player base launch day and post launch

Blakkrskyrr

i am curious about finding out how the player base increases on launch day and the following weeks.  Would Anet publish numbers in sequence like that?  I know that there have been a ridiculous number of people prepurchasing the game, and so there will be alot of people running around come 00:00 august 25, but id expect that once the 28th comes around the corner we would have already moved out from the starting areas, so will the newcomers have a poor experience, or is there expected to be hordes of new players coming in on the 28th?  those who comment, maybe specify if you prepurchased or pre-ordered or are waiting until release to purchase?  I think it would be both humbling and a sense of pride in the game and Anet by seeing the numbers outside the game and the playerbase inside. 

FelixMajor

Dude, there will be so many people playing that if you bend over to tie your laces you'll end up with someone's head in your ass.

Blakkrskyrr

Originally posted by FelixMajor
Dude, there will be so many people playing that if you bend over to tie your laces you'll end up with someone's head in your ass.

haha, i guess that's true.  im just interested in the numbers across the servers.  

RizelStar

Originally posted by Blakkrskyrr

Originally posted by FelixMajor
Dude, there will be so many people playing that if you bend over to tie your laces you'll end up with someone's head in your ass.

haha, i guess that's true.  im just interested in the numbers across the servers.  

There are a few reasons I doubt starter areas will be empty post launch.

Capital Cities

RPers

Downleveling

Holiday Events

Vistas

And I could be missing more incentives.

One that we would have to wait and see is if ANET will actually add in DE's and/or change them up post launch, which is possible but will they go that far and do it has yet to be seen.

We also talking as if people won't be rolling alts.

Now that's just my reasons as to why I have doubts, I'm not saying it's impossible because people will get bored of the starter zones and what not and be at other places.

Though with level scaling, it's possible for add ons to not be exclusive to those who are at level 80 and what not, ANET could add things to lower zones and what not even dungeons and make it something anyone at any level would enjoy doing.

But yea time will tell you better than anyone else lol.

 

fiontar

From previous MMOs I've played with headstarts, I'd say that about 60-65% play during head-start and the rest start on launch day. Plus, remember that a number of people will try out a few characters during their first week before settling on a main. Besides, DEs scale. I've done a lot of off peak play and had fun playing even when there are very few people around in what ever zone I'm playing in.

Tokken

I prepurchased and I am glad to get the head start.  The 28th launch will probably be packed with people.  I predict that they will have to add servers to the current list.... soon after launch.

dellirious13

Originally posted by Tokken
I prepurchased and I am glad to get the head start.  The 28th launch will probably be packed with people.  I predict that they will have to add servers to the current list.... soon after launch.

Yea, they already have 15 or 20 other servers that they used in BWE1/2 that weren't used in 3 because they upped the population limits on the servers, I wouldnt be surprised if many of these are opened at the start of early access, soon after, or for launch day. Plus, as with virtually every MMO developer, Im sure they have a bunch of extra servers ready and waiting, too.

Celcius

If you are curious how populated starting areas will be post launch I would take a look at GW1 and probably multiply that by alot. Right now Kamadan or whatever the name is of the 2nd city you get to in the Nightfall campeign is pretty damn popular. I started playing the game again a few days ago to see if I could snag a couple of HoM points before launch and was shocked. I knew that GW1 was still very much alive and well, but I did not expect to see as many people as I did. There were probably 30+ people there. This is a 7 year old game here! Honestly the no sub model really works wonders for population.