Low online population for PC?

**VirusX** · 11-23-2007, 08:44 PM

I've had the game for about 3 days now, and I noticed in every game mode the server numbers are at around a static 55ish.

This seems ridiculously low. I also noticed half the servers are hosted by Epic itself. Am I missing something or did this game just not sell very well?

Also, I couldn't help but notice how horrible the server filtering menu is. You can't filter by mutators, and there is no favorites list. They seriously need to work on that.

**weebl** · 11-23-2007, 08:51 PM

A large chunk of the world hasn't even been able to get their hands on it yet, that might be a part of it.

**jarablue** · 11-23-2007, 08:53 PM

It has been out for what? At least 2 days now in the entire USA. The online servers right now is jack. I mean almost none at all. I tried to get on the 1 out of 2 deathmatch servers and couldn't connect. I hope this games sells well. First special edition game I bought in a long time. Please don't say no one has it yet. Go to any game store it's there.

I mean there are almost 0 games online right now. Crazy.

**martinblank** · 11-23-2007, 08:53 PM

and another large chunk of the world is waiting for it to fkin' ship because they pre ordered it from an e-tail store. like me.

**dethmanrulz** · 11-23-2007, 08:56 PM

well... I've gotta say the numbers are very disappointing... HOWEVER, hopefully things will pickup when all of Europe gets it. Give it a week.

I know, UT2004 had MASSIVE player numbers right in the first couple days... but lets face it.. that's probably not gonna happen again.

**Loeder** · 11-23-2007, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by martinblank

and another large chunk of the world is waiting for it to fkin' ship because they pre ordered it from an e-tail store. like me.

you mean e-fail store...

**Mouton** · 11-23-2007, 09:08 PM

Well, USA came out on 19th, Dedicated server for Windows (very important) came 2 days later then Canada had it on 22th. To me, the game will really start to shine once the first patch will be out. By then the dedicated setup for Linux should also be out. Some poeple must be waiting for computer upgrade for christmas or also waiting for the first patch.

**knuttraker** · 11-23-2007, 09:11 PM

The filtering is crap, no favorites, no mutator, and its a pain to get to one by ip.

**falldarkraven** · 11-23-2007, 09:14 PM

well another thing is that the game requirements are bigger then UT2004 and some lots of people might not be able to run it some may be hable to run it but in a ****ty frame rate and they dont play it not all people have a high end pc.

Nvidia Geforce 8600 GTS 512 mb video ram
1.5 gigs of ram
AMD Atlon X2 3800 dual core 2.0
Dell 20 inch high definition monitor
X-Fi sound card(dont know which)

**jarablue** · 11-23-2007, 09:20 PM

I remember previous releases had at least some even a good amount of servers online. A lot of users have kick ass systems. Plenty of us enthusiasts. It's just odd. This is the only release I have seen this little. 03 and 04 had way more right at this point in release. Wonder whats up?

**dethmanrulz** · 11-23-2007, 09:20 PM

true, but we mustn't forget that the UT2004 requirements were not good for everyone back in the day either...

**Respen** · 11-23-2007, 09:20 PM

you should see at least 50 servers in deathmatch. if not something on your end is wrong.

UT3 is really picky about server detection, I had to throw in a pci ethernet as the one onboard my asus (p5b) motherboard wasn't picking them up. Others have had the same troubles.

**Skill** · 11-23-2007, 09:21 PM

Even in the usa, tons of people are having ot wait a few more days. i havnt heard of anyone in canada getting it yet. Plus look at australia, europe, and everyone else who doesn't have it yet. I know it's been said before, but its in the first 3 days! if my pc could run it, i'd be doin botmatches and campaign for the first couple weeks. give it a month

**dethmanrulz** · 11-23-2007, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by Skill

Even in the usa, tons of people are having ot wait a few more days. i havnt heard of anyone in canada getting it yet. Plus look at australia, europe, and everyone else who doesn't have it yet. I know it's been said before, but its in the first 3 days! if my pc could run it, i'd be doin botmatches and campaign for the first couple weeks. give it a month

most people in Canada can have it by now... since yesterday.

Originally Posted by jarablue

I remember previous releases had at least some even a good amount of servers online. A lot of users have kick ass systems. Plenty of us enthusiasts. It's just odd. This is the only release I have seen this little. 03 and 04 had way more right at this point in release. Wonder whats up?

it's a bit concerning, frankly.

**dethmanrulz** · 11-23-2007, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by Respen

you should see at least 50 servers in deathmatch. if not something on your end is wrong.

UT3 is really picky about server detection, I had to throw in a pci ethernet as the one onboard my asus (p5b) motherboard wasn't picking them up. Others have had the same troubles.

well that's something they need to fix asap if that's true. Anyway, yeah I get a fair amount of servers... just... they're mostly empty.

**[404]Cham3l3on** · 11-23-2007, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Respen

you should see at least 50 servers in deathmatch. if not something on your end is wrong.

UT3 is really picky about server detection, I had to throw in a pci ethernet as the one onboard my asus (p5b) motherboard wasn't picking them up. Others have had the same troubles.

Whaat?

How can that be?

**massakre** · 11-23-2007, 09:25 PM

Although I agree there arent huge amounts of servers up yet, but I've had no problem getting into DM/TDM/Warfare games at all that were populated

**falldarkraven** · 11-23-2007, 09:30 PM

OOH btw population might be low becase of crappy bug that cant let you connect to servers! like me i cant connect so i cant play online! epic get your ass to work now! :]

**TPSFan** · 11-23-2007, 09:37 PM

I think UT3 is being overshadowed by COD4 and Crysis to be honest.

The masses, that is, non-hardcore UT fans seem to want more slower paced "realistic" military shooters like COD4, and BF2. Even Crysis has more elements of realism than UT3 even though both are heavy on sci-fi elements and Crysis is primarily an SP game.

I also think some of the slightly bad reviews for UT3... Which aren't that bad in retrospect, 8.5 and up... Are biasing people's opinions too.

For example, if they are playing a 9.0 and higher rated realism FPS they can run on moderate systems (which means clan mates and bigger Online Community) they are going to stick with that until they upgrade this Christmas... Or something comes along like a realism Mod ala "Tac Ops" for UT3 that will make them switch over and try the core game the mod is based on.

Just my two cents...

**MatrixJCE** · 11-23-2007, 09:37 PM

I think it might have something to do with the PS3 and the xbox 360 dividing the pool from which the normal pc gamers would normally buy their games. I know it doesn't really make a lot of sense since ps3 and xbox games always cost 60 and pc games go for less. Also pc has better graphics and horse power. But it might have some sort of an effect on the popularity of the game.

**jarablue** · 11-23-2007, 09:45 PM

COD4 is pretty damn good. But UT will always be my number 1. My wife is out, I am off work till monday, I have a q6600 @ 3.2k 4 gigs of ram 10k raptor and a 8800gtx. Right there is better than some good sexorin! I just want to play online tonight. I am off to get some pepsi I will check online again later.

**madafaka** · 11-23-2007, 09:46 PM

Remember that UT3 is not yet released for linux and Mac. people who play on Mac, and especially Linux is quite large

**Shawn14316** · 11-23-2007, 09:55 PM

I seen a good chuck of people say they aren't going to upgrade there computer for it and just get it on the consoles. I think that is part of it. There are some people used to just upgrade there computer just for this series. The game is just getting out. 50 bucks isn't easy for everyone just to spend. By Chrismas we should have a good idea how big the community will be.imo

**Skill** · 11-23-2007, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by MatrixJCE

I think it might have something to do with the PS3 and the xbox 360 dividing the pool from which the normal pc gamers would normally buy their games. I know it doesn't really make a lot of sense since ps3 and xbox games always cost 60 and pc games go for less. Also pc has better graphics and horse power. But it might have some sort of an effect on the popularity of the game.

The ps3 and 360 are taking a lot of gamers, but consoles have been out forever! And ps3 games don't always cost 60 dollars, i went down to ebgames (canada, +10 per game) and picked up Oblivion and VF5 for 65 bucks! Also, the pc only has the upperhand on graphics if your willing to sink 1500 clams into a computer! and even then, gorgeous games like uncharted are magnificently beautiful, and are using "30% of the ps3's power"

**THORB4** · 11-23-2007, 10:07 PM

One of the problems is that Epic and Intel got together and made a game that most of the people that could play Ut2k4 with ease now has to go buy a new MB and process because they made it that way. You do notice that they havn't come out with a version for Mac yet!!

**13XBMSPEC** · 11-23-2007, 10:18 PM

COD4 has well over 6,000 servers and it hasn't been out for that long.

I don't want to be negative, but I feel UT3 community will be only as big as UT2K4's 'what's left over' community.

It's only a matter of time before this game gets fragmented into the IG, Zark, Pro, TAM (Please god no), Pro, Casual leaving nothing but the demo servers filled. If you know what I mean.

**Gareee** · 11-23-2007, 10:35 PM

I had hoped to see more people online playing as well, but many people can;t even run the game. Also, there aren;t a whole lot of maps available either,and that's a big concern at launch to me.

After all the years in developement, and all the older maps that could have been converted or used as a template I was expecting at least 10 maps of each gametype on launch.

Plus, they also reduced the number of gametypes down as well.. Including invasion,assault, and bombing run really would have been nice, and I can't really think of any reason why they were NOT included.

Granted the community might make up for these deficincies, but when the game launches, everyone follows the "buzz" and right now the buzz is that the graphics are great, the new vehicles are great, but there aren't a lot of maps or gametypes available, reducing the number of additional reasons to run out and pick up a copy.

I've played Unreal, Unreal 2, UT99, and UT2004, and we hemmed n haw'd trying to decide if we REALLY wanted to spend $100 between us to buy into 2 new licenses... after seeing more map pics and videos on the day of US release, I picked up two copies, and brought them home JUST in case we really decided we wanted to enlist in the ranks again.

She watched the videos, and we decided we'd get out money's worth out of them, installed them, and then found out that while the original demo ran, the final game won't run on her system yet, and we have to wait for a bugfix.

We'll give Epic till the end of the next week, and if she still can't play it, we'll cut our losses, and try to return it back to walmart.. not sure what they'll do with a game that can't be played on her system, but I'm not spending $100 for 2 licenses, when we can;t play lan games together, or join a clan, and play together online.

**Moloko** · 11-23-2007, 10:39 PM

The market must be pretty fragmented at the moment, if you can forgive the pun : HL2 ep 2/TF2,Crysis,COD4 .. not to mention bioshock ,what's that saying -you wait ages and 4 come along at once.

**Drintion** · 11-23-2007, 10:47 PM

Well, UT3 didn't have much hype to begin with; pair that with tons of new games coming out this month, people waiting to get their copies/pre-orders, people whose OS isn't supported, people who have hardware issues, people who are buying it for consoles, and then lower that number by the amount of people that actually go online and possible server issues / limitations >_<

I know a lot of UT2004 players weren't too excited about UT3, nor did they seem in a rush to buy it... so I would give UT3 a month or two before things actually get started.

**NitrousOxide** · 11-23-2007, 10:50 PM

Its the turtle vs rabbit race, where:

UT3 - Turtle
COD4/Crysis - Rabbit

The rabbit is fast at the beginning, but in the end slow and steady wins the race.

**damnu2** · 11-23-2007, 10:52 PM

shoot i just got my copy today... 11-23-07

**Brutal** · 11-23-2007, 10:52 PM

well there are many people who have bought the game but don't have the pc to run it. Some examples are me and my friends lol and i know a lot of xfire friends that have the game but don't have the machine to run it

***BareVibes*** · 11-23-2007, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by weebl

A large chunk of the world hasn't even been able to get their hands on it yet, that might be a part of it.

Like me, will not be able to play online until Dec 25th.

**Brutal** · 11-23-2007, 10:56 PM

i know by January will have a much bigger community

.... kids going to ask for a good pc or no love for daddy or mommy!! ..........loL jk..... hmmm...

**ADiTheMAN** · 11-23-2007, 10:58 PM

CoD online community is HUGE..... if only UT3 would have half of that i would be very happy :> ... but atm its pretty dead online @ UT3 :<

**zenius** · 11-23-2007, 10:59 PM

i blame all the highly acclaimed shooters coming out all at once (cod4, crysis, orange box....)

**MrTeenie** · 11-23-2007, 11:01 PM

I just got the game tonight just so I can make maps/mods for the PS3 version but till it's out I'll play online some.

**Brutal** · 11-23-2007, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by zenius

i blame all the highly acclaimed shooters coming out all at once (cod4, crysis, orange box....)

yep a lot of games arrived .... well good games lol.... even guitar hero came the 20th!!, i saw everything on game stop with guitar hero, mario galaxy, wwf something lol i didn't even see 1 poster or anything of ut3 and i was pissed LOL

**ADiTheMAN** · 11-23-2007, 11:05 PM

that a lot of games arrived at same time shouldnt be an excuse. look at CoD4... released at like same time as UT3 and the online community is amazingly BIG.