Planetside 2 will suffer from the same population problems as the original.

EVILoHOMER · 2012-10-28, 09:13 AM

This is one thing that I don't get why SOE never tackled and that is the population differences between peak and off peak playing times. I've seen this so much in beta where the game just is dead throughout the day and only picks up during peak times. This is going to be a really big issue because it causes people to just not bother playing. If you constantly have to say "I cannot play until peak time" then you'll just get frustrated and fed up.

Sadly the issue isn't low population due to the beta because as the population increases there will be more servers and even more people will be spread out during off peak times which just increases the problem and causes some server to be ghost towns. In a standard MMORPG it doesn't matter so much, usually you want it to be quieter so you can kill the boss that is usually being camped, however Planetside is all about the big battles.

I just feel like SOE need a dynamic way of merging servers when the population gets too low to keep it high at all times. I also feel like the whole server system is bad, it's never been a good thing and they should have just gone for one big regional server like EU, US and Oceanic and then placed you around automatically. Obviously you can implement a system where you're put with your Outfit or Squad so it isn't an issue when playing with friends.

Dagron · 2012-10-28, 10:06 AM

I remember dynamically merging servers being discussed around here for some reason and the conclusion was that it wasn't a good idea because it doesn't work well with persistent conquest.

Crator · 2012-10-28, 10:07 AM

Yes. Really surprised some innovation in this area is not being tried like you describe. Maybe it is, they just haven't implemented it yet? If they don't though, there's going to be major issues in the area of getting locked out of a server that your outfit is on as well as the issue of low pops during non-peak hours.

Fear The Amish · 2012-10-28, 10:37 AM

hmmm... somethings wrong here... 1 second... Ok evil homer if you are going to be so doom and gloom you need some new attire (hands him a picket sign with "The End is Nigh" written on it) there ya go now go stand on a corner and scream about this at the top of your lungs.

Timealude · 2012-10-28, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by EVILoHOMER

I just feel like SOE need a dynamic way of merging servers when the population gets too low to keep it high at all times. I also feel like the whole server system is bad, it's never been a good thing and they should have just gone for one big regional server like EU, US and Oceanic and then placed you around automatically. Obviously you can implement a system where you're put with your Outfit or Squad so it isn't an issue when playing with friends.

The other problem with that is you have to have a server cap with these just because of the more players on the screen the more CPU power your going to need to process all those players. Also if you just have 3 servers with as much hype this game has gotten launch day is going to be a horrible mess...Look at diablo 3 they had constant full servers because they didn't expect the demand for it. I'm sure the wait times to log in are going to be pretty crazy on launch and maybe a week after but you cant just have 3 servers that's insane.

GuyFawkes · 2012-10-28, 04:47 PM

Just looked at the leaderboards today on all 3 servers, and theres well over 300,000 characters playing beta now.
When DCUO went ftp, I think populations went from <80,000 to over a million within a couple of weeks.
I dont think ps2 is in the same ball park as ps1,honestly. A different decade, people have internet, its legs aren't cut out from under its feet before it launched.
Its a long way to go, not perfect by any means, but at least its a wanted child this time around.

PredatorFour · 2012-10-28, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by GuyFawkes

I dont think ps2 is in the same ball park as ps1,honestly. A different decade, people have internet, its legs aren't cut out from under its feet before it launched.
Its a long way to go, not perfect by any means, but at least its a wanted child this time around.

Maybe not the same ballpark exactly but a potentially equally damning ballpark. PS1; was before widespread broadband internet, PS2; everyone needs a really good pc to play the game well (even some of those struggle)

EVILoHOMER · 2012-10-28, 06:19 PM

Every time I try the game I cannot find any battles these days, I dunno if people are just too spread out or what. The map doesn't give any indication how many of your forces are where but flying around I see no one.

SKYeXile · 2012-10-28, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by GuyFawkes

Just looked at the leaderboards today on all 3 servers, and theres well over 300,000 characters playing beta now.
When DCUO went ftp, I think populations went from <80,000 to over a million within a couple of weeks.
I dont think ps2 is in the same ball park as ps1,honestly. A different decade, people have internet, its legs aren't cut out from under its feet before it launched.
Its a long way to go, not perfect by any means, but at least its a wanted child this time around.

those are pretty good numbers for a closed beta, i figured there was aaround 70k players in beta currently. way more than planetside 1 ever peaked at. ...well only like 10k more..