[Grizzlebeard]

Never seen a single European player related question asked of S-E since European launch. To that end, I'll ask the one question that I feel is the most important. One I've been asking for many years but one that never makes it to S-E because all the interviews so far have focussed on JP and NA issues only.

Q. Does Square-Enix plan on marking one or two specific servers as "European Players Preferred" any time in the future?

The reason I ask this question is because due to the lack of FFXI on the PS2 in Europe, and population levels in general, the European playerbase is far smaller than their NA and JP counterparts. As such, with the exception of a few servers, many European players find themselves playing FFXI with no chance of ever completing content that JP and NA players enjoy such as finishing the CoP storyline, Dynamis, Limbus, Sky, or any of the three king events. In short, anything other than 6-12 person activities is beyond our scope to participate in let alone beat.

Simply flagging one server as European preferred would at least let new EU players have a chance to share their game with people playing at the same time and give us a chance to achieve things which have previously been denied to us purely because of numbers and not skill. For the record, I've played since October 2003 on the Fenrir server so the question of restarting on a new server in the hopes of maybe finding a Euro population was never an option after I'd invested so much time into my character. Ultimately, I left the game because of this frustration and inability to experience the full range of activities FFXI had to offer. However, if such a server was to come about though I'd be interested in restarting and transferring to it.

[Dayala]

Although I know your question is valid, it will be answered as the following: NA and JP have been asking for the same thing for years and we're still all meshed together like a dysfunctional family I doubt they will seperate the nations / languages to accomodate new players / old players.

What they should really create is a GS server.

[Balfree]

I play on GMT, this would be fantastic, but right now it would be close to useless because i already have a close group of friends whom i would quit the game for if they left.

[Grizzlebeard]

Originally Posted by Dayala

Although I know your question is valid, it will be answered as the following: NA and JP have been asking for the same thing for years and we're still all meshed together like a dysfunctional family

While I accept this would be the likely reply I'd still like to see the question asked just once in my lifetime. The JP and NA population ensure during their peak times there are between 2-4k people online on average. The area where Japanese players sleep and Americans arrive home from school/work is a dead zone for Euro players. Most my party invites didn't start arriving in till 10pm on evenings and my CoP static didn't start till 1am on Saturday morning. The number of European players on FFXI is significantly lower and as such the dilution of those numbers over various servers is far more damaging than the current JP and NA mix of players.

[Kirsteena]

Looks like a god to me... we had 27 in sky yesterday, and that is well down on our normal attendance due to holiday time (schools broke up this week).

We manage fine - check the signature - we even got an .eu domain.

It depends on the server - we did it ourselves, there are other servers with established EU communities. EU timings work in our favour. Sky is generally empty when we go for gems/gods, limbus and Dynamis are empty, kings, we have to fight the UAE, but it is possible.

I like the mixed communities - some of my closest friends are American, and I wouldn't change that for the world.

[Murphie]

Originally Posted by Kirsteena

Looks like a god to me... we had 27 in sky yesterday, and that is well down on our normal attendance due to holiday time (schools broke up this week).

We manage fine - check the signature - we even got an .eu domain.

It depends on the server - we did it ourselves, there are other servers with established EU communities. EU timings work in our favour. Sky is generally empty when we go for gems/gods, limbus and Dynamis are empty, kings, we have to fight the UAE, but it is possible.

I like the mixed communities - some of my closest friends are American, and I wouldn't change that for the world.

<3

I think it's an interesting idea, but unfortunately, due to the nature of FFXI what with the world passes, and the being a real bitch to start over, I think most EU players would probably just stay where they are now rather than start fresh. Unless there were server transfers, I suppose. But then that would start a whole thing with NA and JP players, which would get ugly.

But I totally get why this is wanted. Makes a lot of sense.

[Grizzlebeard]

As I said, some servers have a decent enough population, many more don't. My old server, Fenrir, being one of them. I'm not seeking to force existing players to have to move, only asking S-E to mark one or two servers as Euro Preferred so new players and existing ones can see there is a buoyant European population there that will support activities during the core hours. I don't class during the day when most people work as being part of those hours. Generally, I'd expect to see a solid playerbase between 17.00 and 00.00. Weekends being the exception to that of course.

[Murphie]

I guess the question then, is are there enough new players (specifically new EU players) to warrant such a specification? I guess SE would know.

[Kirsteena]

Problem is then it would go down the WoW route of regional servers only. It is unfortunate, but I think at this stage, it is not going to happen. Blame it on a very pathetic advertising campaign (FFXI was never advertised in advance bar on Amazon), and broadband being behind most of NA/Japan/Korea (yes folks, we have capped download limits). It always struck me as it was released here as an afterthought because a few complained.

[Grizzlebeard]

Originally Posted by Kirsteena

Problem is then it would go down the WoW route of regional servers only.

Again, not asking for a Euro only server, just a Euro acknowledged one. It could be Titan or any other existing server. Just make it clear that the chosen server supports a Euro playerbase of more than three people and their hampster Alan.

[Feba]

it goes against the fundamental point and purpose of FFXI, but if it gets you off fenrir, i'm behind it.

[Jarre]

I would totally support this, especially the hours stated by grizzlebeard (ok i wont ask ) I work 8:30-5:30pm and normally after 3 gym sessions a week, sorting odds and sods etc I dont get a chance to log on until 9pm and managed about 2 hours a time. The problem for me (not just getting called out as a part time firefighter) but the only chance of getting a good session in is on a weekend especially in the morning. Now in garuda server the people whoa re interested in aprtying with a brit like myself are Americans, who are tucked up in their beds when I log on at 9am GMT. I have found very few europeans on garuda, I know of one dedicated LS, Albianjr of which a few members here are on, but overall when i am playing in the evening and parties I do get into are mostly yanks. The Japanees players are sometimes quite stubbon about not inviting anyone who doesn't speak or type Japanees, which sort of creates the Us and Them thing. A european server would be great but as SE want to integrate all cultures and get everyone playing together I doubt that will happen. As for us euopeans, guess what SE are P***ing in our chips again with todays maintenance, 5pm-9pm GMT european Prime time..

[Kirsteena]

I don't know that SE would do this, as you would have to balance it - NAs would ask for NA dedicated servers, japanese their prefered servers, UAE, Chinese (make an RMT onry server)!

I personally would have liked when I started out to know there were EU players out there - I think unless you have been through it you don't realise how hard it is NEVER to see another EU player for weeks and weeks, so I can see where you are coming from only too well.

People need to use forums like these when they start, but I really can't forsee SE changing it, as it goes against their vision of servers having racial harmony (well, thats how I interpret it anyway!)

[Jarre]

Originally Posted by Feba

it goes against the fundamental point and purpose of FFXI, but if it gets you off fenrir, i'm behind it.

Less bitching please Feba, everyone is entitled to a say and opinion, without flames.

[Grizzlebeard]

Originally Posted by Feba

it goes against the fundamental point and purpose of FFXI,

As you haven't been appointed as S-E spokesperson yet I'd still prefer for someone in a position of authority to review the question and answer it accordingly.

Originally Posted by Feba

but if it gets you off fenrir, i'm behind it.

As to this little childish outburst, I don't recall ever interacting with you on Fenrir via partying or otherwise. Granted, we don't share the same timezone and I tended to play in parties over 60th level predominantly. So, I don't understand where my leaving Fenrir would affect you in any way.