Curse

Solar_Takfar · Sep 24, 2006, 10:18 PM // 22:18

Meh. We don't even get GW published in Brazil (other games come out regularly at the USA release day or at most a few weeks afterwards). I have to buy the campaigns (actually, just the keys) thru plaync.com; I get no box or manual; and I can't get a prerelease pack or a collector's edition, even though I'd love to have those. I don't see the situation is Australia as such a disgrace.

Gaile Gray · Sep 24, 2006, 10:44 PM // 22:44

The decision to house Australian and New Zealander players on the European servers is a business decision and it does not appear likely to change. While we appreciate that some might wish to be on other servers, or to have their own exclusive server, the fact is that NCsoft Europe handles distribution to Aus/NZ, and they provide support, as well. Here are some truths:

We will not be able to offer the currency of every nation in the world in our Official Store. It would be nice, but it's completely unfeasible. When I was in Germany, I was informed of prices in Euros, and there were no price stickers in American Dollars. Not even the bank machines, making a draw from my American account, offered the information in dollars.
NCsoft Europe has vowed to make ArenaNet games -- both Guild Wars CEs and SEs -- and the Preorder Bonus Pack available in your region.
I am still under the impression that boxes products for the PBP, the CE, and the SE are all on time. The retailers may say differently, but they may be confused. Of course, in some instances, they may be right. However, I've not heard that there will be delays on the availability of any product. (Obviously the PBP is not being shelved as quickly as we had anticipated, not even in Europe and North America. Unfortunately, we cannot control that.)
We will not be able to offer a separate territory for every nation in the world. The objective is to bring people together, not isolate them on self-standing servers. In addition, there are prohibitive costs involved with the maintenance for a server located at a distant point. I dealt with this question years ago, for another company and another set of games, and the answer, then as now, is that servers are kept to as few locations as is practical, and that the list of server locations is only expanded with a clear proof of need. "Need" in this case is evidenced by a signficantly large playing population that makes the hosting of a local server reasonable and cost-effective.

If you look around you -- even just within this forum -- you will see player, residents of other countries, who have managed to deal with issues far greater than those in Australia and New Zealand. There are players who wait months to find a boxed copy. There are players who can never find one at all -- thank heavens for PlayNC and the Official Store! There are those for whom the Preorder Bonus Pack or the Colletor's Edition is only an image on their monitor -- never to be owned, never even to be dreamed of being owned. We'd like to offer these thins in every nation in the world, but that dream will take a while to attain.

This is the reality of a global distribution. We make every effort to expand availability, and while we listen with respect to the concerns of our players, it seems to me that those mentioned in this thread have been expressed, many times, and addressed, an equal number of times. We may not be able to answer as you would like. It is my understanding, for instance, that we will not be able to offer Aus/NZ its own server. Nor can we offer one to Brazil, South Africa, or The Philippines, and all of those nations have a very vibrant Guild Wars community, too, and all of those are some distance from the server on which they play.

Now, if we're having a glitch in what we've promised as far as distribution, then I'm sure that NCsoft Europe knows of this. However, you are welcome to submit a Support ticket to let them know of your challenges. I must say, with a plea for kindness, that making assertions about the studio not caring because of things over which the studio has no control is quite unfair. Not letting those who are empowered to help you know of your concerns is equally unfair.

Let's work together to see if we resolve the issues that are resolveable, and then let's agree that in some situations, not every "ideal" is attainable in the here and now, but that we can and should keep trying to do better over time.

BoredJoe · Sep 25, 2006, 04:14 AM // 04:14

So...like, are we getting our own server or not? (j/k)

nossac · Sep 25, 2006, 05:18 AM // 05:18

The only comment I have on this is the difference in prices between the servers.

If I go to buy an extra slot or pack the price I pay will depend on wether I'm on a US or EU server, I'm guessing this is mainly due to taxs and conversion rates or maybe it's just that the prices were worked out on day x and the exchange rates have altered...

As a loyal supporter of the British Empire and a humble resident of the ex penal colony of Australia I'm on the EU server and everything appears in British Pounds...well that doesn't quite make sense but I am guessing these purchases are made in the UK so they can avoid some of the EU licensing regulations regarding the EULA.

Anyway buying something in GBP works out to be a fair bit more expensive than buying them in USD (note this was correct last time I checked but the exchange rates may have varied)

Now I am guessing the extra money goes into the same account in the end so why should I pay more.

An unlimited # swaps between zones for purchasing in the online store wouls be nice

Or even nicer fixing the price in USD or some other currency and having the ingame store do a calculation based on the current exchange rate as many other international vendors do. Then you just select the currency you wish to pay in and the site does the conversion for you.

I can understand the reasons behind not doing this as if Gaille said you were in country ABCD and were looking at proice tags in a store....However pricetags cannot run conversion applets either.

The other comment on this is that you paid the same price on the item as the conversion rate of the day. i.e. the price you paid was the same and you were not penalised for paying with a US based credit card (unless you card company charged conversion fees)

But this doesn't just concern the Au and NZ players why should Euro customers pay more for the online store items than US customers. Considering you are really just buying a virtual good the prices should be the same

(edit to add the last 6 lines of this rant)

-Loki- · Sep 25, 2006, 05:34 AM // 05:34

Australia won't be getting it's own region for two very simple reasons. There aren't that many Australian based players, and bandwidth for a datacenter in Australia would be stupidly expensive. It's just not feasible to have a datacenter in Oceania and have an Oceanic region. However, yeah, their support of the product is rather bad in Australia. It's the only game I've ever seen with a pre order package that the stores either don't know exist or don't know what they are for. A little explanation to the stores that stock the pre oder packages would go a long way. Hell, stop giving EB exclusive distribution and let other stores carry it, that'll go further.

BoredJoe · Sep 25, 2006, 06:02 AM // 06:02

Well maybe the Australian and NZ players can fork out for a Pentium 2 as the GW Oceania server and host it in someone's garage?

Roshi_ikkyu · Sep 25, 2006, 07:30 AM // 07:30

I never insisted on the matter of Aus/Nz having our own server in this thread!
I think most of us understand that Australia and New Zealand will never have its own server. This thread was never about having our own server.
Now a district could be something we press for, but I don't see why we should do that anyway.

Gaile Gray,
I'm assuming your last post was in part direct toward myself, I know it answered a few of my questions, Thank you.

This thread started as a rant. Why? Re-read the section about my attempts to contact support. I was pissed off! That was not a joke or an exaggeration.
I really did have those hassel with the support feature, bad e-mail verication codes, assistance email link that were no longer active. Login in issues. And finally the run around from department to department to department, only to have my question overlook and given a different answer to my focus. And memories of the Factions delay were still fresh.

I am truly sorry the Australian/New Zealand server issue is constantly rehashed in this thread. I understand the reason why we don't have one.

I was confused about why we were forced into EU districts without any advice for Non- EU nations, about options to transfer to the North American server.
I spent a month; from the servers going live. In a guild that was partly French, and partly some other countries I hardly knew existed.
It might have been fun, except for when we were teaming and commands started coming out in different languages.
I left that guild, I'm sorry I couldn't handle that. I was lucky enough to find an Aussie who was about to jump servers. Who told me all about the choice I had. Up untill then I was a newb in the dark. I didn't know about the server options.

I now understand that we are part of NCsoft/Anet/GW EU.
Distribution and all that I can understand. I may not agree with, but I understand.
I personally think you should offer a Notice or Information box for English speaking players, detailing how for Timezone and cultural and player comfort there is an option to select EU (Which are multi-lingual) servers or North American (primarly English)

Gaile, Your first point offers me the answer I was seeking that lead to the rage for this thread. Now was that so hard 'ASSISTANCE people!' That process almost sent me insane.

I'm glad we got our Bonus packs, and I'm hoping NightFall is on time its release!
But perhaps alil more could be done to ensure that if we contact EB, we are aleast going to get some information. I mean to have exclusive distribution rights and not even be able to to tell us what the packs are, or worse know what the game is

, is a worry. I know its partly EB's fault, but perhaps you could nudge them to correct it. Its your product and support based there messing with.

I know you can not offer regions to every country, and I know there is most likely a dozen nations that are in the same class as Aus/Nz.
The main issue in this matter was the English speaking countries in Oceania, being grouped with multi-lingual EU!
Please try an understand our side, it was confusing to us and a major WTF.

Why? was all we asked and should have asked.

And to the members who have posted from other disadvantaged countries, I'm sorry and I feel your pain, I never meant it to be a Australia is better then other disadvantaged nations. Our main issue was language related. We as a country are not yet on a widely accepted multi-lingual basis. Sorry for the sensationalism of the title.

So perhaps Gaile can answer, or Alex if he is watching this thread. Are any efforts going to be made to offer bonus items, like the PC gamer mini-pets, to contries who don't have a chance in hell to see offers and buy the media promoting them?
That's alot of places Gaile named that may never get a chance to particapate in a cross promotion event, or even have one offered in there region.

BoredJoe · Sep 25, 2006, 09:23 AM // 09:23

WOW, WHAT A FUN THREAD. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DEAL IS WITH THE PC-GAMER MAGAZINE. SOME NEWS AGENTS aND BORDERS STOCK PC-GAMER AND OTHER OVERSEAS MAGAZINES. I WAS JUST GONNA BUY ONE WHEN IT CAME OUT. NOT DESPERATE ENOUGH TO ASK THE NEWSAGENT TO RESERVE ONE, BUT YEAH I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SOME STORES IN AUSTRLAIA. IM SURE FUTURE ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE TOO IN SOME WAY

supaet · Sep 25, 2006, 09:36 AM // 09:36

no love from a-net from Astralia? come on, they name an outpost in nightfall Astralarium....they love you guys!!!

-Loki- · Sep 25, 2006, 09:44 AM // 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roshi_ikkyu

I never insisted on the matter of Aus/Nz having our own server in this thread!
I think most of us understand that Australia and New Zealand will never have its own server. This thread was never about having our own server.
Now a district could be something we press for, but I don't see why we should do that anyway.

What difference does a district make? You are defaulted to the Euro servers, which have english speaking districts. Do Australians not speak english? Even Alex has said you are recommended to change to the US servers for connectivity reasons. Guess what? Nearly all speech in the US servers is english. The districts are there to break up the languages, not the countries. Pushing for an Australian district on either server is pointless.

Roshi_ikkyu · Sep 25, 2006, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by supaet

no love from a-net from Astralia? come on, they name an outpost in nightfall Astralarium....they love you guys!!!

We live in Australia! there is a u in there. As for the Astralarium place, have they publicly said that, its a nice name. but they also forgot the U! lol

Its look very Australian too nothing like Observatory of Jaipur, sarcasm ftw.
Thanks GWwiki.

Roshi_ikkyu · Sep 25, 2006, 10:21 AM // 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Loki-

What difference does a district make? You are defaulted to the Euro servers, which have english speaking districts. Do Australians not speak english? Even Alex has said you are recommended to change to the US servers for connectivity reasons. Guess what? Nearly all speech in the US servers is english. The districts are there to break up the languages, not the countries. Pushing for an Australian district on either server is pointless.

Loki, I'm disappointed. I enjoy your posts mostly.

a) Yes Europe has english speaking districts, but just like with the trade channel. There not limited to english.

a i) It wasn't just about the districts but the guilds and interaction as well.

a ii) And no we speak Amerikan! come on now

b) Alex did say we are better in the NA(USA) server, But it's not recommended I did post an idea about that. I posted about perhaps an official comment on the matter in future releases, not just for us Aussies, but all english speaking players in the Defaulted EU server.

c)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roshi_ikkyu, something you missed I guess.

....Now a district could be something we press for, but I don't see why we should do that anyway.

Some people expressed there views about the Server for Aus/NZ, I hate how it keep coming back up SINCE IT WAS NEVER A POINT OF THIS THREADS ORIGINAL PURPOSE!
I don't belive we need; one nor have the demand to fill one, a district could be a decent settle, but I'm not about to start a crusade for one.
It isn't really required.

LagunaCid · Sep 26, 2006, 12:14 AM // 00:14

Hey, at least the game is being sold at Australia. Before I moved to Canada, I could only get GW when a relative traveled to USA. ;]
(But eh, it would be quite expensive at Brazil...)

Klmpee · Sep 26, 2006, 12:31 AM // 00:31

lol sorry to go off topic here.. but right when i read this topic title i hear..
"George Bush doesn't like black people" >.>

Roshi_ikkyu · Sep 26, 2006, 05:45 AM // 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klmpee

lol sorry to go off topic here.. but right when i read this topic title i hear..
"George Bush doesn't like black people" >.>

Its not off-topic, tha'ts the inside joke I added to get attention