This is a simple trick to use until Valve comes up with a better system. This will let you force the lobby system to choose one of our servers to play on.
This requires the console to be enabled. To do this, go to Keyboard/Mouse options and set "Allow Developer Console" to Enabled.
Starting the lobby:
1. Type sv_search_key theville in the console and press Enter (press ~ to open/close the console)
2. Create a lobby with Server Type set to Best Available Dedicated
3. Start the game as usual
The command will limit the automatic server search to TheVille servers. You can add this command to a config if you want. Hope this helps.
If you have any questions, post here.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:50 pm
by Guardian
Alright
wait stevo how do you turn it off and search for everyone again?
Re: [L4D] How to start a Ville lobby
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:16 pm
by Stevo
Can we get this stickied? It's still valid, and it's better than joining the group servers one at a time without having any options.
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:36 pm
by Rits
Very good information, thank you Stevo. !
Re: [L4D] How to start a Ville lobby
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:36 pm
by Stevo
Has anyone else used this successfully?
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:41 pm
by Rits
I've used it once. When not many people were on. Tried again when my friends list seemed to be full of everyone playing L4D and it said it couldn't find any dedicated servers and asked me if I wanted the game to be local. I said yes and only a 4-6 people max were able to connect the rest could not. I've had the same experience when trying to join other people's local servers.
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:14 am
by Guardian
I've used it once however I'm not using it again till you tell me how to turn it off since sometimes the ville servers are full (I also noticed they fill up with villiuns fast if you join them)
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:40 am
by Dog
Turn it on:
sv_search_key theville
Turn it off:
sv_search_key ""
Considering that all four of TheVille's L4D servers sat empty last night.....
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:50 am
by Guardian
Alright later tonight I'll test to see if I can get versus on the ville servers
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:00 am
by Thorn
is there anyway to add this to a cfg file so that it is automatic or do you have to use the console everytime?
Re: [L4D] How to start a Ville lobby
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:05 pm
by Stevo
I just added this to the startup parameters: +sv_search_key theville
To do that, go to My Games in Steam, right click Left 4 Dead, choose Properties, and click Set Launch Options.
Re: [L4D] How to start a Ville lobby
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:28 am
by Trinith
Works great! Last thursday I played with some friends on theville servers and had no issues. Thanks for hosting these btw
Re: [L4D] How to start a Ville lobby
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:45 pm
by Frylock420k
I have been using TheVille servers for all my L4D needs now. For some reason I haven't had one single problem on these servers, Which is great cuz other servers give me constant disconnects and changes game settings without notice. Everything here is working superb, thanks so much for the server to play on Frylock
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 7:00 pm
by Guardian
Indeed it is very useful. I use it whether I'm the leader.
Re: [L4D] How to start a Ville lobby
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:19 pm
by Jesus_Faction
i will try this next time i play l4d
i had heard there were issues with this cvar, though