To help SquidHQ spread convincing server owners is only half the work, most likely even less. The playerbase must like it / see the benefits of using it (the regular player gives a shit on server owners EULA trouble). So add some value for players like SquidHQ Cape Capes are rare and at least the Optifine Cape sells very well. Here's the Chance to get a really unique Cape for free. Come on, just download the launcher and as long as you use it, you have the Cape...only on servers that support SquidHQ and when you log in using SquidHQ of course. SquidHQ Tokens Some kind of a currency like the netherstars here on ECC, earned on a daily basis by logging in to a server that supports SquidHQ, maybe for the first login on every server that supports SquidHQ every day or...well, this has to be worked out but you get the idea? Those Tokens can then be used to buy cool (or whatever) stuff in the Servers SquidHQ Store. This whole thing would span around the whole SquidHQ Network then, since tokens are managed by SquidHQ while they can be spent on every server. Those rewards could change monthly and possibly be some sort of collector items, like custom designed Heads or something like that. Easy to make and addictive for the players, just an example of how it could look like: OK, this would require lot's of work in the end but the users are the key.
Another network (won't be mentioning the name as that is against server rules) is giving out rewards for using the SquidHQ launcher, such as a free $10 voucher for using it for the first time, and some benefits that are given every day. +1 to this suggestion.
Yes, great. First time the user get something really huge, this makes at least the Download and Installation of SquidHQ very interesting for players...and once they have it, it's just a mouseclick to use it. Other thing that came into my mind: SquidHQ Toplist/Serverlist I mean there are several Serverlist already why not one dedicated to SquidHQ? Of course, players can vote and receive rewards - like regular. This is another thing that makes it interesting for the players and everybody that surfs to SquidHQ.com can see how wide it already spread. ...If X servers and Y users already use this thing, why shouldn't I? This then leads to Recruiting Rewards OK, this is something that could easily be abused but if you give someone a reward for convincing someone else to Download and use SquidHQ...why not. Maybe both could get a reward in this case. Nearly every MMO offers recruiting rewards in some way this days. Currently it just shows how many people in total downloaded it or use it...that's just a anonymous mass...show people who surf to SquidHQ.com where they are.
I don't really see the point to this, because atm the only way to join the server is on the SquidHQ launcher. Everyone who's already online on the server is using it.
But SquidHQ is not just a ECC thing and if everything would be perfect atm the Requirement for SquidHD to even login to the server wouldn't have been removed. If you simply tell someone he has to use it now may easily result in a mess for a server owner so making it attractive to use for players is the best option. What would happen, if the voting rewards were removed in general (I mean on all servers)? Well, the voting sites could shut down their services after a few weeks, because nobody would vote or even take notice of them anymore - it's the same with the launcher: Give them something and they will do it without asking questions.
Would be a good way to get people to play though? Cause ive seen quite a few players decide to leave ECC because they cant play on the normal launcher. Doing everything we can to keep the member base on top of adding to it must be looked at with a lot of thought.... But i guess you dont see a point to the memberbase going done?... +1
A solution across every server that endorses Squid would require every server that endorses Squid (and every owner/admin/etc of those servers) to agree to those changes and implement them on their individual servers/networks. (and in my opinion at least, it simply makes the Squid project more bloated than it needs to be).
That's a good point, this is a serious problem. But I still think it would be very beneficial if even a fraction of this suggestion was implemented, so: can we find a solution? Maybe the reward doesn't have to come from servers. Random idea: let's see there's some minecraft related content such as, idk, the blueprint for a castle, or a youtube channel, you name it. It doesn't need to be only one thing. And let's say this content is not public. Then, if you download squid, all that content is unlocked for you. I know it's not much to be offered, it was just a poor example, but the idea is: can we offer something interesting which is server-independent?
Beating the Blacklist is definetly not a one man show. SquidHQ as it is currently is a solution you choose, once it's too late because you know you will get blacklisted. SquidHQ shouldn't be just an alternative launcher, because the regular launcher works just fine and it shouldn't be a only launcher that can bypass the blacklist because most Servers will follow the EULA (at least in the near future). Do you really want to tell your users they have to login with SquidHQ because you have a problem? Will you suggest them looking for for an alternate server if they refuse to? What do you think will most players do? SquidHQ should be a better launcher, desired by the players for whatever reasons, adding value to the use of it or features is just a idea, derived from a already widley used conecpt, that actually works (next idea: recruiting rewards - nearly every MMO offers them, it seems they profit from it). You have to get the players, the server owners will follow...that's btw the same thing Mojang does with it's blacklisting, they have the players...beat them with their own weapons.
