Recommendation from a critic, server mergers.

finaticd · November 2009

I can't see why kids love cinnamon toast crunch but I can see that the population is down and the players are demanding that there be more players on their server. There was not a bump in the X fire numbers after the second round of free trials and double XP. So it is doubtful the population will increase, actually it is pretty easy to see it will decrease until the expansion at least in terms of subscriptions....if they go free to play there may be people...the population, revenue, and xfire numbers have decreased every quarter so far so nothing has fixed that trend.

Anyway, the head developer said "I think that more accurate to say we want a tight community rather than low population, I personally enjoy seeing players I know or have played with while I am on. In the end having a "smaller" server lets players feel a little more connected and gives each server its own identity." In response to them stating they like small pop servers or something. Because servers have such low populations once again it is hard to find other players in the 20-79 range and most areas in that range are a goast town. MMOs are about finding players to do stuff, even with the lack of dungeans this game still has them.

Here are some words from players on this issue:

"Still happy about agony server pop mr game developer?" forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

"Low population servers working as intended" forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

"Population help" forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

Excerpt of a person who did /who all 1-10, 11-20,21-30,,,,,etc.

#1: Wiccana: 100-250 people online offpeak, 450 primetime

#2: Tyranny: 50-200 people offpeak, 450 primetime

#3: Cimmeria: 50-200 offpeak, 400 primetime

#4: Set: 50-150 offpeak, 350 primetime

#5-#8 Bloodspire, Gwahlur, Ironspine, Agony: 10-50 offpeak, 40-120 primetime

"Transfers to Tyranny" forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

Because there was a ban against transferring there but the population is way down.

-------------------------

Revenue is once again projected to be down next quarter which means subscriptions will be down. So it is time for wave two of server mergers imo. I bring this up because even the people who enjoy playing are starting to feel lonely and have voiced those concerns.

Vaedur · November 2009

you can never use a /who to gather accurate results, most /who's in game has a cap on how many it will display.. lotro has 99, wow had 50 when i was playing.. the point is you never can see how many are at max level for one... add in the hidden players.etc..

finaticd · November 2009

Originally posted by Vaedur

you can never use a /who to gather accurate results, most /who's in game has a cap on how many it will display.. lotro has 99, wow had 50 when i was playing.. the point is you never can see how many are at max level for one... add in the hidden players.etc..

You can if segment it 1-10, 11-20, ect...then once you get to level cap do the same for each class. There are some down right empty servers right now that it is easy to do. Tyranny has complaints over not having enough players and may be the only server that it wouldn't work on but there would not be to many classes where if you did a level cap search would have some players cut off..

rafaelrehn · November 2009

this thread is fail

haratu · November 2009

As stated, you can not predict how many players using a /who type system. Especially AoC system

I know for a fact that Gwahlur has far more than 10-50 offpeak... which puts all your other figures into doubt since that is a low population server.

Turntable · November 2009

Do you even play the game? Why do YOU care so much about this?? I mean, I looked at your post history..

Rawiz · November 2009

It'd be very bad press to merge servers. That's the main reason it will not be done. I mean having what, 20 people according to official forums on a server is just fine, if asked by the game director.

It just means you'll have a more tight community!

LordBonezy · November 2009

Servers are imploding in AOC exactly as I predicted a few months ago when we were talking about free trials and why they are not succeeding. When we were talking about the urgent need to replace CM as game director. When we were talking about the need to focus on core mechanics and imbalanced and fix the fucking sieges and not add bigger boob potions and non-core elements such as that.

What a waste, a wasted effort, a wasted production, a mockery of Robert E Howard. If only we could bring him back to life so he could sue them for $100 million.

Oh well, pretty soon there will be another merge of the AOC into 2 PVP and 2 PVE servers and they'll spin it like that was the plan all along.

finaticd · November 2009

Originally posted by LordBonezy

Oh well, pretty soon there will be another merge of the AOC into 2 PVP and 2 PVE servers and they'll spin it like that was the plan all along.

There will be server mergers but instead of delaying them like they did last time they should just do it now. If AoC loses 200 players because they are unhappy playing on servers with 100-200 players total...it is a big deal now. However if they start losing people from the many low-medium pop servers because guilds and parties are feeling the burn afetr such a player population hit that current players can't get into stuff or do stuff then the time is now.

GPrestige · November 2009

The /who command in this game is broken for some people. It appears to show drastically lower results than there really area. Perfect example is I could only see a single level 30 online, when a majority of the rest of the players saw 20 online. I got some names, did some /who of the exact name, and found that they were in fact correct. There were 20 level 30s. I went back and did another /who 30 and it showed 1 person.

Its a PITA

finaticd · November 2009

A small minority of players will also be annon but the point still stands that server mergers are needed. Anyone who engages in raiding and grouping and sieging and PvP and other stuff that guilds do would realize this.

The developers stated the opposite:

"11.6 How many people can play on each server?

Our goal is to have a low enough population on each server so that “everybody knows your name,” since that will make the rivalries more fun and exciting and create a sense of community while maintaining that Massively Multiplayer feeling."

Many servers just had populations plummet so instead of waiting until after the expansion that is forever off to merge, why not get it over with now? When two rounds of free-trials and free level 50 and double XP are unsuccessful, that is a lot of faith being put into the expansion. I'm not a big fan of Funcom, no, but mergers have been called for by many players.

PharaDar · November 2009

The search facility is 100% accurate if you use it properly

searching 1-10 etc etc to ensure you never count more than 50 you will do an accurate server count..I can say that in the EU...a server liek CROM has a offpeak around 500...wheras hyrkania never passes 300 even at peak hours.

The search is so accurate gankers use it to locate and find victims to grind pvp as quickly as possible...

Uway · November 2009

The problems with merging servers happens when all the people who are waiting for new content/fixes log in. We noticed this for the few days the Halloween quests were implicated with the server lag. Funcom doesn't have to add all these bonus items for people to log in, they want content! I just started playing in August and I have two characters that are fully raid geared out already and two more on the way. I imagine that the people that have been playing longer than I have leveled up the alts they wanted already. The PvP content on general servers is highly dependent on Sieges that are broken/ don't happen often enough anyway. So that won't entice anyone to log in once they have their characters decked out in raid gear.

This is how Funcom should be spending their time doing

Making more Content/Solving Balance Issues ----> More people playing ----> $ for Funcom

This is how they have been been spending their time

Trying to milk player base for more money/not fixing major bugs ---> Less people playing ----> Server Merging Threads

finaticd · November 2009

Originally posted by Uway

The problems with merging servers happens when all the people who are waiting for new content/fixes log in. We noticed this for the few days the Halloween quests were implicated with the server lag. Funcom doesn't have to add all these bonus items for people to log in, they want content! I just started playing in August and I have two characters that are fully raid geared out already and two more on the way. I imagine that the people that have been playing longer than I have leveled up the alts they wanted already. The PvP content on general servers is highly dependent on Sieges that are broken/ don't happen often enough anyway. So that won't entice anyone to log in once they have their characters decked out in raid gear.

This is how Funcom should be spending their time doing
Making more Content/Solving Balance Issues ----> More people playing ----> $ for Funcom

This is how they have been been spending their time
Trying to milk player base for more money/not fixing major bugs ---> Less people playing ----> Server Merging Threads

If all servers were merged into 4 or even 2...there would only be one week after the expansion when getting in would be an issue. Aion had the same thing. FRom here till then there will be fewer and fewer players and the expansion will have people buy it but don't put your hopes and dreams into it. Funcom develops to slowly to keep most MMOers interested.

Darth_Osor · November 2009

EA just announced two more server merges for WAR. It seems EA is more concerned about players having other people to play with than the negative PR hit, unlike Funcom. I guess FC would rather keep their head in the sand and pretend everything is great and milk an extra $20-50 from suckers wanting off dead servers.

Tarka · November 2009

Originally posted by finaticd

Funcom develops to slowly to keep most MMOers interested.

This is the conclusion I've drawn as well. Whether the development rate is intentional, or whether they just cannot physically deal with the glaring issues many faster, is unknown. But the fact remains that FC seem to be unwilling / unable to deal with the issues any faster. And for my own personal taste, that is not a good sign.

Yes, all MMO's launch with SOME issues, but other companies seem to realise that such issues need to be "nipped in the bud", and fast. And there by doing so project the impression that they are genuinely concerned about those issues. Subsequently, instilling confidence in their customers.

On the other hand, FC seem to have a very laid back, almost indifferent, attitude to everything they do. And it comes across in the GD's responses on the forums and in his interviews. "It will be done when it's done" may seem to be a good line to keep people at bay who hold you to deadlines. But it wears very thin after the first 100 times of hearing it. And that sure as hell doesn't instill confidence in your customers. It is more damaging than not being able to keep to deadlines in my book. At least if you give a deadline which your customers hope is pretty accurate then they know you're TRYING to show you're concern about the issues.

And if the GD has that attitude, then the rest of his staff has to abide by it. The devs also refuse to listen to their playerbase UNLESS the devs ideas just happen to co-incide with what the playerbase wants, then they use that as evidence that they listen. Which would be hilarious, if it wasn't so tragic.

Sabradin · November 2009

Originally posted by finaticd

A small minority of players will also be annon but the point still stands that server mergers are needed. Anyone who engages in raiding and grouping and sieging and PvP and other stuff that guilds do would realize this.
The developers stated the opposite:
"11.6 How many people can play on each server?

Our goal is to have a low enough population on each server so that “everybody knows your name,” since that will make the rivalries more fun and exciting and create a sense of community while maintaining that Massively Multiplayer feeling."
Many servers just had populations plummet so instead of waiting until after the expansion that is forever off to merge, why not get it over with now? When two rounds of free-trials and free level 50 and double XP are unsuccessful, that is a lot of faith being put into the expansion. I'm not a big fan of Funcom, no, but mergers have been called for by many players.

lol its not a "massive multiplayer" feeling if there aren't massive multiplayers

I keep this when I think its appropriate

BullseyeArc1 · November 2009

Originally posted by Darth_Osor

EA just announced two more server merges for WAR. It seems EA is more concerned about players having other people to play with than the negative PR hit, unlike Funcom. I guess FC would rather keep their head in the sand and pretend everything is great and milk an extra $20-50 from suckers wanting off dead servers.

I just came back to try it out and thiers hardly any servers left, what would they do make just one? If so would my new title be Dagoth-Set. Cause this would be the second merge for my toons. Wait till the expansion, thier might be a few new players if they sell box sets.

finaticd · November 2009

Originally posted by BullseyeArc1

Wait till the expansion, thier might be a few new players if they sell box sets.

That is a long ways off with no hope of it bringing back waves of players...untill then the server populations are just going to dry up do to lack of content and players.

SirPaco · November 2009

Originally posted by PharaDar

The search facility is 100% accurate if you use it properly
searching 1-10 etc etc to ensure you never count more than 50 you will do an accurate server count..I can say that in the EU...a server liek CROM has a offpeak around 500...wheras hyrkania never passes 300 even at peak hours.
The search is so accurate gankers use it to locate and find victims to grind pvp as quickly as possible...

hey, please could you pm me instructions on how to do that? or, post here if you want np

I would like to try it on Fury at different times!

cheers,

[Deleted User] · November 2009

The user and all related content has been deleted.

finaticd · November 2009

Here are some more numbers to proove how dead this game has become:

From Litigator @ forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

Cimmeria: 369

Wiccana: 340

Set: 295

Tyranny: 285

And no those are bad numbers for a MMO as it would be prime time hours for 3/4 the the country and that those are ALL the players spread out over 80 levels....and because level 80s quit or reroll according to the game director, most players are not 80 yet.

--------------

Here is another post about how the servers are dying again:

forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

SirPaco · November 2009

what is funny is that the OP in the link you provide is actually posting this information as a positive thing since he is saying it's been pretty busy lately

fodell54 · November 2009

Originally posted by finaticd

Here are some more numbers to proove how dead this game has become:
From Litigator @ forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php
Cimmeria: 369

Wiccana: 340

Set: 295

Tyranny: 285

And no those are bad numbers for a MMO as it would be prime time hours for 3/4 the the country and that those are ALL the players spread out over 80 levels....and because level 80s quit or reroll according to the game director, most players are not 80 yet.

--------------
Here is another post about how the servers are dying again:
forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

Litigator is one of the biggest trolls on the official forums. So to quote is totally ridicules and proves nothing. I don't think I've ever read a post by Litigator that had anything substantial in it.

Thorgrimm · November 2009

Originally posted by fodell54

Originally posted by finaticd

Here are some more numbers to proove how dead this game has become:
From Litigator @ forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php
Cimmeria: 369

Wiccana: 340

Set: 295

Tyranny: 285

And no those are bad numbers for a MMO as it would be prime time hours for 3/4 the the country and that those are ALL the players spread out over 80 levels....and because level 80s quit or reroll according to the game director, most players are not 80 yet.
--------------
Here is another post about how the servers are dying again:
forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

Litigator is one of the biggest trolls on the official forums. So to quote is totally ridicules and proves nothing. I don't think I've ever read a post by Litigator that had anything substantial in it.

I love how this individual editted the FULL post to SPIN the article into something Negative. If you are going to QUOTE Something, do not remove material to make your biased point. There are some of us that DO go back and read the redirects to see IF THEY ARE TRUE. Please keep in mind that this count was done at 1am in the morning. I also need to add that there is no way to get a count for the entire server; it is done for the zone you are in and is very limited. If it were possible to get a count in game, we would not have so many arguments over XFire counts and other dubious ways to say "The sky is falling" to keep players from coming back to Age of Conan. Lets look at the Original Post again...

=======================================================================

Litigator Post: (following replies in the AoC forums label him as another I hate AoC troll, BTW, so his results are suspect)

I was doing my daily population tallies last night and I found that yesterday was extremely busy.

For example, at 1 am EST last night:

Cimmeria: 369

Wiccana: 340

Set: 295

Tyranny: 285

These are weekend type numbers for this time of day and week over week are 18% higher overall (Tyranny being the lone drag at an increase of 5%).

Thorgrimm · November 2009

Now, assuming that a person that hates the game has enough accounts to log in to four different servers at exactly the same time, why would he do that? Who else thinks that 1am EST is Prime time for most of the USA? It is midnight in Central, 11pm in Mountain, and 10pm on the West Coast.

Now, if we say that this is in some small degree accurate, we need to ask which zone he was in? We also need to find out which tool he used? I suspect that it was the ingame Search for Players too. Again, this tool only brings information up about the specific zone, like Lacheish Plains. So, if we had 350 people milling around one zone, that could actually be very good.

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Recommendation from a critic, server mergers.

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Recommendation from a critic, server mergers.

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