Clan Creation

Basic VoIP Software

For anyone who isn’t in the know, Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP is the most common fashion to which online players use to communicate to each other in and out of games.  The idea is to transmit sounds from a microphone across the internet to other computers.

I am not getting into much detail about the programs, however I will recommend Teamspeak 2 for anyone’s voice communication needs.  I’ve found the best success with Teamspeak 2 in regards to being:  reliable, flexible, and easy to use.  Ventrilo is also an another good option if Teamspeak 2 does not offer everything you need.

Back in the day, I remember when voice communications was a rare thing to find in any clan.  Now you can’t find a Clan without a form of voice communications.  This is due to the fact that having a form of communications give members a competitive advantage.  Allowing members to keep their hands on the mouse and action keys in any game allows them to focus on the game itself  instead of typing out communications between team members.

Most voice communication applications give Clan Leaders the ability to create channels for any intent or reason.  I think it would be ideal to use several sub-channels for the purpose of making in-game voice communications as clutter-free as possible.  Individual sub-channels should be used for ground level tactics and coordination between members of a respective group, allowing leaders to focus on the strategy of these groups instead of basic tactics.

Teamspeak 2 Only:  The “Channel Commander” feature allows anyone set as the channel commander to speak to all other channel commanders at the same time, regardless of what channel they’re in.  Ideally the channel commander function should be reserved for members who are leading squads/sections who need to talk to other squads/sections over a command channel.

Heres some of the most popular VoIP software currently used:

• Roger Wilco is currently owned by GameSpy since late 2000.  The most current client side version is 1.4.1.6.  The program requires a $3.95 per month subscription of GameSpy’s tools.
• Teamspeak is currently owned by TeamSpeak Systems GmbH.  The most current client side version is 2.0.32.60, however an open beta of Teamspeak 3 is due to come out on December 19th, 2009.  The program is currently freeware.
• Ventrilo is currently owned by Flagship Industries, Inc.  The most current client side version is 3.0.5 (3.0.4 for OSX.)  The program is currently freeware.
• VoiceChatter is currently owned by Weiland Software, LLC.  The most current client side version is 1.2.0.  The program is currently open source freeware.
• Mumble is currently an open source project and has no defined owner.  The most current client side version is 1.1.8.  The program is currently open source freeware.

Picking a Game Server Provider

One of the most important aspects to clans are game servers.  It has nearly become a requirement for clans to have a game server to be successful.  The market itself is extremely saturated with small and massive companies looking to earn your business.  So what is best for your clan?

I’m going to briefly outline several things that need to be thought of when choosing a Game Server Provider:

• Ping: The network infrastructure should be one of the most important factors in choosing a game server provider.  The old saying “you get what you pay for” is very relevant in the gaming server industry.  Networking happens to be one of the areas affected when hosts choose to save money.  This alone can bring inferior pings to your members and can be a deal-breaker in regards to recruitment.  The location of these hosts should be considered when attempting to maximize the best possible pings.  The most common rule of thumb, if the bulk of your clan is located in country A, then the game server should be located in country A.

• Per Slot Servers: This is the cheapest option for any clan on a budget.  This is where a clan pays for the maximum number of slots on a game server.  The server hardware itself is most likely shared among other clans, but this shouldn’t be a problem as long as the game does not require much processing power.  These servers also lack the ability control the system like a traditional computer. However control panels make game server management easy and pain free.

• Dedicated Servers: This is the most expense way for a clan to host their game servers. The benefit of a dedicated server is the ability to host multiple game servers without the limitations of a maximum number of slots.  Some companies also give you the ability to remote into these systems to perform complex configurations and to install moderations.  Picking the correct hardware also depends on what you plan on doing with the server.  If single game server requires a 2 GHz machine with 512 MB of RAM, and you want to host four game servers, then the math should add up to a 2 GHz Quad Core machine with 2 GB of RAM.

• Service: Something that is usually overlooked when shopping for a game server is the company’s customer service.  If they say they provide 24/7 support, then call them at 3AM to see if they’re really there and talk to them.  This interaction should indicate the level of service and assistances that you’re going to get when the time comes.

• Satisfaction: Finally, do your HOMEWORK!  Find reviews that been posted about them by other clans.  Do take into account that people will have bad experiences with these companies, and will be more willing to post about them.  Obviously all game server providers have issues, but how they handle them will determine their level of quality.  Keep an eye out for trends that happens over and over.  This shows that the company is not permanently resolving the issues, and are more then likely going to repeat them again.

This isn’t a full list of things you should consider when shopping, but hopefully this article was helpful in giving you an idea of what to look for when picking the right game server provider for your clan.