Server merge: Hidden server names.

[Jinko]

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.

It still doesn't make sense that originally Yoshi-p said they would look at the numbers and then merge servers based off the data collected and now you are basically leaving it in the hands of the players.

As Gramul suggested on the other page it would make more sense to merge high with low population and medium with medium population to get some kind of balanced population and still keep the communities together.

It makes total sense why you don't want to announce server names but still makes no sense why you are willing to destroy communities, linkshells and friendships.

[Colino]

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.

Some players? Juding by the insane flood of topics both here and on the JP forums it's A LOT of players that are frustrated by this ass-backwards way of dealing with the problem.

How much outcry will it take for the team to acknowledge that this is a bad idea and it needs to be done differently?

[Scherwiz]

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.

If people do not choose a server, along with those not currently playing, will they end up on the same server? A lot of us have friends and family that will be back at some point.

[Elune]

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

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).
[...]
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.

Pardon if I sound agitaded, but when I go to a restaurant, I don't expect to be told what to eat because it's for my own good, because the dish I order may be a problem. While I understand the intentions, I fail to understand how SE do not understand this is a definite move to displace a community already established and scatter it over a larger area.
Am I going to have to coordinate with the 200 on my friendslist (technically speaking ofc, I'm not that popular... yet...) to go to the same server as my LS is? No. most of their LS' will want to go to another server. And that's that for playing with those people on my friendslist ever again. The logical decision, in this case, would have been to keep the names of the servers that will be staying, allowing those already playing on it to chose to Stay, or leave for another. And what if the damn server "number" we chose gets flooded so fast our members/friends got locked out by the cap? Then the keeping of playing as a community argument died right there.

The issue would still linger on with those losing their server will, eventually, lose all this regardless. I guess the concept is to not make this unfair to them, and heaving it upon the Whole playerbase in order to minimise... Idk... Envy?

We are aware that some players may be frustrated at this...

Understatement of the year. This will probably blow over, and I'll keep playing the game, but at least I got to voice my opinion. But if it's going to be a norm, that opinions of this insane magnitude are not heeded, I fear I will lose alot of people in my immediate virtual surroundings pretty darn quick.

[Narfalicious]

And what if the damn server "number" we chose gets flooded so fast our members/friends got locked out by the cap? Then the keeping of playing as a community argument died right there.

When I read it, I thought it said you can freely shift your choice between the 1st and 12th, so if it turns out you can't all fit, you can decide on another.

[MeowyWowie]

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 understand why this decision was made, but I still feel that this won't solve the problem you're trying to prevent. Why give us the option to choose our own servers if we can't even tell which servers we're moving to? Since when is choosing our server by name a bad thing?

And for those of you who are saying names don't matter, why are you even opposing visible names then? If names didn't matter, then they wouldn't affect your decision anyways. So what's the difference if they show them or not? For those that do care, it does matter. If you can't understand that, fine. But don't act like showing the names will cause people to pick favorites then contradict yourselves by saying server names make no difference.

[Nabiri]

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.

It's for the best. I do wish the servers would get all new names though. ;3

[Bulwarkz]

I do wish the servers would get all new names though. ;3

Totally agreed - that's the only thing I didn't like about option 4... or any of them for this matter. Should be 10 fresh new server names regardless of how it's implemented.

[Katella_Avenlea]

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 can understand the thought process, though I'm wondering if maybe they could tell us now which of the 18 servers they consider to be the 10 most populated?

I really like my server's name, but since its something that won't be released until after the merge is done anyway, I'm almost thinking they should just come up with entirely new names for the new servers. I think people would be less frustrated.

[JackDaniels]

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.

Not that unreasonable lol..

I can understand the thought process, though I'm wondering if maybe they could tell us now which of the 18 servers they consider to be the 10 most populated?

I really like my server's name, but since its something that won't be released until after the merge is done anyway, I'm almost thinking they should just come up with entirely new names for the new servers. I think people would be less frustrated.

"If I can't have it, nobody will" ?

EDIT:
It's really not that big a deal lol..