Planetside Reserves to come back, Server merges also......Mabye later?

[Mrbloodworth]

New producer just announced tonight that Reserves trial will return in some form this year so you can try it for free.

"<Xahn> I think right now the biggest plan is to bring back Reserves in one form or another.  We've got some bigger plans for the servers, but I don't want to commit to anything till I can get all my ducks in a row.  But the immediate plans are Reserves.  Specially since it's summer and more people have time. "

http://forums.station.sony.com/ps/posts/list.m?topic_id=88000010844

 

Stay tuned for more info and hopefully an official announcement!

 

What is The Reserve Program?

**** This info is subject to change as it was from the past Reserve program, however its given as a guideline to what may be offered when the reserves comeback****

    Q: What is the demo program PlanetSide Reserves?
    A: Demo players will be able to download the PlanetSide Reserves demo and will be able to play for free through Battle Rank 6. Once they reach BR 6, they will be able to continue to play the game, but will not accumulate additional experience points unless and until they upgrade to a paying account. On exit from the game after each play session, players will be taken to a website that will allow them to purchase the game client and upgrade to a paying account. Upon purchase of the game client, you will receive an additional 30 days of play after upgrading your account. This offer is not available for existing PlanetSide accounts.

    Q: Is Battle Rank 6 the maximum rank that PlanetSide Reserves accounts can reach?
    A: Yes. The PlanetSide Reserves accounts can only progress up to Battle Rank 6 (BR 6). Once BR 6 is achieved, you will be able to continue to play the game, but will not progress further unless you purchase the game client and upgrade to a paying subscription.

    Q: How do I access PlanetSide game files to try it out?
    A: We will provide you a location to download the demo game files. There will be a link on PlanetSide.com with more details.

    Q: How would a PlanetSide Reserves account user convert to paying subscriber?
    A: On exit from the game, you will be taken to a website that will allow you to purchase the game client and upgrade to a monthly subscription for the price indicated on the website, which includes the opportunity to obtain the Battle Frame Robotics (BFRs), the giant robot units, and gain more XP to progress through higher Battle Ranks. With higher XP you will be able to gain new implants, better weapons and higher command ranks.

    Q: How long can I play the demo?
    A: The program will run for a fixed 12-month period from March 24, 2006 through March 21, 2007. The length of your demo time will depend on when in the promotion period you sign up. If you sign up on the first day, you will have almost 12 full months of gameplay. If you sign up one week before the end of the program, you will have one week of demo time.

    Q: When a PlanetSide Reserves account converts to a paying account, what happens to the characters and account if they decide to cancel later on?
    A: Once an account converts over to a paying account, normal cancellation procedures apply. To play that account again you will need to enter billing on it. Please note, only one PlanetSide Reserves account per Station Account will be permitted.

    Q: What other features will I receive when I purchase the game client and upgrade to a paying account?
    A: When you upgrade your account after purchase of the game client, you will immediately receive an additional 30 days of gameplay before your first subscription is paid. Also, the very next time you login after upgrading the account you will have no restrictions on the growth of your character and can progress past Battle Rank 6, Command Rank 2 and will be able to imprint your character to use BFR’s (Battle Frame Robots) after completing the prerequisites in the caverns.

    Q: While playing the demo, will I be able to work towards merits?
    A: Yes. All of your kill statistics towards merits will count, but some merits do not apply until after you’ve reached a higher battle rank. So, you may not be able to get all your merits while in your demo period.

    Q: Will these accounts have access to the caverns?
    A: Yes. There will be no restriction on areas while playing the demo.

    Q: Will a PlanetSide Reserves account be able to obtain a BFR?
    A: You will be able to finish the prerequisites for obtaining a BFR but you will not be able to get the imprinting of the BFR until the account is upgraded to a paying account.

    Q: Will I have any identifying feature on my character to single me out as a PlanetSide Reserves player?
    A: Fortunately for you, no. Until you unlock your account and gain enough XP to reach Battle Rank 7 your armor design will be the same. If you want to avoid being singled out as a lower level player, purchase the client and upgrade to a paying account as soon as possible.

    Q: Will I be able to join a squad?
    A: Yes, it is highly recommended for learning the game quicker and keeping your character alive. You’ll be able to join or create a squad from the moment you start playing. Just hit “P” to bring up the squad commands and controls to create or search.

    Q: Is it true that joining an outfit is a great way to learn the tricks of the game? And can I join an outfit as a PlanetSide Reserves player?
    A: Yes to both. Outfit members only succeed if their teammates know what they are doing to cover their backs, and you will be able to join up as soon as you enter the game. It might be a good idea to find out the play style of the outfit before accepting and invitation. Many outfits have their own web sites so check it out!

    Q: Will I be able to gain experience after I achieve Battle Rank 6 and Command Rank 2?
    A: No. Experience will stop as soon as you reach each ranking, until you upgrade to a paying account.

    Q: If I wait awhile to upgrade to a paying account after achieving Battle Rank 6, will my experience be saved up and then be applied to my account when I do upgrade?
    A: Unfortunately, no. You’ll only accumulate additional experience after you upgrade to a paying account. So don’t wait too long to get into the action!

    Q: What is a population lock on a continent?
    A: There is a cap on the amount of players that can enter a continent per each empire. This number may fluctuate by continent, but if your empire has capped out on a continent you will have to wait your turn to enter or pick another battle on a different continent.

    Q: Will PlanetSide Reserves players be given the same priority as paying players when waiting for a spot on a population locked continent?
    A: Players on accounts that are paying a subscription will have priority over PlanetSide Reserves player accounts.

    Q: Will PlanetSide Reserves players be limited to the amount of players per account?
    A: All demo player accounts will have the same character limits as paying accounts. You can have up to 8 characters on each server.

    Q: When will the PlanetSide Reserves program launch?
    A: March 24, 2006

[shiznitz]

I usually notice a drop in player activity during the summer, certainly in my guilds. Maybe that is because my guilds are on the older side and summer= vacation away from home. I play MMOs a lot less May - September.

[Trippy]

That's bad news if they are merging servers yet again.

[Furiously]

They really should just get rid of CR5 as well.

[shiznitz]

Grr. Since I am not a subscriber I cannot go to the forums and learn about changes that might make me want to re-subscribe. Nice.

[Mrbloodworth]

Grr. Since I am not a subscriber I cannot go to the forums and learn about changes that might make me want to re-subscribe. Nice.

What was the last thing added that you know of? Ill bring the info to you.

That's bad news if they are merging servers yet again.

I don't think so, the game has no PvE, so its a snowball affect, if there are less people, people will leave, if there are more, more will join. Nothing puts people off then low populations, and that goes double for a PvP only game.

[LK]

They already have it setup where there's one server on the east and west coast and one in Europe.  A server merge will create some lagtacular problems with different coasts playing on a centralized location, though that's not really that big of a deal.

God I hope I greened that right.

[Trippy]

That's bad news if they are merging servers yet again.

I don't think so, the game has no PvE, so its a snowball affect, if there are less people, people will leave, if there are more, more will join. Nothing puts people off then low populations, and that goes double for a PvP only game.

I understand that players need other players to shoot at. However, they are already down to 3 servers. If they merge down to 2 (say by eliminating the "Euro" server) or even one server that's just...sad. That's like maybe 1000 people simultaneously during prime time hours.

And they shouldn't have stopped the Reserves program in the first place. People were telling them long before it stopped that stopping it would cause populations to drop again.

[Strazos]

What Trippy said. Color me shocked. SHOCKED.

[Kitsune]

Step 1: Hay guys, we're canceling fodderside, cutting the population on all the servers, and hiking the price.
Step 2: Everyone leaves.
Step 3:
Step 4: Profit!

Their plan was idiotic from the start; a middle-schooler could have predicted that kicking out the free players and raising prices would result in a drastic population drop.  Then they waited until AFTER everyone left to start adding things into the game, when the clearly wiser move would be to put in the new content, give all of the players a taste, and then hike the price.  A player who's pissed off and has left in a huff isn't going to be lured back by new game content, especially if they know that there's nobody left on the servers to play against.

Not quite as bad a bungle as the Star Wars fiasco, but definitely in the same vein of terrible ideas.

[LK]

Sad thing is I like Planetside.  Maybe not in addictive chunks that I normally consume my MMOs in, but it is the most ideal version of a persistent FPS out there.  Battlefield games (I prefer Enemy Territory though) are there for gaming goodness but no persistence.

Chromehounds actually had a nice persistent world concept but the problem with loading missions is that I didn't feel like I was occupying a world.  Unless I was fighting I was in menus.

[Sky]

I love PS and it really bums me out when the dev team keeps boning the game. It makes it look like the genre isn't viable, rather than just a mediocre implementation that's been clusterfucked for years (but hey, at least it's no SWG). I still think it's one of the very best mmo out there, along with Eve and SL, for really utilizing the massive part. More players = better game. Unlike most pve group-based games where more people just mean less resources to farm for everyone else.

[Mrbloodworth]

One of the major stumbling block as far as PS development has been, the original implementation... Just about everything is hard coded (Lack of scripting), and apparently allot of the tools are..well, they either suck, or are not around. Not sure of the real answer, but from the ground up, the original game was not documented, or created with expanding it later in mind.

Its been said, the compile is 55 megabytes in size, 55 megabytes of undocumented c++, and no map tools to speak of, and no scripting layer (they added one about a year ago, for the events).

[Sky]

I disagree. Sure, it had a mediocre implementation. I just said that.

But then the stupid caves expansion. Then tying the xomg giant robots to playing in those stupid caves. Then letting it sit for a while. Then killing the free accounts which reduced warm bodies. Then jacking the price.

Some of the new stuff looks cool, it's /about fucking time/ someone started adding good stuff en masse to the old bird. I have to do a full reinstall, but if the game survives until next winter, I'll probably play on the (zomg eXXXpensive) station pass.

[Strazos]

I think I liked blowing up the robots as much, if not more, than actually being a gunner in the damn things.

Anyone who was on our Vent server KNOWS how I loved to gun straight for those fuckers, and then squeal with glee as I pounded their shield gen as a MAX and caused the pilot to run for the hills.

[Mrbloodworth]

I disagree. Sure, it had a mediocre implementation. I just said that.

But then the stupid caves expansion. Then tying the xomg giant robots to playing in those stupid caves. Then letting it sit for a while. Then killing the free accounts which reduced warm bodies. Then jacking the price.

Some of the new stuff looks cool, it's /about fucking time/ someone started adding good stuff en masse to the old bird. I have to do a full reinstall, but if the game survives until next winter, I'll probably play on the (zomg eXXXpensive) station pass.

I wasn't referring to the the game play implementation's, i was speaking technical. Had Planetside been engineered to be more a flexible design (such as other MMO's) and well documented, you would have seen much more done with the game, as it is, i think they were very locked into what they could do with it, and time was needed to decipher the undocumented code base.

And for the record, i have never had any issue with BFR's, i enjoy a target that require some tactics to take out (Original implementation).

[Megrim]

So would it be safe to assume that we'll be seeing a resurrection of the f13 meatgrinder squad? Because i'd play with 300+ ping, if only to hear Jimbo on Vent again. God that was awesome.

[Strazos]

Jimbo - The Trucker of F13. (sorry)


I'd love to assault some more people in the woods as a cloaker with plasma nades and knives.

[bhodi]

Yeah, me and Straz may have to pair up again in the woods. Those poor bastards won't know what hit them. Because they won't be able to see us!

[Sky]

I once held off a guy for three hours as a cloaker. It was pretty funny, I was laughing most of the time. I was a CE with a fully loaded tower. He was a grunt with an AMS. I kept sneaking out and booming him while he sniped my placeables, and then went for the knife kills if I was close to the AMS when he respawned. Then I started booming his AMS while he was a couple hills away sniping, he'd come running back and I'd go reload on boomers.

I decided that day I should also get advanced hacking because it would've been even funnier to keep hacking his AMS.

[Stephen Zepp]

I once held off a guy for three hours as a cloaker. It was pretty funny, I was laughing most of the time. I was a CE with a fully loaded tower. He was a grunt with an AMS. I kept sneaking out and booming him while he sniped my placeables, and then went for the knife kills if I was close to the AMS when he respawned. Then I started booming his AMS while he was a couple hills away sniping, he'd come running back and I'd go reload on boomers.

I decided that day I should also get advanced hacking because it would've been even funnier to keep hacking his AMS.

Lol--that was probably me :P

I love me some "have my own ams in an out of the way sniper nest area" action, but damn those cloakers that find me.

[LK]

That's what sucks about being a sniper in most games.  You can't really remain hidden for very long after the first shot, even in a super chaotic battle.  Sniper bolts have a very distinctive sound, and they leave a trail.  If even a little bit of yourself is in plain view, someone can ID you from far away.

[Stephen Zepp]

That's what sucks about being a sniper in most games.  You can't really remain hidden for very long after the first shot, even in a super chaotic battle.  Sniper bolts have a very distinctive sound, and they leave a trail.  If even a little bit of yourself is in plain view, someone can ID you from far away.

Well, the role snipers play in most games is completely different from the role they play in "real" war. Most snipers are on-offs. Single target, single shot, get the hell out you're done.

Tactical scenario snipers obviously are slightly different, but the expectation that a sniper can sit on a hill all day and snipe is a pretty ridiculous one when you think it through.

[Sky]

Snipers are a horrid addition to online games, imo. It's a very selfish and non-teamwork role in most applications. I'm not talking about laying down cover fire for your unit as they accomplish objectives. Snipers are awesome for that in a good team. I'm talking about all the people who sit off in some corner of the map doing nothing but plinking away at random people who happen to stand still for a second while adding nothing to the game other than random damage.

My bf1942 clan had a thread on our board for posting pictures of sniper knifings. Our bread and butter was knifing some snipetard on a pub. Especially those wonders of nature that are the K:2 D:0 snipers. Thanks for taking up a slot that could have been an active player, snipetard.

[Miasma]

I don't much care for snipers either, for the same reasons Sky mentioned.  Only 10% of the people that play them are any good and actually help the team they are on, the other 90% tend to be immature sociopaths.

In Quake Wars they get the sniper classes into the melee by allowing them to steal the enemies uniform and become one of them, once done they can only use the knife without blowing their cover.  They also get either a flying drone or a third eye camera to spy on the enemy (both also detonate), the class is also needed to hack computer objectives.

[Stephen Zepp]

I don't much care for snipers either, for the same reasons Sky mentioned.  Only 10% of the people that play them are any good and actually help the team they are on, the other 90% tend to be immature sociopaths.

In Quake Wars they get the sniper classes into the melee by allowing them to steal the enemies uniform and become one of them, once done they can only use the knife without blowing their cover.  They also get either a flying drone or a third eye camera to spy on the enemy (both also detonate), the class is also needed to hack computer objectives.

If I'm sniping as part of a squad (and on vent, it's too painful to do while typing) I spend most of my time letting people what's going on in the tactical situation, and only a bit of time on actually working targets (in Planetside, I don't play QW).

[Miasma]

That's totally cool, if you're spotting, spying, hacking and killing people silly enough to stop moving then you are one of the very few usefull snipers.

[Strazos]

I don't really snipe in PS, but I did tons of sniping in TFC and Warrock and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.

But I'm aggressive as hell when I snipe; I don't sit off in some far-away corner. No, I find a nice corner or something Really Fucking Close to the objective or enemy base.

If I can someone get behind the base, and pick people off as they come out and run away from me, even better.

[gimpyone]

All the sniper hate 

[Strazos]

I don't hate snipers.

Without snipers, who would I have to easily knife in the back as I squeal with glee?

[gimpyone]

Hey I covered you and bhodi while I sniped :/

[Strazos]

KILLSTEALER!!1!one   

[Mrbloodworth]

About the Merge:

Beady wrote.
And about the server merge....we have discussed the possibility of it, but I can't stress this enough: no definite plans have been made.  We can't give you details like when and where because those answers don't exist; a server merge is not scheduled to happen anytime soon.  As Xahn has previously stated, we're going to try a few promotional things first before we attempt anything else.

[Morat20]

I don't hate snipers.

Without snipers, who would I have to easily knife in the back as I squeal with glee?

When I snipe, it's a few shots and move, a few shots and move. (Not in Planetside -- don't play it, although it looks pretty fascinating).

I spend more time calling out movements to everyone else, since I've got the cool zoom feature.

[NiX]

I wish more games had MGs. I love being an MG in DoD. It's not easy taking up a permanent position with a gun that sprays like all over the place.