Age of Conan at Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMOG Gamers to the Next Level!

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The server merge: two of the dirtiest words among developers and player communities. But does the concept deserve its unsavory reputation? Has a server merge ever worked to better a game, rather than tear it down? We'll take a twitchy trip down merge memory lane today and explore both sides of the argument in Loading... Don't Fear the Merge.

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The Pulse You vote with what you view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the result is the Ten Ton Pulse (What is Pulse?). Here's today's top 5 Pulse results for today: World of Warcraft Aion (UP 8) EverQuest 2 EVE Online Age of Conan Biggest Movers in the Top 20 in the last seven days: Jumpgate Evolution (UP 3 to #15) Guild Wars (UP 2 to #12) Torchlight (down 2 to #13)	Recent MMO Releases 5/19 - Vanguard "Halls of Pantheon" (patch) 6/12 - Neo Steam (release date) 6/16 - EverQuest 2 GU 52 (patch) 6/16 - WAR 1.3 "Rise of the Tomb Kings" (patch)
	Important Dates 7/3 - 7/5 - Aion Beta Event #3
	Upcoming Releases 8/25 - CrimeCraft (release date) 9/1 - Champions Online (release date) 9/4 - Aion (release date) Early 2010 - APB

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If you ever want to see shock and horror on the face of an MMORPG producer, you need only utter two words: server merge. When we asked WAR's Mark Jacobs whether his team was considering server merges shortly after players were noticing "low" server populations shortly after WAR's launch. His response: "Oh god no!" LotRO Live Producer Aaron Campbell had a similarly visceral response when VG247 asked him about merges in LotRO yesterday: “We have no plans to merge servers. And please don’t mention it, it makes me twitch unpleasantly.”

Does the concept of a server merge really deserve such ill-repute? For context, here's brief (and highly incomplete) server merge timeline. Get ready to twitch:

• April 2005 - EverQuest reduces 36 servers to 18.
• July 2006 - Auto Assault merges all servers to one.
• April 2007 - EverQuest 2 PvP servers merge.
• August 2007 - Vanguard: Saga of Heroes: 13 servers merge into 4.
• August 2007 - Dungeons & Dragons Online: 14 US servers become 5.
• April 2008 - Pirates of the Burning Sea merges 11 servers to 4.
• May 2008 - PlanetSide merges 2 servers to one.
• January 2009 - Age of Conan server merges.
• January 2009 - Tabula Rasa merges all servers to one.
• January 2009 - EverQuest merges 2 servers to one, with plans to open a 10th anniversary server this year.

In all but two of these instances, the games are still a going concern, so the evidence directly linking merges and shutdowns is sketchy at best. Auto Assault merged all servers into one in early July 2006 but continued service for a little over a year, probably extending the game's lifespan before it eventual shutdown in August 2007. In the case of Tabula Rasa, the shutdown announcement preceded the server merge. NCSoft moved all players onto one server just a month before Tabula Rasa's sunset event, presumably because it's just much easier to run a live event on a single server. Another recently discontinued game, Shadowbane, never merged after its March 2008 server wipe, instead opening a new server "due to overpopulation" less than a year before its demise.

Note that in just about every server merge I came across had a magic number: only your top 16 characters (ranked by hours played, with level and number of items as tiebreakers) on every merged server would survive the merge. Consider that your Ten Ton Hammer tip of the day, kids: don't create more than 16 characters on an account (and if you have time to play 16 characters actively, you're sorely in need of a parental figure).

There's little doubt, however, that a server merge will shake the community's confidence in the game and lead many a summertime soldier to quit. In a perfect world, your open beta numbers will match your live numbers for years and years to come, expansions and content updates will arrive right on time to keep the player community flush and happy, and never will a server merge make us twitch, but as things stand, a server merge is a drastic yet often necessary option to maintain an MMORPG's health and the critical mass it needs to stay fun and keep growing. I

nterestingly, Age of Conan may become the perfect example of how a server merge (along with a tangible commitment to patching and improving a game) can benefit a game long-term. Lately, there's been a renaissance of interest in AoC and a combat patch coming this summer is highly anticipated by players both inside and outside the game's current community.

What say you about server merges? Have developers used this tool more to benefit or destroy their games in the instances cited above? Have your say in the Loading... forum or feel free to email me.

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Shayalyn's Epic Thread of the Day

From our Tavern of the Ten Ton Hammer Forum

How should WoW end?

With a bang or a whimper?

World of Warcraft isn't coming to an end any time soon, but some of our members are still waxing WoWpocalyptic. When the day finally comes and World of Warcraft's servers go dark for good, how do you think the event should go down? Will WoW die with quiet dignity, or will it charge into MMOG oblivion with flamboyant style? And, even if you'd long since left WoW behind, would you go back for a final game-ending event? Tell us!

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Awesome Quotes from the Epic Thread

"Flag every server as FFA PvP with permadeath so, ala Highlander, there can be only one. Players can only select one character from their account to participate in the bloodbath. Then pull the lone survivor from every server onto one server and repeat the process until only one remains. Give the winner 10k cash.

Pull the plug.

Forever."

- Annatar
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Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? Tell us!

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5 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 94 in June! 731 in 2009!

New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today [Thanks Phil Comeau for links and Real World News]

• Exclusive Aion Beta Screens from Asmodae
  With the second closed beta event for NCSoft’s upcoming Aion, players were invited to check out Asmodae, otherwise known as the homeland of the Asmodians. The lands that the Asmodians call home make for an interesting contrast to the sunny environs of the Elyos which were the focal point of the first in a series of weekend events leading up to launch. While the early Elyos zones have a distinct Pre-Searing Ascalon feel, the Asmodian zones are an interesting blend of Ashenvale’s vibrant hues contrasted with the earthiness of Middle Earth, a sprinkling of ice-capped peaks on thrown into the mix for good measure. While points of reference are all fine and good, what’s even better is screenshots! So be sure to take a gander at our freshest batch of exclusive Aion screens from this weekend’s closed beta event, recently added to our galleries for your viewing enjoyment!
• Aion Screenshot Tour of Asmodian Beta Event
  Aion's second beta event weekend came and went way too fast! With just a few days of playtime and a cap of level 10, there was only so much lucky preview players could experience, but those first levels are surprisingly packed full of content. What will you see when you get into game? Savanja took screenshots of her Asmodian scout's progress every step of the way! Check out this screenshot tour of the Asmodian newbie experience.
• Aion Beta Weekend 2 Asmodian Screenshots
  Aion has completed its second beta weekend and allowed players to get a play test preview of the Asmodian side. While only the first ten levels were available, we got the chance to experience a good deal of early level content and we've put together an assortment of shiny new screenshots for your enjoyment.
• geeked: Seriously, Brad?
  Ten Ton Hammer's very own satirical webcomic on all things Geek is here with a a look at what happens when two of today's greatest minds meet... to discuss how mean people suck. It's all in good fun, as I'm actually a McQuaid fan and hope the dude brings back the non-suck soon. Be sure to catch up on any issues of Geeked you've missed by visiting our Comics Portal. Don't forget to rate your favorites while you're at it!
• The Belkin n52te Speedpad and World of Warcraft
  At a little over a year old, the Belkin n52te SpeedPad is one of those devices that many players have looked at, but never quite purchased. There are several reviews on them, and they are generally positive. Recently one of our writers decided that he wanted more control, quicker, while raiding and decided it was time to give one a shot. Join Byron "Messiah" Mudry as he looks at some basic setup ideas for the n52te. While learning to use it, he found several little things and decided to pass on what worked and didn’t work.
  
  Hot Content - Or, what I took a fancy to:

1. Aion Class Interview - The Assassin
2. The Belkin n52te Speedpad and World of Warcraft
3. geeked: Seriously, Brad?
4. Jumpgate Evolution Exclusive Interview - Lore and History
5. EverQuest 2 Monument and Might GU#52 Overview
6. EVE Online: Sins of a Solar Spymaster #15: A History of the Second Great War, Part Two
7. Champions Online Power Interview #3 - Fire, Ice and Electricity
8. WoW Guide: Less Rabi Achievement
9. WoW - Boss Guide: Malygos
10. E3 2009 Portal

Real World News

• FDA classifies Cheerios as a drug
  FDA also issues warning that some street Cheerios have been cut with All Bran and should be considered dangerous.
• Traveler Detained For Carrying "Too Much" Cash Sues TSA
  TSA reportedly in no danger of being sued for carrying too many morons on payroll.
• Pilot buries helicopter crash survivor in sand
  Just when you think Jeff Probst has run out of ideas and locations to shoot, he comes up with another gem.

Seen news you think I can turn into a crappy pun or Three's-Company-esque misinterpretation of wording? Send it to me.

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Thanks for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer network!

-Jeff "Ethec" Woleslagle and the Ten Ton Hammer team