Hi Radian,
The only way fun will continue is for Tiberian Sun to get a server controlled by an intellectually competent TS player. Someone who understands the game, understands the basics of reality, etc. Otherwise every issue that matters will be addressed by people who don't care enough to realize they're being swayed by the delusions of a select few individuals in which have stifled progress at every turn. Someone being in charge who hears people out but ignores people who make arguments that the game "is supposed to be unfair".. That way the game can be developed into something complete with fair/balanced game play and competitive elements that cater to the majority rather than a handful of cheaters. Only then will it be worth anyone's time to take efforts to develop new players.
Furthermore, I don't think playing with "newb" players is really the problem. The problem is playing with utterly and completely inept players. That applies to people who have been playing for all 22 years of this games history. For example, I'd rather play with an actual day 1 player that has an IQ over 100 and listens than someone that has been playing for 20 years and refuses to acknowledge the relevance of countering infantry, refuses to be alert, refuses to communicate, etc. And what I, and pretty much everyone else who has tried to interact with inexperienced players has found.. is what I just described applies to pretty much everyone who has tried this game out in the last 15 years. The noobs don't listen and aren't willing to try or put in even rudimentary effort. They want instant gratification.. If that wasn't the case then they wouldn't need us to teach them the absolute basics of the game.. They would explore the game and figure it out for themselves like we did. All we can do is provide experience for people who put in the effort to figure out the basics.. And pretty much everyone who at least knows the basics of the game is allowed to play in pro games outside of anytime there are 4 high level players on at the same time in the last 3-4 years. And of those people, the amount that don't get offended and start raging out at you anytime you give them advice is maybe 1 out of 50.
Basically, the game needs fresh players that aren't 30+ year olds and/or extremally weird people. The only way new players can be gotten is with a completed game and a functional server that provides appropriate elements of competition. Unfortunately the people on cncnet think competition is stupid and doesn't make sense.. despite the fact that they are hosting a PVP REAL TIME STRATEGY GAME... so like I said, until someone makes a TS server that understands the basics of reality at least nobody is going to complete the game to a point where it's worth investing advertising dollars into it in order to let people know it exists. Even many old school players don't know about cncnet which is evident every time westwood gets in the news somehow (remasters etc.) you will see hundreds of people saying things such as "I used to love these games I wish I could play them again" on reddit or other social media outlets.
I totally disagree with your second point.. I can't stand people who don't quit when a game is obviously over... When you have no chance of winning and you keep playing for an extra 10 minutes just to force them to clear out every last one of your trash buildings is 10 minutes that you could have started and played an entire other game. I got to a point where I would just surrender after I KO people provided that they didn't have a counter rush due to people like trooper/tiger dragging games out until they were short gamed.. Those two and a handful of others caused countless nights of only getting 10 games in with when we could have gotten 20. Literally half our time wasted with washing power plants and component towers on dead bases.
point 3. Lol @ addressing the complaining of giants players. But to be fair, your strategy is off if you aren't building air defense on a map where the only effective attack is via air units. But being concerned about the opinions of people who can't defend a 1 ref on a map that has infinite money and power is kinda weird. All they have to do is never stop clicking on rocket infantry and your 1 ref is moot and they can just swarm you with chem missiles and banshees while you fail to have air defense. Granted I've been undefeated 1v1 on giants since the day I discovered cncnet just via 1 refing people.. despite revealing to them the secret of rocket infantry on multiple occasions.. Which kinda goes back to what I was saying earlier about not listening, focusing on the game, etc.
Point 4. I just can't be grateful to them.. I'd like to be.. but they are people who see this game as a glorified chat room rather than a competitive PVP RTS game. I'd rather the game have 0 active servers than be controlled by the people behind cncnet. Quite frankly, cncnet existing demotivates anyone who would potentially do things correctly from doing do due to cncnet existing and having (or had..) a player base already using it. Making something else would split the player base.
Trash talk is a part of online gaming. Especially in ones where the object of the game is to "kill" your opponent. Getting people angry makes them play sloppy or entices them to play at all where they previously wouldn't. But again, we are talking about really below average people here who view anything except praise, utter acknowledgment, and agreement with their opinions as an insult. It's impossible for me to have a positive relationship with a person whom I have to stay silent around because correcting any of their never ending spew of illogical comments would result in them having an emotional breakdown.
TL:DR... You are asking for the impossible.
So, how did this work out?
