Ok, since today I am officially reinstated by Schuss after my 'incidents' a while ago I want to make use of the opportunity to speak. I have some great ideas and I am interested in your view of them, and history is not repeating itself this time: I am open to discussion, more then I was before.
European Time
As we may have noticed, we have some slight issues with the 2142 server regarding it's occupation.
During daytimes, this is not a surprise because many folks living in the EU are either at work or at school.
And those with the spare time (or lack of both occupations mentioned above) will probably own their own server and not bother to play on some public where they have no control.
A solution to this problem is not at hand, nor will it be easy to come up with. I spent many hours on planning how to get a server full, but at least we aren't the only ones with this issue a lot of Euro servers suffer from the same lack of players.
Our main focus however is, and as it should be, the afternoon/evening/night. This is the moment that Europe starts to play on their servers. Still, getting the server filled up at 15 Pm is a hell of a job, and starters may be idling for more than half an our to get players into the server. Yet many disconnect and find another server.
Also I noticed a trend of down falling numbers of Berlin/Gibraltar servers and an increase in vehicle rich maps.
This might be temporary but it is a trend which can be followed.
So the possible list of solutions to the lacking interest in our 2142 server:
More and divers map rotations
We have a pretty static map rotation, so it is almost predictable when the disconnects start to occur.
As to be mentioned in the point below, new players have a different need than the more battle experienced veterans on 2142. And hell, I would love to not know what map is up next, it keeps the game more exciting.
Less infantry and more vehicles
Many new players buy this game because of the vehicles. They chose the game over CoD or CS:S/DoD because the game has vehicles. That is a fact. The battlefield franchise is not famous for it's great infantry system, at least not to new players. Maps like Gibraltar and Berlin have a restricted number of armor for both sides. This basically means that your are either on foot, or you got lucky and got a piece of hardware.
Now as a new player I would choice a map which has the most hardware, thus the bigger chance of getting to pilot some.
And off course: we hate it when someone crashes the walker in under 30 seconds on a map like Gibraltar, but as said; our server is open to everyone and every level off skill.
Better auto balancing
We need work out how to shuffle teams after each rounds. For way too many rounds most of us BF2s guys stacked into one team which by now is clear to me to be a very strong scarecrow to people.
I admit, I did the same, but we should work something out on controlling this. Keeping the teams shuffled gives each player new chances every round.
Being on the losing team for 15 rounds in a row is a strong motivator for pressing 'Disconnect'
Promote BF2s and/or it's successor
Maybe make some virals? Some YouTube movies or some graphics that can be spread around?
Haven't really thought this on out yet.
Joint Venture
We might want to look into a construction like BF2s/KNTL ; BF2 server.
Possible candidates could be GAMERT or badHQ or [Insert clan here].
This will influence a lot of players. We have the stats, GAMERT has the players and connections to the Dutch 2142 scene (which is in the TOP 10 of countries, as I recall).
That is all, for now
If you wish to discuss my views, or add your own to mine, don't hesitate to contact me! (Im open to everything)
Xfire : Bernadictus
MSN: force4design@hotmail.com
Email: b.westerdijk@mac.com (<private mail, don't abuse it, or else )
Skype: b.westerdijk
iChat/AIM: b.westerdijk@mac.com
Yahoo!: n0sf3r4t0r@yahoo.com
European Time
As we may have noticed, we have some slight issues with the 2142 server regarding it's occupation.
During daytimes, this is not a surprise because many folks living in the EU are either at work or at school.
And those with the spare time (or lack of both occupations mentioned above) will probably own their own server and not bother to play on some public where they have no control.
A solution to this problem is not at hand, nor will it be easy to come up with. I spent many hours on planning how to get a server full, but at least we aren't the only ones with this issue a lot of Euro servers suffer from the same lack of players.
Our main focus however is, and as it should be, the afternoon/evening/night. This is the moment that Europe starts to play on their servers. Still, getting the server filled up at 15 Pm is a hell of a job, and starters may be idling for more than half an our to get players into the server. Yet many disconnect and find another server.
Also I noticed a trend of down falling numbers of Berlin/Gibraltar servers and an increase in vehicle rich maps.
This might be temporary but it is a trend which can be followed.
So the possible list of solutions to the lacking interest in our 2142 server:
More and divers map rotations
We have a pretty static map rotation, so it is almost predictable when the disconnects start to occur.
As to be mentioned in the point below, new players have a different need than the more battle experienced veterans on 2142. And hell, I would love to not know what map is up next, it keeps the game more exciting.
Less infantry and more vehicles
Many new players buy this game because of the vehicles. They chose the game over CoD or CS:S/DoD because the game has vehicles. That is a fact. The battlefield franchise is not famous for it's great infantry system, at least not to new players. Maps like Gibraltar and Berlin have a restricted number of armor for both sides. This basically means that your are either on foot, or you got lucky and got a piece of hardware.
Now as a new player I would choice a map which has the most hardware, thus the bigger chance of getting to pilot some.
And off course: we hate it when someone crashes the walker in under 30 seconds on a map like Gibraltar, but as said; our server is open to everyone and every level off skill.
Better auto balancing
We need work out how to shuffle teams after each rounds. For way too many rounds most of us BF2s guys stacked into one team which by now is clear to me to be a very strong scarecrow to people.
I admit, I did the same, but we should work something out on controlling this. Keeping the teams shuffled gives each player new chances every round.
Being on the losing team for 15 rounds in a row is a strong motivator for pressing 'Disconnect'
Promote BF2s and/or it's successor
Maybe make some virals? Some YouTube movies or some graphics that can be spread around?
Haven't really thought this on out yet.
Joint Venture
We might want to look into a construction like BF2s/KNTL ; BF2 server.
Possible candidates could be GAMERT or badHQ or [Insert clan here].
This will influence a lot of players. We have the stats, GAMERT has the players and connections to the Dutch 2142 scene (which is in the TOP 10 of countries, as I recall).
That is all, for now
If you wish to discuss my views, or add your own to mine, don't hesitate to contact me! (Im open to everything)
Xfire : Bernadictus
MSN: force4design@hotmail.com
Email: b.westerdijk@mac.com (<private mail, don't abuse it, or else )
Skype: b.westerdijk
iChat/AIM: b.westerdijk@mac.com
Yahoo!: n0sf3r4t0r@yahoo.com
