Funcom has posted an update on the Age of Conan server mergers which were announced by Game Director Craig Morrison back in late September. The update also states that when the merges are complete, players will be given free character transfers and several new 'fresh start' servers will be introduced.

As announced a few weeks ago, we will merge the Age of Conan servers before the Christmas Holidays. Today we want to give you some detailed information about how these merges will happen and what this will mean for you, the players.

We will be spreading the server merges over the next few weeks so not all the servers will be merged at the exact same time. It is important to us to ensure that the merge process goes as smooth as possible. Therefore it is vital that we spread out the work rather than doing these complicated processes all at the same time in order to minimize possible risks.

The first servers that will be merged are the US servers ‘Bloodspire’ and ‘Hyperborea’. The list of servers for the next merges will be published shortly.

It is important to know that during the time servers will be merged, all servers of the same territory (US or EU) will not be available. This means that during this week's downtime - where the two above mentioned servers are merged - all US servers will be unavailable. The exact duration of such a downtime will be announced soon but we do expect them to be longer than the usual update downtime.

Read more here.

HAHAHA

I wondered when this was going to happen..

I would not count this game out yet.  Funcom is known for taking a MMO with problems and fixing them.  Still probably the best graphics in an MMO out this year.

Originally posted by drarkanex

HAHAHA

I wondered when this was going to happen..

Why did you wonder? It was announced a couple of months back that they wanted to do this before the holidays. They're doing it and starting early December.

You can blame FC for screwing up AoC release a lot, but so far they've been doing what they promised in regards to server mergers.

Sounds like to little way to late. We will find out in due time though.

Warhammer will probably do the same thing also

server merges=getting closer to its ultimate demise.

Originally posted by TwwIX

server merges=getting closer to its ultimate demise.

I was going to say the same thing.

Servers merges is not a good thing. That means the game is almost dead. Who cares AOC sucked anyway.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

I would not count this game out yet.  Funcom is known for taking a MMO with problems and fixing them.  Still probably the best graphics in an MMO out this year.

Taking a MMO with problems?  Don't you mean making an MMO with problems...

Oh shi... best graphics.. where do I sign up??

This is absolutely necessary if there will ever be any hope of salvaging this fubar'd game.

Though it is necessary it is not sufficient in and of itself which is why it shouldn't have been earlier. They could have done it three months ago but they needed to address other issues first.

Other than purchasing the game I never spent any money as I cancelled the day the 30 days game play ended before a subscription charge.

The only way they will get me back is to give free game play to prior players at the same time they open the fresh servers.

So listen closely failcom - if you want players to come back pony up the free game play because nothing that has been done has convinced any of us to pay to play your game.

Oh and thanks for completely ruining what had been one of the best fantasy brands around.

I agree that server merges usually lead to the death of a game, but I doubt anytime soon.  Look at EQ and EQ2.  Granted a lot of have abandoned ship, but they are still going.  Not always doomsday.  Someone has to be optimistic.

Nothing screams FAIL like the announcement of server merges.  On the other hand, they will improve the game experience for those who are left, for however longer this game lives.

Unlike games like the SWGNGE which continues to run 25 empty servers with 2-3 that qualify as "slightly less empty" which should have had merges 5 days after the fatal NGE.

lol i see some WAR fans who praised its server merges cause it was a good thing and in here they are yelling what a bad thing it is... no1 wants to walk in a ghosttown and besides that they will create a healty pop on ALL servers seeing the playerbase is staying more constant now (in numbers)

Well yeah that is usually the case but not always, Warhammer EU for example had way too many servers to begin with so people are way too spread out.

LOL Some people continue to amaze with their constant crying as to how every game sucks and anyone who plays any of these games is a loser. Its better to troll the message boards with cries of doom for everything available instead of actually playing anything.  Server mergers are a good thing if the problem is low population on all servers. But the intelligent trolls see more than most and see it as the end. Whats this new game coming out? Its gonna suck too.  All games suck and people that actually play a game past the free trial need the trolls to tell them the games suck as they are not smart enough to realize that on their own. I am so glad that these people dont play the games i play as they would not be a welcome addition to the communities. Since there are no games worthy of the precious time perhaps they could find a new hobby or perhaps get a life or a job?

I wanted to get the game but at least I learned my lesson with Tabula Rasa. But I still want to try it, since release I've ben following the game and  I just hope they keep making the game better.

Age of Conan is a great MMO with many innovative ideas.  However, while the game is very promising it is STILL IN CLOSED BETA.

Craig Morrison and his team are making great progress in getting Age of Conan to release quality, but the process is taking forever; it will take at least a few more months.  I bought the game for cheap (it's for sale for $1 to $5 on eBay now) and I'll wait for the release quality product to subscribe  (likely not until May 2009), pitying the poor folks who actually PAID FunCom to beta test their game for what will be a year after release!

And about these server merges -- how much MORE PAINFUL can you make it for players, FunCom?  In the guise of wanting to do this right as the excuse for what will be an excruciatingly slow merger, if I understand you correctly, you will be shutting down the entire game for at least 5-6 hours for each server merge, two servers at a time -- over and freakin' over -- until you've completed the server merges?  Craig -- are you listening d00d ---> pulling your customers' fingernails out with pliers would be less painful than your server merging plan <sigh>.

I wont say the game is still in beta, allthough there is still is work to be done on crafting/itemization and releasing the DX10 version. The progress the last few months has been great, as you said, and the plans for future improvements look good.

When it comes to the mergers I think Funcom is doing the right thing with only merging two servers in the first go. That gives them the oportunity to see how it all works out in "small scale" and get feedback before they proceede. I'm sure if everything goes as planned they will speed up the process.

Originally posted by Tjommis

I wont say the game is still in beta, allthough there is still is work to be done on crafting/itemization and releasing the DX10 version. The progress the last few months has been great, as you said, and the plans for future improvements look good.

When it comes to the mergers I think Funcom is doing the right thing with only merging two servers in the first go. That gives them the oportunity to see how it all works out in "small scale" and get feedback before they proceede. I'm sure if everything goes as planned they will speed up the process.

Yes, but making ALL servers unavailable when ONLY 2 servers get merged is pretty ackward to me.

Never seen such a merger plan before.

It's good servers finally being merged as it's needed. But the way they are going to do it is questionable.

Cheers

Originally posted by Guillermo197

Originally posted by Tjommis

I wont say the game is still in beta, allthough there is still is work to be done on crafting/itemization and releasing the DX10 version. The progress the last few months has been great, as you said, and the plans for future improvements look good.

When it comes to the mergers I think Funcom is doing the right thing with only merging two servers in the first go. That gives them the oportunity to see how it all works out in "small scale" and get feedback before they proceede. I'm sure if everything goes as planned they will speed up the process.

 

Yes, but making ALL servers unavailable when ONLY 2 servers get merged is pretty ackward to me.

Never seen such a merger plan before.

It's good servers finally being merged as it's needed. But the way they are going to do it is questionable.

Cheers

Yeah, I agree that it sounds a awkward; atleast if they plan to do this every time. It might be that they are doing only this first time though, to ready the servers for the merge; but only Fc knows. Atleast they are giving a refund for the time lost due to mergers, and a free character transfer afterwards, which is good.

Cheers