Zones ... hmmm

[Lirion]

Having smaller zones allows you to put more detail in each one of them rather than the copy-paste world of 1.0. Not saying you can't have huge 1.0 zones that's not copy paste but if this is the best option over that I take it any day of the week.

[InuraBera]

The continent of Northrend in WoW is one of the best things, scenery wise, that I've ever experienced.

I did much enjoy Northrend. However, one thing that always strikes me in World of Warcraft is how 'sudden' the change is - from dark spooky forests of Duskwood, to suddenly the jungles of Stranglethorn. If they had 'zones' that you actually loaded into, it makes you feel like you have travelled more distance and sorts many of those oddities.

They have got much better at it lately, but often the very obvious boundaries can be a bit of an immersion breaker - more so than loading up a new are would be!

Of course, both work well, just depends how they are done. Being an old time gamer, I've always been a fan of zoning - it gives the feeling of entering into an exciting, seperate area, rather than just happening to wander into it all of a sudden.

[MicahZerrshia]

Good things they did with zoning...

Adding zone markers, those little blue dots. So much better than a sudden unexpected zone.

Map name display. Love the fact we now know where we are going. It will make it easier for new players to learn what zones are where and not be so confused as to where they are

[syntaxlies]

I noticed that this time the game enter different zones .. like XI "Loading"

I liked 1.0 more "In way of how large the area is without zoning"



what do you think?

zones were announced way back in the time before time. its no surprise to me. Id rather not have to many zones within the city but it seems to be needed to to distribute the player load in potentially overloaded area.

Good things they did with zoning...

Adding zone markers, those little blue dots. So much better than a sudden unexpected zone.

Map name display. Love the fact we now know where we are going. It will make it easier for new players to learn what zones are where and not be so confused as to where they are

i have a feeling the blue dots wont make it to final version, no one likes them

[Izariael]

Based on the alpha videos, the zone loads were basically just a quick title flash, and then the zone is loaded. It wasn't really a loading screen per se, it was just barely long enough to tell you "Hey! You're entering this district of Gridania! Cool beans!" I think it looks pretty snazzy myself, and it doesn't seem like it'll turn into thumb-twiddling time since it's so fast! If it ends up helping the server loads, I'll support it

[Mjollnir]

no one likes them

I like them.

[syntaxlies]

I like them.

personally id like to see zone transitions on mini map only, but its such i trivial thing to me i really dont care.

[Starlord]

So Zoning= 2-5 secs of waiting... not sure what the issue is here. Were getting a better "Unique" world to look at "because" of zones.

[Colino]

Zones allow for more variety and are also much easier to manage technically.

As much as I LOVED the open areas in 1.0 (I'll never forget the first time I explored Coerthas... Just beautiful) gameplay and enjoyment wise changing to zones is probably for the best.

[Virtuso]

They want to support 1000 players with 400+ battles going on AT THE SAME TIME in every zone. So depending on the server capacity it won't ever EVER lag except for global events like the final battle of 1.0

Woah when was this ever said? Most I heard was that the servers grew unstable at 800 players in alpha and are planing to make 800 players in one zone stable. What's this 400+ battles across multiple zones? Like as in an event or they just mean the servers being able to handle 400 players fighting here and there randomly across the zone?