EU gets shafted - AGAIN!

Nope, thats the larger one down there... We replace our I's with U's

Not trying to get all doomy, but I don't think many EU players realise just how 'few' they are. I was very disappointed when I logged in briefly over the recent free weekend (at prime time) and saw a total of 3 other players on Union, and one on Defiant.

Admittedly, I didn't go out of my way to find people, I just flew around Atlas, King's Row & the Hollows, but (to me at least) 'the number of people who have nothing better to do than stand under the Atlas statue' is as valid an indicator of population as any other.

I logged in at the free weekend because I was starting to miss the game after being away for a year, I was ready to come back, but resubbing to the EU servers right now would feel like a waste of my money; there's no way I'll be buying GR in the EU if things don't change.

I've moved (for how long I don't know) to Virtue (yes I know it's one of the more populated servers, it's why I'm there), which feels like Defiant from 3 years ago; if I want a team (and I do, which is why I'm not in CO), I ask in broadcast and get one - instantly - so far. I spent the whole of yesterday in PUGs and it was like I'd never left.

At the end of the day, character names, Vet rewards supergroup bases & inf reserves mean nothing if the game isn't any fun.

This game is huge amounts of fun when there are people to play with.

Please merge the server lists.

You're doing it wrong.

1) They were talking about the test servers.
2) What time did you log in to find that few players?
3) Character names, Vet rewards and Super/Threat Group names and bases do mean a lot to the majority of the EU population. They are what they find fun about the game.
4) Yes, please merge the server LISTS.

*shrug*

I like PUGs.

I can't play the way I like on the EU servers.

I've been having this same argument with the 'I can find a team so there's no problem' crowd for over 2 years; I'm past caring.

I like PuGs as well so the switch to Virtue worked really well for me too. I'm really enjoying being able to get a group together very quickly at the mo. Even last night threw together a ragtag Sharkshead Villain PuG which I was sure was going to be disaster and it was a hoot.

There are some horrible drawbacks (losing access to my older characters, vet rewards etc) but it suits my erratic playtimes and pick up and play preferred play style and works well for me and the sort of team dependent characters I like to make.

1) Yes I know. Low population on the main servers equates to insignificant population on the test server, was the point I was attempting to make.
2) I logged on a couple of times on each server between 8:30-10:30, Saturday night - I would consider that prime-time. This might not be the 'best time' but it's when I wanted to play ie - it was the best time for me. I'd left one of my alts - on Defiant - near the IP entrance in King's Row, I flew to the Atlas statue and saw ONE other player.
3) and they're important to me too. I have serveral names I'm very attached to; several level 50's; a couple of SG bases; a pile of inf. It took me a while to realise that although they're a large part of what I enjoy about the game, they're not as important to me than other things. In an ideal world Defiant & Union would still be my servers of choice; I don't live in that world.
4) I've waited a long time...long enough, I really don't think they will, which is why I've jumped. I'm still hopeful that the thing they're working on to address this stuff actually works; if it does I'll be back.

I'm not arguing the "OMG teh EU Servers are dead" line - having been accused of that in the past when all I've said was they were "getting a bit quiet" I'm well aware that there is a loyal community on these servers. I'm aware there are lots of people who play every night and find teams, but I didn't. I ended up teaming with the same people all the time. I didn't find many (non-farm) PUGs when I left a year ago and I don't see why that would be any different now.

All I'm saying is:
I like PUGs more than all the stuff keeping me on the EU servers - I like broadcasting 'lvl x lft' and getting a team; for me personally this is one of the main attractions of this game and always has been.

I guess I don't really like 'the european family feel'; I don't like everyone on the server knowing me, or me knowing everyone, it feels like living in a village.

Sorry if anyone finds this offensive, it really wasn't meant to be.

Nothing wrong with feeling like that, that's why you play MMO's not first person shooters.

I'd agree it's very tough finding a "PUG" on Defiant - and most people tend to use Defiant Events and their globals list to get teams.

Yes there is a problem with server numbers - but I'm more attached to my toons than you otherwise I too would seriously consider moving stateside.

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

They might not have known in advance - if the exploit was only just discovered, then they might have made the patch in less than 24 hours.

It still doesn't explain the reasoning as to why us, I'm not ignoring the fact that we have a much smaller population, I completely agree that in terms of damage mitigation it's better plopping us.

However it's getting incredibly irritating that we are pretty much always the ones to be inconvenienced. I'm not proposing bring the NA servers down for a patch during their prime-time, but at least meet us half-way.

Fury

It is the same concept: there were two Vanex, EU account renamed to Vanex_EU, US account renamed to Vanex_NA. This could be ported to global names aswell: both added a suffix and free global handle rename for both.

Another option is: oldest global will stay as it is, newer global is renamed (suffix?) and given a free global handle rename.

Once there are no collisions merging is simple enough.

And what would half-way be?

Really, I get it why people are annoyed by this. But it's a test server, it is for testing whatever needs to be tested at the moment.

Seeing this as 'getting shafted' is really reaching.

I agree with this actually.

This is a separate issue to the original thread. It states very clearly that the Test Server can be changed at any time for any reason - there's no security there relating to characters, items etc.

It's pretty harsh to lambast the Devs when they use common sense - there are 2 test servers so let them use one that causes the least disruption. That's what it's there for!

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

Indeed. Test server is test. Complaining because it needed to be wiped to test something urgent is rather silly.*

My point, and solely on that subject, about the 'Test' server was simply the fact that we were chosen. I don't know the full story about the 'Test' server, but to be honest it doesn't surprise me. You may argue with me that it is fore-warned, I may argue rather the principle pissed me off. Anyway, it was more of a debate between myself and GG.

To re-direct the ship back on-course, or at least attempt to.... I'll reiterate later once I make this point. We've had the long arduous argument about the fact they are NA-staff, time-differences, etc but ever since Brighton went down the hole we are all basically NA-outcasts for a lack of a better expression. Whilst I can see that since we are down to NA operating staff, it must operate within their staff hours. However, what is the bloody point in having EU-<insert-EU-equivalent-of-anything-NA> when we are subjected to their times.




I don't know if you read the original poster's topic but principally over the course of this thread there are recurring themes in the majority of EU forum names:

• The loss of all-if any marketing EU-side.
• The lack of any physical presence on the EU-shelves.
• The decline of EU-servers, accelerated by an ignorance to help.
• The lack of care of EU-subscribers, which has long since been around when I waved to bye to Ghost_Raptor back in EU-forums.
• The ability of any person with power happy to let EU fizzle out, again an old principle not hard to come by if your an old forum name.
• The lack of information about any concern about EU.

Of course I should explain a little for anyone who probably does not want to read the last 30 pages:

With the incoming heavy blast of new things shiny and golden, there is but no marketing what-so-ever. You may correct me on this, however this topic was brought about by the fact that 'Going Rogue' will not feature in any retailer's shop. Now bear in mind, if there is no marketing how will the population ever increase, well it simply will not. You can drag your friends into it, but what does that add but a meagre 1 subscription. I personally will behead marketing myself because frankly they've done piss-all. An apology would suffice to it's subscribers. Which brings me to:

Again, the same point as mentioned however I believe having followed this thread it was more the principle that led to this that irritated people. There really was no forewarning, or apologies to EU-subscribers, or anything in fact which is pretty demeaning to long-standing subscribers. You may argue that it's a sink-hole of money bringing it this side of the pond but even winning that argument doesn't substantiate the fact that it comes across as if there was absolutely no attempt. Another point this problem brings about: No physical media. I started my system afresh when I purchased Windows 7, and consequently had to download 16 Issues and the game in one big load. I have a download cap which I have never exceeded before. I had to pay £30 extra to up the cap, because I require the internet. Sure I could store it all on another physical media, but I'm not computer literate and I'd quite like just 1 or 2 discs that held the game-data for me. This is also easily debatable with the marketing people, rather than the devs but point-in-hand it's still the same customer your repeatedly lynching with your own pitch-fork.

They go in tandem, and it is a popular two amongst the D00m-sayers, myself-included primarily because that guilliotine has been around for a long long time. I am not aware up untill WW's post recently of any attempt to salvage what is left of the EU-subscribing population, and even as we know the devs' form of secrecy, the decline has been probably since Brighton which is a while. And since then I've noticed a rapid lack of communication within the EU-forums, the old ones, from any notable dev' unless we insulted them to the point that their neighbour's cat's nephew was included too. I can remember a lot of names who predicted that these servers would begin decline a long time ago and sadly they are correct. I accept we are declining, but I do not accept my efforts in this game nor my loyalty being washed away into the virtual 'Recycle Bin'.

This is more-so a personal opinion but still a matter I must bring up, ignore WW posting here for a while. Anything we mentioned that finally brought some meandering eye onto the thread was generally replied by Avatea, now I must explain I have no aggressiveness nor prejudice against Avatea, but rather I'm shooting the messenger. Quite a few times we were repeatedly put to grass by "We take note of your complaint, and pass it on... blah blah..". What I would like is a teeny tiny excerpt from the person I want to hear from explaining what's going on. Now finally, this brings us to WW but if you delve into her post a little, there is nothing new. In fact I find the re-assurance rather unsettling. You take it whatever way you wish.

Fury

They weren't cross server teaming, it was a glitch with test server names.

Read the full thread.

Well it has been established that EU margetting "Guru" (I'm taking the urine) is a man who one aim in life is to walk his dog.