Merge the servers, and kill the game in the gaming comunity.

[TinnySnips]

I'm going to have to agree with the general sentiment in this thread, as well as adding a bit more to it. The game's reputation in the gaming media has already been ruined. Also, nobody on the outside really cares much about what is going on in this game right now. The gaming press already has their story: Final Fantasy XIV had a failed launch and is a sub-par MMO experience at the moment, but they are releasing a new Client and building new Servers. We will be there with early previews and interviews about the new version as they are availabe, more at 11.

"FFXIV is a bad game" is already the story. A server merge on a bad game is not news.

One thing that people aren't considering while doomsaying over pay-to-play is perceived value. A game that is free-to-play is generally considered a waste of time. Paying a pay to play game costs money, so maybe some will see it as worth their time. Human value assignment is a funny thing, and I would not be surprised if pay to play enhances the perceived value of the experience this game offers. Also, players who are paying are more likely to log in and play than those playing for free. I would not be surprised if average server populations at prime time increase as a result of the start of billing. In fact, that's what I expect to see: A modest but noticeable increase in population (pre-merge).

[Ilean]

if there's anything i learned for the classic 90's movie Jurassic Park it's, life finds a way.

I learned:

-You should have different software environments for dev, QA, production, etc.
-Any developer who demands prod environment access privileges to do his job should be insta-fired.

And that has helped me more than once.

That movie is full of wisdom.

[Zanfire]

To be fair, the game does have issues. Server merge after more than a year is quite standard in MMO industry, most has server merge in less than a year. For instance, RIFT used to have 99 servers now they are down to 47, both Korea and Japan TERA have server merged down to 1/2 in 6 months from launch (or will be) etc. That doesn't seem to stop the investors, at least for now.

there is a big difference between a game like rift, from not a huge company, with a much smaller rep, and its not based on one of the worlds largest IPs, with a past game still running strong after a decade. Compare them dropping 99 to 47, to 18 to like 8.

[Delsus]

there is a big difference between a game like rift, from not a huge company, with a much smaller rep, and its not based on one of the worlds largest IPs, with a past game still running strong after a decade. Compare them dropping 99 to 47, to 18 to like 8.

It would be no problem because they are using different servers for 2.0, the PS3 version will not be on the current servers, so the population will not matter at all, infact it will only benefit from a merger and no one will see it any different except demand was not what SE expected (which is already widely known)

[TheVedis]

It would be no problem because they are using different servers for 2.0, the PS3 version will not be on the current servers, so the population will not matter at all, infact it will only benefit from a merger and no one will see it any different except demand was not what SE expected (which is already widely known)

actualy...ps3/pc servers will be shared with 2.0 dont know why you think they wouldnt be

and its not like they cant open new servers when ps3/2.0 hits, its not like thats imposible to do

[Delsus]

actualy...ps3/pc servers will be shared with 2.0 dont know why you think they wouldnt be

and its not like they cant open new servers when ps3/2.0 hits, its not like thats imposible to do

Never said they wouldnt be, what I said is that if they reduce server numbers it doesnt matter if they need to add more for population because the servers we are playing on will be gone come 2.0, not that they will not be shared, PS3 version will be on the 2.0 servers NOT the ones we are playing on now.

[TheVedis]

Never said they wouldnt be, what I said is that if they reduce server numbers it doesnt matter if they need to add more for population because the servers we are playing on will be gone come 2.0, not that they will not be shared, PS3 version will be on the 2.0 servers NOT the ones we are playing on now.

they wont eliminate the servers we are on....i dont think you understand how its going to work

they will upgrade them to the new version yes, but they wont just get rid of servers and create new ones

[Picoman]

We are not playing 2.0 beta.

[Kailea_Nagisa]

We are not playing 2.0 beta.

we pretty much are...... things will slowly be added that will make it more like 2.0 till the full revamp at said version update.

[Zanfire]

we pretty much are...... things will slowly be added that will make it more like 2.0 till the full revamp at said version update.

adding and changing core systems, knowing a whole new graphics engine, world, story, UI and server functions are not going to be available until 2.0, not getting our real "free trial" until 2.0, knowing even basic functions can not happen until 2.0, having to deal with lesser versions of those functions and not getting others.

sounds like a beta to me. They just spice it up with some content and small bits of story.