Curse

arcady · Nov 29, 2006, 07:21 AM // 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkofStorms

The idea is China will be on its own SEPERATE server and will not be able to interact with other players at all.

Including in PvP?

Think about what happens in those PvP battles that always spam chat
- Koreans take X from US, US takes it from Koreans, Europe takes it, etc...

sindex · Nov 29, 2006, 07:28 AM // 07:28

No I don’t things will change dramatically, in any way. However maybe it will help those who complained about the favor system, because this is really something for those people and not us. A-Net is still trying all they can to please anybody, yet people still won’t take the hint.

Thallandor · Nov 29, 2006, 07:56 AM // 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knightsaber Sith

I would hate China if they were completely isolated and thus had favor 24/7

I believe this would be the actual case, since there are strict restrictions on online gaming in China from the Chinese Government. It is likely that:

1) They would have their own local servers catering to Chinese players only.

2) China version copy of GW accounts would not be able to change servers nor will they be able to access international dists. The current chinese players in Drok Int Dist are those who actually bought the US/EU version of GW.

3) They would have their own system of favor that would not be affected from competition with other regions, or had Favor removed altogether for excess to UW/FOW on their own servers.

4) Since their servers are completely closed and isolated, the GW gold/item flood on ebay will have no effect on us since we cant meet to trade, hence they can only buy/sell/trade amoung themselves.

5) It is highly possible that their distribution system will be similar to tawian such that GW will be offered in the subscription format or the free to play for full price(there perhaps may not be this version at all.)

My predictions are that, GW will have a flashy/hyped promotional start in the chinese market and generate some initial box sales but will ultimately fail in the long run in its MMO market.

The problem is with the current GW gaming format. As it is, there is a lack of penetration into their current player culture and mentality to capture their interest for the product to be profitable in the long run. (GW share holders beware lol) I should know, since i share the same heritage.

Nevertheless good luck Anet and prove me wrong.

lightblade · Nov 29, 2006, 07:57 AM // 07:57

ah...I see the red fear still exist...
---------------------------------------
No, I don't think China will be seperated from International Districts. Simply because The9 will lose everything (in GW) if that happens.

Thallandor · Nov 29, 2006, 08:15 AM // 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightblade

No, I don't think China will be seperated from International Districts. Simply because The9 will lose everything (in GW) if that happens.

Please elaborate the bolded section? I dont quite understand what do they stand to lose if they are Isolated and have no access to international Dist?

Contact from players from other countries? Thats the last thing i think the regulatory bodies governing online game distribution would want lol. What game developers and players want have nothing to do with what restrictions the Chinese government will impose for its approval for gaming distribution. Their system, their Rules if you want to venture your interest in the Chinese market. The only thing you should be thinking about as a company is profit margins.

The idea that the China server can afford to be Isolated is due to the predicted player base within its own country/community, would be so large that it would rival other joint regional servers and they would have a large enough population to subtain their own activities in their isolated server. - or so the theory of doing business in China in this case is about.

Div · Nov 29, 2006, 08:19 AM // 08:19

Only problem if it gets completely isolated is that they are missing out on a HUGE chunk of guild wars. They'll be missing all the top pvp (GvG against other countries' teams, Halls) and they'll be missing out on UW and FoW (unless they're given access 24/7). It'd also be pretty boring if you can't play internationally, but sucks for them I guess...also the farmers that want to make their money off ebay will just buy a US/EU account, and the actual people who want to play will buy the Chinese version, so it's not like the economy will be messed up at all...

lightblade · Nov 29, 2006, 09:03 AM // 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thallandor

I dont quite understand what do they stand to lose if they are Isolated and have no access to international Dist?

Because I read Chinese GW forums, and people are talking about boycott on this. Whether their boycott plan will succeed or not, that's another story. Their reason is exactly what holymasamune said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by holymasamune

Only problem if it gets completely isolated is that they are missing out on a HUGE chunk of guild wars. They'll be missing all the top pvp (GvG against other countries' teams, Halls) and they'll be missing out on UW and FoW (unless they're given access 24/7). It'd also be pretty boring if you can't play internationally, ...

Thallandor · Nov 29, 2006, 09:39 AM // 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightblade

Because I read Chinese GW forums, and people are talking about boycott on this. Whether their boycott plan will succeed or not, that's another story. Their reason is exactly what holymasamune said.

/sigh

I see what you mean then. Boycotting wont solve anything in a country where the govenment put a limit on the number of hours you can play online games. I feel for the Chinese players there, but theres nothing they or possibly Anet can do. GW isnt a staple of The9 since they distribute other titles as well (and they arent going to stick their neck out to the Chinese Government for players), the best mentioned is of course World of Warcraft and its on their own local servers also.

If you mean players interested in GW and are boycotting The9's other distributed titles should The9 dont give in to their demand, then i am sure that after accessing damage control, its is likely that The9 may drop GW distribution then to incur the wrath of its consumer base to WoW perhaps, and so will the other likely game operators as well. If this is the case, it will only be detrimental to GW if a reliable game operator to house its servers cannot be found.

If those players think that they will help ANET/NCSOFT/THEMSELVES by boycotting the game for the lack of access to international districts, then you know as well as i do, they are only fooling themselves.

GW would probably still ship as detailed by the approvals of the authorities if it wishes to distribute in the chinese market. Those who choose to boycott the game will do so, while those that are interested to try it will. Nothing will change.

In the end it only means GW wont sell so well as expected or possibly a flop in China.

A link to the time limit imposed on online game (old news for some maybe):
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/08...s_6131845.html

Quote:

China govt steps up limits on online gaming
Three-hour limit embraced by seven superpower publishers; World of Warcraft among those games affected.
By Curt Feldman, GameSpot
Posted Aug 24, 2005 1:04 pm PT
Online gamers are different in Asia.

Examples of extreme devotion to one's favorite online game have resulted in a number of quirky, if not tragic, occurrences in that part of the world. For instance, there's the couple whose infant expired as they played games in an Internet cafe; there is the death that occurred from exhaustion; and there are even murders that have resulted from feuds begun online. These are a few of the most notorious results of intense attachments to gaming.

In China yesterday, the government agency that oversees the online game industry said that testing of a system to regulate the number of hours gamers spend online will be ready for deployment this October.

The system will impose penalties on players who spend more than three hours gaming online. The system is slated to be fully operational in late 2006 or early 2006 and will be compulsory for all massively multiplayer online role-playing and online casual games.

"This timing mechanism can prevent young people from becoming addicted to online games," Xiaowei Kou, the deputy director of the general administration of press and publication (GAPP), said during a press conference in Beijing.

According to the Interfax news service, the system reduces the ability level of a player's online game character if the game is played beyond the three-hour limit. Basically, play more than three hours and the system cuts a game character's ability by half. Play more than five hours and the system reduces a game character's ability to the lowest level possible.

Gamers must wait a minimum of five hours before returning to gameplay, or the system will not reset..

Companies that have vowed to participate in the beta of such a system include the country's biggest online game operators: Shanda, NetEase, The9, Optisp, Kingsoft, SINA, and Sohu.

The following games will be included in trials of the new system: The Legend of Mir II, The World of Legend, Westward Journey Online, Fantasy Westward Journey Online, World of Warcraft, MU, JX Online, First Myth Online, The Legend of Mir 3G, Lineage II, and Blade Online.

The endorsement of publishers is hardly surprising, as no online game is allowed to be operated in China without GAPP's approval. To defy GAPP would be tantamount to exiting the online-game playing field in China.

Razorwood · Nov 29, 2006, 10:35 AM // 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkofStorms

The idea is China will be on its own SEPERATE server and will not be able to interact with other players at all.

If that's true they will stay on the current servers, if they have there own servers who will they ebay there gold to?

Shadowfox1125 · Nov 29, 2006, 10:43 AM // 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

If that's true they will stay on the current servers, if they have there own servers who will they ebay there gold to?

Other Chinese players, maybe?

Please don't think of all Chinese players as gold farmers.

Stixxx · Nov 29, 2006, 10:46 AM // 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by shardfenix

2: It doesn't work yet.

I think its the same thing as they did with the online store. They put up the icons but they dont put it to work yet. I think once district thingy is up and running they will add the internation districts soon enough, especially for PvP chars.

Razorwood · Nov 29, 2006, 10:53 AM // 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowfox1125

Other Chinese players, maybe?

Please don't think of all Chinese players as gold farmers.

Sorry if I was a bit lacking in that statement.

I don't think all Chinese players are gold farmers, but i'd imagen that the market for gold selling is a lot bigger in Europe and America.

Maybe my point wasn't as clear as I wanted it to be, I was basically just saying that if they have there own servers they will more than likely stay where they are. (And play there as well maybe since there is no sub fee)

Why move when you can make a nice income?

Thallandor · Nov 29, 2006, 11:32 AM // 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

Sorry if I was a bit lacking in that statement.

I don't think all Chinese players are gold farmers, but i'd imagen that the market for gold selling is a lot bigger in Europe and America.

Maybe my point wasn't as clear as I wanted it to be, I was basically just saying that if they have there own servers they will more than likely stay where they are. (And play there as well maybe since there is no sub fee)

Why move when you can make a nice income?

who says they are moving?

Sweatshop gold farming operators will still sell ebay gold with gold generated from accounts from US/EU to those servers for the higher profit margins from the exchange rates. What/who gave you the idea they will quietly move back to the Isolated China server?

But having said that, existing operation will now just have another market to sell ingame gold to depending on the popularity and prices in their own chinese servers as well.

UNLESS of course Anet starts banning all accounts with IP address from China outside of the Chinese servers, which effectively is telling all US/EU accounts generated/being accessed in China to fo back to their own servers to play which is unlikely but not entirely out of the question.

Razorwood · Nov 29, 2006, 12:03 PM // 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thallandor

who says they are moving?

Umm not me.

What gave you the idea I said they would move?

I said they WON'T move.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

If that's true they will stay on the current servers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

I was basically just saying that if they have there own servers they will more than likely stay where they are

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

Why move when you can make a nice income?

Cebe · Nov 29, 2006, 12:06 PM // 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

I was basically just saying that if they have there own servers they will more than likely stay where they are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thallandor

who says they are moving?

O.o

Not him!

Thallandor · Nov 29, 2006, 12:30 PM // 12:30

Extract from Post A:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

if they have there own servers who will they ebay there gold to?

Extract from Post B:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorwood

if they have there own servers they will more than likely stay where they are.

Why move when you can make a nice income?

Stay where they are:
1) In their own server (china) - my understanding from reading both extracts
2) In their existing US/EU servers - What you mean i suppose

nevermind i wont response to your post in the future no worries.

Thallandor · Nov 29, 2006, 02:27 PM // 14:27

Before this becomes off topic:

I was able to select different regions on the log in screen. Has it significantly changed? or if the limits on server restriction has been altered?

From wiki update notes:

Quote:

Update - Tuesday November 28
Made preparations for the Chinese closed beta test.
Fixed several infrequent client crash bugs.

[edit]GuildWiki notes
This update seems to have introduced a new bug where your bonus items cannot be equipped.
A drop box for choosing your region upon login has been added. Available regions are: China\CT, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Default.
A login button has replaced the helm icon.

bpphantom · Nov 29, 2006, 03:52 PM // 15:52

That little timer notification seems to have more of a purpose now doesn't it?

Gregslot · Nov 29, 2006, 04:33 PM // 16:33

yea, but wt will happen to those ppl who are playing urgoz or the deep?
it takes almost 3 hours to get there.

the idea of changing to other regions, when i first saw it, made me think we woulndt have to worry about getting the favor of the gods in order to go to fow and uw

oneevilninja · Nov 29, 2006, 04:45 PM // 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seef II

Just entered with Korea selected. Still put me in American districts. I'm not convinced this new feature actually does anything yet.

I agree ive tryed Japan and put me in American