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

[Elaguila]

Is there a list that shows server populations?

[Echo]

I haven't seen a game publish server populations to the public since the original EverQuest.

That practice has long since been discontinued, since it gives their competitors information.

I'm going to third/fourth the motion that mergers should not occur until well after the PS3 release. Many people and linkshells are waiting on that release for friends to join them.

[Jennestia]

XI is merging servers because populations have dropped -- XIV doesn't need server mergers even in the near future because it's not even fully released yet, plus on Rab and Mys I see it's quite lively. There's a very large PS3 player base in Japan that is waiting for that specific release because it's more console heavy than it is PC heavy, even people in the west that aren't PC gamers could barely run XIV and waiting for XIV PS3 release.

[Dreamer]

If we see a huge population growth when the PS3 version launches, then we'll have went through all the trouble of merging servers for nothing since we'll need to open new ones then. At which point you've made people who had naming conflicts rename, all for nothing.

Personally, I don't think the populations are too terrible. I play on Besaid, and the server population there seems fairly healthy.

[Arcell]

It's unnecessary to merge servers at this point without good reason. Come PS3 launch there will be an influx of new players and if the servers are merged that could present some problems. I'd say their best bet is to wait about 2-4 months after PS3 launch, let the population stabilize and then evaluate the need to merge servers.

Server transfers are a tricky issue too at this point. If we allow them it makes the current population happy but they'll all but abandon less populated servers for the top 4. This is fine for now but come PS3 launch people aren't going to want to start on these ghost town servers, they'll try to further populate the top 4. I'd say allow transfers and merges around the same point to avoid these problems.

[Rydin]

A few points I've seen...

A. The amount of chocobo's near a servers name shows the total number of people registered on that server, not the actual active population

1. Servers would not merge at least until the game is pay to play... each patch has the potential to bring people back.. people who have characters but just aren't playing... so merging servers would be premature right now with all the free accounts that are still active
What happens if you merge servers and then a ton of people come back... now you have a server with 5k populations at all times and TONS of lag

4. Many people plan to also play their existing character on their PS3..... MANY PEOPLE...

III. Party size is being reduced to 8, so there is not as much need for a larger population... 15 might be tough to field (Although we get 15 together every day) but 4-8 fits where the servers populations are just fine

4. Servers aren't dead.. they are low pop... but not dead... You should enjoy it... SP parties dont have to fight for camps... there isn't a ton of traffic and lag!!!

(P.S. The numbering system I used was intentional to make people smile... Enjoy your day)

[GreyJorildyn]

Things probably won't merge until PS3 releases and they get a better sense of how many are playing their game.

[Malakhim]

4. Many people plan to also play their existing character on their PS3..... MANY PEOPLE...

I know of at least 5 people who are waiting on the PS3 version, and I'm pretty sure there's a large amount of would-be Japanese players waiting for this is well.

There's going to be quite the population surge once this thing is out of the gate.

[GreyJorildyn]

Unless the game is up to snuff, that population may not be sticking much longer than the PC population did. ;x

[Roxy]

yeah i agree with that merge server at moment when they will Release PS3 and the game be ready add more servers later