Still aiming for 64 players?

SkiddywinksSkiddywinks Join Date: 2011-01-12 Member: 77239Members
in NS2 General Discussion
Hey guys. With a release date finalised, I started wondering what your plans were in regards to the final max player count. I remember it being a goal for a lot more than there is now, and I have a feeling it was 64, but I could be wrong. 32 sounds far more reasonable considering where the game is, so if that was the goal then I am just remembering poorly!

I played a couple of games the other day that felt solid and awesome with (IIRC) about 24 players, so I have no doubt 32 will be fine by release. But I could have sworn I heard you aiming for something that shocked me when I read it, so 64 sounds like it fits the bill.

Anyone care to comment?

Congrats on the news btw, I love you guys.
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Comments

  • DuskDusk Join Date: 2011-06-24 Member: 106114Members, Constellation
    The game is more suited for a cap of 18 unless they find a way to balance the game for all match sizes. 24 player games right now have zero balance.
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  • Onii-chanOnii-chan Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7164Members
    Maps like Veil might be able squeeze in 32 players but 64 is just too much, I haven't even seen 64 player server for NS1 in its prime.

    Of course the balance will have issues with such numbers.
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  • WhiteZeroWhiteZero That Guy Join Date: 2004-06-24 Member: 29511Members, Constellation
    I don't think they were ever aiming for 64 players.
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  • bEEbbEEb Join Date: 2012-03-24 Member: 149317Members, NS2 Map Tester
    Im trying to imagine what 32 exo suits would look like.
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  • TimMcTimMc Join Date: 2012-02-06 Member: 143945Members
    64 is insane on counter strike, let alone something that requires teamwork and tactics like NS2.
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  • GrimfangGrimfang Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13086Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    It would require a much different map, maybe it could be fun to make a 10+ techpoint map, and have a battle that took longer to play, and could fit in more people. But it would require someone to make that HUGE map, and then have someone host it, and enough people play it.

    I would surely like to try it out, but it's a lot of work getting there.
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  • TwiggehTwiggeh Join Date: 2010-09-24 Member: 74165Members
    64 would be like Natural Selection meets Battlefield 1942 :p


    Tho i dont think servercap should go above 20, atleast not until the game is more optimized/balanced and people create larger maps.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    16-18 is the sweet spot. I don't know if they were ever aiming for 64. A lot of games/servers have a horrible tendency to just inch upwards to the max, because people just join the game with the most players because they figure more is better. NS is really not a game where the fun is in the scale. It's a good game when tight teamwork, coordination, and focused strategic choices turn the tide of the battle, and if it's just a constant meatgrinder everywhere with 16+ players on each time, especially on the smaller NS2 sized maps, it's not nearly as compelling.
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  • RobustPenguinRobustPenguin Join Date: 2012-08-17 Member: 155719Members
    You simply cannot go above 20 with alien spawns in its current state if you want the game to be balanced...
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  • ScardyBobScardyBob ScardyBob Join Date: 2009-11-25 Member: 69528Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    Original goal was 32 players by release, but due to performance/balance issues and the time left, I'd recommend sticking to 24 players at the most. I've played 64 player matches in other games (BF-series and Empiresmod) and while it can be fun, NS2 is neither balanced nor are any of the maps large enough to accommodate that number of players (see 32v32 on tram :0).
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  • Spektor56Spektor56 Join Date: 2010-11-10 Member: 74858Members
    64 person servers is insane, i always thought 32 person servers on the original half-life engine were crazy. I find 20-24 person servers to be perfect for games like CS and NS.
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  • 1dominator11dominator1 Join Date: 2010-11-19 Member: 75011Members
    I thought they were aiming for 32.
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  • SPASMadnessSPASMadness Join Date: 2012-08-30 Member: 156958Members
    edited September 2012
    64 ? Never, this is not Battlefield, so much player would ruin the game.
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  • TwiggehTwiggeh Join Date: 2010-09-24 Member: 74165Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1972264:date=Sep 6 2012, 12:34 AM:name=SPASMadness)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SPASMadness @ Sep 6 2012, 12:34 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1972264"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->64 ? Never, this is not Battlefield, so much player would ruin the game.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Not only that, it would melt servers..
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  • SPASMadnessSPASMadness Join Date: 2012-08-30 Member: 156958Members
    Yeah obviously.
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited September 2012
    NS2 and much more games are simply not balanced for more then ~12-16 perhaps ~20-32 players (which are A LOT of players). They tend to change into SpamChaosMadness. The only franchise which could pull it off was perhaps Battlefield.
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  • piratedavepiratedave Join Date: 2012-03-10 Member: 148561Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1972068:date=Sep 5 2012, 11:15 AM:name=Grimfang)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Grimfang @ Sep 5 2012, 11:15 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1972068"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It would require a much different map, maybe it could be fun to make a 10+ techpoint map, and have a battle that took longer to play, and could fit in more people. But it would require someone to make that HUGE map, and then have someone host it, and enough people play it.

    I would surely like to try it out, but it's a lot of work getting there.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    it could work if everything in NS2 scaled (spawn times, tech point requirements, weapon/lifeform/upgrade/ability costs), res income, and huge maps for 64 players. Yet i dont see ns2 ever being able to have enough performance for 64 players. At most we will see 32 player severs ... even then the game balance doesnt scale at all, it would have to be a mod with all the balance re-adjusted specifically for 32 player maps
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