So I wrote an EQ Server population parser... here's some data !

[xious]

Originally Posted by Lyra [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What are you using the data to determine and for what purpose?

Purpose is two fold: I wanted to see if I could get real numbers to answer the oft-asked question "What classes are needed on the server ?" and this is also a learning experience - I'm well versed in many programming languages but this is my second real Python project.

I figured if I would make a tool for myself that others may benefit from it so there's the website.

Originally Posted by Thana8088 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Forgive my ignorant question because I'm not really a numbers person, but is this cumulative data and not necessarily who's logged in at any one time?

All the data is cumulative but is ultimately tied to each and every character that my parser "see". As in, if I see the same bard twice, I'm not going to count two bards but update that bard's data.
I'm hoping that if I take snapshots of online characters at various weekdays and hours that I'll eventually have something that is very relevant and close to reality.
This also does not account characters that are /anonymous and /roleplay.

[Gamkek]

Originally Posted by xious [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Are character names relevant though ? I don't want to create a tool so people can brag/rant/flame/troll, etc.

You're absolutely right. The names of the characters has no bearing on anything and can only be used for evil and drama-generating threads. It also compromises the anonymity of players who don't want to be bothered with requests for ports/rezzes, etc. while they're in-game.

[myxomatosii]

Bump

[August]

How do you prevent contamination of data?

Say you do a parse and I am playing as a level 10 cleric and then the next day I am level 11. I am now in 2 buckets and my character is counted twice.

[TheSK]

Originally Posted by xious [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

EDIT
Data is now available directly on http://p1999pop.dmsimard.com

I was curious to see what kind of population statistics I could pull from the client side, so I went away and made a server population parser script.
Obviously, this could have been done far easier from the server side but I don't happen to have that sort of access :P

At the time I've ran my "snapshot" for data, there were 699 players online and my parser was able to find and identify 440 characters. (Friday January 18th at 4:45PM EST)
This means that 259 characters were either /Anonymous or on /Roleplay.

Please excuse me, I'm bad with graphs and charts, but here's some data.
If someone wants to use the raw parsed data to make some awesome charts, let me know and I'll give it to you [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Wow. You need a real life, and quick.

[August]

Originally Posted by TheSK [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Wow. You need a real life, and quick.

I think a lot of people would say the same about you.

[TheSK]

Originally Posted by August [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I think a lot of people would say the same about you.

Why are you here August? You are several month early, please go away. Thanks [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[xious]

Why the needless bashing ? Go to the rants and flames section.

Thanks.

[nilbog]

Originally Posted by TheSK [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Wow. You need a real life, and quick.

Server chat is not the place for this. Obey the forum rules or you will be removed.

[Karafa]

Originally Posted by TheSK [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Wow. You need a real life, and quick.

this nerd is averaging multiple posts per day since his 2013 join date, pot calling kettle black much?