ProSiebenSat.1 Games Group FAQ Feedback Thread

[Lempo]

Marnus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

This change doesnt really affect me, i play on ab. I do know several european players though, and my heart goes out to them, and the rest of the people this affects.  I cannot understand why soe would do this..has it not been proven time and time again in this game that taking away options is bad, and adding or keeping options is always better? After reading this, i sat here trying to think of reasons why they would do this.  I know next to nothing about how this works, but the only positive things that i could think of, is that by doing this, will they be "shutting out" all non U.S. customers, such as the dreaded "chinese plat farmers"? Also at least now, non U.S.  players might be able to participate in more sales and such-i was seeing a lot of angry posts about non U.S. people being cut out of all the "U.S. only" sales and stuff-maybe this new company will have sc cards more available to you, and maybe expansions will be cheaper for you. Trying to see the silver lining here, but even to me, it seems a bit tarnished. I truly hope soe reconsiders this decision for our non-U.S. brothers and sisters.

This is a really bad position to take and the fact that you made it shows that you have no understanding of the implications that it has. Sure your existing EU friends will be able to continue as if nothing has changed (at least for now), they can no longer bring anyone new to the game to AB now though. Also don't think for one minute that this will even have the slightest affect on the chinese plat farmers, they WILL be able to circumvent this and will continue to do so serving both EU and US servers. Finally, you are wasting your time here, there is no 'silver lining' for the playerbase at all, the only people that benefit from this are the execs that got bonuses from getting the deal through and the $ from PSS.1 and everyone in this thread knows who 2 of them are.

[Tigress]

Pipsissiwa wrote:

Tigress wrote:

i did not see england nor australia mentioned in the list of countries affected.  did i miss them or are they not affected?

 United Kingdom is there, sadly.

canada is part of the UK, yes?  i went to toronto & was very surprised at how british it was.  i know that they seperated but aren't they still considered part of the UK?  is that the same for australia?

EDIT:  Canada & Australia are the commonwealth of nations, under UK.  so where do canada & australia fall on this "deal"?

[Bremethor Uthorzant]

This news is very depressing for me SOE you have really served your players by alienating them? If i am reading all this right i am going to lose several freinds over this poor decision and i may never see them again. Lets not mention the fact that i have guildmates from all over the world including our leader from Australia and other folks from Great Britain and the UK. Lets also not mention that one of my former guilds had someone leading from the UK so what are you going to do about all this SOE? Your simply going to tell them to shove off to this new site while i have to sit here and wonder why i haven't seen any new players lately? You seriously trying to alienate us from making freinds outside the U.S? This makes me sick to my stomach.thanks SOE....

[Alylextha]

I'm sorry?? Did we time travel back to the middle ages when no~one was looking? Being server locked by reason of physical location in this day and age? Seriously?? Which complete lackwit decided this was a good idea? Do you actually have any one competent working for you in your business strategy department? Heck do you even have a business strategy department because based on all your decisions to date I seriously doubt it.

I'm British. I play US servers on ANY game I play online. I'd just returned to the game after a 3 year break, and I'm now seriously considering cancelling my sub yet again.

[Llogwey]

From what I understand, the lock will be for European servers... not for US servers, meaning that you can still connect to US servers wherever you are...providing you have a SOE account, BUT if you want to play on an european server you have to create an PSS.1 account and migrate your SOE "stuff" on it... Thus how could you possibly play both US and EU serveurs (as said in the FAQ)... unless you have TWO accounts (one with SOE for US and one for EU with PSS.1) which would thus mean TWO subscriptions! oO the All Access and 'paid in advance" subscription are the main examples of this as it concerns game outside PSS.1 range and payment already done and due... maybe with answers for All Access account we'll have implicit answers for the rest... at least for european who want to play outside EU servers which is clearly a smaller problem than the other way around... non european trying to reach European servers which is really problematic... i STILL Think SOE should provide options for those who want to migrate servers (all characters from one server) eu -> us or the other way around before being OBLIGED to sign on PSS.1 accounts...

[Ventisly]

Too bad they didn't do an in-game poll for whether people actually wanted this or not.  Ya know, something that would have really made a difference instead of what we do with our "social time" in game.

[Pink_Poodle]

Alanducar@Everfrost wrote:

This news is very depressing for me SOE you have really served your players by alienating them? If i am reading all this right i am going to lose several freinds over this poor decision and i may never see them again. Lets not mention the fact that i have guildmates from all over the world including our leader from Australia and other folks from Great Britain and the UK. Lets also not mention that one of my former guilds had someone leading from the UK so what are you going to do about all this SOE? Your simply going to tell them to shove off to this new site while i have to sit here and wonder why i haven't seen any new players lately? You seriously trying to alienate us from making freinds outside the U.S? This makes me sick to my stomach.thanks SOE....

This. My Dutch guildmates are going to feel pretty upset when they hear about this.

Pleasseeee soften this, SOE? ;_;

[msheaf]

I expect all my Splitpaw toons to be transfered to Everfrost (yes I will choose the server they are on not some random script) and also FREE character slots for all of them. Also I expect the guild I am leader of on Splitpaw to be transfered (it is just my wife and I among six accounts). All of this at NO COST to me. Anything else may result in my charging back almost a years with of subscription time. This is the stupidist thing I have ever seen SOE do.

[CantbeBothered]

I'm sorry to say if this goes ahead it will be the end of EQ2 for me.  Our raid alliance can't take any more losses, and we have a few US people amongst our ranks.  In any case, I echo the sentiments already expressed - why on earth would you want to split an INTERNET game based on regions, and split friends from differnt continents from each other?

Unfortunatly I suspect this feedback will come to nothing, SOE has already done the deal and sold Europe down the river.  I won't be continuing my sub, if SOE think I will consent to give my credit card details to this German company I have never heard of until now, they can think again.  I suspect somewhere in the terms and conditions I may already have given such consent, in which case as soon as they anounce the dates I will unsub.  SOE already lost a load of my personal data, don't they even remember that? 

Come on SOE, how could you NOT know this would loose you a load of established players?  Or don't you care about us?

[SOE-MOD-08]

This post has moved: /eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=50009...post_id=5719359 Trolling.

[Sigtyr]

This is a bad idea it will break up guilds on both side of the atlantic, many of whom have played together for years, my guild Secret Keepers have existed for over 10 years with members from EU and USA. The only way SOE can make this a bit less offensive to people is to allow trasfer of whole guilds, with guildhalls and all between US and EU (both ways of course). And as I read it current EU players will not be able to roll new toons on US servers but can keep playing their current toons.

[Dekedar]

I haven't really been following this too closely, and I'm happy to know that the EU players in my guild won't be affected, but from gaging other's opinions this is *yet another* terrible decision in a near infitely long string of terrible decisions that SoE continues to make. Congratulations.

One person said it best:

Lempo of Everfrost wrote:

SOE and PSS.1 have just created a digital wall to divide the playerbase in a game where the playerbase is not big enough.

Thinking about the bigger playerbase picture, I'm not sure what makes either of these companies think that they can afford to split the playerbase / bring in new blood to make this an even halfly worthwhile move.

Another potential downfall I see is say one of my EU guildies gets a friend interested in the game, it will be impossible for them to play together...

[Eziari]

Wirewhisker@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Lempo@Everfrost wrote:

KenCoop wrote:

Does SoE even read what they write anymore...??

From the 2nd paragraph of the FAQ:

This new partnership will enhance players’ gaming experiences by attracting new audiences into our online worlds (more players = more fun!), plus will deliver additional dedicated Community and Marketing support, and resources for providing an even more localized experience.

Then later on:

Under the new partnership between SOE and ProSiebenSat.1 Games, European players of the above mentioned SOE games will be able to play via ProSiebenSat.1 Games’s service and will not have access to U.S. servers.

There is no way that you can mean the first when you say the latter.  Do not insult the playerbase's intellegence and simply tell us this was a business decision to increase revenue.  Please don't make it out like you are doing us a favor by splitting the playerbase in half...

Like SJ said here "Greatly enlarge our European server population." http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...=513483#5708582

Well the EU server population is going to take a huge hit initially, and this may very well be the final straw from many.

Frankly I'm questioning which numbskull at ProSieben decided this was a great deal.

They're getting an 8 year old game that has been advertised extremely poorly over the years, that's aging badly against competiting titles, and a playerbase that will be hostile to them because of what Sony is doing to them.

What kind of upside can they see in this, other than potential profit on a chance to spread around a lot of DerSmedbucks?

My opinion follows :PSS.1 is not getting an 8 year old game (EQ2). Well, they are, but its the baggage on the side. What PSS.1 has signed up for, is the FOLLOWING installment of EverQuest franchise (EQNext). That is the one SOE is hoping to cash on, and will also be region locked.All other SOE titles involved in this deal, are just deal-sweeteners, and are being used to test the waters before the release of EverQuestNext. SOE does not care about the customers of existing titles.I do not support this action by SOE in the slightest, I am just raising the point that I believe this deal is all about the future, not the present.

[SOE-MOD-04]

This post has moved: /eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=50011...post_id=5719369 Removed for trolling

[Gladiolus]

All this shows that SOE doesn't understand at all why we're here. It's not because the game's so wonderful, that's now become an ageing diva full of spots and wrinkles that she doesn't see the need to fix. We're still here because of relationships we've formed with people in this international community. SOE doesn't care one iota about that and apparently doesn't even care about all the people who are now just looking around (Maybe time to have another go at Rift, GW2 coming in the summer, perhaps I could adapt to Star Wars, etc.). The impression is that EQ2 has made its money, and now resources are moved elsewhere and it's just left it ticking over while the remaining customers fund the new venture.

[Tallisman]

So.

I can, in fact, still play on AB from the UK. Hoorah.

However... seriously, SOE. You have really [Edited for profanity.] some people over here. I would, if it were me, start reconsidering what you've done. You have a very bad track record with customer satisfaction and all you are doing is hammering more nails into your coffin lid. RIP.

PS

The UK is not Europe. Nor is Canada, nor is Australia. Europe is Europe and proud of it.

PPS

This is the first time I have ever used an expletive on these forums but now is the time to utilise one.

PPPS

Not that any customer rep. is ever going to read/care/do something.

PPPPS

SOE - FTL (the "L" is the opposite of "win"").

[Vinyard]

Free transfer day please.

[msheaf]

Vinyard@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Free transfer day please.

and character slots. ONLY acceptable solution.

[Starcloud]

I cant believe SOE is doing this to all loyal players who pay with their well earned money to play a game to unwind, meet people around the globe. People tagged along for so many years, thats what makes EQI and EQII so much fun. Now it feels like euro's and US players are going to be isollated. What will happen to the australian and asian players ? Who planned to rebuild the Berlin wall again? The Iron Curtain ? For goodness sake, we live in 2012 .. one world, one nation.

I play on Crushbone and ower guild is Euro/US/Canadian based. If it wasnt dead already it will now, thanks SOE.

Besides I have 1 account with 7 toons on Crushbone, 1 toon on Splitpaw and 5 on test server. I DONT want to be offerd to move to PSS1 server thats not what I pay for and not willing to do so. I understand the economy is hard on SOE aswell, but after so many years making a change like you do now is not acceptable for me.

Starcloud proud fury of Redemption, Crushbone

[Bogdanus]

I remember some community manager at Allaplayah or whatever the heck they are called saying that in no way they would rip the communities apart after the public outrage when the rumours came out

Apparently he or she was lieing.

I do not know which of the marketing geniuses of Prosieben got this lubricated idea shoved in SOE zero brainer board, but if there was a way to kill a game this is the way to do it.

I'm refraining from a lot of bad bad bad words atm...

Do you people have a sense of reality ?

You think you can do a stunt like this and loose a few ten of thousands players and think it won't affect your player base ?

You think you are blizzard, where 10k player quitting won't matter ?

Get real ! EQ2 has around 150.000 subsribers according to http://mmodata.net/ . The game is going downhill for the last 2 years.

Instead of keeping the vets happy and keep the eq2 loyalists paying, you hope to get in NEW players ? What part of the sauerkraut infected your brains ?

A game that is 7 years old DOES NOT get any new players. You hang on to your old players. You split them apart, you split communities apart.

We have an alliance on Splitpaw that is raiding with people from the US for more than 5 years. This will be the end of our raiding and most ppl in my guild play because they want to play with their friends most of which are from the US.

If I don't have friends to play with , I am not insane to play a game that is expired in all conceivable ways known to human kind.

But I guess, the  "dedicated german pro players at Prosieben" know better and EUrope ueber alles ! is the new trend now.

If you really pull this stunt off, then you can kiss another 30 accounts goodbye. I will do everything in my power to convince every single friend I have in this game to quit the game and build our community elsewhere where there are NO region locks and everyone all over the world can play.

And I'm sure a lot of other people will do the same. 

Then all the Prosieben players will have the server ALL to their own 

[Pouncequickk]

One question:

As a Canadian, am I considered American? Or European? Or locked out entirely since I am neither?

[Te'ana]

Just a week or so before the announcement of this agreement in January I paid cold hard cash to move 11 characters from Freeport to Splitpaw. I want free transfers of my toons back to Freeport ASAP since apparently I won't be able to access them from the US.

[Llogwey]

the free transfer seems one of the only viable solution at this point... else too many things will be broken.... I want to play EQ1 and EQ2 and i have two station access for that, and paid for one year I see absolutly no reason why I should not get what I paid for... Now compromises can be found, if I have to transfer to a US server, ok, but for free for all my chars... the deal is that if you have chars on US servers (I have many on test server which is US) you can carry on playing them.... they never mentionned the fact of having toons on US AND EU.... I already see guildes wiling to migrate entirely on US servers or entirely on EU server to solver local block problems... Com'on SOE, this deal was mainly for future or recent games... if this deal did not include Vangard and EQ1, why does it have to include EQ2 which is the third oldest game and could be left in peace...??

[Tallisman]

Bogdanus wrote:

Do you people have a sense of reality ?

Snip

You think you can do a stunt like this and loose a few ten of thousands players and think it won't affect your player base ?

Snip

Instead of keeping the vets happy and keep the eq2 loyalists paying, you hope to get in NEW players ? What part of the sauerkraut infected your brains ?

A game that is 7 years old DOES NOT get any new players. You hang on to your old players. You split them apart, you split communities apart.

Snip

If you really pull this stunt off, then you can kiss another 30 accounts goodbye. I will do everything in my power to convince every single friend I have in this game to quit the game and build our community elsewhere where there are NO region locks and everyone all over the world can play.

This.

I cannot believe the short-sightedness of SOE.

[SisterTheresa]

Amnerys wrote:

Hi everyone. Thank you for your feedback. I understand that there are a lot of questions and concerns, so please remember to keep your posts within forum guidelines so we may hear your feedback and collect it. We are currently working on the related FAQ for All Access accounts, and will try to get answers to new questions, too.

Then here is my concerns as best I can lay out.

1.  When will this partnership effectively begin? The partnership between SOE and ProSiebenSat.1 Games is effective as of now; however given the complex nature, it will take both companies time to finalize and manage the integration process in order to ensure a smooth transition for players. Games will be rolled out individually in the upcoming months, and details and updates will be provided to players accordingly. So ... you just DROPPED this on our laps (though we knew it would happen eventually) instead of in small chunks?  Really?  /slow golfclap

2.  Will new servers be specifically created for the ProSiebenSat.1 Games game platform?European players will play on EU servers through ProSieben’s service. SOE and ProSiebenSat.1 Games will ensure that all game related services and servers are readily available and augmented based on player demand. Can players still access the U.S. servers?Under the new partnership between SOE and ProSiebenSat.1 Games, European players of the above mentioned SOE games will be able to play via ProSiebenSat.1 Games’s service and will not have access to U.S. servers. However, existing EverQuest II players in Europe that have played on U.S. servers before the transition will be allowed to continue playing on those servers through their SOE accounts. Can U.S. players log on to the European servers?U.S.-based players will have access to the U.S. servers only.

You have effectively "screwed the pooch" with this one.  If you wanted to make IP and region locks, should have done that in the creation of the game.  Beaking up people's groups, guilds, and possibly families (if anyone has a service member in Europe but lives in the USA).  And not only that, some backhanded ploy that Europeans who already play on US servers can stay (which is great) but if you're from the USA and play on European server .. GT*O.   /slow golfclap

4.  Do we lose our running subscriptions?European players will need to create new accounts and set up new subscriptions with ProSiebenSat.1 Games. However, ProSieben will offer existing European players subscription rates and terms that are similar to their existing SOE subscriptions. This does not answer the question, sorry to say.  It did not ask what the rates were, they want to know the money placed down already before the change, will it be forwarded to the Pro account or the XX amount of money be completely lost and a new subscription made only.

I am not a person who ususally drops ship or cries wolf over something, but even I am losing my patience.  If I lose friends and guildmates over this ... goodbye from me.

[Tuatha]

Why would you want to break up guilds and communities like this after so many years? Pretty much all the guilds I have ever been in have had a mix of players from all over the world, it has always been one of the things I enjoyed the most about this game, meeting people from other countries.

So why build a wall between European players and the rest of the world? If I get any of my RL European friends to try EQ2 now I won't be able to play with them because they can't play on Everfrost!A while ago I was praising SOE for how you, from day 1, let Americans play EQ2 on Euro servers and vice versa, unlike LOTRO's lame region locks...and now the situation will be exactly the opposite, LOTRO players aren't region locked anymore but EQ2 players will be.

This is the worst idea ever, it's an insult to your loyal subscribers.

[Melrakki]

Ww Tt Ff ?

Are you guys TRYING to lose support for all things SOE related ?

Foxtrot Unicorn Charlie Kilo you all !

[Gladiolus]

Makya@Everfrost wrote:

Too bad they didn't do an in-game poll for whether people actually wanted this or not.  Ya know, something that would have really made a difference instead of what we do with our "social time" in game.

Did you notice that there was no poll on the European servers?

[Liandra]

The day I am forced to register with another company to access the toons I have been playing since launch is the day I will be uninstalling EQ2 and binning the DVDs.

[Pipsissiwa]

From the Alaplaya forums on 19th Jan:

"Just one answer for the most important point as we want to have a joint statement.We do not think about a transfer of US server chars from EU costumers in Eq2. That should solve the biggest worries the EQ2 community has at the moment.

Of course this matches what has happened, with Euro players being grandfathered on their US servers but not vice versa.

However, it then continues:

"We do not want to interfere with long build ingame relationships. This is the current way we think about it.

... Really don´t worry too much. We will act very community centric."

Tell that to the US players on the Euro servers.