[netburnr]

Have it it ya'll.... Try to think of a way the game can be sharded at about 2500 players without "ruining" the game.

I got nothing, I hate the idea of shards or breaking up the players in any way, so all I can do is listen and provide feedback from ya'lls ideas

You can also discuss sharding PvP versus Carebears because from the sounds of it, they want to do that [strikethrough]crap[/strikethrough] stuff too.

[Ratneck]

I don't like sharding at all, but without knowing the technical aspects I don't know what's "required". I'd say if they HAVE to shard, they should make PvP and PvE shards.

[GrimGriz]

Sharding is just more evidence that the players are likely to have zero impact on the galaxy, of course, that goes hand in hand with multiple characters per account.

I mean, I don't think they'd let octs take over 1 shard and quants take over another one. Your ships apparently not going to even explode anymore, and no one will be taking over anything because you won't be able to shoot if you fly into enemy territory.....

[netburnr]

Originally Posted by GrimGriz

Sharding is just more evidence that the players are likely to have zero impact on the galaxy

I really hope that doesn't become a reality GG, I hope that ND can figure out a way to fit their technical requirements and also allow us to "impact" the game at least equal to what we can do now, or more so hopefully.


I just don't get why they think they need to shard. Can the servers not handle the amount of people? If so, why not just work through that and improve the servers? Do they want to do it to seperate the carebears from the "griefers"? I don't know.

The only thing I do know is that sharding and separating people is going to really change the way Jumpgate is played.

[GrimGriz]

Dude, can you not see the fire for all the smoke? Jumpgate isn't going to be played. A spaceflight WoW-clone that stole it's name is going to be played.

[project3wc]

whatever works and brings them thousands of customers and the majority likes is what ND should be aiming for, not what a group of 10 people like imho



**Quoted from below so i didnt make another post**

I can guarantee you that it is far far more than 10.

What they're going to end up with is a gigantic squad called "Classic" that sits at the border to unreg and kills everyone that comes through just because.

Now, this thread is about Shards is it not?

i wouldnt mind that, i wonder if i would get accepted into the squad tho.

Shards though, dont really understand what shards are, but if its like different servers then just make one PVP and another PVE ( seems to work for other MMOs like WoW )

[Jump]

Originally Posted by project3wc

whatever works and brings them thousands of customers and the majority likes is what ND should be aiming for, not what a group of 10 people like imho

I can guarantee you that it is far far more than 10.

What they're going to end up with is a gigantic squad called "Classic" that sits at the border to unreg and kills everyone that comes through just because.

Now, this thread is about Shards is it not?

[netburnr]

Ok, after a long discussion with a coworker who is also a MMO experienced gamer, I think I might have something to put here. Be aware, this is a rehash of what we talked about and it might not all make sense without being there....

Ok, the concept for a sharded environment (which I am AVIDLY against)

Here we go....Imagine Jumpgate Classic's map. Ok, now, imagine Flux Space. We now have the basis for what I imagine.

Multiple "Universes" with different reasons for each one, each with its own pros and cons of being there. All connected together using special gates (or maybe even a gate key like there used to be for flux space)

The TRI Universe. TRI-World. Regulated Space, Tag System, Major Penalties for acting against the will of TRI, Heavily populated by both TRI-aligned Squads of Real Players doing the "factions" deeds, and AI patrols to keep the peace.

The Dark Universe. The underworld, Unregulated, dangerous as all hell. No Tag system can protect you, no AI will come save you if you are in trouble. Home of the pirates, home of the Anti-TRI squads, home of the "hardcore" hauling groups/individuals.

The Flux Universe. Partially regulated, partially unregulated. Some TRI-based stations, some unreg-based stations. The most dangerous of them all. Flux around every corner, perhaps no AI, perhaps AI fluxxers, don't know yet. Home of the Fluxing Squads, home of the brave.

Ok, so now we have the basics. 3 Major "systems, or universes" each with its own purpose. Now we have to break down the pros/cons....

TRI Universe: Pros: Heavily patrolled, safe for miners and haulers to do what they please for the most part. You can make a buck safely, without interference by pirates or other faction fighters. TRI Patrols will attack anyone who is aggressive towards people who don't want to be attacked. (Civ) Cons: You simply make less money here. Space is safe, so it will be "boring" for the people who want excitement.

Dark Universe: Pros: Pirates can roam free, as can bounty hunters, no hiding behind tags, no AI to protect you, no TRI influence at all. Seeing as this section of space is less traveled by the haulers and miners, the rewards for doing so in the space will be much higher. This gives the "hardcore" haulers a place to make really good money, but still be in danger. Of coarse some of the hardcore haulers might join "pirate" squads and have really great protection from REAL people which would make them somewhat safe. Cons: You will die a lot here, the cost of living is a bit higher due to the increased profit the haulers and miners are making, causing the equipment to be more expensive and harder to find.

Flux Universe Pros: Great way to get some massive experience points, great way to learn how to fight, varying levels of difficulty, some regulated and some unregulated sectors gives a "best of both worlds" situation and also provides plenty of AI bad guys to attack. Cons: Well naturally there are a crap ton of flux to kill you, you will die a lot. Stations will not be stocked as well as TRI, but better so than the Dark Universe. Profit will be only marginally better than TRI-space.

The way we pictured it, each universe has its own appeal, each universe is different, and each universe will add a dimension to the game. Some stuff won't be available in one universe but might be available in another. Certain universes could have different types of stations, ships, equipment, commodities, and way of playing the game.

So your a nub, you start off in a core sector of TRI space, you do your leveling, you do your hauling, you do your mining, and now you are bored. Well hop over to flux space, gets some more XP, try out new equipement, check out new sectors. Bored again? See if you can survive in the Dark Universe, go for those crazy profits, make friends with the underworld and provide them equipment for the right of safety in their "area"

What do ya'll think?

[biteme]

There is a technical limit to amount of players in a real time game. Eve gets away with it because its not real time. Information has to get to the server be processed and returned in a miniscule amount of time in Jumpgate Evolution.
There is also a limit to amount of objects especially moving objects that can be rendered on low end fixed pipe lined machines which is what there shooting for. Did you all forget how poorly the game ran with 100 people in one sector?

Get use to it if there are enough players they will have to have multiple servers.

People seem to be afraid to split our community but lets not forget one half of our community completely and totally hated the other back in the day it wasn't all fun and roses. The reason were here and not in the general forums on the Jumpgate Classic site is proof of that. To which looking back on it, I am quite ashamed of as I stoked the fires many times.

[GrimGriz]

I agree with biteme, there's plenty of people I wouldn't want on the same server as me, and plenty of people (13 year olds mostly) I'm not going to want to be on the same server with that don't even know about the game yet. Shards aren't necessarily bad. The issues only arise when they decide they have to make sure everyone on a different server has the same experience, or when they force you to a certain shard based on location

[ELPIRATA]

Yep, this is what worries me too, mostly that the shard will move people away off their friends just because location. If I were to be sent to a caribbean/south america server you can bet I would cancel my account (for Jumpgate Evolution I mean, not Jumpgate Classic).

Hell, right now I've flown so much with/against UK/EU folks that 'sharding' them away will have its effect.

If given a choice, Id have a shard that would allow ALL of the Jumpgate Classic vets to always be in it (unless ur a darn carebear that can't handle PvP), that way, our long standing community stays always together, otherwise, our 'community' as we know it.. it will disappear.

ELP