diff --git a/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp b/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp
index 0342a3819b25..04e81725f1ff 100644
--- a/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp
+++ b/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ side_engine::side_engine(const config& cfg, connect_engine& parent_engine,
 		parent_.force_lock_settings_) && parent_.params_.use_map_settings),
 	index_(index),
 	team_(0),
-	color_(index),
+	color_(std::min(index, gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS - 1)),
 	gold_(cfg["gold"].to_int(100)),
 	income_(cfg["income"]),
 	reserved_for_(cfg["current_player"]),
diff --git a/src/server/game.cpp b/src/server/game.cpp
index 892cb09b0a95..622e2c564924 100644
--- a/src/server/game.cpp
+++ b/src/server/game.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #include "../filesystem.hpp"
 #include "../game_config.hpp" // game_config::observer_team_name
 #include "../log.hpp"
-#include "../map.hpp" // gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS
 
 #include "game.hpp"
 #include "player_network.hpp"
@@ -56,8 +55,8 @@ game::game(player_map& players, const network::connection host,
 	players_(),
 	observers_(),
 	muted_observers_(),
-	sides_(gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS),
-	side_controllers_(gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS),
+	sides_(),
+	side_controllers_(),
 	nsides_(0),
 	started_(false),
 	level_(),
@@ -179,10 +178,7 @@ void game::perform_controller_tweaks() {
 
 	update_side_data(); // Necessary to read the level_ and get sides_, etc. updated to match
 
-	nsides_ = 0;
-
 	for(simple_wml::node::child_list::const_iterator s = sides.begin(); s != sides.end(); ++s) {
-		nsides_++;
 		if ((**s)["controller"] != "null") {
 			const size_t side_index = (**s)["side"].to_int() - 1;
 			if(side_index >= sides_.size()) {
@@ -347,8 +343,17 @@ bool game::take_side(const player_map::const_iterator user)
 	//if we get here we couldn't find a side to take
 	return false;
 }
+void game::reset_sides()
+{
+	side_controllers_.clear();
+	sides_.clear();
+	nsides_ = get_sides_list().size();
+	side_controllers_.resize(nsides_);
+	sides_.resize(nsides_);
+}
 
-void game::update_side_data() {
+void game::update_side_data() 
+{
 				//added by iceiceice: since level_ will now reflect how an observer
 	if (started_) return; 	//views the replay start position and not the current position, the sides_, side_controllers_,
 				//players_ info should not be updated from the level_ after the game has started.
@@ -359,14 +364,9 @@ void game::update_side_data() {
 	DBG_GAME << debug_player_info();
 	// Remember everyone that is in the game.
 	const user_vector users = all_game_users();
-
-	side_controllers_.clear();
-	side_controllers_.resize(gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS);
-	sides_.clear();
-	sides_.resize(gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS);
 	players_.clear();
 	observers_.clear();
-
+	reset_sides();
 	const simple_wml::node::child_list& level_sides = get_sides_list();
 	/* This causes data corruption for some reason
 	if (!lg::debug.dont_log(log_server)) {
diff --git a/src/server/game.hpp b/src/server/game.hpp
index fd74b4e29a1d..dc45d5b8a595 100644
--- a/src/server/game.hpp
+++ b/src/server/game.hpp
@@ -318,6 +318,8 @@ class game
 	/** Function to log when we don't find a connection in player_info_. */
 	void missing_user(network::connection socket, const std::string& func) const;
 
+	/** calculates the initial value for sides_, side_controllerds_, nsides_*/
+	void reset_sides();
 	/** Helps debugging player and observer lists. */
 	std::string debug_player_info() const;
 	/** Helps debugging controller tweaks. */
diff --git a/src/server/server.cpp b/src/server/server.cpp
index cd8b087b2109..48c071364e5b 100644
--- a/src/server/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server/server.cpp
@@ -2336,12 +2336,6 @@ void server::process_data_lobby(const network::connection sock,
 	}
 }
 
-
-static size_t count_sides(const simple_wml::node& scenario)
-{
-	return wesnothd::game::starting_pos(scenario)->children("side").size();
-}
-
 /**
  * Process data sent from a member of a game.
  */
@@ -2371,14 +2365,6 @@ void server::process_data_game(const network::connection sock,
 		if (!g->is_owner(sock)) {
 			return;
 		}
-		if (count_sides(data.root()) > gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS) {
-			delete_game(itor);
-			std::stringstream msg;
-			msg << "This server does not support games with more than "
-				<< gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS << " sides. Game aborted.";
-			rooms_.lobby().send_server_message(msg.str(), sock);
-			return;
-		}
 		// If this game is having its level data initialized
 		// for the first time, and is ready for players to join.
 		// We should currently have a summary of the game in g->level().
@@ -2478,14 +2464,6 @@ void server::process_data_game(const network::connection sock,
 			return;
 		}
 		g->save_replay();
-		if (count_sides(*scenario) > gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS) {
-			delete_game(itor);
-			std::stringstream msg;
-			msg << "This server does not support games with more than "
-				<< gamemap::MAX_PLAYERS << " sides.";
-			rooms_.lobby().send_server_message(msg.str(), sock);
-			return;
-		}
 		// Record the full scenario in g->level()
 		g->level().clear();
 		scenario->copy_into(g->level().root());