I'm having a hard time deciding to do the live chat.
For one, I only have about an hour-n-1/2 every morning to test/play games and don't want to be distracted by chat rooms. Then when I'm at work, I can't install a chat client because I'm not supposed to since its not work related.

If it was a web-based chat with not installation necessary, I would probably use it.

Look, it's no problem if you can't be in there all of the time.

But I'd suggest that you install the client anyhow; just in case you run into something that requires real-time support, so you have a place to go to do that. It also might be a good venue in case we need to have a partners' meeting. Sometimes our email threads can be tedious.

Yeah, I see that as important, but I will probably ask them to post in the forum. That way people can read our solutions for years to come...
I really like the longevity of forums. chat rooms are more for quick meaningless... well... chatting.

I get it, it's not for everyone. But don't sell its capabilities short.

I think you're underestimating what you are able to accomplish in IRC. It can be much more than meaningless chatting.

- There is something that you can do in a chat channel that you can't in a forum. That is real-time support. If a guy is having a specific problem on a live machine, and he's looking for a way out NOW, this is it.

-You can transfer files peer-to-peer via DCC. That patch that the guy wants to fix his game or mod it? That quick script you kludge for him to get something working? No need for you to tell him to go elsewhere to get it. You have it, and you DCC it to him.

I know it's apples and oranges compared to our situation, but #gentoo, for example, has upwards of 1000 users logged in at any given time. #debian often has 1500+. #ubuntu and all of its variants? Probably 3-4000 at any given time. There could be a dozen different support conversations going on at the same time, and normally, everybody leaves happy.

The big channels have rules, too. There isn't any idle chatter allowed. Mods keep the discussions moving, and keep everyone on-topic. It's all business. Most of the time, there is a #xyx channel for the serious business, and a #xyx-chat channel in case people want to 'just chat'.

As we speak, there are 220 game-related channels on Freenode, and another 20-25 on OFTC. Some of them are related to specific games. Others are related to specific genres, etc.

It is a different culture completely from the forum culture. And that is precisely why it is useful, although a large number of Internet users don't even know it exists. I go way back with IRC; in the early 90's, when IRC was still new, I was a regular participant in rec.gambling.poker on Usenet. We had a loooong discussion of the possibility of an free IRC poker server. I think it was Todd Mummert and Greg Reynolds who actually coded the thing, and it became very popular. We even had a few WSOP champions that played regularly, and many other really good players there.

That's all gone now, with the age of real money gambling sites. But folks discovered other uses for IRC in the meantime.

Very good points! I almost wish there was a remote client built-in as well.
Is there a way to save the chat if I helped someone (or was helped) and it was a significant victory?

Your client can log the channel and the parameters for that are most likely adjustable, check in the settings area someplace.

I see you made it in there earlier, I was out at the time but I'm glad you were successful. We'll meet sometime.

Yup, you convinced me to check it out, but haven't convinced me to commit to the cause
I noticed there wasn't any kind of notification that someone replied. How do you chat and work in another window/desktop at the same time?

I believe your tray icon should blink if there is unread activity in the channel. It always did for me in Xchat and it does in hexchat as well.

You can also open a user-to-user window. Right click on a username in the right-hand panel, and open a private messaging window. You can click on it in the left hand panel and detach it, and size it to place anywhere you want, so you can keep an eye on it. It will only contain the direct conversation, and will not display any of the channel operating messages like arrivals and departures.

There is also a sound configuration, if you want the client to notify you via a sound ping.

What you sound like you need is multiple desktops, though. Try a tiling WM like me?

Nice, I'll check out those features as well.
I'm using multiple desktops, but would love to hear a sound like Google chat does.
Otherwise I'm Ctrl+Alt+arrow-keys all the time checking to see if someone responded.

So much pressure!

I saw the icon, but didn't notice it at first. I'll try to keep an eye on it.

I'm trying Xchat on my ChrUbuntu chromebook, but it won't find the server.
It won't let me use /join
but instead recommends /server
I have tried typing gamersonlinux and #gamersonlinux but still can't find it.

I think my work firewall is blocking ports

You need port 6667 open. That is the standard port the protocol wants to use.

/server connects to the IRC server/network, but not to the channel. That is what /join is for.

First, type /server irc.oftc.net to connect to the server, then after connection is complete, /join #gamersonlinux to join the channel.

You can set the options to do both of these steps automatically every time you start the client as well, and/or connect to any other channels you wish. My setup connects to three IRC networks and about 20 different channels every time it fires up.

I installed hexchat in ChrUbuntu and same problem. My boss probably hasport 6667 blocked for security. so guess I won't be chatting from home.

This is another reason why a shoutbox would be helpful.
Not to mention encourage gamers to sign up because only members can chat on the shoutbox

I have no idea. I never really used it because my work has blocked it on the firewall.

The IRC channel is always open; I keep it that way. Unfortunately, it doesn't get the traffic I wish it would. I think it's a great way to talk to the folks here in real time. Maybe we can give it a kick start.

It's at #gamersonlinux on OFTC: you need an IRC chat client to visit it, like Xchat or hexchat on Linux, or mIRC on windows. Sketchy instructions are in the OP.

@Brian: I can't imagine that your firewall has blocked port 6667. That would be overly tedious, since there really aren't any threat vectors there. Looking back at your posts in this thread, I think that perhaps you haven't properly logged onto the the server before you attempted to /join the channel.

I see you got there; I'm on the other side of the world, though, so I was most likely sleeping.