by Linda "Brasse" Carlson

Server merges used to be a sign of IMPENDING DOOM(tm), but these days, I have begun think of it as a larger scale version of zone instancing.

Instancing is not a new idea, and it is a brilliant resolution to overcrowding issues.

If you enter a zone and it is busting at the seams with people all vying for the same content, it's no fun at all.
In EverQuest II and City of Heroes/Villains, if a zone counts over x-number of people (x being determined by the size/scope of the zone), another instance of that zone pops up to alleviate the traffic jam.

There are two reasons zones (and servers) become less crowded over time:
- people levelling up and spreading out over a larger number of zones.
- people leaving the game

When this happens, the extra instance(s) simply shut down. Simple and effective. Server merges now serve the same function, only on a much grander scale.

In the old days, people used to play the same game for YEARS. Now it is almost as common to get a game and play it for "the free month" and then, unless it really hooks the player, they move on to the next shiny. There is no shortage of MMOG offerings, never mind competition from brilliant solo games, console games and oh yeah... real life.

So server merges some time after launch are no longer the deathknell they once were. Just business as usual.
In talking to Scott Hartsman some time after the EQII server merges, he noted that with over 150 zones, people were just spread out too much to seem like a community - and he was right. EQII is very happy with their subscriber numbers, and they are gaining population over time, on average.

While it is sad to lose a favorite server name in Vanguard, at least the players get to vote on the new server names!

Moreover, players will be able to choose which new server they will move to:
- PvP players may move to either the PvP or a PvE server.
- PvE players may only move to one of the PvE servers.

Unfortunately, the US and EU segregation still continues, and I am never a fan of that. Count that as a downside from my point of view, and I promise that I will research more about what the red tape and legalities of licensing are before I bitch about it again.

The server merge is a smart move on the part of Vanguard/SoE and shows that they are giving serious attention to the title. If they wanted to run it into the ground, the easiest way is to maintain the status quo until costs far outweigh income, then shut it down.

Vanguard only has enough people to support 4 servers in all and they are currently running thirteen. For the company, it means less hardware to support, meaning they don't have to spend as much money to support the player base. Remaining economically viable is key to keeping the game alive.

Those who have stayed with Vanguard are loyal and love the game. With the merger, players will gain more folks to group with and more people to build an economy.
This will help keep their servers vibrant, and, perhaps with time, they will grow again.

The merger will result in 2 US PvE, 1 Euro PvE and 1 US PvP server. The Devs are still considering whether or not to merge Florendyl server. While the most populous, the Devs note, "the population is way under what it needs to be to be healthy but we wouldn’t recommend it."

Vanguard has defined its playing field.

The Brasse Bottom Line:
It is in reality a win-win for the fans and the company. We just have to learn to change our perceptions.

;-)#
Brasse

For the official announcement regarding the server merge, clicky right here.

Lets hear from more Vanguard players and looky-lou's on our forums in the thread started by FynDara in our forums.