XFire + Torque, the answers
by Eric Forhan · in Torque Game Engine · 05/05/2004 (7:05 pm) · 6 replies
Ok, this is a follow-up to this thread.
For the uninitiated: XFire is an instant messenger for gamers. It does a lot of what I asked for in the previous thread, including a Start and Join button, an "Up for Game" button if you're trying to get a game started, a very detailed in-game listing--including Server, server type, Server IP, level name, and list of players. One nice ability it has is a "friend of" option.
How I would suggest for developers to use the "friend of" would be to have a main nick, like Realm_Wars then tell your players to make this nick a buddy in XFire. It will then show whomever else is online that has Realm_Wars as a nick.
I'm not sure what it would take to make it completely compatible. They indicate some sort of command line function to pass the IP and start a level. If Tribes2 works, perhaps something like this is already implemented?
I really think something like this is the way to go for Indies.
Here's what I received:
-Eric F
For the uninitiated: XFire is an instant messenger for gamers. It does a lot of what I asked for in the previous thread, including a Start and Join button, an "Up for Game" button if you're trying to get a game started, a very detailed in-game listing--including Server, server type, Server IP, level name, and list of players. One nice ability it has is a "friend of" option.
How I would suggest for developers to use the "friend of" would be to have a main nick, like Realm_Wars then tell your players to make this nick a buddy in XFire. It will then show whomever else is online that has Realm_Wars as a nick.
I'm not sure what it would take to make it completely compatible. They indicate some sort of command line function to pass the IP and start a level. If Tribes2 works, perhaps something like this is already implemented?
I really think something like this is the way to go for Indies.
Here's what I received:
Quote:To add support for a
game, we need a bunch of information, including an icon with 8x8 and 16x16 images, a registry key that points to your installation, and then for multiplayer games we need command line info to be able to join a server, as well as info on the UDP protocol to find out information about the game server.
The easiest way to get started is to send us 2 copies of a game to support. If your game isn't out yet, then you can send us a beta copy if the information I'm talking about above isn't going to change for the final release. We'll figure out the registry info, .exe names, and grab the icon, and then ask for your help if needed on the multiplayer joining.
-Eric F
About the author
#2
05/06/2004 (3:45 pm)
I think they will make the money from putting ads on the main messenger--just like MSN Messenger and a few others do already.
#3
05/06/2004 (10:26 pm)
Yeah, and they get free game copies ;) 
#4
Jabber, anyone? ;-)
05/14/2004 (1:32 pm)
There was very similar free messenger years ago called EGN. It had a slick UI and some nice features. Unfortunately, success is about who's on the network. And the result? Not enough people to keep it afloat.Jabber, anyone? ;-)
#5
05/14/2004 (1:46 pm)
Very true... That seems to be what XFire is running into... I've never seen more than 10-20 poeple on at one time.
#6
It doesn't show everyone online. Just friends of friends.
My proposition is that each indie would come up with a generic nick, and all the users can put that nick as a friend. This would have the effect for which you are looking, I believe. It would show everyone who has "RealmWars" in their friends list and happens to be online at the time.
05/14/2004 (2:00 pm)
That's because everyone is signed up with one generic friend, and XFire shows all who have had that same friend assigned, via the "friend of friends" feature. It doesn't show everyone online. Just friends of friends.
My proposition is that each indie would come up with a generic nick, and all the users can put that nick as a friend. This would have the effect for which you are looking, I believe. It would show everyone who has "RealmWars" in their friends list and happens to be online at the time.
Torque 3D Owner Frogger
Sounds like fun...