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Originally Posted by Golden Girl
I don't see how that would really help anything at all.
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that's because you can't see past your own
Thelonious Monk
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Past my own what? |
Originally Posted by Scarlet Shocker
that's because you can't see passt your own
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You seem to be sugegsting somehting like this:
Some Players: We hate marketing!
*Marketing person makes a forum acocunt*
Marketing Person: Hi, I'm a marketing perosn.
Some Players: We hate you!
How does that help anything?
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
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I need to type slow again obviously.|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
Past my own what?
You seem to be sugegsting somehting like this: Some Players: We hate marketing! *Marketing person makes a forum acocunt* Marketing Person: Hi, I'm a marketing perosn. Some Players: We hate you! How does that help anything? |
I'm suggesting that once we get past the clear and obvious "We hate marketing" (which is actually not true... we just have an incredibly low opinion of some incompetent twanks who don't actually do as much to promote the game as many of the player base) we can then actually test their mettle.
Many of us in the past on both sides of the pond have made suggestions that have never seem to see the light of day - and not because of lack of finance either. Look at some of the videos that people like Samuraiko have produced (purely for the love of it) and yet when "Marketing" break their silence they drop a massive bollock with the GR website breaking the news months ahead of schedule by accident. That's just one example.
If we got a marketing rep in here the rant would be fairly short lived - once our voice is heard we tend as a community to become pretty rational. Then we can firstly ask "What are you doing to promote X, Y & Z?" and also then give our input into "Have you considered this tactic?"
Bear in mind that in the EU, the marketing presence of NCSoft has a smaller footprint than a polar bear in the Gobi desert it could well be they might actually be grateful that they get inside info into what works here. Not all of the EU works the same as the whole of North America when it comes to getting into a market place as Lockheed, Hewlet Packard and DC Comics will attest to.
A shorter version of the above: 2 way dialogue cannot hurt the game - and the Faceless Ones can a) Reassure those who feel left out and b) Actually learn something - and maybe even c) find a way to grow the game without spending huge amounts of money.
Difficult to comprehend much?
Edit to add this minor point: We're paying customers. We have a relationship with NC no matter whether we or they like it. As their revenue stream, it's not a huge amount to ask what their long term strategy is for our client base.
Thelonious Monk
Loads of chat after WW.. TL;DR.
If you don't merge the server lists, no matter what new system you're planning, then the EU side won't last for much longer. Sure, GR will bring some old and new faces back but after a few months, the servers will be back to how they are now.
Save your selfs some money (Assuming less development time) and just merge the server lists. Do it with GR and positively promote the merge. It's a good thing, not bad.
Give out free transfers again for a fortnight or so and jobs a good 'un. You have a happy EU player base. Hopefully happy enough for another 5 years.
CoH PvP SG = SuperUnion - Co-Leader - Union/Freedom
CoV PvP VG = Disruption - Co-Leader - Union/Freedom
Global = @Rent & @Rent.
Playgroup are all **** - Global Handle
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And happy NA playerbase too dont forget since they'll be getting a good 400 players a day [on average] extra to play with |
Originally Posted by Rent_
Loads of chat after WW.. TL;DR.
If you don't merge the server lists, no matter what new system you're planning, then the EU side won't last for much longer. Sure, GR will bring some old and new faces back but after a few months, the servers will be back to how they are now. Save your selfs some money (Assuming less development time) and just merge the server lists. Do it with GR and positively promote the merge. It's a good thing, not bad. Give out free transfers again for a fortnight or so and jobs a good 'un. You have a happy EU player base. Hopefully happy enough for another 5 years. |
Could you imagine the look on the EU players faces when they log in to their servers and see . . . . players?
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
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Originally Posted by Rent_
Loads of chat after WW.. TL;DR.
If you don't merge the server lists, no matter what new system you're planning, then the EU side won't last for much longer. Sure, GR will bring some old and new faces back but after a few months, the servers will be back to how they are now. Save your selfs some money (Assuming less development time) and just merge the server lists. Do it with GR and positively promote the merge. It's a good thing, not bad. Give out free transfers again for a fortnight or so and jobs a good 'un. You have a happy EU player base. Hopefully happy enough for another 5 years. |
Most of these claims are unsubstantiated.
I agree it's worrying. But I'd like to at least get an inkling of what's planned before condemning it out of hand.
Thelonious Monk
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Hey, now. I certainly hate Marketing. Not as much as I hate Sales, though. *hiss, spit* For a software developer, they're the enemy.
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Originally Posted by Scarlet Shocker
I'm suggesting that once we get past the clear and obvious "We hate marketing" (which is actually not true... we just have an incredibly low opinion of some incompetent twanks who don't actually do as much to promote the game as many of the player base)
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Originally Posted by Leif_Roar
Hey, now. I certainly hate Marketing. Not as much as I hate Sales, though. *hiss, spit* For a software developer, they're the enemy.
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ok I need to qualify
I was not speaking in general terms. I was trying to aim my vitriol specifically at NC "marketing" not marketers in general.
Sure, I know how you geeks hate sales guys. Christ knows I've sold so many systems you've failed to deliver on the back of your failed promises. If only you cleaned up your act and stopped snacking crisps and sweets by the water cooler we'd actually get some work done right?
But yanno, it's ok. I'll drive another 1500 miles and make another 500 minutes of calls (whilst driving illegally) just so you can have more chocolate. Srsly, it's perfectly ok. Cuz I know the code you deliver (two weeks past client deadline) will be bug free, perfect and I just know in my heart of hearts that you anticipated the clients unspoken question and added that secret widget that will triple his business out of the goodness of your heat.
Boot. Other Foot. Grin
Thelonious Monk
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Look, for the last time, "It's theoretically possible" does not mean "We'll have it ready by Thursday."|
Originally Posted by Scarlet Shocker
Sure, I know how you geeks hate sales guys. Christ knows I've sold so many systems you've failed to deliver on the back of your failed promises.
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| If only you cleaned up your act and stopped snacking crisps and sweets by the water cooler we'd actually get some work done right? |
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| Srsly, it's perfectly ok. Cuz I know the code you deliver (two weeks past client deadline) |
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| will be bug free, perfect and I just know in my heart of hearts that you anticipated the clients unspoken question and added that secret widget that will triple his business out of the goodness of your heat. |
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Originally Posted by Leif_Roar
Look, for the last time, "It's theoretically possible" does not mean "We'll have it ready by Thursday."
That's not how it works! A developer is an alchemical machine for transmuting sugar and caffeine into code. And who was it that agreed to the deadline without letting the people who'll have to build the damned thing getting a word in edgewise, huh? Or who made sure that half of the developers' time was spent on "this quick change I promised the customer has the highest priority too"? Oh, our personal builds are all that. We just don't put it into the release builds, since we hate Sales. :-p |
Hey what can I say? You tell me you can do everything and only deliver a very small part of it! ;-)
Touche
Thelonious Monk
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Only global names would need a change in case of a server list merge. Local names of servers would remain untouched. This would be amendable by global name change token and little hassle (or no) for the players affected. |
Originally Posted by Reiska
Merging the lists would likely still cause name conflicts, because the character databases would have to be merged.
The only way they could avoid that would be to have the EU servers still use a different character database than the US servers while simultaneously being on the same server list. I imagine it would be possible, but there'd likely be some hiccups in functionality that would be less than intuitive to people (like global friends or channels not functioning cross-database). |
A global name change, even if it is that name that people know us of, is a small price to pay to be united on one list. In my opinion.
If it where to happen, I would not be surprised to see that identical names would have the NA/EU tag like we had on the forums.
Lady Arete on Unionhandbook
My Excel Badge tool
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Indeed, but there's lots of fun to be had going to meetings with a Sales person, so long as you get botox or something to stop the involuntary facial grimaces every time they lie to the customer. It does tend to be a short-lived phase since once the Sales Guy figures you're only going to ridicule the customers silly ideas and blockade anything you don't like the sound of they stop inviting you.|
Originally Posted by Leif_Roar
Hey, now. I certainly hate Marketing. Not as much as I hate Sales, though. *hiss, spit* For a software developer, they're the enemy.
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Also there is the danger of drowning in a sea of acronyms and pointless, rambling chit-chat.
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Originally Posted by Leif_Roar
That's not how it works! A developer is an alchemical machine for transmuting sugar and caffeine into code.
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Originally Posted by Lady Arete
Only global names would need a change in case of a server list merge. Local names of servers would remain untouched. This would be amendable by global name change token and little hassle (or no) for the players affected.
A global name change, even if it is that name that people know us of, is a small price to pay to be united on one list. In my opinion. If it where to happen, I would not be surprised to see that identical names would have the NA/EU tag like we had on the forums. |
Im willing to change my globals
Goodbye @damz, hello @damz eu! OR @noob buster OR @damzv1 OR @welshydamz
People still know its me so its all good
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
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Sorry, who are you again? |
Originally Posted by EU_Damz
People still know its me so its all good
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I have no thorough understanding of programming, but would employing the cross-server global access system that Guild Wars has be difficult to implement?
Or, if one was to look at Champion Online's server system, a globalised instantaneous server list.
In other words, something in the form of:
- Click a sub-menu on the UI.
- List of all servers on screen, international/local available.
- Choose an instance.
- Join it.
The only difficulty would be the random and sometimes heavy load on any one particular server at any one time, of course this could be fixed by localising a server to a set of zones, instead of shard-specific.
Fury
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Originally Posted by Diggis
Sorry, who are you again?
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Im the veng bait
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
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The EU would be a perfect place to test something like that since even if we had every single EU player on one server it wouldnt even get to the second bubble.| The only difficulty would be the random and sometimes heavy load on any one particular server at any one time, of course this could be fixed by localising a server to a set of zones, instead of shard-specific. |
Doubt we'ld even get to more than 4 instances of atlas park if EVERYBODY was in atlas too
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
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Yes. And don't let Scarlet_Shocker tell you otherwise.
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Originally Posted by Wondering_Fury
I have no thorough understanding of programming, but would employing the cross-server global access system that Guild Wars has be difficult to implement?
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Originally Posted by Leif_Roar
Yes. And don't let Scarlet_Shocker tell you otherwise.
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haha
i have no idea how tricky it would be but I'll share some thoughts although I'll start a new thread to prevent derailing this one.
Thelonious Monk
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I love you guys! ^^ Don't care if you can't say anything concrete, just the fact that you took the time to look into it makes me happy. You're a star on my sky!|
Originally Posted by War Witch
Hey everyone,
Now that I have got some more official information from our publishing/marketing teams in Europe, I figured Id give you a quick update. I'll paraphrase as best I can. This isnt just from me (because you guys already know that I love you), but the EU community is very important to both Paragon Studios and NCsoft as a whole, and have always been passionate about making sure you have a great time in the game. Everyone involved is committed to making sure that you feel loved and appreciated, and I hope that starts to come across, especially as we ramp up marketing and PR for Going Rogue. In fact, Ive been told that NCsoft is about to announce a number of distribution partners that will sell and promote Going Rogue in Europe, including offering the prepurchase program that kicked off earlier this month. Youre also about to start seeing a lot more coverage of Going Rogue on your favourite gaming websites, blogs, press outlets, and advertising as the expansion nears its launch date. (Ok, that sounded kind of marketing-ish, but it's pretty much verbatim what they said.) Next up: the box. This is a big issue and I know some of you are pretty cheesed about it. So here is the information I got (which shouldnt come as a surprise, really): because the game is online, and our consumers are predominantly online, it makes business sense to distribute online. Most MMO gamers in the EU are very net savvy and comfortable purchasing/downloading online. So NCsoft sells online because that is how more and more people are buying games, and we do get most of our new players from online distribution. There are boxes on the shelves in the U.S. because, from a distribution perspective, there is more demand herea much lower percentage of people in the US have broadband compared to the EU. (I didn't know that part.) Plus online distribution and production is much less complicated in the US, with only a single language version and a handful of major retailers and distributors, versus three languages and dozens of distributors in Europe. So there are no plans for a box on shelves in EU, but you will see Going Rogue available soon in a variety of digital stores across Europe. Before you scream at me, remember, this isnt something I have any say in. Im just the messenger, so dont shoot me! (If it were up to me, however, Id have a box. Thats just me. No I dont have the pull to get one. No, I dont understand all the financial/technical issues behind it. Yes Im shooting my mouth off. But I did ask, and point out - several times - that it sure would be nice.) As someone who prefers a box, I get your frustration; although now that I think of it, I did just buy software digital-only, so Im kind of a hypocrite. Last topic: servers. Yes, the EU servers feel underpopulated at times, and that makes it harder to group. Last year we merged the forums to bring the EU and US communities together. There are, however, no plans to merge the servers, but we are looking at designing an in-game system that will help solve the problem. One of my big personal goals is bringing people together, and this will help with that agenda. (How's that for vague? What can I tell you, it's "in development.") Anyway, I'm sure they're not all the answers you wanted to hear, but at least you have "an official word" now, which was the goal of the exercise. So that is progress. War Witch |
-@Q.
_____________________________
The Corporation means BUSINESS!
urfff i just wonna play on a populated server again! sick of logging on and finding no one online! i did a random serch the other day 2 people in atlas park!!!! no jokin 2 on union at 11am think it was a tuesday i was shocked! did another random search 53 people on in total its shocking and scary we NEED a list merge and i dont see whats holding them back!?!?
if you read this post war witch is there any reason they wont do a server LIST merge???
everytime this question gets asked we always get the same reply just there are no plans blah blah blah but they never give a reason why?
there are a lot of loyal players here in the EU community yet it seems the only way we can join a better community is if we pack up and move to eu servers manually losing all toons vet rewards etc and thats just not fair! were only gonna be kept quite a little longer many players have left for the US already so any hope of them returning when GR launches isnt gonna happen
can we get more insight into this in game development that you guys think is gonna help us out? the leaving it secret isnt keeping us on edge if anything its Pi***ng us off still not knowing the fate of the EU future.... were still pumping money into the game that we could be using to start an US account if the final answer is gonna be were closing eu servers not enough interest move to us servers or stop playing!?!?!?
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/sarcasm|
Originally Posted by fatalnova
2 on union at 11am think it was a tuesday
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Yes, shocking! How very dare they, not playing on the morning of a weekday when most people are working! The nerve!
/sarcasm
Rabbits & Hares:Blue (Mind/Emp Controller)Maroon (Rad/Thermal Corruptor)and one of each AT all at 50
MA Arcs: Apples of Contention - 3184; Zen & Relaxation - 35392; Tears of Leviathan - 121733 | All posts are rated "R" for "R-r-rrrrr, baby!"|Now, and this is very important... do you want a hug? COH Faces @Blue Rabbit
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Originally Posted by fatalnova
urfff i just wonna play on a populated server again! sick of logging on and finding no one online! i did a random serch the other day 2 people in atlas park!!!! no jokin 2 on union at 11am think it was a tuesday i was shocked! did another random search 53 people on in total its shocking and scary we NEED a list merge and i dont see whats holding them back!?!?
if you read this post war witch is there any reason they wont do a server LIST merge??? everytime this question gets asked we always get the same reply just there are no plans blah blah blah but they never give a reason why? there are a lot of loyal players here in the EU community yet it seems the only way we can join a better community is if we pack up and move to eu servers manually losing all toons vet rewards etc and thats just not fair! were only gonna be kept quite a little longer many players have left for the US already so any hope of them returning when GR launches isnt gonna happen can we get more insight into this in game development that you guys think is gonna help us out? the leaving it secret isnt keeping us on edge if anything its Pi***ng us off still not knowing the fate of the EU future.... were still pumping money into the game that we could be using to start an US account if the final answer is gonna be were closing eu servers not enough interest move to us servers or stop playing!?!?!? |
You know me, im 100% for a server list merge, however the numbers on the most populated server [freedom] at that time you stated isnt that great too. Yes its much better but the only time you will see a huge difference in numbers is the afternoon/evening/night [when the numbers go 1000+ on freedom].
Sorry to say, but this isnt really a good game to say organise a mothership raid in our morning hours
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
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^ This|
Originally Posted by Blue Rabbit
/sarcasm
Yes, shocking! How very dare they, not playing on the morning of a weekday when most people are working! The nerve! /sarcasm |
I'm not even awake by tehn, dangnabit...
And if I was back at Uni, I couldn't play anyway, due to the firewal -_-
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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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@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork