server mergers – MMO Fallout

The Old Republic: Server Mergers Possible

“Long term we actually have to look at servers as a whole. The nice part about it is we have doubled how many people we can put on each server since launch. The down side is that at launch, because people were upset at the long queues we aired on the side of opening up more space. What that has now done is separated our player-base into a larger group.”

When The Old Republic originally launched, servers were staggered in order to ensure that players evened out over the course of launch. Following launch, Bioware has slowly increased server capacity to allow more people into each server. The combination of increased capacity and post-launch player activity has resulted in a number of servers with a dearth of players, and Bioware is looking into server mergers in the future.

First, however, Bioware will be opting for a server transfer approach, allowing players to freely move about to the server of their desire.

“One of the problems we’re running into right now is kind of a classic MMO problem, which is that our overall population of players has not changed, but our peak concurrent users has changed”

(Source: Now Gamer)

Final Fantasy XIV Server Mergers Coming After Billing Begins

Now that I can shut up about services being hacked…I think it goes without saying that Final Fantasy XIV is long due for a server merge, and that the sparse population on many servers is only going to get worse when the billing starts and only those willing to remain monthly remain. FFXIV 2.0 is a long way away, and for now Square needs to focus on their current customers. Naoki Yoshida has posted that the server merger will be discussed in more detail once Square has a better idea of how many are sticking around once billing begins.

We will first analyze the number of players in the game after the billing service begins.
Based on that analysis, we will be running a simulation where the maximum concurrent access during the peak hours will become somewhere around 1500 to 2000 per World.
* The above number is provisional and not a finalized number.

More information is expected around mid to late January.

Expect More Warhammer Server Mergers This Year

WAR_ss_may09-09 — That's Mr. Merger to you...

Ever since Warhammer Online went free to play, people like myself have been clamoring for Mythic to go full Turbine and just open the game up with a cash shop. Mythic, at least historically, has denied any plans to change Warhammer’s model, but has given side remarks about what they would have to do if they were planning on changing the model and opening a cash shop. Not an acknowledgement that the game will move to a free model, but I would be highly surprised if Warhammer dies before it at least dips a toe in the idea.

In the latest producer’s letter, Mythic is skirting around the idea of planned server mergers. They are “discussing” what to do with the low population servers. There are currently four North American servers and five European servers.

As part of an effort to ensure off-peak hours are as enjoyable as peak hours can be, we are actively discussing our plans for lower population servers. If you haven’t heard anything to this effect by the time this letter sees print, you should see something very soon. We are committed to ensuring that we do what is needed to make sure players enjoy their experience in WAR.

Unless Mythic is going to raise the population by taking the game free to play, I can probably surmise that the end result will be server mergers on low population servers. Unless Mythic wants to cryptically point us to their considerations: