AoC Server Merges – When Worlds Collide
When it comes to MMOs, it is the nature of the beast that a strong population is critical to the survival of a game. So what happens when the massively multiplayer turns out to be not so massive? Developers often have to make the hard decision and start offering transfers, which ultimately gets followed up with server merges.
There is no denying that Funcom’s Age of Conan has had a rough going during the course of the 6 months it has been released. Funcom and their stockholders watched with horror as roughly half of their subscribers jumped ship in the first 90 days. Now after server transfers, Funcom has now entered the server merging phase to help sure up the population levels for their remaining players. Controversy is starting to brew regarding their decision to merge 2 servers of different rule-sets, the normal PvP server “Bloodspire” and an RP-PvP (Role Playing) server “Hyperborea” are about to collide into what looks to be a very interesting situation.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that I have never played on an RP server in any of the MMORPG’s I have played, but I do respect the option to have that playstyle choice. Now I will also be the first to admit that I have played on non-RP PvP servers in Age of Conan, and I have witnessed first hand the culture of these servers. It could be that some on these servers are role-playing as a mentally-unstable sociopathic teenager, but one has to wonder how the role-players will react to their new friends.
So what happens now? To the best of my knowledge, I can’t recall seeing a situation like this in an MMO and we can’t blame Funcom for trying foster a healthy environment for the players in terms of population. What is about to unfold will be a very interesting social experiment. I decided to take a look at some of the server forums to see the reaction from the communities, and so far it looks like a mixed bag. I don’t believe that both cultures will be able to survive personally, so the question will be to see who folds.
One possible scenario is that the non-RP types might be willing to give role-playing a shot, although I suspect that this is probably not going to be the case. The other scenario could be that this officially ends the culture of role-playing in this community, and the disgruntled RP crowd tries to proceed to the nearest exit by seeking a transfer or opting out all together. Funcom has made their choice and now it is up to the players of these servers to make their own. Let’s see if the players be willing to give up the RP in RPG for the MM in MMO. I am interested to hear player’s predictions on how you think this will play out.
Paragus
Co-leader of Inquisition
www.inqguild.com
I usually play *only* on RP servers if they’re available. Not because I actually roleplay in the sense the “hardcore RPers” do, but because the communities are *usually* more friendly and mature (refer to the image you posted as an example of what I *don’t* want in my MMO) and also to have a better chance of characters with actual names instead of Ipwnurmom, ThunderNoob and Healz4Gold. Call that my little bits of immersion, my personal style of “RP” or whatever… the non-RP and *especially* the PvP servers I’ve looked at always seem overpopulated with angry and angsty teens and pre-teens. I avoid them on XBL and I will certainly avoid them in an MMO I’m paying $15/month for.
However, the “hardcore” RP snobs, the chat police, etc. can be just as much douchebags as the leet kiddies.
Scott, I normally do the same, except when im stuck on a server with other friends. I think a lot of people on “RP” servers so the same. Likely, more than the ‘true’ RP’ers.
So i think that this server-merge/social-experiment will largely depend on those from the non RP server. So long as they (for the most part) dont go out of their way to piss of the RP’ers, it will be fine. Do I think this a likely scenario? Not at all.
I left AoC within the first 45 days as this game was horrible from the start. I’m happy to read that 1) I was right about half the subscribers leaving in the first 60 days and 2) that they are continuing to shot themselves in the foot. It’s only a matter of time before this game comes to a horrible end!!!
Well, now that they have implemented new content and fix a Bunch of Patches I believe the game is at the Point where it should have Been launched. It’s now a Very fun game for me to play and I for one Left WotLK to play AOC again b/c it seems more realistic.
As for the server Merges. I think it has it’s Cons and Pros’ I believe they should Match the same type Servers though. I’ve Always played on PVP servers in WoW, SWG,WarHammer, Guildwars and Now AOC. But I’ve always wanted to play on a RP server but wanted the PVP aspect as well. This could go Both ways. I just wish People would come back to the game and ry it again now because it is a Lot better then it was even 3 months ago.
I have been with AOC from the beginning. I have been lucky and never had the issues many of my fellow players have had. I guess I got lucky with my hardware matching up well or something. Anyway, most of the launch problems are gone from what I hear. There are still a few problems, but what MMO doesn’t have some? I remember the EQ launch, it was worse by far. Entire zones would crash, and you would be locked out until it came back up while people in other zones played. Anyway, back to the topic.
I have played PVP-RP and the unofficial PvE server. RP has been better on the PvE server because you can have an extended scene in the world without worrying about being ganked during the story. I respect those who feel a stronger immersion from PVP-RP because it is more dangerous, but if you are a storyline RPer vs “simulationist” RP the gank can interfere at the worst times.
my opinion is that after the server merge people will take advantage of the free character move and re-balance anyway. RPers will get on their web sites and announce which server to “re-group” on.
nah dude, they will either make it f2p or close it
@Christopher
Lots of people are coming back…. I did and am happy about this!! Its much better now and IMO far better than Warhammer Online. (Just came back from that game)