League Match Feature Open Discussion

[voodooc]

Hello there, gentle Smashballers, we're looking for your input!

We're looking into what features we want to add to the web site. Our next focus is going to be on match automation: scheduling matches, launching a properly-configured server, and saving things afterwards.

We want suggestions from you, our rabid and loyal fans, as to what kind of capabilities would make it easier for you to schedule matches. We want to make it as painless as possible for team captains to play a match against another team.

The kind of things we're looking for include:

Match Scheduling

* Let teams set their general availability
* Search for teams with the same availability in the same league
* request/decline process for asking other teams to play against you
* pick a particular region (EU, US-EAST, US-WEST, AU) for the match to be held in
* pick the maps used for a match

Server

* Only allow players on proper teams to join (ringers have to join team as reserve first)
* Automatically start up a server with the proper settings
* Automatically put players on the right team
* Identify team captains who join
* Require team captains to signify 'READY' before starting
* Start demo recording for each match
* Automatically set player tag to team tag
* Create bench 'position' that can be selected instead of fd, hb, etc. that does not spawn but can spec
* Enforce team limit (how many players on team) and field limit (how many per team in play) apart from server limit
* Set up a SourceTV relay for the match?

Post-match
* Upload demo to league to make available for download on match page
* Automatically render match video, up to youtube, link to match page
* Shut down server

[Light]

Possibly a page for free agents to put their times up on so if a team is down a player or two they can sub in free players?

Also a way for players to confirm their availability for the match thats coming up so leaders arent chasing down every1 for commitment...if they say they'll play they shud play, if not they cant say oh i said i wasnt sure

Seconds just an idea i know captains have to go round asking every1 and it can get nasty if they dont have all the free time they'd like

[DrakeNL]

* pick a particular region (EU, US-EAST, US-WEST, AU) for the match to be held in

Wouldn't it be easier if you can set your team to be a region, and the server will automatically pick that region (ask if both teams have a different region).

* Only allow players on proper teams to join (ringers have to join team as reserve first)

This is not smart to implement just yet, since some people still have trouble joining the teams/creating an account. I suggest waiting 'till those problems are fixed before implementing this.

* Automatically set player tag to team tag

Most teams already have tags on standard, so this would give them double tags.

* Set up a SourceTV relay for the match?

SourceTV is always a good idea, since there will be people who want to watch ^^


In addition, make a special position called commentator (instead of spectator or something). Then 2 players can join it and commentate the match (like fluffy and spatvark are doing for EU in spec right now).
Also make the sourcetv/demo so that there you can only hear the commentators and not the random team talk.

[Analogy]

Originally Posted by DrakeNL

SourceTV is always a good idea, since there will be people who want to watch ^^

The distinction here is setting up a SourceTV *relay*, which is a second "overflow" server if there are not enough SourceTV slots open on the first server for all of the spectators that are going to turn out. This is only necessary when you have more than 128 spectators, otherwise the game server will handle all the SourceTV requirements by itself just fine. The largest spectator turnout I've seen for a Dystopia match when I was playing was about 90 for a season championship match, and Dystopia's a much larger community than us at the moment.

In addition, make a special position called commentator (instead of spectator or something). Then 2 players can join it and commentate the match (like fluffy and spatvark are doing for EU in spec right now).
Also make the sourcetv/demo so that there you can only hear the commentators and not the random team talk.

This would mean upgrading the servers to 17 slots. 7 per team (6 ingame + 1 bench), plus SrcTV, plus 2 commentators. Probably the better solution for commentary is to throw the commentators into SrcTV and use a shoutcast/ventrilo/teamspeak/mumble to broadcast your commentary. This worked pretty well for us in Dystopia.

[Unnownd]

I'm wondering if there will be a distinction between "matches" and "scrims". Currently I don't think we have enough teams for a league, but hopefully that will change soon.

So yeah, as we get more teams, will there be an official league? Where teams are given a time-frame to schedule matches and play them out, or are you guys happy with how matches are being played currently? Personally I'd like a league, so that way one team has bragging rights as "the best".

[Analogy]

Originally Posted by Unnownd

So yeah, as we get more teams, will there be an official league? Where teams are given a time-frame to schedule matches and play them out, or are you guys happy with how matches are being played currently? Personally I'd like a league, so that way one team has bragging rights as "the best".

When we have enough top-tier teams to promote over the rest we'll start up Pro League with a set schedule of weekly matches. It's been my experience though that forcing every single clan to play a match every single week results in tons of forfeits from less dedicated clans, and lots of uneven matchups which aren't fun for either team. For an "all-inclusive" league, it's better to let teams choose their own opponents and how often they play.

If you don't want a match to count toward amateur league stats, play it under pub pickup.

[Hamp]

Originally Posted by Analogy

If you don't want a match to count toward amateur league stats, play it under pub pickup.

On this note, we did want our AF vs IF game(s) to count towards amateur league stats, but it was recorded as a pub pickup game.

[5arge]

I like what you have proposed voodooc, it all seems pretty damn cool to me. I will have to agree with some of the others about adding team tags as being redundant, and using the ISL team roster only as being a bit iffy at this stage of the game. People are still having issues joining teams on the ISL from what I hear. Most of my team are still stuck as "Invitees". That could be them missing a step, or something isn't working. If anything, we should have team "captains" have to be present to verify that the correct team is playing and that it is a sanctioned match.

[Analogy]

Originally Posted by Hamp

On this note, we did want our AF vs IF game(s) to count towards amateur league stats, but it was recorded as a pub pickup game.

I think Voodoo's gonna get on that... You guys gotta learn the right commands to get it recorded right though, we can't keep adjusting it forever.

[Hamp]

Originally Posted by Analogy

I think Voodoo's gonna get on that... You guys gotta learn the right commands to get it recorded right though, we can't keep adjusting it forever.

Sobchak was the one setting our server up as far as I know.