Actually, 650 was a number for discussion and the numbers I've seen in the TT arena, nothing more. As part of the discussion it would also be reasonable to think that the 600-650 number is workable or you would not have opened it up. I was raising the question if one arena is closed (Blue) and one arena is open for TT (Orange) and we only see 600-650 people in there, at this point in time it might be somewhat safe to say we average 600-650 people in the LW MA's on any given night with a majority showing up on TT. That raised the discussion of one TT type arena with say 650 and another smaller arena with say 200 or so.
Personally, I've always liked big arena's. But, when I look back over the years and see where it all started and the numbers there, I find it hard to believe you've actually been able to take the game this far. I remember when 13 icons (was it) was the total number of icons in a furball that you could actually see. Kudos to you and your programmers!
My only participation in this discussion was to get factual information which provides everyone with current limits on the game. That is not to say that, after coming this far, you won't be able to take it further. But this kind of info in a sticky might go a long way towards many, many people asking the same questions over and over.
As far as my thinking your are implementing anything just to infuriate and frustrate customers is a misnomer. I think nothing of the kind. And, you are one of the only Company's in business where you actually listen to it's players and continually add to the game.
In fact, I think the root cause of the limits is the customers computers ability to keep up with all the eye candy. I remember back when I got an apple computer that actually let me get to FR17. All of a sudden the planes started actually flying around in the sky somewhat smoothly. Fool and I used to have lunch and our topic of discussion was always, "if you want to stay up with all the enhancements in the flight sim, dogfighting games you need to upgrade your computer from time to time". Back then 17FR wasn't top of the line. In fact, for the past 12-14 years or so I made a commitment to stay one step below top of the line. Every couple of years or so I'd have some bucks put away and when I went out West I'd pick up everything I'd need and build a new computer. One step below top dog was normally about a $150-250 upgrade. I'd always try and move my old computer out to someone else in the game who could use an upgrade from their existing computer. If I'm wrong about customer computers being up to speed for huge arena's then I stand corrected.
So, the concern by customers is they cannot get in and play with their buds. That in itself can cause frustration. Understanding reasons why there are limits imposed helps to clear up lack of understanding and people are happy to make adjustments that might be required to keep the game up and running at it's max level. At least I hope they would.
IMO you have made a great game that has been enjoyed by a lot of people for a long, long time. I hope you continue to prosper in your endeavors and the game is around for a long time to come.
Ren
[/quote]might be somewhat safe to say we average 600-650 people in the LW MA's on any given night with a majority showing up on TT. [/quote]
It is not in anyway safe, in fact it is completely incorrect, TT is the lowest numbered night of the week.
[/quote]In fact, I think the root cause of the limits is the customers computers ability to keep up with all the eye candy.[/quote]
Once again you are not trying to state facts you are making stuff up that I have said point blank many times many ways there is not any technical issue limiting the players until 1000, and this could be change if there was any benifit. Are you really tying to accuse me of not telling the truth? The limits are not set in any way do to technical limitations, and this includes users computers.
My only participation in this discussion was to get factual information which provides everyone with current limits on the game. That is not to say that, after coming this far, you won't be able to take it further. But this kind of info in a sticky might go a long way towards many, many people asking the same questions over and over.
I once again call BS, if this was really your purpose, you would have simply searched for things Pyro and I have said in the past and had all the facts and reasons you need.
"if you want to stay up with all the enhancements in the flight sim, dogfighting games you need to upgrade your computer
I am not overstating the fact that this line of thinking came very very close to putting HTC out of business.
So now if you wish to again have an answer to the question, you must first state which questions.
There are 2 questions.
1. Why have arena limits.
2. Why have limits float the way they do.
1. Why have arena limits.
Simply put there is an optimal number of people in an arena that works best for the most people to have fun in many aspects. This number is more than 1 and less than 500.
As sine quick reasons why there is a top end cap, here are just a few.
1. Communication on country/voice and 200. With more people it can almost become unreadable.
2. The more people the less noticed each person is, and hence they are more anonymous.
3. More people create more of a herding / fly where they are not mentality. This is because each person feels they have less of an impact on the game, hence they need to be part of a bigger flying group to have any impact.
2. Why have limits float the way they do.
In an ideal world we would not , we would simply cap each arena at 300 - 450. This is how we first started the arena caps. But again no one wanted to be the first in the 2nd arena, people would still be complaining that they could not get into their desired arena. The floating arena caps simply let the system cross critical mass in the arean in the quickest amount of time. Before anyone sugest raising this number, that actually makes the problem worse, because there are less people to establish critical mass in the 2nd arena.
Other methods we have considered. 1 Assigning each person to an arena, and they could not change. 2 Assigning squads to an arena.
makeing more arenas of about 200 cap.
