An idea for resource-efficient multiboxing

Illuminator · 08-20-2007, 03:31 PM

It seems that a lot more legit players are multiboxing than anyone might think. This here is just a brainstorm, but it shouldn't be hard to figure out what game this idea is based off of.

Imagine in EQ2 if:

1) Instead of running multiple clients on multiple expensive PC's for multiboxing with huge hardware requirements, you only had to run one client at best.
2) Instead of error-prone Alt+Tab to switch between characters, you had Ctrl+F1-6 or a command like /switchchar Illuminator that you could hotbar. Then the camera, targets, macros, inventory, and hotkeys would change.
3) You paid $15/month per character for concurrent character access. You want to 2-box? $30/month. 4-box? $60/month. Up to a set maximum (maybe 6?).
4) You wouldn't have to painfully plan out which old-style accounts had which classes, because you instead have a pool of slots to choose from, and each concurrent access would add slots to that pool.
5) To manage resources effectively, each client instance you choose to run would confine its characters to a single zone. i.e. When you switch zones, your other chars on that client instance zone with you. When you zone into a solo instance, your other characters become inactive and hide from the game until you zone out.
6) Due to the subscription cost (which is the same as it is now), plat pharmers don't get an easy-out.
7) Due to the fact that classes would retain their one-char-per-player interface, bad players don't get an easy-out.
8) Expansion pricing TBD.

Right now I'm stuck on detail #5. 32-bit consumer Windows gives each process about 2GB of its own memory space and I've seen a character on max settings have OOM errors at around 1.8GB. Running more than one zone in a client instance just can't happen and this could cause weirdness when mixing good and evil characters who call out to different cities.

However, bonus schemes like this are something I can envision as being the future of MMO's.

Savanja · 08-20-2007, 03:37 PM

Wouldn't that be nifty? It'd be nice if future games gave consideration for players who multi-box. ATM, playing 2 instances of the game on one machine is too big of a pain for me to do regularly, so I'm looking to get my laptop to run one.

Is the multi-boxing set big enough to get development consideration? Likely not, but its always nice to dream.

Illuminator · 08-20-2007, 03:43 PM

Let me add one thing: the current EQ2 client needs to include character name in the title bar.

Avaela · 08-20-2007, 03:58 PM

I don't know wtf they did but since a while ago running multiple clients on the same pc has been a much bigger pain in the ass. I used to run 3 clients fairly easily on my laptop, and now on my new pc running 2 is a hassle.

Wozamil · 08-20-2007, 04:11 PM

This would be an amazing. Everyone wins, in fact, I would imagine that people who do not currently have an ideal multibox setup would consider activating a second or third account. More revenue would be a good thing.

Caring · 08-20-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illuminator

Let me add one thing: the current EQ2 client needs to include character name in the title bar.

QFE

Gust · 08-20-2007, 04:15 PM

I run two and I use a dual monitor set-up, 32" Sharp AQUOS LCD TV and some rinky dink 19" pro view, and run one window on one and the other window on the other, works great just slide mouse across to click other character's hot bar, its so easy

RedHawk · 08-21-2007, 12:08 AM

I'm sure the botters would love this too.

Illuminator · 08-21-2007, 12:34 AM

Their botting algorithms won't change in the slightest.

Pinski · 08-21-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illuminator

Their botting algorithms won't change in the slightest.

And you would know this?