Announcing Our European Community Coordinator
By
2wierd,
Posted on: 2004-11-12 11:04 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Heh, first day and already answering questions. I like this guy Bridger already.
"I tink you's guy's at Cryptic done a good job wit hiring dis guy, I see good tings in yer future." 
I wanna know who's doin' da translation ta english.
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As SophieX has already pointed out, the way things stand right now, if you want to play the European version, you'll need to buy the European game. We are looking into both account and character transfer for existing European players and as soon I hear anything definite on either, I'll be letting you know.
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Arg. I can see some good and some bad in this decision:
The good: By forcing people to log into European servers or North American servers (I'm Canadian and many of my friends play the game, too - Ya really shouldn't be referring to it solely as "US version" 
- it'll reduce resources on the various servers and bandwidth backbones.
The Bad: This really sucks for those of us who've made friends in other countries via CoH; For example, I've been playing regularly with a guy from Sweden (Hi Dark Thang Oul!) which really rocks - I get a real kick out of the fact that my team mate is actually sitting behind a computer several thousand kilometers away
In other games, (Ultima Online, for example), it was both fun and educational to log into non-North American servers, just to see the difference in play-style, culture, etc. (Drachenfels was my favourite - The German people absolutely kicked bum to play with - Segregating people by continent seems a little backwards in a 'Global Village' era... One would think that simple ping-time to servers around the world would be a more efficient control on who plays on which servers.
I realize there is probably a financial/profit incentive for segregating the two versions, but it'd be really, really nice if you would nix the need to purchase a separate box to see different servers around the world.
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I realize there is probably a financial/profit incentive for segregating the two versions, but it'd be really, really nice if you would nix the need to purchase a separate box to see different servers around the world.
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I too, really want to be able to do that, I bought the game through the internet which I believe is counted as the US version and needing to buy the Euro version just to get to the european servers will really annoy me, I had to scrape money for the first version, I can't afford another! :P
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Bountytaker asked:
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Any comment to the rumors that the 5th Column are being dumped due to German laws regarding Nazi representation?
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What's going on with the 5th Column? I'm afraid you'll have to wait for Issue #3 to find out...
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Statesman and crew have trained you well 
Well they're not outright Denying the dissolution of the 5th Column so that pretty much guarantees that Political Correctness has won the war here. So Long 5th Column Story Arcs 
They weren't as interesting to me as Dev Earth and Lost mission, but I'm sure there's a lot of X-Men type fans who will really miss the whole Ultimate-Soldier deal. ...That and the Sentininels was probably the most interesting theme I've ever seen in Para-military plots and origins...
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Oh yeah, the Ubelman one was really cool though, it really reminded me of the Justic League Ep with Lazarus. I think it's there's a lot of Romanticism in it and that's why people will miss the 5th Column so much
I want to play my character which I have PAID to play upto level 41, on a UK server, I want the comic, entry to competitions and to be able pay in sterling or at least Euros. Rememberr also that the majority of us who are UK players came to the game because we were invited into beta and didn't want to wait a year after launch to continue playing.
We should be consulted as we are customers after all and have paid not only to buy the game but also a monthly fee.
If other "lesser" MMORPGs can manage it, then surely CoH can because it is a great customer focused product, please don't let us down now. We have been patient about the comic so far and we've been supportive about the lawsuit too and many of us have registered our disgust at the company causing the headache to CoH at the moment. I've even boycotted products from that company because of it's treatment to CoH and a lot of us in the UK have done the same.
I also on the other hand do not want to leave my current Worldwide friends behind.
But at the very least let us register as UK players, keep our accounts as they are and where they are (if need be) but allow us the same rights, privileges and respect as everyone else. If we have a UK registered address then recognise that when it comes to CUSTOMER benefits.
Cheers
Infamy, infamy, they've all got it infamy!!!
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Actually, I'm more interested in hearing what all of you think about this one. What do you feel are the differences between the US community and the European one?
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at a guess..which probably been mentioned is distance measurement...going from yards/miles to meters/kilometers
allready mentioned is the language, but added... Influence, for example, might be called Einfluß on a German Server or something else all together
I suspect npc names will differ<-- might be reaching or reading to far into it--> such as on the French server you might see more names like Jean for first name... DuPont more Van? in the last names.
Violence and Gore are not real factors..if the game had it ..it would be dulled down imho..however the nipple patch and or skin color (flesh tone) might be allowed 
ok getting offa track...but gonna proceed onwards..building structures might have variant skins to reflect the building over in Europe.
In America Pargon City is in Road Island???(I think please forgive me if wrong)...so the city might be located in respected geographical places (ie somewhere in France for the French Server)
Drunken drivers...errrm the cars anyways probably look different (Peugots and Fiats on the France server, Mercedees, BMW, and VW's on the German server...etc.)...and on some servers they will travel on the opposite side of road from what they do now.
about all I can think of offa the top of my head.
"Does that mean the game is "no fun"? Nope...In other words: meh, it beats hell out of doing the dishes. But it's no where near as fun as it was."-ScionofSatan
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WingedKagouti asked a few things:
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I did try to limit myself a bit
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How do you intend to launch CoH in Europe? Starting with a beta/test or just plunk down some live servers and go from there?
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We're going to start with a beta to test the hardware and the translations. We're working out the details right now, and as soon as the sign-up starts we'll be screaming about it all over the place. Including here.
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Sounds like a good plan.
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What do you see as the main differences between a US community and a Euro community?
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The European community stands a better chance of getting my jokes?
Actually, I'm more interested in hearing what all of you think about this one. What do you feel are the differences between the US community and the European one?
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Well us Euros are ahead of them Americans, by several hours at least 
...As long as we aren't talking about game/movie releases
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What differences, if any, have been planned?
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I'm not sure if you mean between the two versions of the game or the two communities... The major and most obvious difference between the US and European versions is that the European one will allow you to play in English, French or German (and yes, we'll have servers for each language). This is obviously also going to be one of the biggest differences between the communities, and how we help support them.
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What I meant was what differences in the Client (answered), Content & Character Creation had been planned compared to the US version.
I'll try to ask in a different way:
Would it be fair to assume no difference in Content (villains & zones) or Character Creation (costume & powers) compared to US?
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Will there be a Euro specific test server?
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Again, the details are still being worked out, but almost certainly yes.
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To help with the localisation stuff and probably required if you have to keep the US & Euro versions different. Not unexpected, but as far as I can see it'll just slow down Euro patches compared to US.
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Will any changes to the Euro version compared to the US be handled by Cryptic or a different dev team?
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The European version is being developed by Cryptic. The translations are being coordinated between Cryptic and our localisation team here at NCsoft Europe.
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Good to hear that you aren't bringing in a new team that hasn't seen the code before, could have introduced some weird bugs.
It looks like I'll be sticking to the US servers unless it will be 100% free for me to switch to the Euro servers, no extra charge to move characters or get the Euro client.
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I want to play my character which I have PAID to play upto level 41, on a UK server, I want the comic, entry to competitions and to be able pay in sterling or at least Euros. Rememberr also that the majority of us who are UK players came to the game because we were invited into beta and didn't want to wait a year after launch to continue playing.
We should be consulted as we are customers after all and have paid not only to buy the game but also a monthly fee.
If other "lesser" MMORPGs can manage it, then surely CoH can because it is a great customer focused product, please don't let us down now. We have been patient about the comic so far and we've been supportive about the lawsuit too and many of us have registered our disgust at the company causing the headache to CoH at the moment. I've even boycotted products from that company because of it's treatment to CoH and a lot of us in the UK have done the same.
I also on the other hand do not want to leave my current Worldwide friends behind.
But at the very least let us register as UK players, keep our accounts as they are and where they are (if need be) but allow us the same rights, privileges and respect as everyone else. If we have a UK registered address then recognise that when it comes to CUSTOMER benefits.
Cheers
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Please listen to him and others in this regard. I live in the US, but I have tons of sympathy for our overseas brethren. I would like to see everyone having access to the US (ok, US/Canda) servers and the Europe servers. However, if it is unavoidable to split the two, then at least give the "overseas-ers" an option to keep their account on US server, but register as Eurpoean players, and thus be able to pay in their currency, get the comic, etc.
Would be a shame to lose the added flavor of the Europeans in our current community. 
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...if it is unavoidable to split the two, then at least give the "overseas-ers" an option to keep their account on US server, but register as Eurpoean players, and thus be able to pay in their currency, get the comic, etc.
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Ooh, now this IS a good point. If I decide to stay on the US servers, I will be peeved if I still don't get my comic. Hopefully eligibility for the comic and competitions will be based on billing address and nothing else. It would not surprise me if European-game accounts were still held on the same NCSoft server as the US players (in a previous post I asserted that EU data protection laws, specifically the UK ones, do allow this) so hopefully regardless of which servers we use, we will still be eligible for the goodies.
In short: want comic want want want!
Carrying on...
Ksala asked:
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When can we expect to see CoH launching in Europe?
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February, 2005.
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How many servers do you anticipate having?
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At least three (one for each language) and as many more as we need. The final decision on how many servers to have at release will be made towards the end of the beta.
Cog_Sprocket brought up a couple of things that weren't exactly questions, but I think are important...
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often it means Euro servers get updated way behind the others for major publishes etc.
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It may have meant that with some games in the past, it's not going to mean that for City of Heroes. Again, we're still working out the details, but if there is any delay between the US version and the European version when it comes to updates and patches, we're going to keep it as short as possible - I'm talking days, not months.
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I've heard some rumours this is due to the Euro servers having a European setting
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I can happily squash that rumour under my official boot - the European version will be set in the one and only Paragon City. Where else could you set City of Heroes but in the city of heroes?
Rika_ asked:
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Will the issues be released from 1 upwards again or straight into issue 2 (or 3 if need be). Or will it be a sign of Europe getting screwed like usual?
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No, we'll be completely up to date with the US version at launch.
Nickwild asked:
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Another question, will the DVD edition be available at UK launch?
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No. The European version will actually be more up to date than the US DVD edition. As far as the DVD 'goodies', watch this space. We have a few ideas along those lines...
SophieX noted:
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As for paying in Sterling, they may not offer that at all. They could easily just have the price set in Euros since much of Europe has already adopted the single currency, but they may still include Sterling as an option.
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You will be able to pay in Euros or Sterling.
Nickwild popped in again to ask:
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Also another question (sorry Bridger) will we get teh same chances to appear in the comic as our North American friends?
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Looking into that now. More info when I have it for you.
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Any details of launch competitions?
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We're working on these. Look out for lots of screaming and yelling about them as we get closer to launch.
NationOfJoe asked:
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when is the australian release?
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Sorry, Joe, but I don't know right now. We would like to release the game in Australia, and are looking into it.
VagabondX asked:
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Wait, so there's going to be North America boards and then European boards?
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Yes. The European boards will open around the same time as the European beta.
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Why the need to segregate us? I mean, c'mon, we can get along, right people?
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It's not about segregating, it's about community and practical concerns.
On the practical side are things like languages (we'll have boards for English, French and German speaking players, with their own Community Coordinators) and time zones. On the community side is all the stuff that's going to be unique to City of Heroes Europe. We'll be running our own website, our own competitions, we have plans for our own events - at peak European times - and so on. It just makes things easier for everyone if the European players have their own place to speak their minds and get to know each other (and us).
B
All this stuff about "oooh we have Euro events just for you Euros" is all well and good if we can't use the damn things :?
So, whats the deal then with with this business decision has been taken? Why has it been taken? Thats what everyone wants to knwo and is what I've been hanging on for the past weekend with gritted teeth waiting for the answer in the hope it's something that could be in our favour. I am assuming publisher problems since I read you are letting others distribute it for you. Thats the big question all everyones lips.
Frankie says it best.
Actually after thinking about it, I want to stay where I am but as my billing address is in UK, will I be able to receive the comic even if I stay where I am?
In short will I be considered a UK customer if I decide to stay on the US servers?
And are we actually going to get the comic? Or are we going to have to continue importing it?
Another point? If everything is going to be geared towards customers getting servers, support and forums in their native language, will the comic also be made individually for each country or language too? And if so will we get put in with the US players for the English version?
I think it would be nice to have the same comic but with regional differences for special events like character competitions.
Well to be honest if you are aiming at giving the comic to non English speakers, then a comic written in English would be kind of inappropriate if not offensive to them.
Which is worrying me, as I can see the comic being a US (North American) deal only due to the logistics of printing different versions. Because to be honest if the Germans, French, Spanish etc...Got their own version and we in UK got the American one (with thier competition winners appearances) I'd be peeved
Oh one other point, I realise that I may be coming across as pushy, angry or agressive but really I am just concerned mostly and not angry with any of you at all. Well not yet anyway, till I hear the news I am expecting about the comic.
If I sound obsessed about the comic, well I suppose I am in a way, because isn't it every kids (young or old) dream to see their own hero in print?
Infamy, infamy, they've all got it infamy!!!
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What's going on with the 5th Column? I'm afraid you'll have to wait for Issue #3 to find out...
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Hands up everyone who's been taking lessons from Statesman...
Seriously, thanks for the answers Bridgey.
Since the game will still be set in the US, does this mean the units won't be converted to metric?
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Why the need to segregate us? I mean, c'mon, we can get along, right people?
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It's not about segregating, it's about community and practical concerns.
On the practical side are things like languages (we'll have boards for English, French and German speaking players, with their own Community Coordinators) and time zones. On the community side is all the stuff that's going to be unique to City of Heroes Europe. We'll be running our own website, our own competitions, we have plans for our own events - at peak European times - and so on. It just makes things easier for everyone if the European players have their own place to speak their minds and get to know each other (and us).
B
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What about Dev responses? Will we have to check each board's dev digestt? Or will there be a single one that links to all boards? Or will the devs simply only post in one forum?
I personally think this continental segregation thing is a Crey plot. Business nastiness trumping the general well being. I worry about losing my new European friends and allies.
But I do have a question -- Can North Americanos play on the Euro Servers?
Rend this space....
I STILL believe the whole Euro server idea is a bad bad bad horribly awful bad idea.
Usually I just blame the company in charge of the game but maybe it's time I started thinking it might be all the stupid rules in the European Union. It might be cheaper for Cryptic to run Euro servers than to let Europeans play in the US. I dunno.
I fail to see why simply advertising in Europe to get players to play on the existing servers is such a bad idea.
I hope NONE of the existing players will move to the Euro servers and I hope it will remain possible for Europeans to choose the US rather than the Euro version. It may have already been answered but the whole Euro thing is upsetting me again so i"m gonna go have a lie down now :P
/rant
Euro servers BAD!
I live in Europe. I play CoH on a USA server. Why should I have to move to an Euro server ? My SG is on Pinnacle, my friends and compatriots too. If someone else would like to join us they just can't do it. Why ? Community management ? Oh please, come on.
I blamed Blizzard for its policy of USA-only-server, I blame Cryptic even more.
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I live in Europe. I play CoH on a USA server. Why should I have to move to an Euro server ?
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Try reading Bridger's first post again.
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... those of you who have imported the US version will not be 'forced' to buy the European edition - you're completely free to continue playing on the US servers.
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There. That wasn't such a chore now was it?
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Euro servers BAD!
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And fire good, right?
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I live in Europe. I play CoH on a USA server. Why should I have to move to an Euro server ?
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Try reading Bridger's first post again.
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I read it, I know i can keep playing where I play now. Try reading the second part of my post: why someone who'll buy the european version of CoH can't start playing with me ? Community management is simply a non issue.
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What differences, if any, have been planned?
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I'm not sure if you mean between the two versions of the game or the two communities... The major and most obvious difference between the US and European versions is that the European one will allow you to play in English, French or German (and yes, we'll have servers for each language). This is obviously also going to be one of the biggest differences between the communities, and how we help support them.
B
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In the page about the search for community coordinators is required even an Italian Localisation Manager , but you didn't mention about italian speaking servers. Does this mean that we will have just an italian distribution of the game, maybe with an italian manual, but no italian servers?
Np for me, I'm fluent enough with english to probably remain in the USA servers(but not capable to move to Brighton, England at the moment), but a lot of friends of mine could like to have a chance to read the storyarcs instead of just clicking on the text to accept the mission...
Hey all,
Thanks for the many welcomes and congrats. I see there's quite a lot to cover already...
SpongeCake asked:
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I've a question: Will those of us in Europe who are playing on US servers ever be able to switch our characters over to a European server? Will we have to buy the European version of the game to do this?
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As SophieX has already pointed out, the way things stand right now, if you want to play the European version, you'll need to buy the European game. We are looking into both account and character transfer for existing European players and as soon I hear anything definite on either, I'll be letting you know.
I should probably point out right now that those of you who have imported the US version will not be 'forced' to buy the European edition - you're completely free to continue playing on the US servers. Well, not actually 'free', as you'll have to carry on paying the subscription like everyone else, but you get the idea...
Bountytaker asked:
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Any comment to the rumors that the 5th Column are being dumped due to German laws regarding Nazi representation?
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What's going on with the 5th Column? I'm afraid you'll have to wait for Issue #3 to find out...
WingedKagouti asked a few things:
[ QUOTE ]
How do you intend to launch CoH in Europe? Starting with a beta/test or just plunk down some live servers and go from there?
[/ QUOTE ]
We're going to start with a beta to test the hardware and the translations. We're working out the details right now, and as soon as the sign-up starts we'll be screaming about it all over the place. Including here.
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What do you see as the main differences between a US community and a Euro community?
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The European community stands a better chance of getting my jokes?
Actually, I'm more interested in hearing what all of you think about this one. What do you feel are the differences between the US community and the European one?
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What differences, if any, have been planned?
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I'm not sure if you mean between the two versions of the game or the two communities... The major and most obvious difference between the US and European versions is that the European one will allow you to play in English, French or German (and yes, we'll have servers for each language). This is obviously also going to be one of the biggest differences between the communities, and how we help support them.
[ QUOTE ]
Will there be a Euro specific test server?
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Again, the details are still being worked out, but almost certainly yes.
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Will any changes to the Euro version compared to the US be handled by Cryptic or a different dev team?
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The European version is being developed by Cryptic. The translations are being coordinated between Cryptic and our localisation team here at NCsoft Europe.
Okay, that's a start. Don't worry, I will be working my way through the rest of the questions (and any more that come up) as quickly as I can, so keep on posting...
B