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SOE Server merges
vontornm
Member Posts: 23
I have been looking at all the major MMO titles produced by SOE and in the forums of most I hear the same thing. “What they need is to merge the servers” Is it just me or is this pattern being caused poor management or is everyone just tired of the old SOE tittles?
I have Played SWG from pre-CU, CU (quit but cam back) NGE, (quit but have been back in a few times) I’m playing EQ2 I had played the trial of the Isle around the time of the NGE but wasn’t all that impressed, I gave it another shot and it’s ok for now. I played Vanguard in Beta then bought it. (What a waste of money). My wife downloaded a trial of Matrix and that’s lame as hell.
The one thing I haven’t tried yet is PlanetSide but it’s downloading a trial right now so we will see.
Well not going to go into the rotting mound of dead flesh and beat on that but
The one thing I have noticed is that it seems that the NGE of SWG came from all the other games SOE has. I have played WoW and it was a lot like that but now that I have played EQ2 and seen Matrix I understand where they got it all. Shame they just couldn’t leave it alone and just fix the bugs it had.
Well this was just a thought and wanted to know if any one else has noticed this?
Comments
People just don't stay with MMOs as long as they used to. At this time as far as I know the only MMOs that have never had server merges are WoW, Lotro and anything released in 2007.
Huh? Server merges has happened in WoW as well (at least here in Europe)
can only talk about games i played recently.Planetside is in dire need of a merger but EQ2 DOES NOT need another one at all
Probably more so then any other SOE game, and its been that way for a long long time now.. Yet they continue to avoid merging the servers.
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You see, every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with their surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You spread to an area, and you multiply, and you multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet.-Mr.Smith
As far as sticking with games goes there wasn't a lot of choices in the beggining. It's why I was stuck with EQ for so long.
With regards to merging servers I'd imagine it would be a difficult decision as the people who maintain one of the servers would probably all lose their jobs.
Huh? Server merges has happened in WoW as well (at least here in Europe)
Huh? When? Which realms? Link please. I play on the English realms, and have friends on Spanish, German and French ones. Never hear of a realm merge in Europe (or in the US).
Merging PlanetSide would be a mistake because of latency. You cannot host a universal US server using twitch controls that won't have latency for either coast. What Planet Side really needs is some actual development and attention. The game went dead after BFRs, but SOE like always refuses to do any sort of fix. It also needs some lasting appeal gameplay items, but SOE isn't capable of changing gameplay in games with thier noob programmers.
I just made a post about this in the EQ2 forum. I believe that EQ2 does need to merge servers, not because the overall population has dropped significantly but because the world is over twice as large as it was at launch and is about to get bigger still with the RoK expansion. Don't forget that there are now 4 starting cities instead of the 2 at launch, soon to be 5.
Server mergers are a part of the game as much as expansions. They are just different parts of the MMORPG lifecycle. Think of it as MMORPG arthritis.
Torrential
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
I haven't heard of any realms merged either, but from what I've heard from friends still playing is that a number of the Euro ones have serious population issues.
I don't think anyone would like to play an MMO if they thought that they were the only one playing. Once players start drifting away, the trickle can end up turning into a flood unless servers are merged and at least an impression of population is restored. WoW by design has always had one of the lowest populations per server of any MMO and i think this could end up biting them in the ass in the future.
SOE's mmorpgs need to have a server merge because...
1. They ruin their mmorpgs
2. They don't listen to the community
3. They don't advertise their mmorpgs enough.
4. They havn't worked out that first impressions are everything. You can't release a mmorpg buggy and half finished and expect people to want to play it even try the game again once they fixed the problems.
5. Poor management.
6. They release expansion after expansion and expect people to pay for it onto of the subscriptions. Potential new comers are always scared of expansions because they see soo many and think "do i have to buy all that? forget it then" even if it's in one package most people wont bother to ask. Also expansions indicate a game is old, Eve Online got it right by making expansions free and no advertising them so much.
7. They release the games with too many servers to start with.
8. People are fedup of SOE by now and don't want to buy their products anymore.
IT's got nothing to do with the game getting old, it's just the way SOE handle themselves. They need to get rid of John Smedley and hire someone else that is able to create great games,
SOE probably is afraid that they lose another few of their members who wouldn't agree with or accept a server merge..
At least I don't get it why they don't come up with server merges for at least some of their mmo's who need it the most.
Yeah, they need to fire the guy that cleared $150 million for them and made a stupid card game that opened at half a million in ONE month. Brilliant idea Einstein.
"Granted thinking for yourself could be considered a timesink of shorter or longer duration depending on how smart..or how dumb you are."
Planetside was mis-managed to near-death.
MMO games played or tested: EQ, DAoC, Archlord, Auto Assault, CoH, CoV, EQ2, EVE, Guild Wars, Hellgate: London, Linneage II, LOTRO, MxO, Planetside, SWG, Sword of the New World, Tabula Rasa, Vanguard, WWIIOL, WOW, Age of Conan
they just need to put planetside out of its misery. maybe work on another MMOFPS.
One could also look at it as the man who took one game with 550,000 users in its turned it into 7 games with about half of total subscribers.Yeah, they need to fire the guy that cleared $150 million for them and made a stupid card game that opened at half a million in ONE month. Brilliant idea Einstein.
I agree they need to get Smed out of the MMO area. Let him make all the rings tones, playstation games and mobile phone games to his hearts content. "stupid card game" sums up exactly his grasp on MMOs to be honest.
The MMO titles under his leadership have suffered greatly along with their image as a direct result of his leadership.
One could also look at it as the man who took one game with 550,000 users in its turned it into 7 games with about half of total subscribers.Yeah, they need to fire the guy that cleared $150 million for them and made a stupid card game that opened at half a million in ONE month. Brilliant idea Einstein.
I agree they need to get Smed out of the MMO area. Let him make all the rings tones, playstation games and mobile phone games to his hearts content. "stupid card game" sums up exactly his grasp on MMOs to be honest.
The MMO titles under his leadership have suffered greatly along with their image as a direct result of his leadership.
Which is why it will never happen.
Server merges shouldn't even be an issue these days. Just look at Guild Wars, Dungeon Runners, and Eve Online, which move you from server to server automatically as you play, or allow you to choose a server at login, or instantly with a couple of mouseclicks. You can play with anyone else in the world, not just the tiny fraction who happen to be on your server. The idea of a server-fragmented community is antiquated. SOE and Blizzard both need to get with the program and eliminate the whole concept.
It has been pointed out exactly zero times as far as I recall. Do you care to share your source for this 700k subscriber number or are you just going to make a statement and not back it up again? Considering every game they have has merged servers at least once or players begging for them (sometimes again) I doubt 700k very much so. Also the communities can point you to "The" populated server in their respective game says more than you or I pointing to theorycrafted numbers. Those are in effect socially driven server mergers AKA: Bria, Antonia Bayle, etc.I didn't say Smed has a limited grasp of MMOs, it is my opinion that he mismanages every MMO he has touched since SOE formed (post 989/verrant). He might be the greatest game designer in the world, but that isn't his role anymore is it? Most of the failures in SOE history are high level decisions and guess where the buck stops.
http://www.hoovers.com/sony-online-entertainment/--ID__114642--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml?cm_ven=PAID&cm_cat=INK&cm_pla=CO1&cm_ite=sony-online-entertainment
80% of which is garnered by EQ2, AND I know for a fact I don't pay $1000 a year to play. Simple math too far beyond your grasp? OK, HERE:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/27/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm
800,000. OH, oops, he was wrong, he was low by 100K, and STILL closer than you by a LONG shot.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/magazine/16consumed.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
350K in one game?
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE3DD103FF932A25751C0A9619C8B63
What?! Another 350K in another game? OMG, that's 700K already, with just two games. Wanna play my game? I'll OWN you.
I didn't say Smed has a limited grasp of MMOs, it is my opinion that he mismanages every MMO he has touched since SOE formed (post 989/verrant). He might be the greatest game designer in the world, but that isn't his role anymore is it? Most of the failures in SOE history are high level decisions and guess where the buck stops.
You really didn't say anything, you just vomit and crap ends up on this forum. Go back to Barbie Dreamhouse MMO, or whatever it is.
"Granted thinking for yourself could be considered a timesink of shorter or longer duration depending on how smart..or how dumb you are."
http://www.hoovers.com/sony-online-entertainment/--ID__114642--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml?cm_ven=PAID&cm_cat=INK&cm_pla=CO1&cm_ite=sony-online-entertainment
80% of which is garnered by EQ2, AND I know for a fact I don't pay $1000 a year to play. Simple math too far beyond your grasp? OK, HERE:
This looks to be their 2006 financial reports?
You claim to know it is 80% EQ2, ok lets play.
150 million X 80% = 120 million
120 million / 12 months = 10 million a month
10 million / 14.95 subscription price = 668,896 subscribers to EQ2?
That is assuming everyone payed full price and not accounting for partial station pass payments. Also not including box sales.
So, EQ2 had 350k users in feb 2005 (taken from your NY times article). They merged servers in 2006. Your opinion is that the population somehow doubled? That EQ2 has as many if not MORE subscribers than the original everquest?
I realize that math is assumption, but you completely discount just how many products are on the station site that are not mmos. there are some 50+ other titles there. By your own link it shows 700 employees. Just think about that for a moment.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/27/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm
800,000. OH, oops, he was wrong, he was low by 100K, and STILL closer than you by a LONG shot.
April 27, 2005: 9:49 AM EDT
That article is over 2 and a half years old! For perspective the NGE had not even hit yet, WoW was only a few months old and neither EQ2 or EQ had merged servers yet.
Yes, SOE once had 800k subscriptions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/magazine/16consumed.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
350K in one game?
October 16, 2005. An article over TWO years old. Again this is before mergers, the NGE, ETC ETC.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE3DD103FF932A25751C0A9619C8B63
What?! Another 350K in another game? OMG, that's 700K already, with just two games. Wanna play my game? I'll OWN you.
You are right. 350k from 2005 plus 350k from 2007 = 700k! or maybe not
At least this one is somewhat current, but strangely close to what MMOGDATA puts both EQ and EQ2 combined which would be more likely the case. Not that Smedley started giving out subscription numbers during interviews again or anything.
That Guild Wars 2 login screen knocked up my wife. Must be the second coming!
Lets just call this thread : I HATE SOE #90000000000000000000
OK, server merges happen for a reason, and they are a good thing. Server merges let games that have diminishing populations continue vis just axeing the games and saying screw you to the people who are still enjoying them.
So lets look at SOE history.
EQ has merged servers, yes they have. But they didnt in the first 5 years the game was open.
EQ2 has merged servers and that is SOEs fault. They put out a very buggy game (which for some reason was nothing like the original EQ) and they lost player base fast. EQ2 is in very good shape now and does not need to merge. In fact, you might say that the original merges saved the game and let it turn into the game that it is now.
Vanguard was not even made by SOE. They saved that game and it desperately needed merging of servers long before SOE took it over. Not their fault and they are fixing it.
Matrix was simply saved by SOE so the people who still play it can still play it. They didnt make that game either.
I know nothing about Planetside but i dont think it is a MMO in the same rank as say EQ or EQ2.
Now some other tidbits, DAOC merged servers, Horizons merged servers, UO probably merged servers, AC probably merged servers. Every game that is out any length of time merges servers. WoW will some day too.
The answer other then server merges is death. I think most will happily take the merges.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE3DD103FF932A25751C0A9619C8B63
What?! Another 350K in another game? OMG, that's 700K already, with just two games. Wanna play my game? I'll OWN you.
You are right. 350k from 2005 plus 350k from 2007 = 700k! or maybe not
At least this one is somewhat current, but strangely close to what MMOGDATA puts both EQ and EQ2 combined which would be more likely the case. Not that Smedley started giving out subscription numbers during interviews again or anything.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/magazine/16consumed.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
350K in one game?
October 16, 2005. An article over TWO years old. Again this is before mergers, the NGE, ETC ETC.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/27/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm
800,000. OH, oops, he was wrong, he was low by 100K, and STILL closer than you by a LONG shot.
April 27, 2005: 9:49 AM EDT
That article is over 2 and a half years old! For perspective the NGE had not even hit yet, WoW was only a few months old and neither EQ2 or EQ had merged servers yet.
Yes, SOE once had 800k subscriptions.
http://www.hoovers.com/sony-online-entertainment/--ID__114642--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml?cm_ven=PAID&cm_cat=INK&cm_pla=CO1&cm_ite=sony-online-entertainment
80% of which is garnered by EQ2, AND I know for a fact I don't pay $1000 a year to play. Simple math too far beyond your grasp? OK, HERE:
This looks to be their 2006 financial reports?
You claim to know it is 80% EQ2, ok lets play.
150 million X 80% = 120 million
120 million / 12 months = 10 million a month
10 million / 14.95 subscription price = 668,896 subscribers to EQ2?
That is assuming everyone payed full price and not accounting for partial station pass payments. Also not including box sales.
So, EQ2 had 350k users in feb 2005 (taken from your NY times article). They merged servers in 2006. Your opinion is that the population somehow doubled? That EQ2 has as many if not MORE subscribers than the original everquest?
I realize that math is assumption, but you completely discount just how many products are on the station site that are not mmos. there are some 50+ other titles there. By your own link it shows 700 employees. Just think about that for a moment.
*grabs popcorn**riles contestants*
*eyes bleed from the colors*
MMO games played or tested: EQ, DAoC, Archlord, Auto Assault, CoH, CoV, EQ2, EVE, Guild Wars, Hellgate: London, Linneage II, LOTRO, MxO, Planetside, SWG, Sword of the New World, Tabula Rasa, Vanguard, WWIIOL, WOW, Age of Conan