Originally Posted by
Ava
That's a valid point and it's definitely a con of regional servers, but I think I'd still prefer it. I like playing on a schedule sort of, as in, I like saying to my friends/linkshell/group "I can do content from 7-11 CST" and not have to worry about EU people not being able to make it or having to raid at bad times for them, etc. I would use those "noon" times to do solo activities like crafting or soloing an alt or something like that. Otherwise, a way to mitigate the effect (I can't speak for EU/Asian players) would be rather than make the servers strictly time zone restricted, is just make them like NA (Maybe include LA as well)/EU/Asian. NA time zones stretch across 5 hours? PST -> EST is 3 hr difference but I believe Hawaii is 5 hrs? I'd have to double check, but if I use WoW as an example, I play on an EST server and the server doesn't start dying down until around 1-2AM CST. If PST players played there as well tack another 2 hours onto that meaning things wouldn't slow down until 3-4AM CST( 4-5AM EST). There would only be a couple hours of dead time on the servers and I think the amount of people it would impact would be minimal.
If they really wanted to, they could just not force people to play on their region's servers. I know some people don't live the same lifestyle I do and may work third shift or something or for whatever other reason play during the NA "off-times", these people could have the option to play on an EU or JP server if they wish.
I've also met a lot of people from different regions that I have come to enjoy a lot. That and I'd probably miss all the hawt EU/Aussie accents. But what it comes down to at the end of the day for me is that I want to play the game and meet a certain level of productivity. I want to be able to do things on a consistent schedule, and it's hard when your linkshells have to work around vastly different time zones (EU/JP/etc.).
But of course it really comes down to the individual. It certainly seems like a less popular idea on the NA side than on the JP side, from what I've heard.