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Ingame Command: /Browser
drazzah
Member UncommonPosts: 437
This is a long shot... but ill try.
Reason for me starting this thread is for hopefully ANYONE from ANET to read this, then give this idea to someone else, then that person gives it to someone else, and hopefully ending up on a Devs lap and them putting it ingame.
/browser command, in game.
EQ2 does it, all you do is type /browser in chat, and there you go. Internet brower.... in game. Crazy right?
No more alt-tabbing to read up builds, specs, strats, maps, guides, tutorials, videos, pr0n, monster locations, item prices, quests, etc etc.
I know this implementation could not be hard at all, I study computer programming & info systems at college and even I could think of some pretty basic commands to have "/browser" open up ones designated default internet browser. Of course it might be harder to put into a game but if EQ2 could do it many years ago, then ANET devs surely can.
Anyone else think this is a great idea?
Comments
God I hope... not.
There is no reason to make a built-in browser to the game. Just stick to Alt+Tabbing, if you cant handle it then dont play games.
I have my old non-widescreen display as a second display, where I have browser open while playing, music players, messengers etc. I think your idea is good, but if you can afford a new display I really recommend on using 2 displays, you cant go back to only using one after that, I promise.
1. The fact that you have to minimize game, open browser, search, close/leave browser, then maximize game is so much more time consuming then typing "/browser". (personally)
2. Alt-Tab in a heavily populated area may cause black screen of death when you try to alt-tab back in (seent it!) or cause to wait very long for it to load.
3. Alt-Tab out of game, then when you get back you are dead. Seen this happen countless times
4. Alt-Tab feature does not work for some games.
5. Alt-Tab feature does not work CORRECTLY for some games. Half the time it throws you into windowed mode.
6. Referring to example 1, Some peoples computers are not up to par and may to slow to even alt-tab effeciently
7. Sometimes its nice if you are searching something online, say a quest guide or location of something on the map, to be able to see it in-game simultaneously as you play.
8. If you have multiple programs running, when you alt-tab it might throw you to another program and cause even more time consumption.
Im sure there are more i will think of to why i think they should implement a /browser command.
I actually use eyefinity with 3 24'' Monitors, but usually only use my middle monitor to play, while i have things like you said running on my other 2, but im also not just throwing this idea out for my self. Im sure of it that many other players who can only use one monitor would love this idea and theres no reason to NOT have it.
This. I cant imagine to go back to just single display. On your main display you run game in windowed mode and than you can smoothly move between screens without alt-tabbing.
I agree it's a good idea for sure, majority propably runs on 1 display only and there's really no downside to this, propably wouldnt even take long to develope/integrate to the game(s).
I dont really want to hear this sort of comment from someone who is already using more than 2 screens.
I dealt with alt tabbing for 5 years before getting my second screen, I still alt tab but far, far less often. No reason to.
Besides the fact that this is the first time I ever read about someone wanting browser to game proves the fact that MOST people simply dont care.
Yes, I'm extremely pessimist towards ingame browsers. Mostly because they are a great source for game hacks and the rest of the crap that will come through to your computer through this said loophole.
Uhm, not me...
Alt+Tab beats "/browser", no contest.
Waiting for Guild Wars 2, and maybe SWTOR until that time...
use overwolf if you really want it
I usually play all of my games in windowed mode. /shrug
Alt+tab for me!
You can use Xfire or Steam if you want a web browser in your games.
Actually you are looking at this way to in depth. The "/browser" command would simply open up your default browser ingame. It wouldnt technically "attach" it to the game, it would just open up as a window inside the game. EQ2 has been doing it for years and not one hack as risen from it.
Also, the reason isnt because people simply dont care, its the fact that people dont think of the idea and are already so prone to just alt-tab.
This idea really has no down side what so ever so i say, why not have it?
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Also to everyone who plays in windowed mode, i dont know if you actually enjoy windowed mode (idk why) or because you do it just to alt-tab. Ingame browser could easily solve this
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Wasnt even aware of OVERWOLF... it looks very good actually. If it works as good as it looks then that solves the problem.
But must i say, the only reason OVERWOLF exists is because there are no games that use the /browser command because they simply dont think of it.
I think it's a waste of time.... But hey thats my opinion.
Humanity is getting lazier and lazier.
Considering that everything we ever do is a waste of time IS a matter of fact a waste of time. Then i say why not and just waste the time to do it? lol
Even if they do see it, they're still working on finishing those core systems of the game, which they echoed a lot at gamescom.
Even more important systems have been hinted to not make it into the game at launch like observation mode for PvP.
It does sound like an interesting design, but not a very important one.
Oh of course, its not important in the least. I just think if the idea where to rise in front of an ANET Dev, they would actually consider to implement such an easy design that many people could actually have use of.
1) If you want a dev to have a chance at reading your idea, you should probably post on guildwars2guru.com instead.
2) Get a 2nd monitor for $30, and alt-tabbing becomes 100x superior to in-game browsers. (Playing in windowed-mode helps.)
Already stated that i run 3 monitors.
And thanks for the tip on guildwars2guru.com
I support the idea. But post this on gw2guru instead. Anet is quite active there.
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My Guild Wars titles
I remember using an in game browser before (I think eq1) and it seemed inferior to my regular browser. I ended up just alt tabbing. Did eq2 do a better job of it?
I agree with OP. No matter how you slice it it's just good programming and design. Making things simple and easy for the end user is the way it's supposed to be done.
My theme song.
Sure would be neat, but ingame browers tend to be full with bugs and slow etc..
As long as the alt tabbing goes fast I dont mind not having this feature.
Help and Tutorials
Support and Petition System
Accessing to official site news, announcements, story content, etc
Forums
Marketplace
Player-made guides, databases, character planners, etc
From a player standpoint, many of these features are useful ingame because Alt-Tabbing either in Fullscreen or windowed can be a real bother with caching, redrawing and other drive thrashing silliness. And, while the purists will turn their nose up at this next point, some players enjoy looking up their next quest or searching recipes for crafting or even simply seeing what talents/skills they can work toward next.
Froma developer standpoint, I'd say the more access the players have to information they want, the better. Also, it moves certain community and support content (news, announcements peititons, etc) into an area that is often independent of builds and database administration. This makes for a more dynamic system to support and inform the playerbase inside of the gamespace. Fallen Earth, EVE Online and several other MMOs have ingame browsers that are universally enjoyed by the playerbase.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Biggest problem with alt tabbing, it hogs resources to run things in the background. When doing wvwvw pvp i want and prolly need all the performance i can get""...................
Solution for GW2, an ingame interface that lets you start and stop background apps, apps like your mediaplayer, browser, voip, MSN, ventrilo and anything else you would ever need during a game. "...........
I think it will not even take a single day programmin this.
Best MMO experiences : EQ(PvE), DAoC(PvP), WoW(total package) LOTRO (worldfeel) GW2 (Artstyle and animations and worlddesign) SWTOR (Story immersion) TSW (story) ESO (character advancement)