A few features I'd like to see

[Abstract: Two ideas, 1 for dedicated servers, 1 for version updates]

1) When Running a Dedicated server, could an icon be displayed, or a notification be placed somewhere on the dock/mini-taskbar? Right now, the program runs completely in the background, and this is mildly annoying to keep track of.

2) Could Bitfighter.exe and the Bitfighter Folder both come with version numbers so that users can distinguish between betas that they are testing, and the stable that they generally play on?

Bump-- does anyone think these ideas would be good to implement?

[bobdaduck]

Yes.

[karamazovapy]

1 - This is how dedicated servers used to work, but since the point of a dedicated server is to keep it up for extended periods of time, the taskbar icon was removed. It was viewed as a bit of a hassle as opposed to a convenience, since there's nothing you can actually *do* with a dedicated server once it's launched. The new version will have some client-side controls that will allow you to fiddle with a dedicated server that's already up using the admin password (restarting, shutting down, I think modifying passwords, etc). I don't know why there shouldn't be a command line option to display it, though...just trying to offer some insight into why it is the way it is.

2 - I believe the reason for consistency here is so that upgrades don't have to add new/remove old/change desktop icons and start menu items. If I remember correctly, you have the option of customizing the install path during the install process. While plain old "Bitfighter" works as a folder name for most folks, you have the option of naming yours "Bitfighter-013a6" or "Bitfighter New Beta July X" if you want. You could rename the executable to anything you wanted without harming anything, but like I said - I think the default naming is the way it is to streamline the update process - especially for people who don't generally fuss with path and file names.

TL;DR: 1 used to be true, but there's no reason it shouldn't be an option. 2 you can do really easily on your own; defaults are for the dumb kids.

[watusimoto]

As to #2, what I do is install the beta in a different folder (which you choose in the installer), and then manually create a shortcut on my start menu. The two versions live happily side-by-side.