Wall of text coming up.
We need to discuss exactly how the timing of this should work. Do we synchronise our clocks somehow, or should we use a universal clock website? I mean so that our pressing of "NEW GAME" is synchronised.
This has crossed my mind too. I think we should all synchronise our clocks, to the second, and then start when it reaches exactly some o'clock. This is also relevant for the next points:
Related again to timing. I'm unclear on whether this is being done in sessions or as a marathon. By which I mean, do we play for say 6 hours straight then all stop at the same time? Or do we fire on for as long as we can?
Taking breaks - I'm pretty sure if we're taking breaks they're of our own accord and therefore detrimental to our playthrough. I'm just not clear on whether this is the case if the above is true. Synchronised breaks?
I think we should agree to do it in fixed-length sessions, with pre-arranged breaks. On the first day, for example, we could do 2 hours of playing, then have a 15 minute break, then have another two hours of playing before a half hour break, and finally another two hours of playing. We'd get six hours of the game done in total. After that we would judge our progress and decide whether we need to play for longer on the second day (which would be Saturday, so I'm assuming we'd have more free time). On the third day, we'd just play to the end. When it comes time for a break, we should be able to just open pSX's menu, which will pause the game in real time, no matter what part of the game we've reached.
Alternatively, we could set up checkpoints for the end of each day. Let's say the first day's checkpoint is getting the buggy, the second day's checkpoint is after the lifestream sequence, and the third day's checkpoint is the end of the game. I've just guessed those to try and divide it into thirds. When the first player reaches a checkpoint, they save the game and then say something in IRC. When the trailing players reach the same place, they also talk in IRC so that everyone there can see the timestamp difference between them. The next day, the leading player would get a head start equal to the lead they had at the end of the previous day.
I wouldn't be against splitting it up into four days (probably Thursday through Sunday) if we feel like it would be more manageable. Even though it should be possible to complete it in 18 hours, as you say, I would hate for someone, even the person in last place, to get prevented from completing the game due to running out of time. I mentioned that we can be flexible on deciding how long we want to play for after we have been through the first day, but as a guideline, I think we should allow at least 20 hours, if not more.
Progress updates. While I'm sure people will tune in to each of our streams from time to time Flint and I agreed that it would be stupid to have each other's playthrough streams open in another window. How should progress updates be delivered and by whom? Maybe some people want to volunteer to keep an eye on it and post updates in the thread every 2 hours or so?
Commentary/ Chat. Flint mentioned he'd be posting in IRC during FMV's and such. I'll make an effort to do the same. Commentary is another beast though - it's easy enough to set your microphone up with XSplit if you so wish. I'm not entirely sure this is something I want to do because it might be a bit distracting while trying to run around
. XSplit also has a Skype function, but I'm not at all clear on how it works. I realise the person playing wouldn't be talking constantly - it needs discussion.
IRC is going to be the place to follow this. As I mentioned, I'll set up a page with our embedded streams and the pre-existing chat applet, so they are all available in one place. I've been playing with the idea of Skype commentary but I think it would get too complicated. Instead, I'd like for us, the players, to make ourselves available on IRC during our breaks (after we've eaten and taken care of other urgent business, of course) to answer questions. Posting during FMVs might not always be possible. I'd like it if there was some kind of IRC "host" - someone with a fast internet connection and a good knowledge of the game - who could explain what is going on to new people in the chat room, answer the obvious questions and make a note of the less obvious ones to ask us when we have our breaks. They could also post updates on the forum, as you suggested, every now and again. They could also act as the umpire in case of any disputes. Any volunteers?
What time are we starting at on the Friday? What time are we playing until on the Friday? Until the rules are laid out, I can't make any suggestions. A slow person can probably make it through the game in sub 20 hours if they skip the sidequests.
Time Zones need to be considered, as obviously the arrangement to meet on Skype failed! Hahaha. I am GMT, Flint is GMT+2... Zealkin - I don't have a clue where you live. If you're in the USA/Canada, you're between 5-8 hours behind me, and 7-10 hours behind Flint. Meaning you'd have to start in the morning and we'd have to start in the afternoon.
I still have no idea. I'd like to do it so that I can go to bed at a reasonable time, but it all depends on Zealkin really, and whether she has any commitments for Friday, for example. I wouldn't mind making the weekday sessions late ones so long as the weekend sessions can take place a bit earlier.
I'm sooo sorrry! I had to go to fencing tonight! And I got the time wrong. I was originally right then, since you posted about 4 hours ago I would have had to be on at my time zone at around 5 30 >.>
Is it possible you guys can skype tomorrow, if you still need too? Oh and is it okay if my brother joins too?
If you're on the east coast, Zealkin, the arranged time would have been 17:00 for you
I can't Skype tonight because I'm going away for the weekend, but next week would be fine. Or we can continue to discuss things in this thread instead. What are your thoughts on what Lex and I have written above? Most importantly, what dates and times would be good for you?
I don't see why your brother couldn't join us, providing he can also set up and stream his game as described above. He should sign up on TLS first though!
