Server merge: Hidden server names.

[Bayohne]

I would like to offer some insight into why we decided not to display the World names.

The operations and development teams held many internal discussions regarding how the Worlds were going to be merged. We discussed displaying the World names and allowing players to choose their destination and we also considered having some Worlds dissolved and merged into other existing worlds.

We did consider deciding on the World names beforehand, but the problem is that players often choose which World to go to based on its name (to be more specific, currently both Selbina and Gysahl are highly populated due to the popularity of the World names).

Therefore, when merging 18 servers into 10, you can imagine that there will be a rush to choose the Worlds that have popular names. These would fill up quickly and we would have to stop letting people in, and then it would end up being something of a lottery. Taking into consideration the time difference and what day etc, it was really hard to decide, but as we are making playing together as a community a priority, we have decided to hold back the World names and let people choose this way.

We are aware that some players may be frustrated at this, and we apologize for that but please try to understand our reasoning. We haven’t decided which World will get what name yet. For, things like drawing lots and other methods, we want to think about this separately.

[Answa]

I would like to offer some insight into why we decided not to display the World names.

The operations and development teams held many internal discussions regarding how the Worlds were going to be merged. We discussed displaying the World names and allowing players to choose their destination and we also considered having some Worlds dissolved and merged into other existing worlds.

We did consider deciding on the World names beforehand, but the problem is that players often choose which World to go to based on its name (to be more specific, currently both Selbina and Gysahl are highly populated due to the popularity of the World names).

Therefore, when merging 18 servers into 10, you can imagine that there will be a rush to choose the Worlds that have popular names. These would fill up quickly and we would have to stop letting people in, and then it would end up being something of a lottery. Taking into consideration the time difference and what day etc, it was really hard to decide, but as we are making playing together as a community a priority, we have decided to hold back the World names and let people choose this way.

We are aware that some players may be frustrated at this, and we apologize for that but please try to understand our reasoning. We haven’t decided which World will get what name yet. For, things like drawing lots and other methods, we want to think about this separately.

And thar you go. A reasonable answer.

[Delsus]

I would like to offer some insight into why we decided not to display the World names.

The operations and development teams held many internal discussions regarding how the Worlds were going to be merged. We discussed displaying the World names and allowing players to choose their destination and we also considered having some Worlds dissolved and merged into other existing worlds.

We did consider deciding on the World names beforehand, but the problem is that players often choose which World to go to based on its name (to be more specific, currently both Selbina and Gysahl are highly populated due to the popularity of the World names).

Therefore, when merging 18 servers into 10, you can imagine that there will be a rush to choose the Worlds that have popular names. These would fill up quickly and we would have to stop letting people in, and then it would end up being something of a lottery. Taking into consideration the time difference and what day etc, it was really hard to decide, but as we are making playing together as a community a priority, we have decided to hold back the World names and let people choose this way.

We are aware that some players may be frustrated at this, and we apologize for that but please try to understand our reasoning. We haven’t decided which World will get what name yet. For, things like drawing lots and other methods, we want to think about this separately.

I would prefer it if we could see the world names before the merge, if for example I end up on one with a name based on FFXIII I will be really unhappy because that was by far the FF I least enjoyed, as people have said I see the server name as an extension of my character name. From what has been said by Rainhart (sp?) I believe the Japanese side also agree.

There will be the possibility of numbered servers filling up when we choose for people that are too lazy to go down the list, and if I cant play with my ls because of it I will be very annoyed.

At the very least take this feedback into consideration. Asking alot of people to choose thier server based on a number is like asking them to choose thier character name based on a random number.

[FilthyDisco]

I would prefer it if we could see the world names before the merge, if for example I end up on one with a name based on FFXIII I will be really unhappy because that was by far the FF I least enjoyed, as people have said I see the server name as an extension of my character name. From what has been said by Rainhart (sp?) I believe the Japanese side also agree.

There will be the possibility of numbered servers filling up when we choose for people that are too lazy to go down the list, and if I cant play with my ls because of it I will be very annoyed.

At the very least take this feedback into consideration. Asking alot of people to choose thier server based on a number is like asking them to choose thier character name based on a random number.

Really? Who cares what your server name is...

[Velhart]

I would prefer it if we could see the world names before the merge, if for example I end up on one with a name based on FFXIII I will be really unhappy because that was by far the FF I least enjoyed, as people have said I see the server name as an extension of my character name. From what has been said by Rainhart (sp?) I believe the Japanese side also agree.

There will be the possibility of numbered servers filling up when we choose for people that are too lazy to go down the list, and if I cant play with my ls because of it I will be very annoyed.

At the very least take this feedback into consideration. Asking alot of people to choose thier server based on a number is like asking them to choose thier character name based on a random number.

I think this is the exact reason they decided not to show the world names. It is just as "name".

[Gramul]

I would like to offer some insight into why we decided not to display the World names.

The operations and development teams held many internal discussions regarding how the Worlds were going to be merged. We discussed displaying the World names and allowing players to choose their destination and we also considered having some Worlds dissolved and merged into other existing worlds.

We did consider deciding on the World names beforehand, but the problem is that players often choose which World to go to based on its name (to be more specific, currently both Selbina and Gysahl are highly populated due to the popularity of the World names).

Therefore, when merging 18 servers into 10, you can imagine that there will be a rush to choose the Worlds that have popular names. These would fill up quickly and we would have to stop letting people in, and then it would end up being something of a lottery. Taking into consideration the time difference and what day etc, it was really hard to decide, but as we are making playing together as a community a priority, we have decided to hold back the World names and let people choose this way.

We are aware that some players may be frustrated at this, and we apologize for that but please try to understand our reasoning. We haven’t decided which World will get what name yet. For, things like drawing lots and other methods, we want to think about this separately.

What I don't understand is, why you're making people choose at all?
I mean, without server names available, there's no real point.

Why not just merge low population servers with mid and high population, then change the name from there? It's not like we'd be any more upset with what names you choose for that than the names you choose for these servers we're randomly picking. I already have to drop one of my linkshells because they're choosing a different server than my main linkshell.
What's the point of that?

[Silversnow]

We did consider deciding on the World names beforehand, but the problem is that players often choose which World to go to based on its name (to be more specific, currently both Selbina and Gysahl are highly populated due to the popularity of the World names).

Therefore, when merging 18 servers into 10, you can imagine that there will be a rush to choose the Worlds that have popular names. These would fill up quickly and we would have to stop letting people in, and then it would end up being something of a lottery. Taking into consideration the time difference and what day etc, it was really hard to decide, but as we are making playing together as a community a priority, we have decided to hold back the World names and let people choose this way.

We are aware that some players may be frustrated at this, and we apologize for that but please try to understand our reasoning. We haven’t decided which World will get what name yet. For, things like drawing lots and other methods, we want to think about this separately.

I want you to go back to the group of dev's who thought this up and tell them that by this logic the duplicate names issue would be more easily resolved by forcing a name change on everyone. Because you know: Players often choose names based on popularity.

Then softly say "Derp." before walking out the room.

[Davorok]

I thought part of the fun of MMO's is building a community?

Here's everyone's chance to start building an even stronger community on fresh worlds with higher populations.

p.s. Quick story...back in early days of FFXI, I made my daughter delete her lvl 13 character so we could remake her on another account and play together. She cried and cried all night. We played for 6 years. She got over it.

[Phen]

I thought part of the fun of MMO's is building a community?

Here's everyone's chance to start building an even stronger community on fresh worlds with higher populations.

p.s. Quick story...back in early days of FFXI, I made my daughter delete her lvl 13 character so we could remake her on another account and play together. She cried and cried all night. We played for 6 years. She got over it.

Im not really sure that disproves that you shouldn't try to avoid those situations if you can help it?

[Jinko]

I thought part of the fun of MMO's is building a community?

Here's everyone's chance to start building an even stronger community on fresh worlds with higher populations.

People have already invested time into making a community and friends.