VoIP MOD for ET:QW

(BR1GAND) #1

Not having participated in the closed beta, I have no knowledge of how VoIP will (and if it will) be integrated in to QWs. So just going off what I’ve seen in Q4 Id like to suggest an alternative to the VoIP that Q4 has.

In ET you can tab to see the current players, their scores, classes and ping rates. What I’m suggesting is adding a similar page for QWs but have extended player information and interaction.

On this player status page you could mouse over a players name and potentially get the following info:

  1. Clan or personal contact info: Web, IRC or Email addresses (if configured by the player)
  2. Ventrilo or Teamspeak status: Server IP and PW requirements.

By clicking on the contact info you could add the player/clan and his/her/its info to your personal database and this info could also be used later by the server browser for locating players/clans via the browser. Obviously putting this info in would be left optional for each player if they don’t want to make it public.

By clicking on the VoIP info you could automatically join that players teamspeak or ventrilo server (or enter a PW if that is required).

Additionally this page could also have the server hosts ventrilo/teamspeak status, and if configured by the server admin would actually allow you to join the proper vent/ts server and channel based on the team you’re in (GDF, Strogg, or Spec). Switching teams could automatically put you in the proper channel for that VoIP server.

W:ET (and I’m sure ET:QW) is a great game that can easily be played without VoIP in the Pub setting, however adding VoIP support for 3rd party software would only enhance the Pub experience and could be an invaluable tool for clans playing competitively.

(McAfee) #2

I like the idea of the server itself supporting the 3rd party tools, which is a good concept for older games which did not feature VoIP.

I think it’s a matter of setting a “community standard” set of cvars and have a mod check for them. The mod takes care of launching the corresponding program and login in.

Hasn’t this been done before? Maybe not as standard-ish?

eg:
voip_engine “ts2”
voip_serverip “”
voip_serverport “8767”
voip_password “12345”
voip_bluechan “”
voip_redchan “”
voip_spectatorchan “”

Anyways, most new game engines already feature VoIP. Don’t know about ventrillo, but TS2 is getting old.

(BR1GAND) #3

Right… Most new game engines feature VoIP, and I think they are crap.

Of course I’m working on the assumption that 3rd party VoIP > Integrated VoIP. Here are a few reasons:

  1. 3rd party VoIP will work will with any game (so if you play more than one game…)
  2. Many Clans have their own VoIP servers and many game servers have public VoIP servers. I know many players that use these as their primary social/gaming hangout. Preferring it over text based tools like Xfire, IRC, and Instant Messengers.
  3. 3rd party VoIP doesn’t effect game server performance and has a minimal effect on client side performance.
  4. 3rd party VoIP has better sound quality over integrated… (this is a matter of opinion on my part, I’m sure this could be debated by others).

The main drawback to 3rd party VoIP IMO, is that it is difficult to use (change channels/servers) in-game. Some of the cmds can be hot keyed but if you join game server and want to join a VoIP server that’s new to you, you must exit out to set it up. This mod idea addresses that.

Your examples of possible standard cvars are great and AFAIK it hasnt been done before.

(San_Pedro) #4

This game can include voip or not, it doesn’t matter to me… I have Team Speak and my clan uses this a lot (and it is something I really like). Voip in game might be cool, though, because everyone on the server could utilize it. I’m sure there are people who don’t want to hear or talk to other people while playing though.