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Author
Topic: WoW fails to learn from FFXI
Talonus
Loner
posted 09-15-2004 04:36:11 PM
Originally from here.
quote:
Initially servers will be forced. This means that people in the US will have to choose between East and West. Europeans wont be able to play on the US servers and vice versa. The Asian servers will obviously also be cut off from others.

The servers are being forced as the Producer stressed the need for a low latency, but I was told that there will be an option shortly after launch for people to change to any server (against Blizzards recommendation), as they know there are people desperate to play on specific servers regardless.


And a Blizzard response from here.

quote:
I’ve been bringing your concerns to the staff, and I do have a clarification regarding one the concerns brought up. Players located in North America will be able to choose between the USWest and USEast servers, though we’ll recommend you choose the location closest to you.

Also, I just want to make sure it’s clear that while we believe European players will have a significantly better experience playing on local European servers, we understand that some European players will still want to play on US servers. For these individuals, we will provide a specific solution following the European release.

I know that there are still some open questions from this thread, but I’m afraid that that’s all the information I have at this time. However, I will continue to pursue this subject internally and will let you know as soon as I have more information. Thanks in advance for your patience while I look into this further.


I hate to harp on Blizzard for this, but its a horrible idea. Players should be able to pick where they want to play at release. FFXI was more flexible in this regard and it still sucked for guilds. Lets hope this changes before release.

Bajah
Thooooooor
posted 09-15-2004 04:44:31 PM
I'm sorry, how is this anything like FFXI?

If you're in North America, you can choose either USWest servers or USEast servers. Just like D2. But not European servers.

If you're in Europe, you can pick from European servers, but that might be adjusted to allow people to play on some US servers - more info to come.

If you in Asia, you'd be on the Asian servers.

I fail to see the issue here.

quote:
Out of a possible 10, Talonus scored a straight 1 with:
Originally from here. I hate to harp on Blizzard for this, but its a horrible idea. Players should be able to pick where they want to play at release. FFXI was more flexible in this regard and it still sucked for guilds. Lets hope this changes before release.

You CAN pick... so uh... ya lost me.

Bajah fucked around with this message on 09-15-2004 at 04:45 PM.

Peter
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 04:47:44 PM
Iffin I read that right, for the US players, we still get to choose what server we want. Outside the US you get hosed.
Black
The Outlaw Torn
posted 09-15-2004 04:48:36 PM
quote:
From http://wow.gamona.de/index.php?seite=pp&pid=123 :
worldofwar.de: Can the EU play on US servers after the game hits the shelves in US until the game is released in EU?

Chris Sigaty: No. But if they have a opportunity to use a US billing method and have someone who lives in the US, we cannot stop them from buying an US account.


So, there you are. You can play on the US servers if you really want to for release. Or you can just wait until they give you the option to change to a different server.

Though, knowing Blizzard, they probably have a good reason for not allowing people access to all servers immediately on release. It might be soft/hardware, it might be from lack of time, or they might be planning to allow people to transfer servers as short as a week after release.



Time was never on my side.
So on I wait my whole lifetime.

Willias
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 04:51:32 PM
quote:
We were all impressed when Bajah wrote:
I'm sorry, how is this anything like FFXI?

If you're in North America, you can choose either USWest servers or USEast servers. Just like D2. But not European servers.

If you're in Europe, you can pick from European servers, but that might be adjusted to allow people to play on some US servers - more info to come.

If you in Asia, you'd be on the Asian servers.

I fail to see the issue here.

You CAN pick... so uh... ya lost me.


What he is getting at, is that from the info released, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PICK YOUR SERVER. Not that you won't be able to pick USEast or USWest, but you won't be able to pick a specific server to play on.

Which is what I've gathered from the reports as well, and it's dumb as hell to make players play on randomly selected servers, even if you get to pick a specific group. Hopefully what I'm reading isn't quite the full story, but that its just keeping people from playing on European servers.

Peter
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 04:53:29 PM
quote:
From the book of Willias, chapter 3, verse 16:
What he is getting at, is that from the info released, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PICK YOUR SERVER. Not that you won't be able to pick USEast or USWest, but you won't be able to pick a specific server to play on.
.....

Read CAREFULLY, you might see the USeast and USWest are server setS

Peter fucked around with this message on 09-15-2004 at 04:53 PM.

Black
The Outlaw Torn
posted 09-15-2004 04:54:49 PM
quote:
Captain Willias will get you high tonight:
What he is getting at, is that from the info released, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PICK YOUR SERVER. Not that you won't be able to pick USEast or USWest, but you won't be able to pick a specific server to play on.
No, that has to be wrong. Pretty sure there's a terminology mix-up, here.

Servers = Things with names like "Khaz'Garoth".
Realms = Things with names like "USEast" and "USWest".

Edit - Or vice versa... Blizzard employees never really unanimously agree on terms.

Black fucked around with this message on 09-15-2004 at 04:55 PM.



Time was never on my side.
So on I wait my whole lifetime.

Willias
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 04:55:49 PM
quote:
Peter had this to say about Optimus Prime:
Read CAREFULLY, you might see the USeast and USWest are server setS

I know, as I said, I'm probably misreading it, but I see what Talonus is getting at. The way the information is phrased and the way it was released made it look like you got to pick between USEast and USWest then you were randomly stuck on a server from there.

Addy
posted 09-15-2004 04:56:36 PM
quote:
A sleep deprived Black stammered:
No, that has to be wrong. Pretty sure there's a terminology mix-up, here.

Servers = Things with names like "Khaz'Garoth".
Realms = Things with names like "USEast" and "USWest".

Edit - Or vice versa... Blizzard employees never really unanimously agree on terms.


If the servers are random, that just pretty much killed it for me. I don't want to go through another FFXI and have to spend several hours trying to land on the right server again.

Willias
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 04:56:41 PM
quote:
Black was listening to Cher while typing:
No, that has to be wrong. Pretty sure there's a terminology mix-up, here.

Servers = Things with names like "Khaz'Garoth".
Realms = Things with names like "USEast" and "USWest".

Edit - Or vice versa... Blizzard employees never really unanimously agree on terms.


Thanks.

So then it does look like that players will be forced onto specific servers at first to help with latency, and we won't be able to pick specific ones we want.

Willias fucked around with this message on 09-15-2004 at 04:59 PM.

Black
The Outlaw Torn
posted 09-15-2004 04:58:16 PM
quote:
"Addy," she said, "Have I got a little story for you..."
If the servers are random, that just pretty much killed it for me. I don't want to go through another FFXI and have to spend several hours trying to land on the right server again.
That's something SOE would do, not Blizzard.

There's no mention of any randomness in any of these Blizzard statements.



Time was never on my side.
So on I wait my whole lifetime.

Densetsu
NOT DRYSART
posted 09-15-2004 05:04:36 PM
quote:
And I was all like 'Oh yeah?' and Black was all like:
That's something SOE would do, not Blizzard.

No it isn't. It's something that Square would do.

I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl, we ate lobster, drank piña coladas. At sunset, we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over, and over?
Bajah
Thooooooor
posted 09-15-2004 05:04:39 PM
quote:
Out of a possible 10, Willias scored a straight 1 with:
Thanks.

So then it does look like that players will be forced onto specific servers at first to help with latency, and we won't be able to pick specific ones we want.


WHERE are you people seeing this? It says "You can pick between the USWest and USEast servers" (keep in mind that USEast and USWest are realms, with servers underneath them) and that they'd recommend choosing one close to you. Not "We're gonna force you to join certain servers."

Mod
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 05:04:44 PM
quote:
Black had this to say about Cuba:
So, there you are. You can play on the US servers if you really want to for release. Or you can just wait until they give you the option to change to a different server.

Though, knowing Blizzard, they probably have a good reason for not allowing people access to all servers immediately on release. It might be soft/hardware, it might be from lack of time, or they might be planning to allow people to transfer servers as short as a week after release.


I'll tell you what it is, a business deal with whomever they sold the European server administration rights. European releases of online games usually tank utterly because MMORPGs are released here half a year later officially, stores import the US version from distributors and everyone just goes on to play on US servers, once the European publishers get off their asses and actually release the game everyone is settled into the US servers and no one buys their crap. This is probably how they are trying to sell the game to European publishers without the sales of US imports destroying their lame-ass distribution methods once again.

To give you an idea how far behind Europe is, our closed beta hasn't even started yet.

Life... is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable, because all you get back is another box of chocolates. You're stuck with this undefinable whipped-mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while, there's a peanut butter cup, or an English toffee. But they're gone too fast, the taste is fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits, filled with hardened jelly and teeth-crunching nuts, and if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you've got left is a... is an empty box... filled with useless, brown paper wrappers.
Bajah
Thooooooor
posted 09-15-2004 05:09:09 PM
I don't even see why Europe needs a closed beta.. It's the same game and there's already a damn good number of non-North American people in it. I regularly hang out with people all around the world in closed beta as it stands now. Other than 'What can the European servers handle,' what information could be gleaned in the European closed beta that can't be figured out from the NA beta already? You guys should just get to start when we do.
Drysart
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 05:10:25 PM
The European servers most likely need to deal with localization issues.
Densetsu
NOT DRYSART
posted 09-15-2004 05:10:51 PM
quote:
This one time, at Bajah camp:
WHERE are you people seeing this? It says "You can pick between the USWest and USEast servers" (keep in mind that USEast and USWest are realms, with servers underneath them) and that they'd recommend choosing one close to you. Not "We're gonna force you to join certain servers."

Probably because the very first statement says, "Initially servers will be forced." This statement being independant of anything mentioning the realms. One can construe this several ways, though.

One possiblity is that it means that they will force US players to play on US servers, Euro players to play on Euro servers, etc. But as a later statement said, the only way for a Euro player to play on a US server, even after release, is to buy a US account. Therefore, I believe we can rule out that interpretation.

Another is the sfact that everyone knows that there will be more than just two US servers (East and West). Therefore, USEast, and USWeat cannot possibly be servers, and the only choice that has been mentioned that players will have, is between those two realms. The first statement is still here though, "Initially servers will be forced."

This would lead one to believe that once they pick their realm (the only reason you are even allowed this option is so you can get a server closer to you, to lower latency), they will be automatically assigned to a certain actual server, not of their choice.

So the point is, and this has yet to be debunked, is that even if you and your friend next door both pick USEast, you won't necessarily be able to play the game together.

I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl, we ate lobster, drank piña coladas. At sunset, we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over, and over?
Black
The Outlaw Torn
posted 09-15-2004 05:12:54 PM
quote:
I took Drysart out, it was a Friday night. I wore cologne to get the feeling right.
The European servers most likely need to deal with localization issues.
That's probablymost likely the only reason they're getting a closed beta.


Time was never on my side.
So on I wait my whole lifetime.

Mod
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 05:16:58 PM
quote:
Bajah said this about your mom:
I don't even see why Europe needs a closed beta.. It's the same game and there's already a damn good number of non-North American people in it. I regularly hang out with people all around the world in closed beta as it stands now. Other than 'What can the European servers handle,' what information could be gleaned in the European closed beta that can't be figured out from the NA beta already? You guys should just get to start when we do.

Yeah we should, and you're right about not needing a beta, I was just using it as a measurement of delay since they said there would be a closed Euro beta.

Localization is the other thing I'm afraid of, I don't want to play on a localized server, Blizzard games are among the most horribly localized games in history, second only to Bioware's. Just let me play the game on a US server on release and I'll be happy, no need to pay the traditional three first year German students to 'localize' and voice it, the vast majority of us here speaks enough English to understand 'kill orc' 'grab loot' or 'bring basket to grandma in woods'.

Life... is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable, because all you get back is another box of chocolates. You're stuck with this undefinable whipped-mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while, there's a peanut butter cup, or an English toffee. But they're gone too fast, the taste is fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits, filled with hardened jelly and teeth-crunching nuts, and if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you've got left is a... is an empty box... filled with useless, brown paper wrappers.
Black
The Outlaw Torn
posted 09-15-2004 05:21:10 PM
quote:
But Mod doesn't really care for music, do you?
Localization is the other thing I'm afraid of, I don't want to play on a localized server, Blizzard games are among the most horribly localized games in history, second only to Bioware's. Just let me play the game on a US server on release and I'll be happy, no need to pay the traditional three first year German students to 'localize' and voice it, the vast majority of us here speaks enough English to understand 'kill orc' 'grab loot' or 'bring basket to grandma in woods'.
From the article linked first in this thread...
quote:
The eventual choice of which server you play on will be down to changing your payment method – not importing a box from another country. Essentially I got the impression it would mean somehow switching payment method to Euros / dollars depending what server you wish to switch to.
I'm sure you'll be able to figure out a way, if you're that determined.


Time was never on my side.
So on I wait my whole lifetime.

Mod
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 05:29:09 PM
quote:
The logic train ran off the tracks when Black said:
I'm sure you'll be able to figure out a way, if you're that determined.

I know I can find a way but I shouldn't have to. If they decide to just block all non-US ISPs as they did with the closed beta signup I'm boned unless I rent a server in the US to act as a proxy 24/7. Even paying through someone else is a hassle and quite frankly I can do without having to weasel my way around measures designed to keep me from buying their product.

Life... is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable, because all you get back is another box of chocolates. You're stuck with this undefinable whipped-mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while, there's a peanut butter cup, or an English toffee. But they're gone too fast, the taste is fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits, filled with hardened jelly and teeth-crunching nuts, and if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you've got left is a... is an empty box... filled with useless, brown paper wrappers.
Talonus
Loner
posted 09-15-2004 05:45:51 PM
quote:
Bajah wrote this then went back to looking for porn:
WHERE are you people seeing this? It says "You can pick between the USWest and USEast servers" (keep in mind that USEast and USWest are realms, with servers underneath them) and that they'd recommend choosing one close to you. Not "We're gonna force you to join certain servers."

See, the problem is that its ambiguous. Why are they calling it USEast and USWest servers instead of realms? Why, in the original statements from interviews, does it say forced? And it still fucks over the poor non-US folks. Disregaring Europeans, what about the many Australians who are totally ignored?

(On a side note, do you have any idea when stress test competition emails go out Black? You have your super secret insider info and all.)

Drysart
Pancake
posted 09-15-2004 06:05:22 PM
quote:
Talonus came out of the closet to say:
Why are they calling it USEast and USWest servers instead of realms?

Probably because USWest will consist of several realms, and USEast will consist of several realms. There's no possible way they'd fit everyone on release into two realms. They had more than 10 just for the stress test alone.

Black
The Outlaw Torn
posted 09-15-2004 06:12:43 PM
I'd say sometime within a week.


Time was never on my side.
So on I wait my whole lifetime.

Zaza
I don't give a damn.
posted 09-15-2004 06:20:06 PM
Hooray, forced localization.

If they have random servers or don't provide a way to play non-Euro for me, I won't be playing for sure. Want to be able to play with my friends.

Black
The Outlaw Torn
posted 09-15-2004 06:43:27 PM
Silly Za, pretending he has friends again.


Time was never on my side.
So on I wait my whole lifetime.

very important poster
a sweet title
posted 09-16-2004 03:08:17 AM
quote:
Zaza's unholy Backstreet Boys obsession manifested in:
Hooray, forced localization.

If they have random servers or don't provide a way to play non-Euro for me, I won't be playing for sure. Want to be able to play with my friends.


Pretty much.

I hope they'll do it like NCSoft did it for CoH. Who needs CDs? I hate CDs >:(

hey
ArchAngel
Not a girl, never will be, no matter how much you may hear differently
posted 09-16-2004 04:09:21 AM
Allow me to clarify things for you, as I've read them several times on the WoW boards.

The servers (the named ones like Mannoroth or whatever) will not be the same sort of randomized crap that FFXI was.

The only thing that will be 'forced' will be that people in the US will have to play either on US East or US West and the Europeans will have to play on Euro servers (unless they import), etc... THAT IS ALL IT MEANS PEOPLE!

Thank you and goodnight.

"What power would hell have if those imprisoned there could not dream of heaven?" -Dream, Sandman
"When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights, and lock the universe behind me as I leave." -Death, Sandman
"Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." Dream, Sandman
Full sigpic image
Tarquinn
Personally responsible for the decline of the American Dollar
posted 09-16-2004 04:22:25 AM
quote:
Europeans wont be able to play on the US servers and vice versa.

WHAT. THE. FUCK?!?

Unless the american version of WoW allows me to play on an US server, I will not play at all.

Suckers.

~Never underestimate the power of a Dark Clown.
Mr. Parcelan
posted 09-16-2004 04:58:35 AM
quote:
Tarquinn had this to say about the Spice Girls:
WHAT. THE. FUCK?!?

Unless the american version of WoW allows me to play on an US server, I will not play at all.

Suckers.


Have fun on the European Reservation, foo'

Skaw
posted 09-16-2004 01:09:20 PM
quote:
Mr. Parcelan had this to say about Robocop:
Have fun on the European Reservation, foo'

We're not going to honor those bogus treaties.

Maradon!
posted 09-16-2004 01:48:32 PM
Makes ya wonder what's wrong with playing with europeans O_o
Mod
Pancake
posted 09-16-2004 01:50:29 PM
quote:
Maradon! had this to say about dark elf butts:
Makes ya wonder what's wrong with playing with europeans O_o

Nothing at all, however everything is usually wrong about playing on servers set up for Europeans.

Life... is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable, because all you get back is another box of chocolates. You're stuck with this undefinable whipped-mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while, there's a peanut butter cup, or an English toffee. But they're gone too fast, the taste is fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits, filled with hardened jelly and teeth-crunching nuts, and if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you've got left is a... is an empty box... filled with useless, brown paper wrappers.
Skaw
posted 09-16-2004 01:50:35 PM
quote:
Everyone wondered WTF when Maradon! wrote:
Makes ya wonder what's wrong with playing with europeans O_o

The French are smelly, and the Germans are fuh-reaks.

Snoota
Now I am become Death, shatterer of worlds
posted 09-16-2004 01:51:04 PM
quote:
ArchAngel had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
The only thing that will be 'forced' will be that people in the US will have to play either on US East or US West and the Europeans will have to play on Euro servers (unless they import), etc... THAT IS ALL IT MEANS PEOPLE!

Thank you and goodnight.


...which is what everyone's problem is. Or have you not noticed 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999% of the complaining is coming from Europeans who don't want to play on European servers?

ArchAngel
Not a girl, never will be, no matter how much you may hear differently
posted 09-16-2004 07:45:39 PM
quote:
Snoota obviously shouldn't have said:
...which is what everyone's problem is. Or have you not noticed 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999% of the complaining is coming from Europeans who don't want to play on European servers?

Import, genius.

If they don't want to import then tough shit. Got no sympathy.

"What power would hell have if those imprisoned there could not dream of heaven?" -Dream, Sandman
"When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights, and lock the universe behind me as I leave." -Death, Sandman
"Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." Dream, Sandman
Full sigpic image
Falaanla Marr
I AM HOT CHIX
posted 09-16-2004 07:47:34 PM
quote:
And I was all like 'Oh yeah?' and ArchAngel was all like:
Import, genius.

If they don't want to import then tough shit. Got no sympathy.


Actually, they need an american billing address to play on an american server. THAT is the issue.

Mod
Pancake
posted 09-16-2004 07:49:22 PM
quote:
How.... ArchAngel.... uughhhhhh:
Import, genius.

If they don't want to import then tough shit. Got no sympathy.


Actually most serious gamers here import their games at an extra expense of ~10-15$ already.

Life... is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable, because all you get back is another box of chocolates. You're stuck with this undefinable whipped-mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while, there's a peanut butter cup, or an English toffee. But they're gone too fast, the taste is fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits, filled with hardened jelly and teeth-crunching nuts, and if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you've got left is a... is an empty box... filled with useless, brown paper wrappers.
Lashanna
noob
posted 09-16-2004 10:06:53 PM
Yeah, how dare they be upset that they have to pay even MORE money than usual for a game? I mean, geez, they already pay extra, what's a little more cost on top? Those uppity Euros.

ArchAngel, there happens to be quite a few Euros I would play with any day over most American players. Not because they're Euros, but just because they're good people.

Lashanna fucked around with this message on 09-16-2004 at 10:10 PM.

Dad's going to kill you. Really. He is.
Sean
posted 09-16-2004 10:12:23 PM
quote:
How.... Lashanna.... uughhhhhh:
ArchAngel, there happens to be quite a few Euros I would play with any day over most American players. Not because they're Euros, but just because they're good people.

I dunno. If we let the Euros in, we may have to deal with Mortious and Tarquinn. Not to mention Mod. I'm willing a sacrifice or two to keep them out.

A Kansas City Shuffle is when everybody looks right, you go left.

It's not something people hear about.

All times are US/Eastern
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