A history in server merging - Why SE is creating an overcomplicated mess.

[Gramul]

See how RIFT did it. You can follow their suggestion and join that server (most will) or decide that you want a new life of adventure with new friends and pick a different server instead.

How is that not better in every single way?

It is.

-filler text-

[Colino]

Players can coordinate their choices instead of it being completely forced.

What's completely forced about suggesting you go to a server but giving you the option to choose another if you really want to? What they're doing now is COMPLETELY FORCING US to decide on something this massive when we clearly don't have the means to do it.

My only issue is future returning players not being able to select a server and being distributed randomly.

This is due to technical limitations since the current engine does not support keeping data in a "limbo", at least according to the JP rep posts.

[Mychael]

As I mentioned before in another thread, potentially best solution for largest number of players. If they just merged one server into another, neither would really have any choice in the matter. No one would be able to relocate if say both of the merged servers had low population for their timezone/language. It's not complicated at all really. Everyone choose a new server. Players can coordinate their choices instead of it being completely forced.

My only issue is future returning players not being able to select a server and being distributed randomly.

Edit: The only difference between this and Rift is that we're not being given suggestions, as far as I understand it at least.

People can be rebels to their heart's content, but you'd be surprised how many people followed the suggestions. Communities are what make this game. I'm certain that most people aren't playing because they like doing the same ifrit battle for hours every night after they're 7/7, or because they like buying belts to spiritbond. It's for the friends, the lolz, etc.

SE, on the other hand, seems to be doing everything possible to randomize who goes where. Inactive accounts (seemingly) cannot choose at all unless they pay; the server names are hidden as to prevent players with similar FF game preferences from flocking together, even! Linkshells will be deleted, and the alternative given to us is to follow the blogs on the Lodestone, which most people in my shells have only logged into once or twice.

:/

[Jinko]

Q: Why is SE creating an over complicated mess

A: Because SE always create an over complicated mess.

[Onji_T]

What's completely forced about suggesting you go to a server but giving you the option to choose another if you really want to? What they're doing now is COMPLETELY FORCING US to decide on something this massive when we clearly don't have the means to do it.

I wonder who doesn't have the means to do it? Our group picks a server, 1-9, and we go with it. This really doesn't take a lot of decision making and very little coordination on our parts. It's up to you to make a big deal out of it, and somehow people always manage to do just that.

[Colino]

I wonder who doesn't have the means to do it? Our group picks a server, 1-9, and we go with it. This really doesn't take a lot of decision making and very little coordination on our parts. It's up to you to make a big deal out of it, and somehow people always manage to do just that.

So you have only one group of friends?

Good for you, but guess what, some of us have several linkshells or friends with which they aren't in the same linkshell... And guess what? Those linkshell's decision might not be exactly the same as your other linkshell's decision... So what happens then?

You have to pick one and are forced to break up from a group of people and potential friends simply because SE wants us to do their work for them.

All they need to do is recommend a pick for each server... I don't see how that's hard or how it could somehow compromise their integrity.

[Gramul]

I wonder who doesn't have the means to do it? Our group picks a server, 1-9, and we go with it. This really doesn't take a lot of decision making and very little coordination on our parts. It's up to you to make a big deal out of it, and somehow people always manage to do just that.

Some of us have more than one linkshell. And I have yet to know if they're all going to the same server, but it doesn't look favorable.

[Majidah]

screw communites, my friends 99% all quit D:

[AngryNixon]

SE is not creating an over-complicated mess. Of late I find most of the things they're doing are clearly explained.

Their means of conducting a server merge is as valid as any of the other options pursued by other companies. It's just different. Not complicated.

[Rutelor]

SE is not creating an over-complicated mess. Of late I find most of the things they're doing are clearly explained.

Their means of conducting a server merge is as valid as any of the other options pursued by other companies. It's just different. Not complicated.

...and the difference seems to stem from the fact that the company apparently has no intention to preserve already defined communities (not only linkshells) together. I have friends that left the game and won't be back till after version 2.0. I have no way of talking to them in real life, do not know their real names and or contact data, and most likely will lose all contact with them during this process.

I have trouble believing that the complicated multi-step--and community-breaking--process proposed is the result of technical limitations. For sure the very process of server structuring and design was conducted by people mindful of the complications and implications of server merges... Or wasn't it?

R