NCsoft Brighton more trouble?
By
3dent,
Posted on: 2009-02-11 11:33 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
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I'm not exactly worried that support for EU COH will suddenly dissapear with no warning.
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I'm not worried either that support will suddenly disappear for EU.COH - I AM worried that the support staff left will be stretched beyond what is normally deemed an exceptable level of service. I've had an account problem that took a couple of days to resolve properly before!... and that was before both sets of EU.staff cuts down at Brighton.
The alternative will be U.S support handles more of our account problems - I don't fancy how long any Account or In-game help will take if we are in different time zones.
I'd rather be offered a transfer thankyou.
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The flaw there is that, with a transfer, you'll still be in a different time zone to the US support staff.
Also I'm pretty sure no actual game support staff were made redundant in the last round of cuts.
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They were affected. I remember talking to a GM who said that all had been made redundant, then they had to all reapply for fewer remaining jobs.
�How do I like my MMOs? I like them the way Paragon Studios used to make them.� - a fitting tribute from kiasa.org
EU, Union mostly.
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Anyway, Never had any lag states-side, often loads of lag to the always-raining-islands-that-doesn't-quite-wanna-be-part-of-Euope. Bring it on, virtual server taking a fraction of any of the US server must be better than the current lag-fest! 
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Since those godly pipelines for internet crosses my country first, we just randomly.. err.. 'pull em out', just for the fun of it 
I mean, an island ok.. we got islands too. But driving at the other side of the road? You guys need a slap around the head once in a while so we pull a few 'strings' here and there
Anyway, on a more normal way, several MMO's hosted in Germany having latency issues atm, said it was a faulty node along the line to the servers.
50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
Sign the petition, dont let CoH go down! SIGN!
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See the 2nd line of my previous post Extremus, -I appreciate a skeleton staff are staying, -I appreciate they are refocusing EU.side on marketing etc, but If whats left of NCsoft Europe or any remote NC Soft(U.S) support do struggle to provide the same quality (or better) of In-game support if servers stay where they are, It won't really amount to much will it.
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sorry dear heart, but what marketing? A few ads on some websites that the majority of people never see doesn't exactly qualify as trying very hard.
And as an aside, if you are annoyed then it means things are really in trouble. I've always loved your enthusiasm and gentle words. I think this is the closest I've ever seen you come to banging your head against a wall in frustration. Now I'm worried 
Well, there were just 35-40 people on Union this night... Got depressed, thought of cancelling some other sub (not game-related) and use the money to buy US version... Then people started to show up, and I was a bit too busy to do that ))
On the marketing note: Most of my SG mates are now playing that silly Travian web browser game and here's the funny part:
1. Wherever I go I see ads for that free (and f'coz low cost maintenance) game. Cheap banners on almost every game site I visit all the time, including swedish ones
2. This silly, pointless "game" seem to have more than 20.000 players on each server. Since they're restared every year that's 20.000 actual playing players.
As for NC, they pull a short, cheap market trick at the startup and then actually think the games will sell themselves. Yeah, right - and I'll find a gorgeous young woman today and... NOT GONNA HAPPEN! 
Those asians just don't know how to do things outside Asia. It's a very different market. ...and I just got a ghost tell, rofl!
Right start placing bets on when we're going to hear any news.
I'm placing my bet on Wednesday the 18th of February.
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A real showstopper!
We are all concerned ... which is normal as we love this game ..
Let's reflect back on the pure facts we have now...
- Most of the staff in Brighton is layed of... But there are people remaining. So its not closed (yet)
- People that are remaining are GM's... so support for the EU will stay (remember time zones) ... ergo ... They respect and support the EU subs still.
- I14 goes into Beta. So new developing goes on schedule.
- There wheren't lay-off's of this magnitude in the US
- The servers of the EU are in a server parc in Germany
- Communication towards the sub's is restricted
These are the only real facts I got out of reading all the posts here. We can add a few facts in reply...
- If a server merge / move to us of the eu playerbase goes bad they will lose a good part of all eu sub's
- Although COX is still the best superhero game out there, alternatives are really close now
Personal idea's...
- One location / one list of servers and one account server is the best thing to to. It saves money and is easiest to administer. This means a loss/change of global name for EU users if they start doing this. Personally I would generate all EU account names and add them to the account server in the us. Then I would use a script so all generated names could remake/rename their accounts. This way you keep vet rewards, bought bonus packs etc.
- Cloning the 4 servers towards servers in the us server parc would be my choice though. Then run a script to change the shortcuts of the EU users and have all servers in one list under one account server (see point 1). If they also trie and add scripts and bonusses that pushes the users into spreading over the servers in an (almost) even amound it will be perfect. The game will get better for it. Which means it will be good for us.
- It is also technical possible to not change anything and keep administering the servers in Germany from the GM's in the UK and from the US
- I would then also merge the forums and the website... It doesn't make sense marketing wise to have those seperated.
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
Beginner - Encounter a renewed age for the Mook and the Family when Emile Marcone escapes from the Zig!
- Along Came a... Bug!? #528482
Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
- The Court of the Blood Countess: The Rise of the Blood Countess #3805
Advanced - Go back in time and witness the birth of a vampire. Follow her to key moments in her life in order to stop her! A story of intrigue, drama and horror! Blood & Violence... not recommend to solo!
If they try to move players to the US without character transfer, then I don't think it will be just most of the EU players they will loose. I wouldn't be suprised if quite a few US players also quit in protest, possibly even a dev or two. Not to mention the numbe of people who would swear never to play another NCSoft game.
I think it's an unlikely scenario though.
I really should do something about this signature.
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If they try to move players to the US without character transfer, then I don't think it will be just most of the EU players they will loose. I wouldn't be suprised if quite a few US players also quit in protest, possibly even a dev or two. Not to mention the numbe of people who would swear never to play another NCSoft game.
I think it's an unlikely scenario though.
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But why cant they simply manage the EU servers and player base from the USA?
This is the internet after all.
In what way does it matter where the staff are based?
Don't get into a flap. It's only my opinion and I'm thick
Arc 56763 Lord Anarchys heaven
2 mission arc. Bring friends cause Lord Anarchy means business...
They can. And that is the most likely thing in the short term.
I really should do something about this signature.
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If they try to move players to the US without character transfer, then I don't think it will be just most of the EU players they will loose. I wouldn't be suprised if quite a few US players also quit in protest, possibly even a dev or two. Not to mention the numbe of people who would swear never to play another NCSoft game.
I think it's an unlikely scenario though.
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But why cant they simply manage the EU servers and player base from the USA?
This is the internet after all.
In what way does it matter where the staff are based?
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None... only that there is a connection problem towards Germany... And that often the conn towards the US is better.
Also the space in a server parc is rented. It might be cheaper to have that all together.
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
Beginner - Encounter a renewed age for the Mook and the Family when Emile Marcone escapes from the Zig!
- Along Came a... Bug!? #528482
Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
- The Court of the Blood Countess: The Rise of the Blood Countess #3805
Advanced - Go back in time and witness the birth of a vampire. Follow her to key moments in her life in order to stop her! A story of intrigue, drama and horror! Blood & Violence... not recommend to solo!
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Right start placing bets on when we're going to hear any news.
I'm placing my bet on Wednesday the 18th of February.
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Meaningless without specifying a year!
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
Fine, Wednesday the 18th of February, 2009
There ya happy Dave?
Badge Earned: Wing Clipper
A real showstopper!
After following this thread with much interest , and the other one along similar lines i have decided to add my thrupney bit .
Many of you will know that i have posted a while back saying i will probably end up canceling my sub due to short time at work ......last month i canceled most of my sky tv channels and went free broadband just to keep coX sub alive and now we have heard news of further pay cuts leaving me £500 a month short compared to last year.
I feel sorry that the staff at brighton have been done over i know where they are coming from i am having to skank stuff every week to sell at carboots to make ends meet.
If we dont get to keep our vet awards and at least a server transfer then i am out of here, global name is nice to have but i can live without that personally as i never log my main anymore.
The game i used to play pre coh has now gone free to play even if iys on its last legs i will be there instead.
As mother love put it right at the start of the thread...
2 fingers to nc soft
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If they try to move players to the US without character transfer, then I don't think it will be just most of the EU players they will loose. I wouldn't be suprised if quite a few US players also quit in protest, possibly even a dev or two. Not to mention the numbe of people who would swear never to play another NCSoft game.
I think it's an unlikely scenario though.
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But why cant they simply manage the EU servers and player base from the USA?
This is the internet after all.
In what way does it matter where the staff are based?
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Conflicting character names/SG names, possible loss of veteran awards, loss of other things.
Because it is teh interwebs.
And time difference. They would have to pay people in the US to do night-shifts to cover EU day-time, etc etc. And all the hassle that would bring. Either that or they would only provide support during US daytime, and all the problems for EU players THAT would cause.
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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But why cant they simply manage the EU servers and player base from the USA?
This is the internet after all.
In what way does it matter where the staff are based?
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Conflicting character names/SG names, possible loss of veteran awards, loss of other things.
Because it is teh interwebs.
And time difference. They would have to pay people in the US to do night-shifts to cover EU day-time, etc etc. And all the hassle that would bring. Either that or they would only provide support during US daytime, and all the problems for EU players THAT would cause.
/answers
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Conflicting names is only an issue if they merge the servers, or at least the global namespace, rather than simply managing the EU servers as they are from over there.
Time difference isn't that much of an issue either. Paying people to do night-shifts is something they already do, what with the servers running 24/7. They might need to increase and extend it - depends on the existing level of support. But it's not something that would be particularly impractical.
Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Maybe, maybe not. They didn't promise "no moving servers", in fact they directly said that forum merge IS considered. What they promised is that there won't be server mergers, vet rewards resets and other DOOOOM!(tm) At least if this at all could be helped.
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Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Actually it's moving east at around 2cm per year
Thelonious Monk
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Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Maybe, maybe not. They didn't promise "no moving servers", in fact they directly said that forum merge IS considered. What they promised is that there won't be server mergers, vet rewards resets and other DOOOOM!(tm) At least if this at all could be helped.
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Nothing was "promised" in that statement besides Avatea eventually becoming our new community rep.
It was more a we don't know what's happening next and please be patient statement.
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Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Maybe, maybe not. They didn't promise "no moving servers", in fact they directly said that forum merge IS considered. What they promised is that there won't be server mergers, vet rewards resets and other DOOOOM!(tm) At least if this at all could be helped.
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Nothing was "promised" in that statement besides Avatea eventually becoming our new community rep.
It was more a we don't know what's happening next and please be patient statement.
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I'll take it over no statement at all.
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Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Actually its moving east at around 2cm per year
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Your data is incomplete Carbon Unit Scarlet,
Additionally your continent is moving at 65,000 mph or 29.17 km/s around Sol, which in turn is as part of The Milky Way and its neighbors (the so-called Local Group), are moving at 600 kilometers per second (1.34 million miles per hour) in the direction of the constellation Hydra with regards to a static point in space time.
- Whoops, wrong forums.
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Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Actually its moving east at around 2cm per year
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Your data is incomplete Carbon Unit Scarlet,
Additionally your continent is moving at 65,000 mph or 29.17 km/s around Sol, which in turn is as part of The Milky Way and its neighbors (the so-called Local Group), are moving at 600 kilometers per second (1.34 million miles per hour) in the direction of the constellation Hydra with regards to a static point in space time.
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Don't make me go over there and get all relativistic on your <ahem> donkey... 
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Offical Post from GR.
Europe ain't going nowheres! ^^
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Actually its moving east at around 2cm per year
[/ QUOTE ]
Your data is incomplete Carbon Unit Scarlet,
Additionally your continent is moving at 65,000 mph or 29.17 km/s around Sol, which in turn is as part of The Milky Way and its neighbors (the so-called Local Group), are moving at 600 kilometers per second (1.34 million miles per hour) in the direction of the constellation Hydra with regards to a static point in space time.
- Whoops, wrong forums.
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*blinks*
*blinks*
...
Ooh, friday and 75 pages of posts. No I didn't read all...
1. Remember Auto Assault?
2. Remember Tabula Rasa?
This company won't ever tell ya JACK! Doesn't stop me from still, mostly, loving the game.
Ok. I AM sad that people feel worried about their jobs, everyone, not just NC staff, but I agree with Shockwave and myself (last time around). Loosing the job is an opportunity to get yourself a better job that you wouldn't even try to find as long as you have a "safe" job. I bet most of the people from the last execution squad have jobs, even "better" jobs now. On a more cynical note, Yeah, I don't know these people and meeting people in WAY worse situations on a daily basis... sorry I can't *really* feel sad for them.
As for the game, well it's one of few things that brings in money to the company and Europe is a very important market, not for THIS game, but for gaming in general. I can't see NC abandoning us completely. Then again, NC never ever seem to make sense...
On the server side: Isn't the servers handled by an external company? Think someone told me they're in Germany or something (during a crisis when NC tech and the server techs where arguing about where the problem was, sort of, according to highly classified rumour mills, sort of, you now, like.. erhm, well...)
Anyway, Never had any lag states-side, often loads of lag to the always-raining-islands-that-doesn't-quite-wanna-be-part-of-Euope. Bring it on, virtual server taking a fraction of any of the US server must be better than the current lag-fest!
Oh, didn't play the fire/rads today and..hmm, yup..
...I'm not erhm...quite... sober! Feels good!
Now, regular one-liner zen master, go on, spam the thread with more pointless arguing without substance while I get some sleep and play all week because, yes indeed, I'm free all week!
Godd.. was that good for you? It sure was for me. Encore milady, encore!