Author Topic: Multi Arena Play (Read 1262 times)

Hajo · « **on:** April 10, 2001, 11:14:00 AM »

I'm sure as numbers increase, and as I've noticed, many new names scroll across the text buffer, multi arena play will eventually become a reality. some terrains are already available for that, such as the Med terrain. would be great for an axis vs. allies arena.

One thing I've also noticed, when the MA approaches 200, the server starts spewing kill messages in blocks as opposed to singularly when the kill is confirmed. this I think means the server might be getting close to lagging. or already lagging hence the block of kills in text buffer.

I've yet to find the MA at 260, and that is good for gameplay. but that day will come as the new additions arrive from AW and other sims.

do any of you have suggestions for arenas? I'd be interested to see just what the community thought. ripsnort already posted about a furball arena, great idea! but other arenas will also be needed as gameplay numbers increase.

remember, numbers will have to increase to ensure multi arena play, and it looks like numbers are increasing, even though the MA hasn't become full yet, that day will eventually come!

Just interested in your thoughts and ideas as a community! maybe it's time we started thinking about it now.

Hajo

[This message has been edited by Hajo (edited 04-10-2001).]

Ripsnort · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2001, 11:20:00 AM »

I'd support any alternatives to the Main. The Main is fun, but I like historical matchups as well...we do have the Friday and Saturday Snap shots, and the Sunday Check six events, it would be nice to have a 24/7 Historical arena, but I don't know how long that would last...WB's was quite successful when it was new, but then attendance fell off...think we've all seen the rise and fall via threads on AGW on the WW2 arena over there...

BigGun · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2001, 11:25:00 AM »

just ask Laz..i am sure he has a good suggestion

Skysix1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2001, 11:57:00 AM »

I think a early war and a late war arenas with appropriate plane sets would be good (maybe even a mid war arena too)

IMO the main arena is just like any quake arena. 2-3 more arenas with different plane sets might allow the wide varity of aircraft here to be used more often instead of always seeing a whole bunch of a certian type always flying around.

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Chuck Perry
"Sky61"

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2001, 12:01:00 PM »

It seems a multi-arena environment would only work if HTC were offered a "pay-by-use" billing on the extra bandwidth. I don't think this is likely to happen in this millenia.

Until then, having an arena sit mostly unused for 24 hours a day seems to be a bit of a waste. No matter what the server offers.

AKDejaVu

Pyro · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2001, 12:16:00 PM »

I think you missed Hajo's point. With more people, eventually you have to go to multiple arenas and that creates an opportunity to expand the scope of the offerings, thereby creating more interest and attracting more people. The time is coming to where you are going to see a large expansion of the player base and that's going to open up some interesting possibilities.

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Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2001, 12:40:00 PM »

I get the point Pyro. But is "full at times" enough to prompt more arenas? Or do we need "full all the time"? Is having more arenas without being able to keep them occupied justiification for things like.. oh.. lets say.. keeping the price at $30/month? The new arenas come at an increased cost to you, therefore an increased cost to us (via no reduction in price).

If we get the new players, then great.. the cost is absorbed. If the arena sits empty... then not so great because we have to cover the cost.

Also, when another arena is added, the fun will start. HA, Furball, Relaxed realism, Axis vs Allies, Icons, No icons, Early War, Mid War, Late War... The possibilities are endless... as are the oppinions.

Of course, being an unlimited play game means that the server really needs to be available to paying members at all times. Therein lies the catch.

Glad I don't have to make that decision.

AKDejaVu

Ghosth · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2001, 01:23:00 PM »

I guess my question is at what point does HTC
branch out? Numbers have been hovering steady
in the 180 to 200 range most prime time evenings that I've seen.

Also, what 2nd arena is most likely to bring in more people & keep them? Early war? Axis vs Allied?

Balance that by what will be easiest to produce & maintain & you've got a tough question to find answers for.

Best of luck HTC

We'll be waiting to see what you come up with.

Thirdup · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2001, 01:39:00 PM »

Euro and Pacific arenas maybe?
(I mean as the planesets develope further)

lazs · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2001, 02:01:00 PM »

well..... as i've said before... I like the "area" idea. Early war area, mid war area and say late war area all in the same arena. Early and late war being historically less popular would be smaller areas than the mid war area. Areas could be seperated by "natural" boundries such as 40K mountain ranges but you would be able to see and move to other "areas" fields from any tower.

The advantage to this idea is that the "community" stays intact. the radar and buffer still works for all "areas" and so... a person (or group) could switch seamlessly from one type/era of war to another as the whim struck them without leaving the arena and loffing on to another arena that may or may not suit them.

Basicaly you would have (at least) three arenas in one. More choice more parity maintain strong "community".
lazs

Ripsnort · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2001, 02:04:00 PM »

Pyro, I sure do love limited icon/limited radar historic planeset arenas.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2001, 02:27:00 PM »

Lazs, the discussion is based on the 260 player arena limit pushing the needs for a new arena. It has nothing to do with what currently goes on in the MA.

AKDejaVu

Revvin · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2001, 02:46:00 PM »

I'll second that Rip, reduced icons/reduced radar, perhaps even Axis Vs Allies one day when the planeset expands? The CM crew do a fine job with check six events etc but a 24/7 server with this kind of setup would be great, perhaps we could try a server for two weeks and see where the community flys?

[This message has been edited by Revvin (edited 04-10-2001).]

lazs · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2001, 02:54:00 PM »

deja... I really didn't know that there was a 260 player limit in any one arena.

That being the case i would still like an area arena for one of em but... If we have to have other arenas how bout, at the very least, if we were able to switch to the other arenas "map" and check it out while in the arena we are in? See my point? It would keep the players all part of the community better methinks.
lazs

LePaul · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2001, 02:57:00 PM »

Well, if the floor is open to suggestions, might i make this...

I despise this current map ("WaterWorld"), I liked the other and the one prior to the Isles one, since that gave the GVs a lot of room to play.

Perhaps a Land Arena and Sea Arena? The ships/pt boats *personally* don't turn my crank much at all. The Historic ones sound good too but I'd be curious, by means of survey or so, how many would populate such an arena.

Just random thoughts, thought I'd share....

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Paul J. Busiere

Aces High Arena handle: BD5Pilot
http://bd5.checksix.net
BD-5 "T" (TurboProp) 90% complete, first flight in 2001 (We hope!)