IP Blocking Removed
Hello everyone,
Throughout the Alpha and Beta phases of development, we have worked hard to satisfy the enthusiastic community that has risen up in support of LOTRO. We listened to and incorporated your ideas many times throughout development and our game is now stronger for it. As we prepare for launch we wanted to let you know that your feedback still matters. We have been listening and will continue to do so in the future.
Recently, some players expressed their concern about our plans to implement IP blocking. After listening to our fans, we have decided to remove IP blocking in North America.
However, we strongly encourage players to purchase and play the game in their region to receive the best game experience, connectivity and local customer support. Please note that regional clients are only operable with their respective regional services.
In closing, we would like to thank the players for your feedback. Your honest input has been invaluable to us throughout development. We are always listening to your feedback.
Enjoy Middle-earth!
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This was posted about 3 hours ago on the LOTRO BETA forums. This is why Turbine is getting my $199 and SOE will have my money . . .no more forever
Comments
I'm glad that they are doing this. I know a lot of people were cancelling pre-orders because of not being able to play with their guildmates.
/agree
Good move, Turbine
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JonMichael
Currently: AION, an MMO Beta under NDA
Played: WAR, LOTRO, Hellgate: London, CoX, GW, SotNW, DAOC, EQ2, SWG, WoW, AO, Horizons, Second Life, There, TSO
Beta'd: There, Second Life, EQ2, DAOC:LotM, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, Gods and Heroes, Hellgate: London, Requiem:Bloodymare, AoC, WAR, DDO, Fallen Earth
However, they might still try to block international credit cards, or prevent players with a foreign address from registering ...
This is very welcome news. Well done Turbine! And well done to all in the community who voiced their displeasure regards the proposed forced segregation!. Good news indeed.
“Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside.”
― William S. Burroughs
I can't see it. What then would the point be of retracting the IP block? They had already said they would make provision for US services overseas. Lifting the IP block but continuing to block foreign credit cards or billing addresses would make no sense.
This quote from the announcement by marketroid strongly suggests to me that there will now be no barriers at all:
"However, we strongly encourage players to purchase and play the game in their region to receive the best game experience, connectivity and local customer support. Please note that regional clients are only operable with their respective regional services."
They are still saying they would *prefer* folks to play on the regional servers, but this quote says to me that I can now buy the US version and play on the US servers should I wish to do so.
“Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside.”
― William S. Burroughs
I can't see it. What then would the point be of retracting the IP block? They had already said they would make provision for US services overseas. Lifting the IP block but continuing to block foreign credit cards or billing addresses would make no sense.
This quote from the announcement by marketroid strongly suggests to me that there will now be no barriers at all:
"However, we strongly encourage players to purchase and play the game in their region to receive the best game experience, connectivity and local customer support. Please note that regional clients are only operable with their respective regional services."
They are still saying they would *prefer* folks to play on the regional servers, but this quote says to me that I can now buy the US version and play on the US servers should I wish to do so.
First of all, this is not a question about "what makes sense". The whole idea about blocking was a business decision, and has nothing to do with what the players want.And actually billing restriction would make sense from the business view: It makes sure, that both Turbine and Codemasters can roughly monopolize their regions. And it will remove any billing issues with overseas customers -- both for Turbine and Codemasters.
Not that I support any billing restrictions...
As said by some player " A true MMO is being open to everyone in the world to join while IP blocking really make the Massive into Micro "
All canceled. Waiting on Warhammer Online : Age of Reckoning.
This quote from the announcement by marketroid strongly suggests to me that there will now be no barriers at all:
"However, we strongly encourage players to purchase and play the game in their region to receive the best game experience, connectivity and local customer support. Please note that regional clients are only operable with their respective regional services."
They are still saying they would *prefer* folks to play on the regional servers, but this quote says to me that I can now buy the US version and play on the US servers should I wish to do so.
First of all, this is not a question about "what makes sense". The whole idea about blocking was a business decision, and has nothing to do with what the players want.
And actually billing restriction would make sense from the business view: It makes sure, that both Turbine and Codemasters can roughly monopolize their regions. And it will remove any billing issues with overseas customers -- both for Turbine and Codemasters.
Not that I support any billing restrictions...
I really think you miss my point entirely. I already know all of what you have just told me. Yes the entire point of the IP block was so Codemasters/Turbine could monopolise regions. Given this fact, what point would there be in dropping the IP block but keeping billing restrictions in place? Capiche?
“Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside.”
― William S. Burroughs
Is the problem, perhaps, that you are from Asia? I don't play DDO myself but I know a lot of folks play DDO on the US servers from the UK, using a UK credit card and billing address, and have no problems whatsover.
“Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside.”
― William S. Burroughs
Just fyi.