Need an online FPS

[Vrach]

Hey guys, need a bit of a hand.

I've been in a bit of a gaming drought for a while mostly replaying old stuff so I'm looking to end it with an online FPS, at least for a while. I'm down to a couple, but mainly the big two, MW2 and TF2. Now, I know what you're thinking, versus thread, but while your opinion on the games is welcome, it's not my main question.

To get right to it, I've mostly played FPSs in single player and in internet cafes (in LAN), but never really online. Since I live in Serbia, before I go and blow my money on a game (especially should I choose MW2 as it's expensive as fuck), I'm wondering if you guys can tell me whether connections vary per region or if they're more or less the same.

If it's any indication, I played MMOs (previously Guild Wars, now WoW) and never had much trouble with lag, currently, in WoW, I'm usually below 100 ms. I'm not sure though if MMOs are somehow different with how their servers work or actually, how much of an impact 100ish ms is in an FPS, as they're a lot more 'twitchy' to say than MMOs.

If you can, an address to the server of the games would be helpful as well as I could trace it and see what the ping time would be for myself

Bonus questions:
- If anyone still plays Battlefield: Vietnam, is the game dead online or are there still games happening regularly? Can get this one cheap as dirt nowadays and it's one of, if not my favourite FPS so far (haven't played TF2 or MW2 in MP though so can't speak objectively, but just prefer Battlefield mechanics on the whole)

- Do you think (I know, no one knows yet) Black Ops would be worth waiting for to make the decision? Asking this mostly to combat the negative side of MW2 everyone complains about, being awful imbalance etc.

Feel free to state pros/cons of TF2, MW2, BF: Vietnam and any other good online FPSs btw if you like, never too much info to help a choice... but don't turn it into a versus thread with discussing A beats B, you suck for playing B and shit like that

Oh and cheers for any info/help in advance :>

 

[DazZ.]

I'll address your server question, but I don't want to get into what game is better (yet again) other than saying I much prefer TF2.

Servers in FPS games tend to work like like, the game gives you a list of servers, these servers will mostly be run by the players and you choose which server to connect to. It will list them by ping if you choose and as long as you don't live on Mars you will be able to find a server close to you with low ping. It's not just one server or a select few like in MMOs, there will be thousands. So you have no worries there.

100ms is the max I'd play on for an FPS, but it's very playable at that, but with so much choice there is no need to be playing higher.

MW2 doesn't work like this however, it runs off peoples computers in a P2P system, which sucks royally.

 

[Mr. Omega]

Personal recomendations: TF2 or Battlefeild Bad Comapny 2, but only if you have a group of friends who have the same game to play onine with. Or just wait for Black Ops, if you feel like waiting a little.

 

[voetballeeuw]

You could always try Combat Arms or War Rock. You download them online. They're both free to play.

 

[cameron1124]

IDK about Vietname but I DO know about TF2 and MW2. MW2 Nuetral: grittier scenery, more realistic looking people (dont beleive for a second that its realistic), Pros: pretty fun singlplayer, and pretty fun coop. Cons: Very short singleplayer with bad story, really unbalanced multi, horrible community, can only play coop with friends no matchmaking, very little diversity because of teh inbalanced multiplayer, and dlc

TF2 Nuetral: cartoonish, rather colorful graphics, tried to be funny at times (wether it is funny is up to the person) Cons: may be difficult to learn Pros: lots of variety, diffrent classes suit diffrent players wants, gives dlc for free(on computer), requires teamwork, IMO really fun.


also sorry i forgot to edit the pros

 

[Vrach]

Servers in FPS games tend to work like like, the game gives you a list of servers, these servers will mostly be run by the players and you choose which server to connect to. It will list them by ping if you choose and as long as you don't live on Mars you will be able to find a server close to you with low ping. It's not just one server or a select few like in MMOs, there will be thousands. So you have no worries there.

Aye, I know technically how they work, I've seen them, but just didn't play on them as we always played in LAN instead (cheaper, better connection, people within smacking range), but I haven't really been to internet cafes for real for ages (and they're sadly shit nowadays, mostly holding oldish games).

What I wasn't sure is where they were based, whether they (as you said for MW2) worked on a P2P network, one computer hosted it and info like that which massively impacts ping rates and seeing as I'm in a bit of a shoddy country, could easily end up with no servers close enough to join something playable.

Thinking of picking up TF2 for now, 15 euros is pretty cheap off Steam, I just wish I could try it (and the alternatives) somewhere first (sadly, don't think our internet cafes have it) just to get a feel for the gameplay and such (checked out videos, but it's a big difference between watching and playing a game when you want to see what it's like).

 

[DazZ.]

Aye, I know technically how they work

Ahh right, sorry then. Just you said ping the game servers and that really depends on servers in your location.
The Escapist's UK TF2 Server is 85.13.254.51:13013 if you want to ping that, very good choice if you do eventually pick up TF2.

[small]Escapist TF2 Group [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/The-Escapist-Team-Fortress-2-Group-PC] for you to join if you need help with anything TF2wise as well, we're very active. [/small]

 

[Nostalgia Ripoff]

Really? No one mentioned Counter-Strike? Now I'm really wondering why no one talks about it outside of news stories. Anyway, yeah. CS:S is great fun.

 

[Vrach]

Sorry, maybe I should've specified, PC gamer here, don't have consoles

Really? No one mentioned Counter-Strike? Now I'm really wondering why no one talks about it outside of news stories. Anyway, yeah. CS:S is great fun.

Aye, one of the legends, but I got bored of it a long time ago, only play it with mates in LAN (on shitty laptops yay!) these days

 

[impcnrd]

warsaw, open arena, alien arena, saubraten(spelled wrong), crossfire, google free online fps, cs, natural selection or sven coop

 

[Space Spoons]

I recommend Borderlands, though it's decidedly less PVP-oriented than other online shooters. It's more like if Left 4 Dead and Fallout had some kind of awesome mutant baby.

 

[Megacherv]

TF2, Killing Floor, CS:S is a bit fun if not full of noob-hating elitists.

[small]Escapist TF2 Group [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/The-Escapist-Team-Fortress-2-Group-PC] for you to join if you need help with anything TF2wise as well, we're very active. [/small]

Hehehe, you guys can't help plugging that group can you?

 

[Ninonybox_v1legacy]

halo reach comes out in a few hours.

 

[Vrach]

I should probably be a bit more specific before this turns into a "pitch an unknown online FPS" thread, I was mostly interested in the servers issue.

As for the specific games, am after something relatively mainstream (I know, I'm a shallow person, drown me) and more or less new as I'm slightly allergic to older graphics and especially gameplay.

And don't mean to be a jerk, any post is technically helpful, but if you mean it as a recommendation, I could do with at least a bit of info on something that makes it stand out and spark some interest over the top competitors (without going into "MW2 is a pile of wank" etc.). I'm not lazy to look for info myself, but if you shell out 10 games I never heard of without any info on something that makes it special, I'm hardly gonna be interested in the post :\

edit:

I recommend Borderlands, though it's decidedly less PVP-oriented than other online shooters. It's more like if Left 4 Dead and Fallout had some kind of awesome mutant baby.

Yeah, I tried Borderlands offline (yes I know, not the same), didn't really appeal too much outside the co-op aspect (which is really great, cause I love co-op to bits). It looked like it could be really fun with 3 friends, but my RL friends are sadly tossers unwilling to invest in a half decent gaming PC! :<

PS
Cheers DaZz for the group link and stuff, checked the ping, looks alrightish but would still have to play to see. Will see about the group if I get the game for sure, will probably need someone to poke about "what does Mouse1 do?" and such

 

[Signa]

Everything you've said Vrach is screaming TF2 to me. If for no other reason, what I hear about the MW2 community vs what I've experienced while playing TF2, I can tell you, you are going to have a far better time playing TF2. There have been only a handful of dickbags I've played with in TF2 over the last 3 years. I'm constantly hearing about people complaining here when some one is being a dickbag on MW2.