NA Servers?

[Alderaan]

Never had a problem with JP players or getting into their parties.

I had more problems with idiotic NA's that go afk every 5min.

[Jinn]

Never had a problem with JP players or getting into their parties.

I had more problems with idiotic NA's that go afk every 5min.

^

[Rokku]

There hasn't been any official confirmation either way, all SE has said is that they're thinking about keeping them unified, in which case they'll add an auto-translate. They've also mentioned numerous times that as soon as a final decision has been reached that they'll notify the community.

[naninani]

There hasn't been any official confirmation either way, all SE has said is that they're thinking about keeping them unified, in which case they'll add an auto-translate. They've also mentioned numerous times that as soon as a final decision has been reached that they'll notify the community.

Based on interviews dating back to last year (08.22.09 4Gamer, 08.25.09 One Last Continue), they aren't thinking about it. They are actively aiming for it. Barring something catastrophic from a server performance perspective, expect unified servers.

[Zumi]

They could do both. Have a few NA, JP, EU only servers, and some international ones. Then you could pick which one you would want to play on. If they did do that I would pick NA only one for sure.

[[Cookies]]

I personally don't mind having united servers as long as there is a stronger EU playerbase this time around, that was an issue for me personally with FFXI. It's always a bonus still being able to get things done (even with a bit more effort communicating) late at night or early in the morning. I feel that MMOs (especially WoW) are focusing less on communicating with fellow players and more about killing bosses asap so you can get your loot and leave. Nowadays you're lucky if your group members even say hi when joining an instance. That was never an issue with FFXI and hopefully that aspect of partying will carry over to FF14.

[Yoli]

I agree, that's definitely one of the things I enjoyed most about ffxi. I think a few factors went into that feeling, beyond simply being a multi-national game, but the did help.

[Rokku]

Based on interviews dating back to last year (08.22.09 4Gamer, 08.25.09 One Last Continue), they aren't thinking about it. They are actively aiming for it. Barring something catastrophic from a server performance perspective, expect unified servers.

I suppose it was just poor wording in one of the more recent interviews or a question placed out of context then, but yeah, they sure have. I personally don't mind unified servers, but I know a lot of people that harbor animosity towards the JP players for all the "JP only www" crap that went on early in the NA release.

[Caestus]

Rumor has it Japanese men DATE their pillows. Japanese government is deciding if they need to make a law against this. Long story short, they need the world to populate Japanese servers :O!

Servers will be universal :D

[LD]

That was my favorite episode of 30 Rock.

[SwaggerlikeKillquick]

Anyone have a link to a Q&A or a statement from SE that there WILL be mixed servers?

[Thunderblaze]

final-fantasy-14.org/ff14-content/interviews/famitsu-interview-sage-sundi/#5

It's unfortunate, but true. Unfortunately, the rest of the world has a slight advantage language-wise, as many Europeans and Japanese are much more fluent in other languages than Americans are. Sorry if that's insulting to anyone, no offense intended.

[Gokulo]

I wouldn't overgeneralize. There are Europeans that are fluent in some other languages, and there are those that can't even speak English decently. Same for Americans ;P That's why I like mixed severs actually - playing EU Aion had me cringe when I had to try to communicate sometimes

[Thunderblaze]

I wouldn't overgeneralize. There are Europeans that are fluent in some other languages, and there are those that can't even speak English decently. Same for Americans ;P That's why I like mixed severs actually - playing EU Aion had me cringe when I had to try to communicate sometimes

Trying not to, but their close borders pretty much require them to be fluent in many languages, and they generally learn multiple languages in their school system/social life. In the United States, we have to go out of our way to do such a thing, and let's face it, majority of us are lazy slobs that think the world should have to learn our language.

[Xavier]

In another 10-15 years, we'll all be speaking Spanish too.

[Rokku]

In another 10-15 years, we'll all be speaking Spanish too.

Sadly enough, this is probably true.

[Thunderblaze]

Not if we all report illegal immigrants!

[ringthree]

When it comes to game development, there are some things that the developers should really get input from players on and then there are some things that are just "vision" based.

It is SE's "vision" to provide a unified persistent game world. One that is constantly populated and always has something happening. This is a ground floor decision, it's not something that they can just alter after they start (I suppose they could but it could complete alter/ruin the game design from it's basis).

Besides the fact that it makes the fantasy world more "real" (cultural interactions are generally something all of us in the real world should experience far more often), it does have effects outside of the game. While some people can not be taught tolerance, some people can learn, in the real world, how to deal better with others if they can learn to do so in a game world.

This is a "vision" thing for SE and I applaud it. In the world we live in, we need more encouragement to participate with everyone else in the world. We need less ceding to the tribal nature of humanity. Don't think for a minute that SE is just doing this because it is easier for them to create servers, etc. In the back of their minds, there is something a little bit bigger going on. It is just a video game, but in everything we do there is a small chance to improve the world, and I am glad that SE is keeping that in mind.

[Rokku]

Awesome post is awesome

I love your posts. I'd totally practice polygamy over them.

[Lucavi]

Ring, isn't every pay-per-monthly MMORPG company's goal to promote a persistant world, where something is always happening (read: their users grinding content to pay that fee each month)?

I agree with you that I, personally feel that it is a good idea to integrate servers, but I don't agree with you that SE has some "heal the world!" Michael Jackson mentality behind having integrated servers. SE simply knew that they screwed up a good idea the first time around (integrated servers, though allowing entire regions to get head starts on other regions in a game where the speed of accessibility to new content is paramount to initial success), don't want to change their overlying goal of integrated servers, and as such, are going to try to not screw up this time around.

I both admire, and simultaneously am creeped out by your view of SE. I wish (or do I?) I was capable of having such a warm, glowing, almost RADIANT view of a corporation that exists to pull profits in the name of entertainment. Notice how I didn't say a souless corporation: indeed, SE is no Activision, and for that I am grateful, but at the end of the day, money matters first, and healing the world, second.