About Global Servers / グローバルサーバーについて

[Reverser]

Global servers are a defining characteristic of online SE games and one that draws me to them: playing with the world, particularly JPNs.

As some may know, there was a huge outlash in Japan when SE first allowed "gaijin" (read: outsiders) on their servers in FFXI. Many quit and never came back.

Some of this was for good reason. When the first batch of "ZOMG FF" Americans landed in FFXI's servers, they were rude, and did not observe many of the common respects that Japanese players had been offering to one another for a long time before we showed up. Japan tends to be a very polite and respectful society, even in an online setting, and that doesn't always mesh well with American behavior.

At the same time, it opened a lot of opportunities: After the initial batch of rude flavor of the month players left, American's learned how to say "ohayo," and started trying to bridge the gap between the cultures. The Japanese had an opportunity to practice their English, which is actually something most of them really enjoy and sometimes pay big money to do.

With that said, Japan tends to be an extremely xenophobic society (see: nihonjinron), and will curl up in their ball of "leave us to our closed society," given the opportunity. If these Japanese Language servers are opened, you will be lucky to see one JPN on any other server.

So, I, for one, say force them to play with us. Force us to play with them. Intercultural relations and friendships are some of the most mind opening and cultivating experiences one can have in life. (I can say this, my wife is JPN)

Thanks for the read, and I hope the devs will consider these opinions.