I played this game today (probably 5 hours) to test it out, and I'm super frustrated with it. As far as I can tell, you can't determine population densities at different areas of the map, so you don't know whether you're dropping into a hotspot, or if you'll have to wander around for 15 minutes before you find a single person.

I wish the map showed population densities along with just the blinking territories being fought over.

Also, guns take WAY too long to unlock. There is no sense of progression in this game, and you have to stick to the same basic loadout for probably 50 hours before you can unlock your first gun, unless you pay real money. Le sigh.

You get used to guessing the population pretty well once you start to know the maps, since I was in the beta, my guesses are spot on, but if you want a guaranteed hot spot, look for the area where all 3 factions converge, and you'll see some crazy shit for sure. Gun wise, a lot of those are more of a novelty, no one gun is totally superior to the other unless you are a sniper with a certain play style, I'd test out the air combat and tank combat too, once you get to know the game, it becomes really addicting because you are part of something really huge and chaotic hehe.

I tested out the air combat and tank combat. I found the tanks super underpowered (I shot "heavies" with my tank shots and it only took away like 1/7th of their health. What the hell?), and the flying was really disorienting for some reason (I'm an avid flyer in battlefield...). I did end up somewhat feeling better about the flying controls but couldn't find enemies to shoot at for the life of me - then I got shot down by a lock-on rocket that I'm unsure of how to deflect.

Guns are not merely novelty when the only sniper available is an extremely weak semi-auto and you have to pay out the ass to get a bolt-action rifle. That's really the only class that's bugging me right now, though, since I'll agree with you that most automatic weapons feel pretty much the same.

lighting has weak shots and you have to hit every shot to do good damage, it's one shot if you get the heavy tank :) you kinda trade mobility for fire power. I usually just troll people with heavy tanks lol, I use lighting to do anti air gun mount and sit next to the ammo depo usually, they are really good for that. I do understand the sniper part, but since I'm an alpha squad person, I use a bolt rifle :P I pretty much only play engi and recon lol, bolt rifles are a must.

Alpha squad person? How did you get a bolt rifle? =/ 

I play engi and recon mostly as well - and you just reminded me, I was super bummed when i realized I couldn't anti-repair enemy tanks with my repair tool. :(

It looks so bad ass!!!

I wish I had a good Pc.

Oh, I paid money during beta to get that status for retail, came with like 4000 station points and some extra stuff included :P

yeah I leave the tanks to the heavies, I just drop them ammo or hide lol, you get pretty good at hiding from them after awhile.

like it and i have some station cash to spare too,why i am in goddamn download limit hell at the moment,do you just join anyone in planetside then or are you choosing based on something

I was always Vanu so I'm still Vanu, pewpew with lasers is my thing. You can always make characters in other factions though, you are not limited or anything.

Looks pretty damn cool, unfortunately I can't afford it at the moment. I'll need to try it out eventually though.