Does anyone remember the Zone?

[customerservice]

I've been talking to some professional programmers I know and we are interested in creating something like Microsofts Gaming Zone from a few years ago. Basically a way to support some older games like Jedi Outcast while still providing a community. Personally I liked the Zone, and I'm sure a few of you do too.

Any one interested? I'm just trying to see whats out there in terms of interest for a project like this.

[MooCowzRock]

Ah, those were good days, back when I used to play AoE...

It was a pretty good system, I'm surprised they dont still use something similar for most games.

[customerservice]

Yes we want to emulate that system. Sort of a community based matchmaking service. Like crossing gamespy arcade minus the ads and other issues it has, and X-fire.

[Duckels]

Remeber Heat.net

sega provided, they developed 10six. I miss it so much, they would host tournaments and random events, where you wuold win points, and purchase items with points. I got a Voodoo 2 card from them, back when it was a good card. Along with Everquest 1 + 1 year sub, countless t-shirts. And they had the sexiest quake 1 mod
Quake: Da Bomb, oh it was awesome!!!!

[SlOtH]

I remember spending countless hours playing AOE, Rainbow 6, and Mech Warrior with dialup on the zone. There were also a good amount of free games too I think. Damn that brings back memories.

[customerservice]

I remember spending countless hours playing AOE, Rainbow 6, and Mech Warrior with dialup on the zone. There were also a good amount of free games too I think. Damn that brings back memories.

So is it a system you'd use now? The lobby, zone messenger, and other types of features?

[JesusTheJedi]

Hellz yeah I remember The Zone. I spent an entire summer learning the finer points of Age of Empires. Then came Rainbow 6, but it was impossible to find a good game that was lag-free enough to play. I loved it anyways.

I don't know if I would use a similar service now. It would have to be sleak as a mother-fucker. I know I would never use Gamespy.

[SlOtH]

So is it a system you'd use now? The lobby, zone messenger, and other types of features?

Hell yes I would. Even better if it worked with xfire. Like invites and stuff.

[Duckels]

So is it a system you'd use now? The lobby, zone messenger, and other types of features?


It would have to very well implemented, and DO NOT go with the browser option like the zone, go with a standalone client like Mplayer or heat. Each game has its own chat lobby, and you choose your game from there. Second questions, would you be hosting the games on your servers? or the clients? at the cost of bandwidth these days, i am going to imagine the clients. If the ad revenue is enough, i'd suggest running random contests in games for small prizes.

If implemented correctly, it could be very popular.

[StarmanFinal]

http://www.gamepark.eu/en/

That site only works for age of empires, so it would be nice if someone made a zone clone rhyme lol for all the other games.

[OLIAX]

I used to love the zone talking to random people then challenging them to a game of midtown madness 2

[philcoolguy]

Haha woooow. I remember that I used to play Rainbow 6 hours on end on dialup and my 300mhz computer almost every day when I was like 12 on the zone. Before that I always played on mplayer.net or whatever it is, but that crashed down in flames so I just hung out on the zone all the time.

I remember how everyone used to hound the crap outta the people with cable modems since it was a lot rarer back then, and everyone wanted the host with 4 green bars. And everyone wanted one of the top games, too. Clans would always pop into one of the first 5 games or so and just squat in there until they felt like playing since the top slots were the first ones people saw when they logged on.

What memories...

[Da Vinci]

To all the AoE Aok'ers out there, I could set up a game if you wanted and you could all just come in V.I.A. IP adress :p

But beware...I own you noobs.

[customerservice]

I remember how everyone used to hound the crap outta the people with cable modems since it was a lot rarer back then, and everyone wanted the host with 4 green bars. And everyone wanted one of the top games, too. Clans would always pop into one of the first 5 games or so and just squat in there until they felt like playing since the top slots were the first ones people saw when they logged on.

What memories...

I remember that as well. I was a sysop back in the day, and people would always ask me to boot the people camping in room 1. Good times.

This service would probably support just jedi outcast and the old school jedi knight, and then expand as there was interest.

[ftbllplr]

I use to play Mech Warriors on it all the time.

[Liberator13]

Haha woooow. I remember that I used to play Rainbow 6 hours on end on dialup and my 300mhz computer almost every day when I was like 12 on the zone. Before that I always played on mplayer.net or whatever it is, but that crashed down in flames so I just hung out on the zone all the time.

I remember how everyone used to hound the crap outta the people with cable modems since it was a lot rarer back then, and everyone wanted the host with 4 green bars. And everyone wanted one of the top games, too. Clans would always pop into one of the first 5 games or so and just squat in there until they felt like playing since the top slots were the first ones people saw when they logged on.

What memories...

That's exactly how I remember it too. I miss the Zone.

[customerservice]

That's exactly how I remember it too. I miss the Zone.
is it a type of system you'd use again?

[Liberator13]

Sure, in-game shit blows anymore, and I hate GSA.

[NORNEVMX448]

I use to always play Motocross Madness 2 (MCM 2) on The Zone. I miss those days :(