In the buy-to-play online role-playing game Guild Wars 2, the transition from a conventional server structure to mega-servers was made two months ago. This was rejected by a loud majority of players. How does it look today?
In mid-April, Guild Wars 2 was supposed to receive a feature update to be well-prepared against WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online. However, ArenaNet also introduced the mega-servers with this patch, which provoked discontent among non-English speaking European players. We reported on this in several articles.
ArenaNet did not respond offensively to this, but merely made it clear that they understand the problems, are working on them, and continue to refine the matrix.
Most press statements and news refer to the English-speaking region (and recently to the Chinese one). The issue was not as present there as in small, “old” Europe. Here, an unwanted server change also means crossing language barriers, which can lead to unpleasant experiences.
In an interview on the sidelines of E3, massively addressed the developers on the topic – however, without mentioning the language problem and from an English-speaking perspective. Even massively sees the mega-server as ambiguous. On one hand, it has led to areas in the mid and lower level range being better visited, while on the other hand, they have observed a dissolution of server communities and difficulties for roleplayers when they are mixed with non-roleplayers in an area. Associate Game Director Stephen Waller responded that they are aware of the difficulties and have already been working on them. In the future, they will also listen to player feedback and make corresponding changes.
In the German community, the mega-server issue has become quieter. Some players have noticed that even in Europe, the mega-server is slowly sorting itself better. More and more often, one reads German again and sees people from their own server.
[intense_testimonies][intense_testimony][intense_testimony_text]Well, when you look at the situation like this, you have to see it soberly as a player. The shitstorm has subsided, and there have not really been any statements about it; behind the scenes, they have continued to work quietly. Now, the positively received changes to the Living World overshadow this approximately month-long negative mood. And it has gotten better. “So what’s all the fuss about?” some may ask.
A sour aftertaste remains: As a German player, it is a strange situation. Although you are a “significant” market, consider yourself so, and have German-speaking websites and community managers, ultimately, you hold a subordinate place in the grand scheme of things, in the corporate strategy. The focus is on other markets. The strategic decisions are oriented towards their needs. This is rarely as clear as in the case of the mega-servers – but it applies to almost every publisher; fans of Asian MMOs can sing a song about it.
The transition to mega-servers took little account of the peculiarities of Europe and was oriented towards North America and Asia. When you look at the business reports, it is also quite clear why this is the case.[/intense_testimony_text][intense_testimony_author image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2014/01/Logo-022.png”][/intense_testimony_author][/intense_testimony][/intense_testimonies]
