My god would you please quit with the arena crap Hitech!

[cobia38]

Many don't hang out in MW because without their uber LW ride they can't land kills.

 that is so true

[DamnedRen]

One small note of interest....

On TT what are the actual numbers in the TT arena vs the other arenas.

In other words, it's been running for awhile now so there should be stats on numbers for all the arena's.

Does the number change drastically in other arenas on TT?

The number of folks in the TT arena goes up to 600-650 (or appears to), sometimes more? Does this mean folks go there because they have no place else to go (a life?) one day a week or because they like being able to go in and play with their buddy's iso being blocked from entering the rest of the week?

While I don't presume to understand just why or how HTC decides on any particular cap it would be an interesting experiment to see what would happen if all the arenas where left "as is" but have just one LW Arena (Orange or Blue, does it matter?) left uncapped.

I wonder if the numbers would set themselves to a nightly 600-650 people while leaving the other arena with smaller numbers. Taking that a step farther, if that was the case, then the other "little used" arena might be reconfigured for some other type of game play which might not only keep all the "Big Arena" crowds happy but the specific play gaming types would also have a home. That might also increase the player base because the crowds are happy the specific players are happy, EW, MW, LW sumtin, LW BA (Big Arena).

It's also one thing to take a look at hard facts (stats) and another to listen to the squeeky wheel. Think about it. 30-40 players talking on the forum is not the huge database of folks flying we see every night flying in the different arenas.

Just thinking out loud.

Ren
 

[The Fugitive]

The problem seems to be with the hard cap number that HTC has decided..... using those "facts/data" they only have access to..... is 400-450. They have decided that anything over that creates a poor community. I have to agree, with the larger numbers game play certainly has suffered. But, what is the solution?

I would spend more time in either EW or MW if the numbers were higher, or in AvA if the numbers where higher and the "AVA attitude" was gone, but I am looking for a fight. I've heard a lot of other say the same, but I guess we are not all logged in att he same time 

 A very large percentage of todays players are in it to win the game, or just to be with "the rest of the players" because if "everyone" is in LW it MUST be the place to be. It doesn't hurt that the "uber" rides are there, but I would bet that if you took out all the 5-10 ENY planes you would STILL have most of the people flying in LW..... its that herd mentality.

I don't really have an issue with the caps, and rarely run into a problem. If one LW is full I try the other. If game play sucks or nothing is going on, I'll try out MW, or spend some time getting horded in the DA. Either way, with what limited time I get to play these days I can still find something to do. There is nothing special in that one arena that I'm missing out on. Gone are the days where I have trouble shutting down the game to get some sleep.

[DamnedRen]

The problem seems to be with the hard cap number that HTC has decided..... using those "facts/data" they only have access to..... is 400-450. They have decided that anything over that creates a poor community.

If that was the case why is there a TT? Obviously not to placate 200 people. They're actually placating 600-650 people who "prefer" to fly in there. That's why those folks are in there. Not to go to the MW or another arena. Without even asking for nor expecting info it's pretty clear the "facts" show 600-650 people are in TT every week. Those same 600+ people don't have to look elsewhere for their fun nor log off because they couldn't get in. They get to enjoy playing a game they've spent their hard earned money on. To repeat for clarity; not "go somewhere else or log off".

I guess the real food for thought is if these 600+ people are congregating in one arena and it makes them happy then why not? Something is drawing them there and not to the other arena's. Now that I think about it, doesn't it seem very strange to log into a game only to get a message that in essence says, " sorry you can't play here tonight, look elsewhere for fun".

[Rino]

Yes they do!

Now where's that Minnesota nice triple 9's!

     Was thinking the same thing...sounds like 999 needs a little break.

[saantana]

I agree with 999000. The arena caps are idiotic. Instead of punishing bad behaviour (ie, you can't log in here) why don't you reward good behaviour (If you log into low numbers map, you get more perkies per flight(?)).
Point is, try to encourage people to level the arenas, instead of limiting their choice.

It's so frustrating when you can't fly with squadmates because they are writing from the other arena 'I can't get in, its 203/200'.

I pay for their servers, I should be able to fly on whatever map I choose. Is the guy that logged on earlier before the cap got filled any better then I am? I believe he pays just as much as I do.

[DMBEAR]

When I can't get in an arena, I feel like this guy is snickering at me...

[DMBEAR]

 A very large percentage of todays players are in it to win the game, or just to be with "the rest of the players" because if "everyone" is in LW it MUST be the place to be. It doesn't hurt that the "uber" rides are there, but I would bet that if you took out all the 5-10 ENY planes you would STILL have most of the people flying in LW..... its that herd mentality.

I guess this game is as much social interraction to me as it is a fighter combat game.  As much as I enjoy a good fight, I also enjoy the friendly banter amongst my squaddies, friends, and foes while in between the fights.  For this reason, I can say that I'm part of the Herd Mentality.

If anything, I'd think all the people that want the hard core 1 on 1 uber fight Top Gun gentlemans duels would preffer no caps.  That way all of us sheep could go have our fun playing the game wrong, and you guys could go to the TopGun arena and ACM your aces off.

I do like flying against LW planes.  It doesnt mean I take them out every sortie.  I had more flights in an early war ride than any other last tour.  I do like flying w/ squaddies.  Land grabbing isnt important to me, but that aspect of the game is something I enjoy being a part of.  Whether it is doing a fighter sweep to make a darbar go limp, or switching sides to capture a base to encourage a better fight, I'll do it.

But for the most part, I just like to log on and go fly w/ my buddies.  The only thing that ever stops me are caps.

[The Fugitive]

If that was the case why is there a TT? Obviously not to placate 200 people. They're actually placating 600-650 people who "prefer" to fly in there. That's why those folks are in there. Not to go to the MW or another arena. Without even asking for nor expecting info it's pretty clear the "facts" show 600-650 people are in TT every week. Those same 600+ people don't have to look elsewhere for their fun nor log off because they couldn't get in. They get to enjoy playing a game they've spent their hard earned money on. To repeat for clarity; not "go somewhere else or log off".

I guess the real food for thought is if these 600+ people are congregating in one arena and it makes them happy then why not? Something is drawing them there and not to the other arena's. Now that I think about it, doesn't it seem very strange to log into a game only to get a message that in essence says, " sorry you can't play here tonight, look elsewhere for fun".

Like I said, if it isn't the herd mentality, its the uber rides that seem to draw them to LW....whether its one arena or two. As to why it was split, and why we have a TT you would have to ask HTC about that for the real answer. From what I've read, the split was in answer to what HTC called "poor community" (as posted by PYRO)and again "some say" large numbers of canceled accounts. As for TT my guess is it was to quite the whiners, or as a test to see how the large arena works out now.

Any game has its limitations. Here 400-450 seems to be the number the company has chosen, others are at 1000, but both get there share of people saying its the wrong number. Its the same as with the "ditch rule", get just one wheel off the runway and its a ditch. Some can live with it, while others have all kinds of suggestions as to how it should be. HTC made the rules I just try to have fun with in them. It use to be very easy, now its more tricky to do so, but I guess thats the price we pay.

[DamnedRen]

Continuing the thinking process.....

I'm not so sure that it really matters what each individual's reason is for going to an arena. When 600+ show up in an arena for whatever reason, that's saying something and there's no getting around it. It makes one wonder how many more people would show up in the game if 600+ showed every night in one arena plus the other arenas get their normal influx of players iso those who logoff and watch TV or go elsewhere. Personally, I think this is a great game with lots of great peeps. I really hate to think some of those have left for their own reasons which might include not being able to get into an arena on any given night. It can degrade the game to lose anyone who might have contributed to the fun, both for themselves and others.

Ren

disclaimer: views expressed during this forum discussion are by one player and should be taken as such, nothing more.

[SHawk]

I'm with 999000 on this one.  Arena Caps suck. Can't tell ya how many times I've been running squad ops and get disco'd or stick needs re-cal'd and come back and every squaddy is in an arena I can't log into. It's complete BS.
Eny is one thing I can live with. Arena Caps just piss everyone off.  I've lost 2 Squaddies that have just simply quit because they can't play where they want.
Titanic Tuesday (aka LagTuesday or Phantom Dot Tuesday) is also a Joke. Either the servers or the Software can't handle it, So why have it?

Just MHO

[DMBEAR]

It's all been fixed!!  Woohooo 

Just a funny pic on an abnormal day.  I know somethings going on at HTC, can't wait to find out what it is...

[SHawk]

Once again, Saturday June 6th, Servers down all day. Finally at 10pm I decide to try again.
Finally it's working.
Orange Capped out 323/300.
Forced to fly Blue Arena 212/350
Enter arena...type .sr and All 8 other squaddies are in Orange Arena.
Absolutely pisses me off to no end.

Edit:
Just got pm'ed that another squaddie just entered Orange at 330/350
So I bail from a perfectly good perk ride before it changes.
Switch over, capped out again. 332/300
OK, screw this. Think I'll go beat my head against a wall.

[999000]

Shawk...I feel your pain!...I really don't get it (Areana caps)..I guess I'm just to stupid to understand.
999000 <S>

[batch]

Totally agreed that that caps suck...... the worst case Ive seen to date happened to me on Friday.

open AH........ Orange 105/100  Blue 104/150

go into Blue........ crappy map that I dislike

Try to go into Orange again 107/100 Blue 103/150

spent 20 minutes waiting for orange to open.

Everytime someone starts a thread about arena caps it always goes the same way..... and inevitably someone always says we should just fly in blue and make the arenas even..... its our duty to keep the arenas even.

My response to that is simple........... I PAY FOR THIS SERVICE........ I dont pay for it so I can be second fiddle to a stupid rule that says I cant use part of the service part of the time...... I pay for full service full time period.