11-11-2009, 02:43 PM
I just wanted to note this for posterity.
Moore's law states that computer power will double every two years (basically).
Slamz' law states that the player density on physical server hardware will double every two years while game mechanics will stay just as shitty as ever.
That is,
10 years ago: 1000 people per server array with shitty game mechanics
8 years ago: 2000 people per server array with the array running two servers with shitty game mechanics
6 years ago: 4000 people per server array with the array running four servers with shitty game mechanics
4 years ago: 8000 people per server array with the array running eight servers with shitty game mechanics
The servers running Aion are vastly more powerful than the ones running EQ, but the game mechanics are identical and the number of people per "server" (i.e., "Triniel", "Vallon Zek", etc) is roughly the same.
All of the improvements in hardware are being eaten up behind the scenes to lower the cost-per-user to run the game.
Moore's law states that computer power will double every two years (basically).
Slamz' law states that the player density on physical server hardware will double every two years while game mechanics will stay just as shitty as ever.
That is,
10 years ago: 1000 people per server array with shitty game mechanics
8 years ago: 2000 people per server array with the array running two servers with shitty game mechanics
6 years ago: 4000 people per server array with the array running four servers with shitty game mechanics
4 years ago: 8000 people per server array with the array running eight servers with shitty game mechanics
The servers running Aion are vastly more powerful than the ones running EQ, but the game mechanics are identical and the number of people per "server" (i.e., "Triniel", "Vallon Zek", etc) is roughly the same.
All of the improvements in hardware are being eaten up behind the scenes to lower the cost-per-user to run the game.