Replacing Elements Chat

[kev]

Nearly everyone I've spoken to seems to agree that the number one "feature" in a chat client should be reliability.  Number two should probably be control and number three should be other features and options.  Our current chat client doesn't meet the first requirement.

There's a plethora of examples.  This week chat failed exactly as TOs were copying names and I consequently missed the first tourney time for which I was available for over a month.  Same thing happened to GG last week and me several months ago.  Yesterday (and frequently) the main chat fails and temporarily forces players to use a tourney chat.  One Global Mod's tagline has become "Cursed chat engine."

This just isn't acceptable.  A chat client we have 100% control over is definitely desirable, but the inconsistencies I describe above supersede that.   These problems negatively impact the game itself, making it look like unpolished amateur work (despite the fact zanz has nothing to do with chat).  Reliability needs to be number one.

Chat offered to sign a petition if I started one, but that really wouldn't solve anything.  Admins and mods are already aware of the deficiencies.  What we need isn't a discussion of why we're unhappy.  We need a viable alternative.  If anyone has an idea that would meet the three criteria above, the community would be grateful.

[ZephyrPhantom]

I would recommend http://tinychat.com/ as a possible alternative.

Advantages

• Mods can easily be assigned there. ( The inital creator of the room is also a mod - a TO should create the room so that the TO's can assign each other as mods when needed.)
• Has various colors that can be changed with a single command - no color causes eye damage.
• Compatible with Twitter and Facebook.
• Webcams are usuable.
• Doesn't crash very often - very reliable in this sense.
• Coding does not allow the same message to be posted twice in a row (prevents spam).

Disadvantages

• Sort of plain.
• No smileys (which is also sort of an advantage as it prevents spam.)

[Nepycros]

Disadvantages to tinychat (continued)
Chat is simply too tiny for more than 10 people at once. Chat history is provided for individuals, but refreshing causes the history to be wiped.
A slight mistake in address results in the person unknowingly using an unused chatbox.

[Glitch]

A lot of forums use an in-forum shout box.  It's a tiny applet that sits at the bottom of the page where you can talk.  Smileys can be custom added, moderators of the forum can also moderate the chat, the chat will only go down if the forum goes down too.

You can even set post-number restrictions on the chat.

Cons: 
No history
Really hard to work when a lot of people are on.
Only one room means no tournament rooms.

[Shantu]

Really, IRC would be the best. However, as far as I know, we are keeping the current chat because of the ads it has - which IRC does not have. It could work probably, if someone from the community made an IRC application site (whatever you call it, like Mibbit.com) with space for ads on the sides and the top.. but there must be an easier alternative.

[jumpoffduck]

Really, IRC would be the best. However, as far as I know, we are keeping the current chat because of the ads it has - which IRC does not have. It could work probably, if someone from the community made an IRC application site (whatever you call it, like Mibbit.com) with space for ads on the sides and the top.. but there must be an easier alternative.

Seconded. IRC, since it most likely be served from a public server (Freenode, Quakenet, etc.) would have very reliable uptime. It doesn't have the UI problems that tinychat has, since it can be accessed from an online service or from your own IRC client, and it can decrease window clutter for those who already use standalone IRC. The moderation features are well-developed, and new chat rooms (e.g. one for each team in War) could be easily created.

[Jaxly]

Chat has just disconnected me three times and now will not let me access it
This is a bump and a vote of approval.

[willng3]

http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,23632.0.html (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,23632.0.html)

[Scaredgirl]

Here is some new information: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,23632.0.html

Ninja'd.