Population... underestimation?

Grognard · 2012-06-26, 04:27 AM

My premise is "based", on the following map:
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3766/battlelines.png
...pulled from this post (thank you Xyntech):
http://www.planetside-universe.com/s...9&postcount=10

So, I am wondering if they are (gu)estimating low. Those numbers on that map seem very reasonable to me, and yet... look how little of the map is being used on one continent. It appears, to me anyway, that there could be far more, perhaps even double that amount, once optimizations are complete.

I understand there are other factors, and that is precisely why I am posting this. I would like to hear opinions from others with more tech savvy than myself, weigh-in on the likelyhood, or unlikelyhood, that we might have even bigger populations.

Points? Counterpoints? Definitives?

Edit: What this map makes me hope for is: 1000x1000x1000. Support opinions, so no follow ups with "why?", please.

i see you naked · 2012-06-26, 04:32 AM

dont care because the VS will reign supreme and take away the whole planet, oh wait, new safe zones.. lolz

Canaris · 2012-06-26, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by i see you naked

dont care because the VS will reign supreme and take away the whole planet, oh wait, new safe zones.. lolz

VS are well documented for their delusions, wasn't the cult leader that set you up always talking to a barney doll

steering back around to the topic, that picture is only a mock up Xyn did. The thing you have to remember about PS is the chaos factor of such a large game, you can guesstimate that the battles will be spread out but from what we've seen in the original is most zergs tend to congregate together,

I'd forsee having one large scale battle going on or two depending on if all three empires are engaged, then you'll have various outfits or squads that will dictate certain stratgies and the direction of the battle.

For instance the TR zerg is attacking an AMP station and the VS are well entrenched and are having a happy farm.
usually a clever TR cmdr will decide enoughs enough and will lead his squad/platoon to another base say a nearby biolab in the hopes of catching it's defenses unprepared.

Now either 2 things will happen the TR zerg seeing that the biolab is a better choice will go charging at it and support the attack or the VS will need to strip out enough defenders to try and secure it also opening up the AMP station for the TR zerg to swarm over.

It's kind of a situation that repeats itself again and again on PS1,

I think clumping up of players will just happen.

Otleaz · 2012-06-26, 04:52 AM

After playing Arma 2, where the map is even larger, I can't help but feel like these maps will be completely flooded. Especially when the fights are all going to be along the front line.

SKYeXile · 2012-06-26, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by Otleaz

After playing Arma 2, where the map is even larger, I can't help but feel like these maps will be completely flooded. Especially when the fights are all going to be along the front line.

oh its gonna be zerg all day and all night, at least on my Blackrock 2.

Figment · 2012-06-26, 05:42 AM

You forget that you need room to maneuvre, push and pull, flank and pincer to have any sort of strategic combat.

If anything, it will feel very crowded and overwhelming to attempt anything behind enemy lines with less than 50 troops.

KTNApollo · 2012-06-26, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by elfailo

2000 per continent isn't going to happen. Beta will show why not. I'm guessing they're going to halve it within 3 months.

You must be some kind of netcode programmer that works at SOE with inside information on their code and engine to know what they can and can't do...

Astrok · 2012-06-26, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by elfailo

2000 per continent isn't going to happen. Beta will show why not. I'm guessing they're going to halve it within 3 months.

100 years ago they told us that flying trough the air wasnt going to happen.and they laugh at the people who wanted to try it.
Right now most people travel by plane.

So why 2000 people cant be happening?
Because u say so?

Otleaz · 2012-06-26, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by Astrok

100 years ago they told us that flying trough the air wasnt going to happen.and they laugh at the people who wanted to try it.
Right now most people travel by plane.

So why 2000 people cant be happening?
Because u say so?

That isn't quite the same thing.

Astrok · 2012-06-26, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Otleaz

That isn't quite the same thing.

Tell me the differents then.

for me its the same principle.

Originally Posted by aceshigh

Relax guys. With their newly discovered VS technologies, 2000 won't be a problem.

I think that if they want they can go even higher.

Landtank · 2012-06-26, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Astrok

I think that if they want they can go even higher.

I agree, 2000 seems to be the sweet spot in terms of leaving enough open space on the map, but also making it seem like there is a war going on.

They have been promising 2000 players for too long for them to cut it back, that's how I see it.

Kurtz · 2012-06-26, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by elfailo

2000 per continent isn't going to happen. Beta will show why not. I'm guessing they're going to halve it within 3 months.

^this.

I hope for the best, still.

Thoreaux · 2012-06-26, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by elfailo

2000 per continent isn't going to happen. Beta will show why not. I'm guessing they're going to halve it within 3 months.

I second (third? etc?) this. I wish I didn't, but I do.

I believe that they can build a system which can host that many (or more) players spread out reasonably. It seems technically possible on both the server and client side. But I am dubious that they can stop players from just making a beeline to the center of the map with the missions system. 80-90% of players are gonna want to be part of the "big fight", just like in PS1. When that happens, graphics cards will melt, unless they've got some kind of voodoo up their sleeves.

IF on the other hand, they can get players to spread out in a T or Y shape so that there are always 3 fronts and a fight where they meet; perhaps then. They might still have to resort to soft instancing, whereby some players are simply unable to spawn in areas the game deems "overcrowded", as a means of pushing them to start fights elsewhere.

Grognard · 2012-06-26, 05:47 AM

So... 650x3 to 1000x3... not feasable? not probable? likely, almost certain?

Technical issues, server issues, soft cap for sake of clumping control... what are we talking here?

What about the other side of the coin... looks likely, due to... current technology, forgelight, map size, some other pros?

Edit: Im interested in the reasoning behind the opinions.

Grognard · 2012-06-26, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by elfailo

It's a gut feeling.

I can cough up a bunch of rationalizations like people here like to do so much, but I'm not really afraid of being wrong every once in a while, so I can live with the uncertainty.

No, no, thats completely acceptable. I prefer the honesty. Every once in a while I just get the feeling there was more to someones answer, and I couldnt infer "the rest"...