Why won't SE merge the servers due to few people playing the game?

[Fleur]

I completely understand why SE would not want to merge the servers, and why it could be a bad move. I do not expect them to do so and am certainly not complaining that they should. ^^

However . . . I admit, I still wish they would, even if they only downsized the number of servers slightly. At the higher ranks of DoW/DoM, if you want to rank up at anything other than the pace of an anemic sloth, you really need to group with others. And despite being in two lovely linkshells I have trouble finding groups. I want more people around to play with!

I really liked having so many people around like there was at launch. Granted, the population was all bunched into the newbie camps, but if the game had been a hit then there would have been at least a small stream of incoming newbies for awhile to keep different rank camps populated. Even in the cities it was way more crowded, and there were even -gasp- PEOPLE in Limsa and -- dare I say it -- a few in Gridania! (but then, population distribution is due to more factors than just population, and is another can of worms!)

But I guess if I had found a linkshell with a bunch of people in my rank range, or I knew people that I could regularly group with, I wouldn't be as enthusiastic about the idea.

[Elaguila]

What about the $ issue, though? Less servers = less money spent on a game that's not currently generating revenue (excluding sales of new games).

[Gun_Anam]

What about the $ issue, though? Less servers = less money spent on a game that's not currently generating revenue (excluding sales of new games).

That's none of our concern. We're not the financial advisors of SE. It's not a valid point to bring up when discussing server merges.

[Ceska_Zbrojovka]

I, for one, don't like the idea.

Given the number of Link Shells across the servers, there will be many instances of LS's having the same Logo/shield.
Now what are you going to do when Link Shells X,Y, and Z with the same logo are merging from their respective servers into one super-server.
Which one gets to keep the old Logo? Who gets a new one?
Tough luck for those that might have to change their LS websites.
Price you pay for a populated Game World and Progress, right?

We can also talk in-game economics,
Currently as more and more players approach lvl cap the in-game economy is beginning to become inflated.
With a higher population of End Game players due to a merge, would fuel inflation further.
Yes, it can be argued that more higher level crafters equals more competition, and lower prices.. But that's only on NQ Items.
As there's More End Game players competing for a marginally increased supply of HQ items, and with no Money Sink in-game. (Fast Travel, Gambling on Chocobo Races/Fights in the Gladiator Pit, Housing)
They're all Gil'd up with nothing to spend it on, so they're looking for better equips, and just so happen will progressively pay more and more for the items.
Let's not forget the market disparity between prices of the same item across servers.
After a server merge, there will be some who gain the benefit of moving from an over-inflated game economy to a more controlled one.
Though there'll be similar numbers who'll find the opposite is true.

While I can appreciate peoples arguments FOR server merges.
I have to say I'm probably one of the few on a Server dominated by Japanese players (With English clearly being in the minority) that would be against such an idea.
Even so, I've managed to find a great LS with some fantastic people to play with, and even a few RP'ers.

Now as for a Real World Economic point of view.
SE already own the servers. Kinda pointless shutting a few of them down and having to port all the character data across to different servers.
What becomes of the empty server space? Rent it out to who? Risk sites not controlled by SE being hosted and potential sources of security breaches.

*OOP's what was that? You wanted to choose which new Server you go to.. What if you're not given a choice?
Some of your friends are on a different server due to you being a Euro player and they're NA?
Sorry but that's how it was decided to distribute people from the now closed servers across the remaining worlds

*Potential situation arising from Merge.

SE are expecting an influx of new players to come with the, eventual, release of the PS3 version.
Perhaps then you'll see the Cities and Camps alive with players.

[Fleur]

ISE are expecting an influx of new players to come with the, eventual, release of the PS3 version. Perhaps then you'll see the Cities and Camps alive with players.

Yeah, I think that is what it pretty much comes down to, which is why I don't think server merges are a possibility. -sigh- Oh well, a girl can dream!

Some interesting points you have there too! Though as for the duplicate linkshell crests thing . . . that isn't really a big deal as it already happens. I've seen quite a few linkshells (including one I'm in!) that have crests identical to other shells, and one of my shells has changed their crest twice. I think that is more to do with people's desire to only use "cool" colors like black/white/red/blue in their crests rather than overpopulation at this point, though. Purple and green need more love! xD

[Kilta_Firelotus]

coming from ffxi and seeing 3-4K server pop. the way things are parties will be hard to get if your not the class of the week with the min/max sert up. even in WoW groups are hard to come by for things its not really the server pop its the willingness. And now adays with the solo focus and the "i wanna be a hero and not share the spotlight" ppl just don't help or join up in stuff as much as they used to.

[Xatsh]

I do not think mergers would be a good idea at all. The negative view of server mergers would do 2 things.

1) Make more people quit. Game is merging therefor it is dead time to find a new home.
2) Get massive negative press "FFXIV merges servers after only 6 month" at that point everyone will stop trying the game as well as possibly dealing a death blow to any possible PS3 revival.

While it would make the game multitudes more fun, the negative of it far outweighs the positives in the long run.

Only real option I see is to limp along until the PS3 launch.

[sharky]

I'm not sure what the desired outcome would be. I've noticed that most players don't socialize or party together, but play the game solo and craft. And I'm on a busy server. I would say the average player prioritizes in this order, 1.solo 2.craft 3.party. Even if the servers were merged, people would still ignore each other, which is the bigger issue I think.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

ceska all all a server merge is, is to servers one eatinbg the other. Like in ffxi garuda and Lakshmi merged and became the new Lakshmi. You wouldn't run into the sitation in a server merge.

and by fake numbers I'm talking the 30K-40K ppl been flying around. Sorry i wouldn't take ppl word on totel players atm. More so with the way the game is. And all the tin foil hat conspricy theories.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

Xa
the only mmo to do a merge like that is Aion.. 6 mnth after US release servers are down to 5. Mostly cuz the community is bs. No one really ran from the game after that. Nor did tons of ppl quit ffxi after its first merge 8 years after.