Poor Server Performance and Decline

**Zheta** · 03-22-11, 04:53 AM

Is there any effort underway to possibly switch hosts or push the hamsters a little on their wheels? Every day I play the last few weeks there's either TERRIBLE, game killing lag and lag spikes for EVERYONE on the server, OR some new bug that's cropped up since the day before.

And, to that end... Is there anything at all I can do to help? I miss the old happy cupcake and rainbow Dallas based servers. The servers a couple years ago, for the very reason they played well, were the reason I got hooked!!

Let me go into something else! My own *additional* theory about the decline of the servers:

I'm no expert but there's something about branding and image that have made this new 'TPG' tagline kinda stale for the TF2 environment. When the servers were known to be located in Texas and the name tags(for all three[!] servers) clearly stated 'Texas' it gave a bit of flavor and branding. Team Player Gaming, while all encompassing, really lacks the feeling and charm that drew me to the servers in the first place!

So lack of local roots, and lack of local branding makes the TF2 server(singular now) very devoid of individuality and location. It's just a generic server title with Chicago based servers. Illinois Teamplayers?

I joined because I live in Texas, saw the title, saw the good ping, and liked the quality of the playing. Now what reason does a person have to join just based on the merit of the server list? Plus, I wasn't the only person joining because it was Texas based. And we all know that the people in Texas are so much more awesomerest than those silly ChiCAgans!

So now the people that join are just random doodz and referrals. LAME!

PLUS, the MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR: The ENGINEER!!!

He's totally from Texas. Everything about him screams good ol' boy. I remember playing when we had a GLUT of engineers and GOOD engineers and they would YEEHAW with the best of em! But now are we supposed to identify with the scout? NO! They even gave the engineer TWO cowboy hats!!! And now most of the engineers that play are super bad. Probably from some non-Texas fantasy land. Like Chicago.

Also, TF2 isn't a game filled with slick commandos or counter-terrorists. It's silly!! And Texas is a silly place! And 'Teamplayer' is a super stale and militaristic title compared to the grandiosity of the 'Texas' legacy.

The TF2 server(!) needs to go back to its(!) old branding and draw the same crowd it(!) used to draw. We need more awesome Texas based people and true-grit, spur-proddin' cowboys and gals! And the servers need more flavor and style and better game specific branding than the TPG name provides. It's cold and lame and has no place on a TF2 server where super wacky hijinks abound daily and engineers line dance freely!!

The atmosphere is largely still here and on the servers. It's the branding that sucks!!

But MORE IMPORTANTLY:

The servers are running terribly.
Everyone complains.
Something needs to happen.
Or I'll lose all of my brains!

**dex71** · 03-22-11, 05:18 AM

While we won't be going back to TTP, please know that TF2 is NOT being ignored here. We see what is happening, and rest assured that we are actively working on it.

One thing I can tell you for certain......You WILL be connecting to Dallas before too long. The Chicago servers are on their way out. It just takes a bit of time.....we want to be absolutely certain that if we are going to make a move, it is the right one. The last thing TF2 needs right now is an IP change, followed by another IP change. We want to be certain that we are doing everything right the first time.

And on that note......here is what you can do to help.

Notice the new Vanilla BC2 server. Run a Tracert to its IP address, or better yet, hop on if you have BC2. We are using the BC2 Vanilla server to test out a new provider, and some of the BF series as well as possibly some of the Source games may end up with them. So far, it seems to be working much better for those who were having bad connections to the Chicago servers ( looking at you West Coasters). Run tracerts to the current TF2 box, and compare them to the BC2 Vanilla box, and see for yourself.
Post your tracerts here: http://www.teamplayergaming.com/issu...-tracerts.html
The more we know, the better we are.

**Zheta** · 03-22-11, 02:32 PM

Roger Dodger!! I was playing on the vanilla BC2 server the other day and it seemed peachy. Lemme try this tracert thing.

**moving-target** · 03-22-11, 02:40 PM

couple things
TEXAS kinda throws some people off i think when you picture buncha redneck republicans

where the hell were the cupcakes i never recived one
the scout is not chicago he s clearly new york bronx stereotype the heavy is russian the soldier is all american the medic is german the sniper is australian its the friggen UN of fps games

and teamplay is the foundation for this place hell if it werent for team play the alamo woulda gone down alot faster

**Zheta** · 03-22-11, 02:55 PM

Ok! So, I posted some tracert infos.

Also scout is CLEARLY northern...New York yes, but soldier is too generic Americana to place...though probably less Chicago then Mr. Scout! Of course my point is now there is no mascot and you only proved that!!

**moving-target** · 03-22-11, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Zheta

Ok!e my point is now there is no mascot and you only proved that!!

then time for you to slap on an oversized costume and represent

**enf** · 03-22-11, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by moving-target

couple things
TEXAS kinda throws some people off i think when you picture buncha redneck republicans

where the hell were the cupcakes i never recived one
the scout is not chicago he s clearly new york bronx stereotype the heavy is russian the soldier is all american the medic is german the sniper is australian its the friggen UN of fps games

and teamplay is the foundation for this place hell if it werent for team play the alamo woulda gone down alot faster

Was that all one sentence?