, 2004, 03:29:53 PM
Quote

as for the BUS i havent the slightest idea what a BUS even means.
[snapback]33698[/snapback]


its the infamous Big Unanounced System



nobody knows what it is...
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: lolfighter on November 24, 2004, 06:46:15 AM
It's a so-called VSA. Very Stupid Acronym.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: SheenaYanai on November 25, 2004, 01:53:07 AM
Quote
It's a so-called VSA. Very Stupid Acronym.
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true...true    ^_^
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Crispy on November 26, 2004, 08:45:19 AM
The NS.org forums are taking too long and the NS.com page is incredibly unprofessional.

November 22th, anyone?

I think that almost all of the forum content was transferred in the first weekend, the extra time is all for carioca's forum hosted screens·shot-athon Metalurgy map threads!
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Necrosis on November 26, 2004, 02:25:44 PM
Maybe the tards will leave the forum and get their trolling kicks elsewhere. We can but hope eh?
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Crispy on November 27, 2004, 08:27:42 AM
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Maybe the tards will leave the forum and get their trolling kicks elsewhere. We can but hope eh?
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*Fingers crossed*

I'm all for seeing more people playing NS but the sheer number of 'smacktards' who either can't read (English* ), can't be bothered to read or have no common sense whatsoever. Perhaps, as you say, they might get bored and go CAPS SPAM somewhere else. That said there are worse Mod-forums to be in in terms of smacktardery.

*Most foriegners, surprisingly are exempt from this comment because they actually bother to read what's written.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TOmekki on December 12, 2004, 09:18:34 AM
wow i mustve really been away a long time cause i dont recall seeing many caps-spamming etc. "smacktards" on the ns.org forums =o
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Crispy on December 12, 2004, 10:29:48 AM
Ever read the I&S forums? Some of the suggestions in there are just... well just.

I hope they're not going to re-open the Forums on the 25th as some sort of publicity stunt-come-birthday present, that would be seriously poor management.

Anyone been idling in the NS irc chan and know what's actually happening (official statements not IRC heresay).
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: BobTheJanitor on December 12, 2004, 06:00:19 PM
Quote
Anyone been idling in the NS irc chan and know what's actually happening (official statements not IRC heresay).
The word your looking for is 'hearsay'. The word you've almost got is 'heresy'. I giggle.

All I have is IRC 'heresy' (tee-hee) but what I hear is that there are more bugs in the new site than expected, and it's currently being hammered by grep and his extermination team. Once they get it working decently, the PTs will take a whack at it, and then if it is deemed passable it goes live. The word I keep hearing is 'soon' but I have yet to hear how soon.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Isamil on December 12, 2004, 08:12:27 PM
Bob, acording to Adj the PTs are already at it, since he's seen the site.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: [Freemantle] on December 12, 2004, 09:07:14 PM
Maybe they are waiting to drop B6 and the new site at the same time? That way if/when we get additions or revivals to the playerbase, they won't feel so alienated in a fossilized community.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: BobTheJanitor on December 12, 2004, 09:11:24 PM
Quote
Maybe they are waiting to drop B6 and the new site at the same time? That way if/when we get additions or revivals to the playerbase, they won't feel so alienated in a fossilized community.
Hard to do, we just finally had another PT today, and we still have no place to give feedback.  :(
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Dark on December 13, 2004, 12:40:43 AM
uh you have email, the irc channel, and other forms of communication so don't lie to us bob  :ph34r:
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: SgtFury on December 13, 2004, 06:35:30 AM
Things just don`t feel the same without the NS forums to "lerk" in. :( I actually have to do a bit of work now   :blink:
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Crispy on December 13, 2004, 07:12:19 AM
I found my way onto the halflifesource.com forums and got so angry by what I read I had to register and put some things straight. I suggest you don't venture in though; no swearfilter, no sigsize limit, no spam removal!

P.S. Thankyou for correcting me Bob and feel privileged, it's not often I make spelling mistooks.

P.P.S. In my book thank you is one word  :)
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: A Boojum Snark on December 13, 2004, 11:43:33 AM
Quote
I found my way onto the halflifesource.com forums and got so angry by what I read I had to register and put some things straight. I suggest you don't venture in though; no swearfilter, no sigsize limit, no spam removal!

P.S. Thankyou for correcting me Bob and feel privileged, it's not often I make spelling mistooks.

P.P.S. In my book thank you is one word  :)
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Two words. Hyphenated. (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=thankyou&x=0&y=0) >_> :p
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: TOmekki on December 13, 2004, 04:24:15 PM
my life is crippled cause ns.org is down :(

ah well at least i finally got hl2
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: Crispy on December 14, 2004, 10:46:18 AM
Quote
Two words. Hyphenated. (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=thankyou&x=0&y=0) >_> :p
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That's nice but it's not my book.
Title: Ns Identity Consistency
Post by: SwiftSpear on December 16, 2004, 12:08:29 AM
Arg, what are they doing?  Sleeping?

For the record, I love Flayra, but his development stratigies leave alot to be desired...  You are supposed to leave a WORKING placeholder between different patches!