Poplock limits?

[Artimus]

I hear thousands but does anyone know the true number it's going to be?

[HellsPanda]

No upper limit has really been said, but 2000ish is the guess

[Sledgecrushr]

Four years ago a wow server could handle about 2500 people. I dont know what servers are capable of doing today.

[Shogun]

a wow server is no comparison.... wow doesn´t rely on ping. you know, planetside is a shooter.

but 2000 has been mentioned as the target the devs are aiming at.

[basti]

The target is indeed 2000, means 666 vs 666 vs 666

But, target doesnt mean that this will be the case in the end. Pops may end up being lower, if the game cant handle 2000.
Wait and see. But im pretty sure we wont go above 2k ever. ;)

[Lorgarn]

I guess late beta phases will have a part in determine the exact numbers. Right now your guess is as good as mine.

[bjorntju1]

666 vs 666 vs 666 was mentioned in the PC gamer acticle I think.

[ArmedZealot]

Is this a continent lock or a server lock figure? 2000 per cont or 2000 per server?

[Sledgecrushr]

What I would like to see is auraxis being comprised of three servers one for each continent. That way you could have I guess up to 6000 people playing in one game world at any one time.

[Goku]

What I would like to see is auraxis being comprised of three servers one for each continent. That way you could have I guess up to 6000 people playing in one game world at any one time.

Besides potential performance issues with that many people, it would be far too many people for the map when it was designed to hold that many.

[Sledgecrushr]

Besides potential performance issues with that many people, it would be far too many people for the map when it was designed to hold that many.

So in your opinion the entire game world is only designed to have a total of 666 people from one faction. And since there will always be fighting on all three continents because of the footholds so each continent will only support 222 people from one faction. And since you can go and take and hold any one of these hexes the map is comprised of I can see the population saturation is going to be very thin across the continents.

[basti]

Is this a continent lock or a server lock figure? 2000 per cont or 2000 per server?

Per continent.

means, given 3 continents at launch, 6000 people per server at the same time.

[Sledgecrushr]

At only 222 people per faction across one continent that would put an average of about six people per game hex. Now thats an average across an entire continent. Seems kinda low to me.

[basti]

At only 222 people per faction across one continent that would put an average of about six people per game hex. Now thats an average across an entire continent. Seems kinda low to me.

Questions:

1. Why do you come up with random numbers (222? WUT?)
2. Why do you make pointless math? (spread across the whole continent, equally per hex, without saying how much hexes you assume?)

[Sledgecrushr]

Questions:

1. Why do you come up with random numbers (222? WUT?)
2. Why do you make pointless math? (spread across the whole continent, equally per hex, without saying how much hexes you assume?)

Well my math might be a bit fuzzy, i did a quick hex count from the gdc footage. Then I figured a max pop of 666 per faction per game world. This aint rocket science brainiac.

[Xyntech]

Questions:

1. Why do you come up with random numbers (222? WUT?)
2. Why do you make pointless math? (spread across the whole continent, equally per hex, without saying how much hexes you assume?)

I think he assumes that the 2000 population will be divided between the 3 continents.

Each continent acts as it's own separate zone, so that's 2000 people per continent, not server. 6000 people spread across 3 continents.

As for 6 people on each hex, that's just pulling numbers out of his ass and using bad judgement. Why would there be an even number of players on each hex in the first place?

To pull some numbers out of my own ass, let's say there are a lot of fights going on on a continent. let's say 4 major fights (1 three way and then 3 other two ways between each side). Then let's add in all the minor skirmishes all over the place, bumping it up to the equivalent of 6 major fights. That's still 111 people per fight per side.

111 vs 111 vs 111 in a three way, three 166 vs 166 two ways, and 666 players fighting it out in various minor skirmishes.

333 players battling it out over a single objective will be insane enough. Yeah, populations being spread too thin is unlikely to be an issue.

[Sledgecrushr]

Dude you dont have to be an ass. I was only estimating a average population density across three continents using the 666 as a pop lock.

[Xyntech]

Dude you dont have to be an ass. I was only estimating a average population density across three continents using the 666 as a pop lock.

Didn't mean to be an ass, but just for clarity it is 2000 per continent. Continents have loading screens between them so it doesn't matter how many players are on another continent, the pop locks are exclusively related to how many players are on a continent.

But seriously, even if the populations are twice as spread out as I suggested, it won't be remotely like an even spread between the hexes. I imagine that every hex will probably be fought over pretty fiercely at one time or another, but it won't all be at once. Some hexes may go weeks without much action happening in them, while other haxes may be fought over night and day 24/7 for months on end.

The first game had 166 vs 166 vs 166, or 500 player pop locks on continents when it was launched (later reduced even lower). Now there wasn't a hex system, but there was still room to have multiple battles on continents, and even with a quarter of the number that PS2 is currently shooting for, the battles were still massive enough to put anything else to shame. Even with the hex system to potentially spread things out more, PS2 will be fine.

[ArmedZealot]

I wonder how they will handle logging in on a pop locked continent. Get booted to the next most populous's foothold? Have to spam the log in screen? Another queue mechanic?

[The Kush]

I wonder how they will handle logging in on a pop locked continent. Get booted to the next most populous's foothold? Have to spam the log in screen? Another queue mechanic?

Most likely will be like PS1. If a cont was pop locked you could wait in a queue or go to a less populated cont.

[Xyntech]

I would imagine that when you log in, you will first be given a world map screen where you can choose which continent you want to spawn on. It just won't be an option to spawn on a pop locked cont.

[ArmedZealot]

I would imagine that when you log in, you will first be given a world map screen where you can choose which continent you want to spawn on. It just won't be an option to spawn on a pop locked cont.

Well that would bring up issues with getting DC'ed wouldn't it? It's not quite fair to boot someone away from on op if they do get DC'ed. Practical but not fair.

[The Kush]

I would imagine that when you log in, you will first be given a world map screen where you can choose which continent you want to spawn on. It just won't be an option to spawn on a pop locked cont.

I disagree. I am almost positive the devs will make this aspect the same as PS1. If a cont is full, you can wait in a line to spawn. There is no reason why the devs would keep you from being able to EVENTUALLY spawn on the same cont with your friends/outift/where you want to fight.

[Sirisian]

Well that would bring up issues with getting DC'ed wouldn't it? It's not quite fair to boot someone away from on op if they do get DC'ed. Practical but not fair.
Actually Planetside 1 would persist client data if a person was disconnected for about 5 minutes. I remember multiple times the game would crash, and I'd log back in and be in my friend's vehicle like nothing happened even when there was a pop-lock on the continent. I imagine they have taken this concept from Planetside 1 probably.

[Xyntech]

I disagree. I am almost positive the devs will make this aspect the same as PS1. If a cont is full, you can wait in a line to spawn. There is no reason why the devs would keep you from being able to EVENTUALLY spawn on the same cont with your friends/outift/where you want to fight.

I only meant that you couldn't spawn immediately. Obviously it would be easy to have players able to wait in line to get in, but that's still a far cry from spawning in immediately.

Actually Planetside 1 would persist client data if a person was disconnected for about 5 minutes. I remember multiple times the game would crash, and I'd log back in and be in my friend's vehicle like nothing happened even when there was a pop-lock on the continent. I imagine they have taken this concept from Planetside 1 probably.

This. Get disconnected, just log back in within x amount of time and you are fine. Be logged out for too long and all bets are off.

[headcrab13]

The 2000 per continent thing still blows my mind. Considering their recent comparison of a PS2 base being the size of a COD map, you have to think how hectic a COD/BF3 map is with 32-64 players. Bullets flying everywhere, bodies all over the ground, explosions going off. Even 100 players in a base at once is going to be insane.

I loved the huge battles back when Planetside launched, but I was on 56k at the time and despite being a spectacle, it was nearly unplayable sometimes. If they can pull off a base battle in PS2 with even 100-200 people, it's gonna be absolutely epic.

[basti]

The 2000 per continent thing still blows my mind. Considering their recent comparison of a PS2 base being the size of a COD map, you have to think how hectic a COD/BF3 map is with 32-64 players. Bullets flying everywhere, bodies all over the ground, explosions going off. Even 100 players in a base at once is going to be insane.

I loved the huge battles back when Planetside launched, but I was on 56k at the time and despite being a spectacle, it was nearly unplayable sometimes. If they can pull off a base battle in PS2 with even 100-200 people, it's gonna be absolutely epic.

I remember rounds of various games (CS, COD, BF) where we held a position against a bigger opposing force. In every one of those rare events, it was loads of fun.
In Planetside, you can get this 24/7. Completly broke me for all other FPS, but damn, those moments made me stick 8 years and counting.


Anyway, to the topic:
Once and for all: The target is 2000 per continent. Not per server, not per game world, but per continent. That means per continent you get around 666 per faction. Apperently they plan to have 3 continents at launch, means 6000 per server max.
The whole "what happens if 1 continent, or even all 3, are pop locked for my faction" debate is really up in the air. I would also assume you get into a quene, but who knows. Actually quite a good quesiton for HIgby and the crew. Tell us what your plans are guys. ;)

[Kran De Loy]

Heh, they've more than likely have multiple plans for it and wont speak on it imo until beta when they can try them out. If one doesn't work then try another also it would be a good time to get firsthand experience trial feed back on the idea from the players instead of more theory arguments.

[CorranHorn]

I remember rounds of various games (CS, COD, BF) where we held a position against a bigger opposing force. In every one of those rare events, it was loads of fun.
In Planetside, you can get this 24/7. Completly broke me for all other FPS, but damn, those moments made me stick 8 years and counting.



This was one of my favorite aspects of the original. And then once your forces are finally getting pushed back, and the enemy is stacking up in the courtyard...spawn 1 base away, grab a mosquito, get back and bail out onto the roof ASAP, then OS the courtyard. I hated BFRs, but I'm DAMN glad they kept OS's in the game!!!

[headcrab13]

In Planetside, you can get this 24/7. Completly broke me for all other FPS, but damn, those moments made me stick 8 years and counting.

Oh yeah I hear ya man, I'm so psyched to get back into Planetside all over again. The original launched during my senior year of college ('03) and I played it nonstop for a few years. I wish I was still in the groove 8 years later, like you, but as it stands I'm just biding my time until PS2 :D

[Rivenshield]

As mentioned earlier, I fear that the populations will be too low to sustain what would appear to be a 'massive' fight.

That's been my concern for some time.

Another is... how do we win, even temporarily? There's almost assuredly going to be no way to lock a continent, and with sancs gone we can't strive for sanc locks. It's going to be a continual chaotic endless grindfest. Which isn't going to be much fun after the first two weeks.

[kaffis]

That's been my concern for some time.

Another is... how do we win, even temporarily? There's almost assuredly going to be no way to lock a continent, and with sancs gone we can't strive for sanc locks. It's going to be a continual chaotic endless grindfest. Which isn't going to be much fun after the first two weeks.
You win by fighting, and if you really need a pat on the back, by taking hexes.

If that doesn't hold your interest, neither will other multiplayer games.

[Noivad]

In the orginal game it took 133 people in one empire to pop lock it. In theory each pop lock had somewhere between 133 and 499 people. The 133 number derived by the actual number of people it took to start the number of positions counter to start its countdown from 100. to pop lock for the one empire. 266 peeps from nc - vs pops.

There were times that there were 4 pop locked planets / conts at one time with scattered fighting on the remaining 6 conts. That was on the Emerald Server. I'm told there were more people who played at the start of the game but I did not start playing till the beginning of 2004.

There are a lot more people playing FPS games now then there was back in the day. So I do not think there will be any problem with sluggish fights.

And there wwere three global servers at one time - Euro, Eastern USA and Western USA - werner - markov - emerld.

I could remember a lot of peeps being pissed off at ULTRA, a TR alliance on emerld, when we pop locked a planet or two on a weekend. The ULTRA team speak server had over 300 players on it at one time at one point.

And the other two global servers had large pops as well. Played both of them when it was slow on emerald. It was awesome then with the numbers we had, and it wil blow our minds away with the numbers we will get in todays gaming world.