So lets just take 20,000 players out of the mix and "stick them" on the 3 PVP and Test server.

We have 150,000 people now. Also, on the average, there are 1800 people on each server during primet time and 800 people during all other times.

That still leaves about 6,500 people PER server.

There are many ways to look at this:

1). Each person plays about 3 hours. That means that EVERY player plays each day for a 3 hour period. That would acount for about 6,500 people.

2). Or every player plays every other day for 6 hours at a time.

3). Or every player plays every 3rd day for 9 hours.

There are a zillion ways to "run the numbers out". THAT ISN'T THE POINT.

The point:

If there are REALLY 6,500 people per server on the average .....

What is the statistical chance that we would NEVER get more than 27% of the population online at any on given time?

Are you telling me that over half the EQ players are in another country (so they play when we are asleep or at work - BUT then the server load is around 800 average)?

Someone explain how it is possible that WE NEVER get atleast 50% of the population on at one time over the weekends ?

Everyone see what I am saying?

WHERE IS VERANT GETTING THESE NUMBERS?

Guys, I think you are reading too much into this. An active account is just that, an active account. An account is NOT ACTIVE if it's sitting in the box at a retailer. An account is NOT ACTIVE if you call up and cancel it. An account is only active if you can log into it and play the game. No, we didn't redefine the meaning of "Active Account" to make our numbers larger.

Total units sold is higher than that. Total units shipped is much higher than units sold.