how to improve performance and number of players

i guess Anet and NCsoft are using windows server 2003 servers (probably worst OS for servers ) so try using a linux version gentoo linux is a good one for servers. and to improve the number of players: let people on other platforms play guild wars as well, 1-2 mil ppl on WoW are using Mac since WoW is one of the few mmorpg that support mac, and 50% of the tibia players use linux, because it's the only linux supporting mmorpg. (i can imagine the loads of negative reactions on this thread already )

Linux zealots are adorable.

I highly doubt there using windows servers...
I think it would be a good guess they are using Linux..or one of the Unix flavors (IBM/HP,etc).

No matter what back end there running, they only have a "Windows" Client. I would like to see Mac version of GW myself but not sure with Staff/Resouces Anet vs possible gains in the mac area.

normally people who use linux have enough skill to configure cedega to run Guildwars(who work with cedega if i remember well).

and imo adding another platform will require more work for ever update they are going to work so..

not signed

/notsigned

/wth is this?

lol @ lyra

full metal ftw

they are talking about servers which GW is ran on... i am no computer expert, but apparently, windows is abit of OS for dummies, and linux is more like... advanced...

I think the servers are already optimized almost at max. The OS does not matter if they had their solution with stability and speed.

Linux is almost impossible to crash, windows misses glitches all the time, if it doesn't crash under much less stress. But I am sure Anet and their affiliate, NC soft are well informed on the hardware and software qualities out there and are using the most effective systems they can for their money.

There are some things Software cannot compensate for, like Hardware.

Unless Microsoft is paying Anet to run their servers, I doubt they are using windows.

Which is why I doubt they are using M$ OS on thier servers. Compared to other MMOs, GW servers are extremely reliable. I've been impressed with their tech support. This latest crash is a perfect example. They had everything (that I know of) back up and running in a matter of hours. The reliability of GW servers is unheard of in MMOs to my knowledge.

BTW: M$ gotta pay people to run their OS and linux is still on top. I lol'ed.

Off-Topic:Yall're right. Linux servers do open the door to other OS for users if the company in question is willing to rewrite the game for other platforms and support them. A game like WoW that has so many customers paying monthly can. I have no doubts Guild Wars is showing profit for Anet, but I wonder if they have the margin to open up other OS packages. Thats another thread, however.

EDIT: tibia is the "only" MMO for linux??? Isn't Planeshift up yet for linux? Last I checked it was having dev problems but they should be running now...

FYI: Google Cedega. You'd be surprised what can run on Linux if you kick it isn the ass hard enough. City and WoW are supported for Cedega (and City is supposed to run even smoother than on WinXP)...if you don't mind paying a little extra

1. You do not know what kind of SO they use on their servers (I also don´t, but i would bet on anything UNIX flavored).

2. multi - platform client would make the upgrades a huge problem since they would have to make diferent versions of each one.

/not signed

Latter.

I think the only reason GW doesn't support uber massive areas is because they have a limited hardware budget.

If you want to improve performance and number of players, start paying them a monthly fee.

They might use some custom operating system although I highly doubt it because flaws in the code are extremely dangerous for this kind of systems so they probably use some Linux build which core codes have been developed for ages.