- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
The problem with lag is based on internet connection speeds and in-game action/characters on screen. The fewer players or better conection will allow for a game with low lag. Star Wars: Battlefront and apparently EA's Battlefield: Modern Combat plans to support 32 players on LAN. Since Halo's LAN popularity exceeds both of those games, I find it possible that there could be more than 16 players on LAN and perhaps the ability for there to be 1-player-per-screen.
However, on Live, the Game Informer article could only confirm 16 players on Live, which to be perfectly honest on many maps is a decent number of players. I know that the size of the map has a lot to do with it, for example with games like Crimson Skies and Unreal 2: The Awakening, the maps are so huge that there is hardly ever really an issue with lag unless there is a severe issue with connection speeds. On games like Rainbow Six 3 and Counter Strike, lag can be a more severe issue because the maps and combat take place in what is usually a small, enclosed location.
One thing is a major factor and it is that Microsoft Studios is the publisher, and they have yet to release a game with serious lag issues. I expect a ton of dedicated servers for this game and a really good Live experience.