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[DD] Maximum number of players

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 13:38
by Hyronymus
In this topic the maximum amount of players was discussed. The Design Document doesn't mention a maximum amount of players though. I realise that the maximum amount of players is something to be determined by the game host. But I wonder if we shouldn't keep a maximum number in the back or our heads during the development of Transport Empire.

Question 1: Do we need to know the maxiumum number of players to develop Transport Empire?

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 13:45
by aarona
Question 1: No, not at this stage.

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 15:35
by Lilman424
I think the only maximum number of players should be, say 256, which is certainly a high enough hard limit that no one will complain about not having enough players.

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 16:04
by aarona
unsigned char
I can live with that.

We can review this in operation as to "recommended" values. (So people dont crash their computers stupidly choosing 255 computer opponents, slowing their computers to < 1 frame per year)

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 18:27
by m3henry
I say 31, this is a slightly more sensible number, as computers are getting more powerful and intenets are getting faster, but I think the LAN could be 63, as they are hugely faster.
EDIT: and I dont think more than 100 players would want to be on one map, unless that map was HUGE!

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 20:14
by XeryusTC
m3henry wrote:I say 31, this is a slightly more sensible number, as computers are getting more powerful and intenets are getting faster, but I think the LAN could be 63, as they are hugely faster.
EDIT: and I dont think more than 100 players would want to be on one map, unless that map was HUGE!
Note that you're not talking about current computers, but about computers in a few years. Computers will be more powerfull in the future, so I think that 256 players is quite a good hard limit, or maybe even 128.

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 22:33
by aarona
256 is good because its unsigned char + 1.

Even with computers today all you/we would have to do is set up a system where the game can be run on multiple servers. Now I don't think we will have this system in mind but it could be done.

There is no reason why we couldn't have a MMOTG (...transport game) but that isn't the goal here.

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 23:08
by Dave
I say for a normal game, the old TTD limit of 8 is quite sufficient, even on a bigger map. Of course the AI is gonna be better :D

Posted: 23 Nov 2006 23:43
by Zuu
Hardlimit at 256, sure that's okay.

Put a softlimit at say 8 that will be configurated in the server config.

Perhaps even a half-soft limit of say 16 or 32 could be put in the code, perhaps related to the config pharser. Which will only need a recompile to change. (but this last half-soft thing is could just be overkill. Not our problem if people change their config to 256 and put their computers into super-lag.)

Posted: 24 Nov 2006 11:42
by Purno
I don't like limits.
I'd say pick a hard limit of 256, and let the user decide on his own soft limit. If someone wants to multiplayer with 255 other peeps (which he'll never manage), fine with me (tho the game would probably be quite unstable). If someone wants to play against 255 AIs on a tiny map, sure, who cares, let him decide. TBH, I see no reason to put a soft limit on the game.

Btw, do spectators count as players too? Are we talking about the number of player or the number of companies?

Posted: 24 Nov 2006 13:28
by Hyronymus
I think the number of players connected to the server, regardless of their status.

Posted: 24 Nov 2006 14:06
by Purno
So, to rephrase that so it works with single player too; The maximum amount of players (both human and AI), wether they control a company or not.

Sounds fine. :))