The chat service on this server

Hi,

I would suggest you guys get another chatting service such as IRC. It is far better for chatting purposes compared to the service on the forum chatbox.
You can have:
- Bots that have useful scripts
- A bigger chatting screen that is easier to follow and people with power are clearly seen compared to normal players.
- There is a common misconception that an IRC is difficult to use and setup. This is false it only takes 2 minutes to setup a chatroom on IRC.
- It looks a lot more professional than the current chat.
- There is a clear banlist available to see which person has been banned and whatnot, use it to unban users that may have served their sentence.
- GMs / Chatmods can give powers to those they deem fit such as giving voice to someone that allows them to speak when the channel is muted.
- Last but not least there is a topic channel to which you can link things and give the server status.

It's just a suggestion, if you guys need help setting up the IRC I am more than willing to help you guys. I have more than enough experience with IRC to know how it works.

 

Well an IRC server can be time-saving as you don't need to actually access the website to get to it, you can use a user client. It's also very easily accessible form portable devices such as phones and tablets from which people might want to join the chat just to talk with people if they get bored. There are specific apps created for this chatting service like AndroIRC or Colloquy for IOS.
Also I don't know if you can get logs from this current chatting service but if at any point a GM decides to ban someone and that person appeals, the GM can access their IRC logs and pull out evidence as to why that person was banned in the first place.
The chat might seem empty at first but overtime people will get used to it and start coming in regularly because it'll be easier than ever to access.

 

An IRC is stripped down to the most simplistic form of chatting, it will always be the fastest chat service to access. Not to mention the endless features you gain with an IRC chat compared to that of a forum chat.

On IRC every individual can log their chat in-case they afk or something and want to read up on something they missed or see if they were called for in the chat.

And also I would see IRC as a huge time saver for those who are new to the server and want to know what it's about, you could simply have a script that reads the rates of the server, gives certain info about the server when the person joins the chat.

Instead of just striking down the idea of an IRC chat, I would recommend you guys try it first because it certainly is a good service you guys are missing out on.

 

Can the IRC chat be embedded on the forums, or will the forum users have to download the IRC client to access it? And if so, what if some users do not have the necessary plug-ins to access it?

 

Kerners, Yes IRC chat can be embedded on the forums, the forum users do not have to download another client to access it. However if they wish they may as there are some perks to having a client. (I'd assume the regulars would get the client)

On a portable device such as a mobile, IRC can be accessed through a client or it can be done through a web-based client such as Mibbit. But again it's probably quicker to set it up through an app on a portable device

 

If I may add, when your website goes down you chat goes down with it. That is horrendous, this probably one of the most IMPORTANT reason you guys should get an IRC.

 

This is why we have a Facebook page so that of the site were to go down, the staff can still remain in contact with the community

 

And what about the people that want to chat with each other while the server is down?

I don't see what's wrong with just switching over to IRC it's not that difficult to embed into the forums, if you guys would use it a couple of times you'd know how inferior your chat system is compared to the IRC.

Also posting on FB back and forth, not the best way for the staff to get in touch with the community. If this were the case what's the point of keeping your current chat system?

 

See you say that yet your site is having issues currently and it is making it almost impossible to send messages to the chat at time. Now who's to say this won't happen again in the future? I get that you striving for 100% uptime but things like these can happen and when your site goes down your chat goes down with it.

I'm just asking you to check out IRC, someone made a temporary chat yesterday because the site was too laggy, it's on irc.gamesurge.net and the channel is #MapleRoyals Just check it out you'll see the difference loll

 

May I refer you to this and this thread.

 

If you don't like it, don't use it. Simple.

 

Teamspeak is different comparatively, it's more like ventrillo it's not very popular.

@John I wasn't trying to come off rude or anything but I'm pointing out that there is a major flaw lol, I read your other post on being an IRCop, you say it's confusing and questions will arise amongst the players but I'm willing to bet more people know how to use IRC than you know.

The top 2 servers both use IRC with over 1k people, you guys only have 160 people I'm pretty sure it's not going to be anywhere near as chaotic.

More people on this server know how to use IRC than you know.

 

There were two threads and only one was for teamspeak.

 

Yes I saw that, teamspeak is rarely ever used.

Also GM's not being in the chat while the server being down is not a logical argument. You can appoint chatmods and if you don't want to people STILL have the option to chat to one another.

Some people may not want to only be getting news from the GMs frequently on forums or FB. They may want to talk with their fellow Royal Maplers as well.

Btw that IRC thread you linked me to is from January, it seems the server's been having problems like this for a while now.

 

lmao Mike, I meant in terms of trying to teach everyone how to IRC.
I have a feeling you guys are:
1. Intimidated by the IRC because you thinks it complex
or
2. Oblivious to the truth

You guys DO need another chatting service, not IRC specifically it was a recommendation, but you need one nonetheless.

You claimed you stride for 100% uptime, looking back at all threads you made the same promise then and people seemed to be angry at the fact that it isn't up. You're still making the same promise and I've only been here for like 2 days and experienced server downtime for a majority of it.

It isn't always up and when it goes down so does your chat. Your chat is essential to the server I hope you realize that. You claim chat isn't necessary because you can use forums and FB to communicate, if that's the case then I guess a chat is completely useless then.

I believe the players would beg to differ as getting answers on forums/FB would be generally slower than chat.

I have no idea where this ridiculous hostility towards another chat service is coming from but it literally does not take more than 2 minutes to replace your current system with a different one with all the right people having their powers.