Regional Servers: Can we be a bit more specific please?

[ARytheart]

First off, I WILL and look forward to try different servers to test data locations. I assume that we will have to start a fresh (lvl 1) character to try out a server other then the one our legacy characters are on?

I played in the later days of 1.0 with several real life friends and several more intend to join once ARR launches. What can you tell me about the steps being taken to ensure people will be able to transfer in groups to the server of their choice without being split up?

What steps are being taken to ensure there will be enough room for legacy and new players that intend to join them on legacy servers? I'd really hate to go threw the trouble of seeing 5-6 legacy people transfer to a NA server that fills up before all the new real life friends can get in.

Where are the NA/EU data centers located? Is it in Montreal?

P. to the S. Although I wasn't completely disappointed with 1.0 ( I considered some of the ideas fresh {exp earned = battle contribution} and interesting mechanics {Battle Regimen/ incapacitation) I do look forward to wrapping myself around this new vision of Erozea that you are creating. Good luck to you Yoshi-P and all the devs/designers at SE. May you reap wonderful fruit for all your hard work.

[ServerCrashed]

How many canadian ff14 players are there lol. They should have put a server in the actual states man my ping is almost same to jp and to canada almost no change. Isnt that why there is a server in EU for Eu players why hell would anyone put a server in canada lol should have atleast put in somewhere in middle of USa

[Bayohne]

Greetings everyone,

Thanks for your patience while we gathered feedback from today's announcement.

We will have one data center that houses the North America/Europe servers. In the future, we may create additional data centers based on a variety of factors, but currently we have set up one to house the servers created for the NA/EU territories.

I know that there are some that are concerned about latency issues and I can say that we chose the location of the North America/Europe data center after conducting numerous tests from various locations and ensuring that it covers multiple territories.

In phase 3 of the Beta Test, you'll be able to choose your World freely, so please try out servers located in both the Japan data center and the North America/Europe data center. This way, you'll be able to see which fits your needs the best and ensure a great gaming experience.

Yoshida recently made a lengthy post on the topic that we're currently translating and we'll be sure to share it with you as soon as it’s complete.

Thank you again for your continued support.

[Enma]

Thank you Bayohne for the info! Probably it would have been wiser release them yesterday, but...

[Catapult]

We will have one data center that houses the North America/Europe servers. In the future, we may create additional data centers based on a variety of factors, but currently we have set up one to house the servers created for the NA/EU territories.

A pity, but thank you for the clarification.

[Rhivryn]

Greetings everyone,

Thanks for your patience while we gathered feedback from today's announcement.

We will have one data center that houses the North America/Europe servers. In the future, we may create additional data centers based on a variety of factors, but currently we have set up one to house the servers created for the NA/EU territories.

I know that there are some that are concerned about latency issues and I can say that we chose the location of the North America/Europe data center after conducting numerous tests from various locations and ensuring that it covers multiple territories.

In phase 3 of the Beta Test, you'll be able to choose your World freely, so please try out servers located in both the Japan data center and the North America/Europe data center. This way, you'll be able to see which fits your needs the best and ensure a great gaming experience.

Yoshida recently made a lengthy post on the topic that we're currently translating and we'll be sure to share it with you as soon as it’s complete.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Question:
Is FFXIV:ARR going to offer paid character transfers between servers after launch, much like the services games like World of Warcraft offer?

[Mjollnir]

Question:
Is FFXIV:ARR going to offer paid character transfers between servers after launch, much like the services games like World of Warcraft offer?

FFXI does it, so I'd consider this extremely likely.

[Khira]

We will have one data center that houses the North America/Europe servers.

So the so called "EU server" Ragnarok isn't EU at all (at least from server/data center POV). I'm glad to hear this, there is no need to move from Excalibur then \o/

[Rubicon]

In phase 3 of the Beta Test, you'll be able to choose your World freely, so please try out servers located in both the Japan data center and the North America/Europe data center. This way, you'll be able to see which fits your needs the best and ensure a great gaming experience.

Bayohne, you say this and Yoshida says this:

"Also, when making a new character, players will be free to play in either region. This will allow the opportunity to test connection speeds, and judge which region will allow for a more comfortable gaming experience."

So to be specific, can only NEW characters can be made on different LEGACY worlds for testing or can our existing characters move freely in Beta Phase 3 to test content latency?

[Ryuko]

I have mixed feelings about the regional servers.

I am happy because... My ping to JP servers in 1.0 was about 200 ms. My ping to the Montreal server is about 20 ms. That's so, so, so much less. On top of the 200 ms latency, I would also get pretty frequent lag spikes during peak hours due to server instability and my ISP being horrible. Beating Ifrit Extreme was, quite literally a nightmare. Knowing the NA/EU servers will equalize the latency a bit makes me happy.

I am sad because... I remember playing with JP players in both XI and FFXIV 1.0. I enjoyed it because it really gave you a sense of global community. In that same vein, my linkshell is made up of players from all around the globe. We have equal parts NA, EU, and JP time zone players. The split of regional servers is making it difficult for us, because even if we want to stay together, our other ties (friends) are pulling us apart. The JP players want to stay with their friends who will be staying on a JP server. The NA/EU players want to stay with their friends who will be going to an NA/EU server. This will necessarily split us, or force some of us to deal with the two largest disadvantages that going to a regional server which is not 'your own' will put you at...

First, the most obvious... latency. If SE assumes that people are picking servers with less latency, they will continue to release content similar to Ifrit Extreme which may be next to impossible to beat if you have horrible latency (like I sometimes would). I know in EU it could reach up to 300 ms, with eruptions popping and hitting you before you would even see them appear on your screen. A player who chooses to go to a server which is far away (A JP player going to NA/EU server or NA/EU player going to JP server) will be subjecting him or herself to the lag we fought so hard against in 1.0.

Second, the more subtle... communication. As an NA player who does not speak Japanese, joining a Japanese server will undoubtedly make me the minority. Some JP players are nice and inclusive while others prefer to play with just Japanese players. If I follow my linkshell, I am choosing to put myself into this situation, and subjecting myself to the lack of communication. The same is true for people who join an NA/EU server and cannot speak any of the NA/EU languages. It creates a rift.

I have told my linkshell that I care very much about them, but I do not think I can deal with staying on a JP server because of these two reasons. Some are understanding, and some are not. I know many members who will be going to JP or NA/EU servers no matter what the LS decides. It is causing a rift and I'm sure it is creating similar issues with other international linkshells.

But... this is what happens when they create challenging fights with a demand for lower latency. There's really no way around it.