Replays?

[pinkles 1]

Is it possible that you guys could/would turn on replays for select servers or all of them? I play on the Chicago 24/7 badwater server a LOT and really wish I could save replays as opposed to recording demos. I get some pretty insane runs as a spy and would love the ease of recording that previous life when I choose to, instead of saving demos and going through all that garbage just to make a video. I think many would agree that replays would be awesome. Thanks

[Bombz 31]

1. Have replays and get to create cool kid videos for youtube but lag horribly in the process, thus limiting the number of worthy replays you'll have.

2. Disable replays and play like a pro, but can't create cool kid videos.

CHOOSE.

[pinkles 1]

Cool kid videos? Got a little attitude eh? Drop the internet e-peen and make a worthwhile suggestion. Thanks.

[Bombz 31]

Cool kid videos? Got a little attitude eh? Drop the internet e-peen and make a worthwhile suggestion. Thanks.

1. Videos + Server Lag

2. No Videos + No Server Lag

CHOOSE.

[Nano 7,892]

That's not exactly correct bombz.

TF2 replays are captured by the server and then downloaded onto your computer after. This means absolutely NO lag and extreme quality. Here is an example of my own replay.

http://youtu.be/IQk44btktcY

As you can see it was captured in 720p by the server, without any lag. There is also a built in editor with basic functions such as slow mo, and first person/third person view by any user on the server. It will also upload the finished product directly to your youtube account.

The downside is that it doesn't record your text, voice, or HUD yet. Also I believe it takes away one slot for actual players of the server.

I would love to see replays added to Lotus servers, but I'm also just as sure that Mana has a good reason for not having it. In the meantime pinkles, I'd suggest you use the tried and true fraps to capture your awesome runs. You'll need to upgrade/acquire in another manner the Pro version to be able to record for a long time. Be warned however that unless you have a high end system, this will video lag you and the quality will be comparitively low.

Another, even better tool, would be Camtasia Studio. It includes a video editor and the 30 day trial gives unlimited functionality. You can uninstall and reinstall every 30 days to keep it going indefinitely if you can't afford it. Camtasia has better quality and usability than fraps.

Edited December 19, 2011 by TheProLoser

[Bombz 31]

That's not exactly correct bombz.

TF2 replays are captured by the server and then downloaded onto your computer after. This means absolutely NO lag and extreme quality. Here is an example of my own replay.

http://youtu.be/IQk44btktcY

As you can see it was captured in 720p by the server, without any lag. There is also a built in editor with basic functions such as slow mo, and first person/third person view by any user on the server. It will also upload the finished product directly to your youtube account.

The downside is that it doesn't record your text, voice, or HUD yet. Also I believe it takes away one slot for actual players of the server.

I would love to see replays added to Lotus servers, but I'm also just as sure that Mana has a good reason for not having it. In the meantime pinkles, I'd suggest you use the tried and true fraps to capture your awesome runs. You'll need to upgrade/acquire in another manner the Pro version to be able to record for a long time. Be warned however that unless you have a high end system, this will video lag you and the quality will be comparitively low.

Another, even better tool, would be Camtasia Studio. It includes a video editor and the 30 day trial gives unlimited functionality. You can uninstall and reinstall every 30 days to keep it going indefinitely if you can't afford it. Camtasia has better quality and usability than fraps.

I know..

Lag..

[Nano 7,892]

Maybe. There was a bug in the FTP offloading code for Linux servers. But it was fixed a while ago (but probably after Mana made the decision to not lag Lotus servers which if I remember right are Linux. Previously, the uploading was supposed to take place on separate threads, but for some reason was happening on the main thread. The workaround was to set up a separate http server, but still not an ideal solution.

That should be a moot point however because the bug was fixed a while ago, so if Mana is so inclined, it may be worth re-examining the impact (if any) it would have on his servers to run the replay plugin.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1875130

Edited December 20, 2011 by TheProLoser

[Bombz 31]

I believe he tried to enable it again after the fix and it still lagged.

[Nano 7,892]

Gotcha, thanks for the info!

[Mana 3,867]

I will try once again someday.. and if the results are good we'll have it deployed across most (if not all servers).

I'm not making any promises on when/if this will happen though.

Replay still causes servers to freeze when there's a lot of files, and there will be a lot of files because automatic clean up does not always work.

Also there are cases where replay will fail and crash the server.

And I'm not even talking about FTP offloading, I consider that feature beyond help and it's unlikely I will ever try it again. Someone else can bug test that crap.

[Awptimus Prime 297]

lol i asked this last time. but its tough.

just use fraps and if u wanna commentate on it, use audacity, then find a video editing software like i.e Adobe Premiere Pro.

and u got yourself a 720p or 1080p video for youtube.

[Nano 7,892]

I found out you can also just type "record" in the console. You can convert it from the .dem file.

[Harlequin 2,975]

I found out you can also just type "record" in the console. You can convert it from the .dem file.

true, but then you are not able to select different view angles / spots like in the edit-replay funktion.

[Nano 7,892]

Yes, it's a poor substitute for sure, but at least it lets you capture what you are doing without lag and with the HUD!

[Barbaro 466]

I don't think there'll be one surefire method without lag.

[ComicOzzy 0]

OK so I have a problem with the replays being turned off. I used to like to play on LotusClan tf2 servers.....but lately they have ALL been plagued by spawn campers. Just a bit ago I was playing and the other team had ALL 3 exit routes from or spawn totally blocked as well as an engineer nest in our sewer (2fort). Now the problem lies with the fact that without proof.....a replay IS suggested by lotus....hmmmm lets try that.....oops replays are disabled on this server! The above mentioned case involved 2 heavy/medic combos in main spawn area, pyro and soldier on the other "small spawn", demomen (at least 2) under the small spawn drop hatch as well as multiple scouts and spies swarming the entire courtyard area. Without replays how can we prove this is happening? This happens all the time on servers with no replay option (not just yours by the way). Spawn camping is an instant and permanent ban on most of the servers I play on if an admin is present, even including "premium" servers such as those ran by Nighteam. As of the moment I have not yet blacklisted lotus but I will not be playing if sent to a lotus server. PLEASE ENABLE REPLAYS!

[Nano 7,892]

you can manually make a demo by opening console and typing:

Type "record banrequest_name" in console

Type "status" in console

Type "stop" in console to stop recording

Demos are placed in C:\program files\steam\steamapps\account name\team fortress 2\tf and labeled as a DEM File with the "banrequest_name" as the file name

You can also use SEADS to automatically do all your demos for you with the press of a key (very easy and useful).

http://code.google.com/p/seads/

Spawncamping is allowed because there are many ways to stop it in TF2. It isn't true spawncamping because you are safe until you open the door. For instance, just go spy and come out behind them, demo sticky them, snipe them as door opens, etc, etc.

[Barbaro 466]

If I need to report someone, where is a safe place to upload the demo? I've never done this before in TF2.

[Nano 7,892]

If I need to report someone, where is a safe place to upload the demo? I've never done this before in TF2.

We have a sticky dedicated to this whole subject:

http://forums.gamingterritory.com/index.php?showtopic=3976

[Tappy 8]

I will try once again someday.. and if the results are good we'll have it deployed across most (if not all servers).

I'm not making any promises on when/if this will happen though.

Replay still causes servers to freeze when there's a lot of files, and there will be a lot of files because automatic clean up does not always work.

Also there are cases where replay will fail and crash the server.

And I'm not even talking about FTP offloading, I consider that feature beyond help and it's unlikely I will ever try it again. Someone else can bug test that crap.

Never had a problem with FTP offloading, though it depends how many servers you're running on the physical server, how many users overall and how many replays are going on.

[Mana 3,867]

Never had a problem with FTP offloading, though it depends how many servers you're running on the physical server, how many users overall and how many replays are going on.

FTP server stalls, gets full, something else and we end up having massive crashes. Not fun.

[pinkles 1]

Sorry for the bump/late response. I've recently noticed that at least ONE of the louts servers now has replays. It's the 2fort server, unfortunately, but hopefully you guys will see that replays do not lag any more than some of the useless plugins on the servers I've been on. Whoever it was that was making smart ass remarks about the servers lagging failed to notice some of the things on the server that I noticed would cause more lag and fps drops than something VALVE implemented. For instance, when I kill someone and they explode into a thousand gibs. My fps drops to 20 at most. On server with replays and me recording replays....no fps loss. That's weird huh? Useless plugin/cosmetic stuff=lags server/my computer. Useful tool implemented by the creators of the game=does not lag server/my computer. Wow. Sorry for the attitude, but that one guy who responded with his arrogant remarks deserves a slap in the face.

With that said, I expect I'll see replays on the lotus 24/7 badwater chicago server within no time

[Kerberos 3,170]

Why did you bump 2 threads with identical replies?

To be heard, you're better of making your own thread and referencing these threads in it. Necrophilia is illegal, after all.

[Mana 3,867]

There's 4 servers with replays. This won't be changing ever unless valve fixes the issues with replays.

It's not worth having random server freezes or crashes due to the way valve has implemented replays.

FTP offloading is even worse when it comes to freezes and crashes, so running replays and having a local webserver leaves a bunch of servers open to another attack vector through the webserver.