What is IRC?
In the simplest of terms, IRC is a network of chatrooms where each individual chatroom is called a channel. Channels are hosted on servers, and each server maintains its own network of channels. Using an IRC client, you can connect to a server and join the channels on that server. By doing so, you’ll be able to chat with other users who have connected to the same channels on those same servers.
MakeUseOf
Being used for more than 20+ years, IRC is still an effective way to communicate across the Internet. IRC has been very useful to allow multiple users to communicate using text. Today IRC is still being used by many people to contact others across the world. The most common way to connect to IRC is by using an IRC client. No matter if you're on Windows, Mac, Linux, or even your phone you can still be connected to IRC.
The most common IRC clients out there today are:
XChat (Free on Linux) (30 day trial for Windows)
XChat-WDK / HexChat (Windows)
mIRC (30 day trial)
LimeChat (Mac OS X)
ChatZilla (Addon for Firefox)
Quassel
IRCCloud
See your phones application center for an IRC client.
AndChat (Android)
AndroIRC (Android)
LimeChat (iPhone)
IRCCloud (iPhone) (Android)
In many cases you can connect to an IRC network using a browser.
Downloading/Installing is fairly simple on the OS of your choice.
Common IRC Networks
QuakeNet
QuakeNet is a large IRC (Internet Relay Chat) network. People from all over the world connect to QuakeNet to communicate, organise and hang out and you can use any common IRC client to join in or use our web chat application to join directly from your browser.
freenode
About the Network
You've reached freenode, an IRC network providing discussion facilities for the Free and Open Source Software communities, not-for-profit organizations, and related communities. In 1998, the network had about 200 users and less than 20 channels. Fifteen years later, the network peaks at over 80,000 users. freenode provides facilities to a variety of groups and organizations.
freenode is run entirely by volunteers hailing from the wider FOSS communities which we serve. Our combined network staff and development base is made up of around 40 dedicated men and women. We can all be found in #freenode on the network. Staff are all voiced and happy to help, or just have a chat with you about what we do and why we do it!
These two Networks offer the ability to create personal user accounts which would allow you to have more access to that networks features.
Read more on QuakeNet / freenode
Open Arena
There are many Open Arena channels that are still open.
For example:
QuakeNet
#openarena
#openarenahelp (also included openarenahelp.com) (currently down)
#Zimmer106
#OAsuperbots
#teammega
freenode
#rainbow
#purpledf
There was once a time I remember AnyNet had the offical Open Arena channel #openarena
The #openarenahelp channel on QuakeNet was created for players who wanted assistance, much like coming to the forum asking questions. One point in time having in game statistics being tracked for our own entertainment with live updates by command, also a live glossary for quake3/openarena cvars, and even server help. Basically sharing useful information and in game tips/help you are in search of.
There are many more available associated with Open Arena that you could get from the others connected.
(There should be a list somewhere on my computer, and maybe even the Wikia contains more information.) (Gig)
If you guys were to join any of the IRC channels without getting a response from someone, theres a great chance they're idling, or just away at the moment or even sleep. Sticking around for a few in channels someone would be more likely to communicate with you. Your IRC client can easily run in the background of your computer/phone, so its rather easy to stick around. Remember IRC connects people from all around the world, our timezones are very different.
I'm encouraging all on the forum to chime in. This could be much easier for the Open Arena team (fromhell ?) to communicate on current/future projects.
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