Population

[ranarmir]

You know what I just thought of that I'm sure at least half the people here would like as an idea for this game? NC having a population feature on the official site that would list how many of each race on the server and how many of each class. It would help balance how many join each race because when they would look at those numbers most would gravitate to the race with less. Also would help the spread of class because no one wants to be the "over played class". It wouldn't make a huge diffrence but i think it would be enough to make the work this would take worth it. Of course if it just counted every single character made it wouldnt make a real representation. Ideas? Flames? Good idea? Bring it on!

[Kattrina]

I think that'd be a swell idea. Honestly, it might just be because I love looking at demographics in general. I wouldn't mind server population counts, guild counts, average guild member populations, most successful guilds, class populations, ect. I just soak that stuff up.

[Calindor]

Yeah that would be a good idea, another thing they could do is say it one side reaches 10% more chars than another, they block character creations of the over populated faction, unless you had vouches or referrals from say 5 different people (you should be allowed to play with your friends no matter what), but if you are just a random person who doesnt know anyone on the server, go play on another one or pick the opposite race.

They would also have to make sure the characters are active too, maybe let the search include only chars that have been played x amount of hours per week or something.

[Celestin]

Actually, there's already huge interest in this type of demographical information. If NCSoft doesn't do it themselves, there is a 100% a third party will take it up as their personal mission to find out themselves.

It happened for WoW. In fact, the third party? It was Xerox PARC. Yes, Xerox PARC, the super famous and prolific computer R&D center.

Why? I don't know, but they tracked everything. Average time to max level by class and faction. Class and race popularity. Success in PvP, average PvP rank. Everything.

I'm sure though, that the root cause has to do with making money. For example, before MMOs, researchers used simulations to find out all these things about sociology. But now, they don't need a sim. They have MMOs that does everything a sim does, but with real people.

[Endrance]

Everytime I looked at rankings I was thinking "Ha (instert player name being 1st)! There's a new number one in town!" made a character and started playing enthusiastically (cause I am that kinda person - and I hate it when I am like that when it's about MMOs).
For a few days or weeks it worked, but when I finally realized that the game itself couldn't keep that feeling alive, because it was either monotonous as hell or there was nothing to aspire after understanding the game. Well, that's subjective experience and there's a possibility that Aion will differ.
However, nothing speaks against a faction population counter. Although I'm guessing that NCsoft would somehow implement a balancing system anyway?

[Celestin]

Originally Posted by Calindor

Yeah that would be a good idea, another thing they could do is say it one side reaches 10% more chars than another, they block character creations of the over populated faction, unless you had vouches or referrals from say 5 different people (you should be allowed to play with your friends no matter what), but if you are just a random person who doesnt know anyone on the server, go play on another one or pick the opposite race.

No way. This is restricting the freedom of the individual to attain happiness by restricting his right to free choice.

[Fayeth]

Originally Posted by Calindor

unless you had vouches or referrals from say 5 different people (you should be allowed to play with your friends no matter what).

QQ what about us emos that don't have 5 friends -_-

./tears of blood

Good idea tho.. will keep the pvp more balanced and the castle control more "up in the air" then having 50 to 1 ratios like some servers ive played on. -- That is... if people actually pay attention to the number. Some people might see the numbers and join more onto the heavy side jut cuz they want easy rank points.

[ranarmir]

The main idea of this isnt about population balance, just info for the users. They have the balur implimented to balance out population diffrence. I think that if they did the 10% thing it would stop so many people from playing. Even though its pretty much only how you look, that meens alot to alot of people :P. When girl gamers first start a game that is about the most important thing. Eventualy it isnt and they start pwning you up and make fun of you cause your beat by a girl, but till that point... I think that having the populations listed would make it so you wouldnt need the 10% diffrence thing anyways.

Stop killing my thread with stupid ideas calindor ;D. Ok so first idea was shot out of the water by many people. Keep them coming. maybe we wont be so harsh.

[Celestin]

PlayOn

That's the research by, yes, Xerox PARC, that I mentioned earlier. If these guys, the guys that brought us Ethernet and graphical UIs think this information is important, it must be.

It's not a question of if somebody will do it, it's a question of when.

[Isley]

NCsoft won't provide this information. The closest official source you'll get are their documents released to shareholders quarterly, but as you can already guess those won't contain much "game" info and just keep it limited to the # of subscribers etc.

I'm very positive a third party person or company will fill the gap though don't worry about this at all.

[Fayeth]

Originally Posted by ranarmir

When girl gamers first start a game that is about the most important thing. Eventualy it isnt and they start pwning you up and make fun of you cause your beat by a girl, but till that point... the water by many people. Keep them coming. maybe we wont be so harsh.

./angry face

I will see your head sir, on the end of an asmodian pike. Looks the most important thing psh! I'll pwn your face. I wont make fun of you cuz you got beat by a girl tho, i'll just make fun of you for spec-ing into fail.

[Calindor]

Originally Posted by ranarmir

The main idea of this isnt about population balance, just info for the users. They have the balur implimented to balance out population diffrence. I think that if they did the 10% thing it would stop so many people from playing. Even though its pretty much only how you look, that meens alot to alot of people :P. When girl gamers first start a game that is about the most important thing. Eventualy it isnt and they start pwning you up and make fun of you cause your beat by a girl, but till that point... I think that having the populations listed would make it so you wouldnt need the 10% diffrence thing anyways.

Stop killing my thread with stupid ideas calindor ;D. Ok so first idea was shot out of the water by many people. Keep them coming. maybe we wont be so harsh.

I have no idea how any of what you just said related to keeping the factions on each server balanced.

Why would people not play the game? Someone buys it at a store, install it, setup a subscription, they create a char and pick server number 1 and they get a message "There are too many Asmodians on this server, Please choose Elyos or pick another server". Are they going to go oh damn im not playing this game if the first server has too many asmodians!

Originally Posted by Fayeth

QQ what about us emos that don't have 5 friends -_-

./tears of blood

if you cant make 5 friends on a server, i think its time to stop playing video games....You just tell your clan, hey I got a friend who wants to play, can some people help me out and get him on the server...or something like that.

[ranarmir]

Originally Posted by Fayeth

./angry face

I will see your head sir, on the end of an asmodian pike. Looks the most important thing psh! I'll pwn your face. I wont make fun of you cuz you got beat by a girl tho, i'll just make fun of you for spec-ing into fail.

I'm going asmo btw...

[Fishy McFish]

Originally Posted by Celestin

No way. This is restricting the freedom of the individual to attain happiness by restricting his right to free choice.

I agree it would be a horrible idea to force people to play the other side just to try to fix balancing issues. We've already have a fix for that. It's the Baldur who will try to contain one side from being overpowered and taking over the abyss. Based on the other thread asking age/faction its about 60% Elyos/40% Asmo(just from this forum) which actually isn't too bad.

[DemonXaphan]

Not gonna happen